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Music - Sunday, 17 December 2023 – Third Sunday of Advent, Year B
Introduction
There are many music choices available each week. You will find music suggestions for each reading drawn from the Lutheran Hymnal, the All Together song books and Together in Song. In addition, we have selected the Top 4 Public Domain hymns, the Top 4 All Together and LHS songs under copyright and the Top 4 Contemporary Music suggestions each week. You may like to mix and match from these lists to suit your context.
Candle-lighting song
Claire Kleinig has adapted Robin Mann’s song Light of the Nations (AT 389) to suit the themes of Advent. Robin and Claire have given their permission for the following verses to be used freely. You may like to sing one verse each week during the lighting of the advent wreath, or let the song grow longer each week by adding the week’s verse to the previous ones.
Advent 1
Light of the nations,
hope for the helpless,
You are our freedom
from every dark prison.
Shine your light on the world,
shine your light on the world.
Advent 2
Light of the nations,
peace for the troubled,
You are our freedom
from every dark prison.
Shine your light on the world,
shine your light on the world.
Advent 3
Light of the nations,
joy for the tearful,
You are our freedom
from every dark prison.
Shine your light on the world,
shine your light on the world.
Advent 4
Light of the nations,
love for the lonely,
You are our freedom
from every dark prison.
Shine your light on the world,
shine your light on the world.
Top 4 Public Domain
If you enjoy traditional hymn singing or your congregation does not have a copyright license, here are our recommended Public Domain hymns for the week:
If a title is hyperlinked, that means that modernised lyrics are available. MP3 backing tracks have been recorded for you to use.
Mighty God we Praise Thy name – LHB 457 - Backing track
Rise children of the kingdom – LHB 8 - Backing track
Lead us Heavenly Father lead us – LHB 397 - Backing track
In Thee is Gladness – LHB 386 - Backing track
Top 4 All Together and LHS songs under copyright
Copyright information for the following suggestions has been provided. Please ensure that you are reporting the use of any material under copyright.
Prepare the royal highway - LHS 737 (One Licence)
Christ be Our Light – AT 313 red (One Licence)
They were waiting - AT 221 (CCLI, One Licence)
This is the day - AT 2 (CCLI)
Top 4 Contemporary Music Suggestions
The following songs have been carefully reviewed, and are recommended for use in congregational worship, primarily because they point people to Christ and proclaim the message of his word in music and song for this Sunday in the lectionary cycle. They also fit well with other selection guidelines as highlighted in Tips for song selection and Fact Sheet 6: Music in Worship. While the use of a particular song by a band or organisation is not necessarily an endorsement of that group or the entire body of their work, we recognise that any scriptural song is a Spiritual song that can be used to complement a rich diet of worship for God’s people.
Please note, the hyperlinked Youtube clips are provided to give you a sense of how music can be performed or for personal use. You must always obtain permission from the creators of the music videos and the creators of the song before using clips in worship, unless permission is explicitly stated beneath the video.
Rejoice - Keith & Kristyn Getty, Rend Collective - CCLI by Ben Shive, Bryan Fowler, Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty, Skye Peterson
Even So Come - Jason Ingram - CCLI by Chris Tomlin, Jason Ingram, Jess Cates
Lights- Emu Youth - CCLI by Alanna Glover, Liv Chapman, Sam Manchester
Joy of the Lord - Rend Collective - CCLI by Chris Llewellyn, Ed Cash, Gareth Gilkeson
Song/Hymn suggestions based on the Lectionary readings
Some LHS hymns have modernised lyrics. Click on underlined hymns to see the new lyrics.
Please click here to go to the Modernised Hymns page.
