LiturgyTools.net: Hymn ideas for the 2nd Sunday after Christmas, Year C - Revised Common Lectionary (5 January 2025)

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

Most are free-to-use (ie public domain or copyright-free), meaning that 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 copyright may also be included, if they are particularly relevant.

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

Seasonal Note

In some places, the feast of Epiphany is observed on Sunday, and it replaces this day.

Also, most communities have a familiar repertoire of public domain Christmas music, so choosing free-to-use hymns for this season is simple. The list below doesn't include all well known Christmas carols, just ones that are a particularly good fit with the lectionary themes for this day.

Readings

First:

Jeremiah 31:7-14 - "Save, O Lord, your people, the remnant of Israel." .... See I am going to bring them back ... For the Lord has ransomed Jacob, and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him.

Ecclesiasticus / Sirach 24: 1-12 - The wisdom of God has pitched her tent among the chosen people.

Psalm:

Solomon 10:15-21 - A holy people and blameless race wisdom delivered from a nation of oppressors ...
OR
Psalm 147 - The Word was made flesh and lived among us / O praise the Lord Jerusalem / He established peace on your borders / He makes he word known to Jacob

Second: Ephesians 1: 3-14 - Before the world was made, God chose us to be his children.

Gospel: John 1: 1-18 - In the beginning was the word ... John came, sent by God as a witness for the light ... no one has even seen God, only the Son who is nearest the Father's heart.

Themes

The incarnate Christ, come to live on earth. Christ - son of God and Word of God. We are God's children.

Free-use artworks

See lectionary art for this Sunday for suggested pictures and art-works based on today's readings.

Free-use hymns

A Great and Mighty Wonder - Neale
A Virgin Unspotted (The great God of heaven is come down to earth) - Henry Ramsden Bramley (1833-1917)
Again the Lord's Own Day is Here - John Mason Neale (1818-1866)
All Hail to You, O Blessed Morn - Ernst W. Olson (1870-1958), trans from Johan Olof Wallin (1819) -free use in the USA only
Amazing Grace
Angel Voices Ever Singing - Pott
As With Gladness Men Of Old - Dix
At the Lamb's High Feast we Sing
At the Name of Jesus
Be Thou my Vision
Behold the Great Creator Makes - Thomas Pestel (1584-1659)
Bless the Lord O my Soul
Blessed Jesus, at Thy Word - Catherine Winkworth (1858), trans from Tobias Clausnitzer (1663)
Brightest and Best of the Sons of the Morning - Heber

Children of the Heavenly Father - Olson. tr from Sandell -free use in the USA only
Christ is the World 's Redeemer - MacGregor (1854-1923)
Christ Whose Glory Fills the Skies - Wesley
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Come Thou Holy Spirit Come - Caswall
Come Ye Faithful Raise the Strain - John Mason Neale (1818-1866)
Come, Ye Faithful Raise the Anthem - Hupton (1762 - 1849) / Neale (1818 - 1866)
Crown Him With Many Crowns
Earth has Many a Noble City - Edward Caswall (1814-1878)
Eternal Light Eternal Light - Thomas Binney (1798-1874)
Fairest Lord Jesus - Unknown
Faithful Shepherd Feed Me - Pollock
Father of Heaven Whose Love Profound - Cooper
Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken
Go Tell it on the Mountain
God is Working His Purpose Out / As the Waters Cover the Sea - Arthur Campbell Ainger (1841-1919)
God Moves in a Mysterious Way
Good Christians all, rejoice - John Mason Neale (1818-1866)
Great Is Our Redeeming Lord - Wesley
Guide me O Thou Great Redeemer / Jehovah (Bread of Heaven)

Hark the Herald Angels Sing - Wesley / Whitefield / et al
Hills of the North Rejoice
How Brightly Beams the Morning Star - Winkworth
Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
In the Bleak Mid-winter - Rossetti
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
Jesus Good Above All Other - Percy Dearmer (1867-1936)
Jesus the Name High Over All - Wesley
Joy to the World the Lord is Come - Watts
Lead us Heavenly Father Lead Us
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence (Alleluias of St James)
Love Came Down at Christmas
Love Divine all Loves Excelling
May the Grace of Christ Our Saviour - John Newton (1725-1807)
Most Ancient of all Mysteries
My God, I Am Thine - Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
Nature With Open Volume Stands - Watts

O Come all ye Faithful - Oakeley / Brooke, trans from Wade
O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing - Wesley
O God of Bethel By Whose Hand - Doddridge
O Little One - Percy Dearmer (1867-1936)
O Little Town of Bethlehem - Brooks
O Lord of Heaven and Earth and Sea - Wordsworth
O Love How Deep How Broad How High - Webb, trans from á Kempis
O Strength and Stay Upholding all Creation - John Ellerton (1826-1893)
O Word of God Incarnate - How
Of the Father's Love Begotten - Neale / Baker
On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry
Once in Royal David's City
Open now Thy Gates of Beauty - Winkworth, trans from Schmolck (1704)
Praise my Soul the King of Heaven

See Amid the Winter's Snow - Edward Caswall (1814-1878)
Silent Night
Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above - Cox
The Bells of Christmas - Charles Porterfield Krauth (1823-1883), trans from Nikolai F. S. Grudtvig (1783-1872)
The First Noël - Anonymous (pre 1833)
The Lord's my Shepherd - Scottish Psalter translation
There's a Wideness in God's Mercy (Souls of men, why will ye scatter) - Faber
This is my Father's World - Babcock (b. Syracuse, NY, 1858-1901)
Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne and Thy Kingly Crown - Elliot
Thy Words to Me - Martin (1865-1937)
To God be the Glory
Trust in Providence (Captain of Israel's host, and Guide) - Wesley
We Three Kings
What Child is This
Where is this Stupendous Stranger? - Christopher Smart (1722-1771)
While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night - Nahum Tate (1652-1715)
Who is He in Yonder Stall - Hanby (1833-1867)
Ye Watchers And Ye Holy Ones - Riley
Your Ceaseless Unexhausted Love - Wesley

Hymns which may still be copyright

Across the Lands (You're the Word of God the Father) - Getty / Stuart Townend (b. 1963)
Before the World Began One Word Was There - Bell (b. 1949)
Can we By Searching Find Out God - Cosnett
Christ is the World's Light He and None Other - Pratt Green (1903–2000)
Emmanuel, Emmanuel - McGee
God Hath Spoken by His Prophets - Briggs (1875-1959)
God's Love Made Visible - Iola Brubeck (1923-2014)

Here I am to Worship (Light of the world) - Tim Hughes (b. 1977)
Into the Darkness of of this World - Dawn (1959)
Jesus is Lord! Creation's Voice Proclaims It - Mansell
Jesus let me Meet You in Your Word (Now in reverence and awe) - Graham Kendrick (b. 1950)
Light of the World, True Light divine - Timothy Dudley-Smith (1926-2024)
Long Ago Prophets Knew- Pratt-Green
O Lord of Every Shining Constellation - Albert F Bayly (1901-1984)