Hymns for World Mission Sunday (2nd to last Sunday in October)

This is a set of hymn and song suggestions suitable for use on Mission Sunday - on any other day when there is a focus on missionary work.

What is Mission Sunday

In the Roman Catholic Church (and possibly others) the month of October is dedicated to prayer and support of the Church's missions in general, and especially missionary work which is done overseas. During the month, people are told about the Church's missionary activity abroad and asked to support it through prayer, sacrifice and financial contributions.

This focus is centred around Mission Sunday which is observed on the 2nd to last Sunday in October each year.   (This is often described as the 3rd Sunday - but in 2011 October has five Sundays, and it was on the 4th one.)

The changing dates for Easter means this falls on a different Sunday of Ordinary Time (ie in the liturgical calendar) each year.  For example in 2014 and 2015 it is the 29th Sunday of Ordinary time, while in 2011 when it was on the 30th Sunday of Ordinary Time.

Because of this, the hymn suggestions are based on the general themes of evangelisation, mission and support for missionaries, rather than any particular Gospel cycle.

Suggestions about other hymns that could be included are welcome: leave a message in the Comments section below.

Free-use hymn suggestions

• All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name
• All People that on Earth do Dwell
• Amazing Grace
• At the Name of Jesus
• Be Thou my Vision

• God is Working His Purpose Out / As the Waters Cover the Sea - Arthur Campbell Ainger (1841-1919)
• In Christ there is no East or West
• Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun - Isaac Watts (1674-1748)
• Let all the World in Every Corner Sing
• O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing - Wesley

• Take my Life and Let it Be
• Thou whose Almighty Word - Marriott
• Thy Hand O God has Guided - Plumptre
• To God be the Glory
• Ye Servants of God, Your Master Proclaim - Charles Wesley (1707-1788)

Hymns that are or may still be copyright

• Arise Shine (Darkness like a shroud) - Kendrick
• Christ be our Light - Farrell
• Colours of Day (Light up the fire) - McClellan, Paculabo and Rycroft
• Eat this bread, Drink this cup - Taizé
• Forth in the Peace of Christ we Go

• Go Forth and Tell - Seddon
• Go Forth In His Name - Kendrick
• Go Make a Difference
• Go Now you are Sent Forth 
• Go Tell Everyone
• God has Spoken by His Prophets - Briggs

• Here I am, Lord
• I Will be With You
• In Bread we Bring you, Lord
• Lift High the Cross
• One Bread, One Body
• Our God Reigns (How lovely on the mountains are the feet of them ...) - Smith

• Seek ye first the Kingdom of God
• Servant Song (Will you let me be your servant?)
• So I Send You - Clarke
• Take my Hands
• Tell out my Soul
• The Servant King

• Ubi Caritas - various settings
• We Have a Gospel to Proclaim - Burns
• We Shall go out with Hope - Boyce-Tilman

See also ...

• Church service planning template
• Music selection worksheet