G3, G4 . . . = Guitar chords available in the Music Package 3, 4 . .ro.; GS = Guitar chords in the Supplement to LH
First Reading: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
LHS
5 O bride of Christ, rejoice* G4 (mod – TIS 336)
8 Rise, children of the kingdom* (alt tune 107, G4)
9 Hark the glad sound G6 (mod – TIS 269)
10 O how shall I receive Thee* G3
13 On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry G4 (mod – TIS 270)
16 Hail to the Lord’s Anointed G6 (mod – TIS 275)
17 Come, thou long-expected Jesus G6
67 And can it be, that I should gain (alt tune Sagina TIS 209)
219 Jesus shall reign G3 (mod – TIS 207)
327 Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness* G3
386 In Thee is gladness* G7 (mod – TIS 200)
489 Rejoice, rejoice, believers* G4
731 Come, Lord Jesus, come GS (CCLI, One Licence)
737 Prepare the royal highway G4 (One Licence)
AT
TIS
179 Praise with joy the world’s Creator
193 God, you are clothed with light
200 In you is gladness
207 Jesus shall reign
209 And can it be
210 O for a thousand tongues
269 Hark! the glad sound
270 On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry
272 Come, thou long-expected Jesus
275 Hail to the Lord’s anointed
282 The voice of God goes out to all the world
336 O bride of Christ, rejoice
346 Prepare the royal highway (see LHS 737 for verse 5)
670 Jesus put this song
688 Come to be our hope, O Jesus
Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
LHS
Most songs of praise plus the following:
397 Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us* G4
402 Rejoice, my heart, be glad and sing* G6
425 Lord, teach us how to pray aright
437 Now thank we all our God *G6 (mod – TIS 106)
443 Through all the changing scenes of life (mod – TIS 112)
457 Mighty God, we praise Thy name G6 (see TIS 127 for fuller text)
467 For the beauty of the earth (mod – TIS 137)
489 Rejoice, rejoice, believers* G4
865 God will take care of us G6 (Public Domain)
887 We praise you, O God, our redeemer, creator (One Licence)
AT
2 This is the day (CCLI)
8 Praise and thanksgiving (CCLI, One Licence)
151 Thank you, Father (One Licence)
235 In your hand, my Saviour (Please use freely with permission of the author. Use “Used with permission from Anna Mari Kaskinen”)
254 I give you my joys and my sorrows (Please use freely with permission of the author. Use “Used with permission from Anna Mari Kaskinen”)
265 Take us now, we are yours (CCLI)
289 Thank you that you hear me (Please use freely with permission of the author. Use “Used with permission from Anna Mari Kaskinen”)
TIS
106 Now thank we all our God
112 Through all the changing scenes of life
127 Holy God, we praise your name (Te Deum)
137 For the beauty of the earth
162 Thank you for giving me the morning
220 This, this is the God we adore
580 Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us
717 Give thanks with a joyful heart
743 Praise and thanksgiving let everyone bring
Anon song: Rejoice in the Lord always
Gospel Reading: John 1:6-8, 19-28
LHS
6 Ye sons of men, in earnest* G3
12 Comfort, comfort ye My people* G4
13 On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry G4 (mod – TIS 270)
14 Let the earth now praise the Lord* G4
737 Prepare the royal highway G4 (One Licence)
783 Christ is the world’s light G6 (CCLI, One Licence)
790 O Lord of light who made the stars (alt tune 346, G5 or 789, G6) (One Licence)
AT
313 Christ be our light (One Licence)
315 Drawn to the light (One Licence)
389 Light of the nations (CCLI, One Licence)
TIS
191 Hail, gladdening light
246 Christ is the world’s light
270 On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry
346 Prepare the royal highway (see LHS 737 for verse 5)
643 I want to walk as a child of the light
Other Suitable Hymns and Songs:
LHS
18 Lift up your heads (see also TIS 267)
489 Rejoice, rejoice believers*
AT
17 Emmanuel: God is with us (One Licence)
20 Come, Lord Jesus, come (CCLI, One Licence)
25 Comfort, comfort (CCLI, One Licence)
36 Vine and fig tree (Public Domain)
55 His name is Wonderful (CCLI, One Licence)
142 O Mary, don’t you weep (Public Domain)
187 Help us, Lord (Public Domain)
220 There’ll be peace (CCLI, One Licence)
221 They were waiting (CCLI, One Licence)
229 Christ is a-comin’ (One Licence)
260 My soul is praising the Lord (One Licence)
302 Soon and very soon (CCLI)
309 When the Lord returns (CCLI)
313 Christ, be our light (One Licence)
314 Come to us (CCLI)
315 Drawn to the light (One Licence)
355 Freedom is coming (One Licence)
389 Light of the nations (CCLI, One Licence)
402 God has chosen me (One Licence)
420 Get ready (CCLI, One Licence)
425 God moving (CCLI)
434 Sing out with joy, he is coming (CCLI)
450 When Jesus Christ worked here on earth (One Licence)
453 The world is waiting (Please use freely with permission of the author)
454 Your God will come (LCANZ congregations have permission to use for worship. Please add acknowledgement “Used with permission from Michael Gillingham”)
468 Sing a New Song (CCLI)
499 It was me (CCLI, One Licence)
502 Patiently waiting for you (CCLI, One Licence)
510 Advent news
519 New beginning (CCLI, One Licence)
542 Word of the Father (CCLI, One Licence)
TIS
Psalms
Psalm 126
Advice for Congregations Without Musicians
LCA Music Resources
Downloadable Hymnal Resources (including downloadable backing tracks and lyric PPTs)
Modernised Hymn Lyrics
Hymnal Index (by tune and scriptural link)
All Together Index (by tune, scriptural link and theme)
Five Songs of Faith
For further Music Resources click here.
OTHER HELPFUL WEBSITES FOR CHURCH MUSIC
While the LCA does not necessarily endorse the content of these websites, you may find them helpful in your worship planning.
Word to Worship: Find contemporary worship songs based on Scripture
Together to Celebrate: lectionary based song and hymn suggestions from a variety of sources.
Singing from the Lectionary: has song and hymn suggestions based on the RCL from other hymnals.
Song Select: catalogues CCLI licensed music. You can search for more contemporary songs by theme. If your congregation has a paid subscription you can also download sheet music and other resources.
Hymns Without Words: mp3 downloads of hymn tunes.
Metrical Psalms by Dale Schoening : Psalms set to well known hymn tunes.
