LiturgyTools.net: Hymn ideas for the 2nd Sunday in Advent, Year C

A selection of hymns and songs, based on themes from the Revised Common lectionary for the 2nd Sunday of Advent, Year C.

Most are free-to-use (ie public domain or copyright-free) meaning the words can be copied and sung to at least one tune with no concerns about copyright or performance licensing. Many such hymns are old/traditional - but where possible a variety of styles / genres are included.

A small selection of hymns that are still be copyright may also included where they are a particularly good for for the theme(s).

Suggestions about other suitable hymns are welcome: leave a message in the Comments box near the bottom of the page.

Readings

First:

Baruch 5:1-9 - Jerusalem ... wrap the integrity of God around you ... the name God gives you will be peace through integrity ... God will guide Israel in joy.

OR
Malachi 3: 1-4 - I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me ... But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire ...

Psalm: 125 - What marvels the Lord worked for us / When the Lord delivered Zion from bondage / Deliver us Lord / They go out full of tears, they return carrying their sheaves

Canticle Luke 1:68-79 - Blessed be the Lord God of Israel ... He has raised up a mighty saviour for us in the house of his servant David ... the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness ...

Second: Philippians 1:3-11 - I pray for you, that your love for each other may increase ... and prepare you for the day of Christ

Gospel: Luke 3:1-6 - The word of God came to John, son of Zechariah: A voice cries in the wilderness, prepare a way for the Lord

Themes

Prepare a way - God will guide and assist. Christ incarnate.

Free-use hymns

A Charge to keep I Have - Wesley
All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name
All Praise to Our Redeeming Lord - Wesley
Angels From the Realms of Glory
At the Name of Jesus
Bear Ye One Another's Burdens (Thou God of truth and love) - Wesley
Bless the Lord O my Soul
Break Forth O Beauteous Heavenly Light - Troutbeck(1832-56), trans from von Rist
Bringing in the Sheaves

Come Down O Love Divine
Come Thou (O) Long Expected Jesus
Come ye Thankful People Come
Comfort, Comfort Ye my People - Winkworth, trans from Olearius
Crown Him With Many Crowns
Dear Lord and Father of Mankind
Deck Thyself my Soul With Gladness - Winkworth, trans from Franck
Draw Me Nearer (I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice) - Crosby
Faith Triumphing (A debtor to mercy alone) - Augustus Toplady (1740-1778)
Give Me the Faith Which Can Remove - Wesley
God Himself is Present - Foster / Miller, translated from Blumengärtlein
God of Grace and God of Glory - Fosdick (1878-1969) - free use in the USA
God, Who Has Caused to Be Written - Winkworth, trans from Franck

Hail Harbinger of Morn - Charles Calverley (1831-84)
Hail Thou Once Despised Jesus - Toplady
Hail to the Lord's Anointed
Hark a Herald Voice is Calling
Hark the Glad Sound the Saviour Comes - Doddridge
Have Thine own way Lord
Heralds of Christ who Bear the King’s Commands - Copenhaver
Hills of the North Rejoice
Holy Spirit Truth Divine - Longfellow
How Firm A Foundation - Keith / Keen
In Christ there is no East or West
Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun - Isaac Watts (1674-1748)
Jesus Thine All-Victorious Love - Charles Wesley (1707-1788)

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence (Alleluias of St James)
Let Earth and Heaven Combine - Wesley
Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates - Winkworth
Lo He Comes with Clouds Descending
Lo in the Wilderness A Voice - Percy Dearmer (1867-1936)
Lo, how a Rose E’er Blooming
Lord Enthroned in Heavenly Splendour
Love Divine all Loves Excelling
Love-Feast (Come and let us sweetly join) - Wesley
Make me A Captive Lord - Matheson
More Love to Thee O Christ - Prentiss

O Come all ye Faithful - Oakeley / Brooke, trans from Wade
O Come and Dwell in Me - Wesley
O Come O Come Emmanuel
O Jesus I Have Promised
O Jesus King Most Wonderful - Edward Caswall (1814-1878)
O Lord, How Shall I Meet Thee - Winkworth
O Spirit of the Living God - James Montgomery (1771-1854)
O, Freedom - Unknown - Afro-American
On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry
Peace is Flowing Like a River
Prepare the Royal Highway - Franzen
Rejoice the Lord is King
Rejoice Today with One Accord - Henry Williams Baker (1821-1877)

Saviour like a Shepherd Lead Us
Sing to the King (Sing we the King who is coming to reign) - Horne
Sing we the Praises of the Great Forerunner - Charles Stanley Phillips (1883-1949), translated from Paul the Deacon approx (720-799)
Spouse of Christ, whose Earthly Conflict - W Palmer et al, translated from Jean B. de Contes (1601-1679)
St Patrick's Lorica (I Bind Unto Myself Today) - Cecil Frances Alexander (1818-1895)
Take Time to be Holy
The Advent of our God - Chandler
The Great Forerunner of the Morn - John Mason Neale (1818-1866)
The Head that Once Was Crowned With Thorns - Kelly
The King Shall Come when Morning Dawns
The People that in Darkness Walked - Morison
There's a Light Upon the Mountains
There's a Voice in the Wilderness Crying - James Lewis Milligan (1876-1961) - free use in the USA
Tis the Old Ship of Zion - Unknown

Wade in the Water - Unknown
Wake O Wake With Tidings Thrilling - Burkitt, trans. From Nicolai
When John Baptized by Jordan's River - Timothy Dudley-Smith (1926-2024)
Ye Servants of God, Your Master Proclaim - Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
Ye Servants of the Lord - Doddridge
Your Will be Done on Earth O Lord - From the Our Father

Hymns which may still be copyright

Awake, Awake, Fling off the Night - Peacey
Benedictus / The Song of Zechariah (Bless the Lord, the God of Israel) - Anne Harrison (b. 1954)
Blessed Be the God of Israel - Carl P Daw (b. 1944)
Blest Be the God of Israel - Michael Perry (1942-1996)
Down by the Jordan - Gillette (ref)
Enter in the Wilderness - Jabsuch
God Hath Spoken by His Prophets - Briggs (1875-1959)