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. Suggestions about other free-to-use hymns that could be included are welcome: leave a message in the Comments box near the bottom of the page.
A small selection of hymns that are still be copyright may also included where they are a particularly good for for the theme(s).
Seasonal Note
Many communities have a familiar repertoire of public domain Christmas music, which is frequently used at this time of year. The list below doesn't include all well known Christmas carols, just the ones that are a particularly good fit with the lectionary themes for this day.
Readings
First: 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 - Samuel was ministering before the Lord [in the temple] - his mother and father visited him once a year ... Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favour with the Lord and with the people.Psalm: 148 - Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights!
Second: Colossians 3:12-17 - As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience ... Above all, clothe yourselves with love ... do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus
Gospel: Luke 2:41-52 - Jesus is accidentally left behind in the Temple - he recognizes it is his Father's house - and he grows in wisdom
Gospel: Luke 2:41-52 - Jesus is accidentally left behind in the Temple - he recognizes it is his Father's house - and he grows in wisdom
Themes
Love - Jesus is God incarnate, fulfilling the prophecies of the Old Testament.Free-use hymns
- All Creatures of our God and King
- Almighty Father who Dost Give - Masterman
- Angel Voices Ever Singing - Pott
- Angels From the Realms of Glory
- Angels we Have Heard on High - Chadwick
- At the Name of Jesus
- Birthday Greeting to a Boy (May this new year bring you joy) - Ruth Holland (1908)
- Brotherly Love - Wesley
- Child in a Manger / Child in the Manger - Lachlan Macbean (1853-1931), trans from Mary M. Macdonald (1789-1872)
- Children of the Heavenly Father - Olson. tr from Sandell - free use in the USA
- Christ Whose Glory Fills the Skies - Wesley
- Come Down O Love Divine
- Come Let Us With Our Lord Arise - Wesley
- Come Thou (O) Long Expected Jesus
- Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
- Dear Shepherd of Your People Hear - Newton
- Forth in Thy Name O Lord I Go - Wesley
- Give Peace - Unknown
- Go Tell it on the Mountain
- God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen - Unknown, 18th century
- God Will Take Care of You (Nunca Desmayes) - Martin
- God, Who Has Caused to Be Written - Henley (1800-1842)
- God's Son Given (To us a child of royal birth) - Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
- Good Christians all, rejoice - John Mason Neale (1818-1866)
- Hark the Herald Angels Sing - Wesley / Whitefield / et al
- He Came Down - Unknown
- Holy Spirit Truth Divine - Longfellow
- I Love to Hear the Story - Emily Huntington Miller (1833-1913)
- Infant Holy Infant Lowly
- Jesus Friend of Little Children - Mathams
- Jesus Once a Child (My saviour, Thou who once on earth) - Fannie E. Davison (1851-1887
- Jesus the Name High Over All - Wesley
- Jesus United By Thy Grace - Wesley
- Jesus, Good Above All Other - Percy Dearmer (1867-1936)
- Joy to the World the Lord is Come - Watts
- Let all the World in Every Corner Sing
- Let all Together Praise our God - Crull (1845-1923), trans Herman (c. 1480-1561)
- Let Earth and Heaven Combine - Wesley
- Let our Gladness have no End - Unknown
- Love Came Down at Christmas
- May the Grace of Christ Our Saviour - John Newton (1725-1807)
- May the Mind of Christ my Saviour - Wilkinson
- Now it is Evening, Time to Cease from Labour - Woodward
- Now Thank we all our God
- O Breath of Life Come Sweeping Through Us - Head (1850-1936)
- O Come, Little Children - Herman H. Brueckner (1866-1942), trans from Johann Christoph von Schmidt (1768-1854)
- O God Our Help in Ages Past
- O Jesus I Have Promised
- O Little Town of Bethlehem - Brooks
- O Lord Now let Your Servant - Ryden (1886-1981) - free use in the USA
- O Master Let me Walk with Thee (You) - Gladden
- O Perfect Love all Human Thought Transcending - Gurney
- O Praise Ye the Lord Praise Him in the Height - Baker (1821-1877)
- O Sing a Song of Bethlehem
- O Splendor of God’s Glory Bright - Benson (1855-1930)
- Of the Father's Love Begotten - Neale / Baker
- Once in Royal David's City
- Praise my Soul the King of Heaven
- Praise the Lord, Ye Heavens Adore Him
- Praise to the Lord the Almighty
- Sing we now of Christmas - Unknown - from a traditional French carol
- Songs of Praise the Angels Sing / Sang - James Montgomery (1771-1854)
- Speak, O Lord, Thy Servant Heareth - Rygh, trans from von Hessen-Darmstadt
- Still, Still, Still - Unknown, trans from Georg Götsch [de] (1895–1956)
- Take my Life and Let it Be
- Teach Me my God and King - Herbert
- The First Noël - Anonymous (pre 1833)
- The Immensity of His Grace (What shall I do my God to love) - Wesley
- The People that in Darkness Walked - Morison
- The Voice of God is Calling - Holmes (1879-1964) - free use in the USA
- There's a Song in the Air - Holland
- Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne and Thy Kingly Crown - Elliot
- Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus - Lemmel (1863-1961) - free use in the USA
- Unto us a Boy is Born - Percy Dearmer (1867-1936)
- What A Mighty God We Serve - Unknown
- What Child is This
- When all Thy Mercies O my God - Addison
- When Christmas Morn is Dawning - Claude William Foss (1855-1935), trans from Abel Burckhardt, Elisabeth Ehrenborg-Posse (1818-1880)
- Ye (You) Holy Angels Bright
- Ye Watchers And Ye Holy Ones - Riley
Hymns that may still be copyright
- At the Font we Start Our Journey - Rowthorn (b 1934)
- Blest are Those who Love You - Haugen
- Come All Who Look to Christ Today - Jones (1926-2022)
- Creator God You Made the Earth - Gillette (ref)
- Good Christian Men, Rejoice and Sing! - Cyril Alington (1872-1955)
- He Came to Earth in Poverty - Leckebusch (b 1962)
- Help us Accept Each Other - Fred Kaan (1929-2009)
- Help us O Lord to Learn - Reid
- Here am I Lord I’ve Come to do Your Will - Dukes - Dukes
- How Happy You Who Fear the Lord - Westendorf
- His Name is Wonderful - Mieir (1916–1996)
- If I Could Visit Bethlehem - Brian Wren (b. 1936)
- In His Time - Diane Ball (b. 1951)
- Jesus Stand Among Us - Kendrick
- Jesus Went to Worship - Gaunt (1935-2023)
- Lord Make us Servants of Your Peace - James Quinn (1919-2010)
- Lord, Let Your Servant Go in Peace - Gillette
- Love has Come to Show the Way - Maher - Matt Maher
- Our God Dwells in His Holy Place - Webber and Tietze
- Remembering Mary - Collins
- Rock-a-Bye my Dear Little Boy - Vajda - from a Czech carol
- Says Jesus ‘Come And Gather Round I Want to Each My Friends' - Leith Fisher (1941-2009)
- Sent Forth by God's Blessing - Omer Westendorf (1916-1997)
- Some Children See Him - Wihla Hutson (1901-2002)
- Song of Hope - Alvin Schutmaat (1921-1988), trans. From traditional source
- That Boy-Child of Mary - Colvin
- We Shall go out with Hope of Resurrection - June Boyce-Tillman (b. 1943)
- What Does the Lord Require - Bayly (1901-1984)
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