Music - Sunday, 4 May 2025 – Third Sunday of Easter, Year C

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.

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.

And can it be that I should gain – LHB 67 - Backing track
Come let us join our cheerful songs – LHB 436 - Backing track
Let us ever walk with Jesus – LHB 361 - Backing track
Ye servants of God – LHB 454 - 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.

AT 263 - Singing all praises (CCLI)
AT 163 - Glory, halleluia (CCLI, One Licence)
AT 413 - The Summons (CCLI, One Licence)
AT 509 - You hear the lambs a-cryin’ (CCLI, One Licence)

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.

And Can It Be - Stuart Townend - Lyrics Public Domain
Worthy Is The Lamb - Hillsong Worship - CCLI by Darlene Zschech
The Summons - Graham Maule, John L. Bell (AT 413) - CCLI by Graham Maule, John L. Bell
Create In Me - Rend Collective - CCLI by Rend Collective

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: Acts 9:1-6 (7-20)

LHS

67 And can it be, that I should gain (alt tune TIS 209)
159 O for a thousand tongues to sing* G5
528 Christ, whose glory fills the skies G5
851 Amazing grace, how sweet the sound GS

AT

131 Amazing grace (Public Domain)
263 Singing all praises (CCLI)

TIS

129 Amazing grace (how sweet the sound)
209 And can it be, that I should gain
210 O for a thousand tongues to sing
212 Christ, whose glory fills the skies

Second Reading: Revelation 5:11-14

LHS

212 Lo, round the throne, a glorious band (esp. vv 1,4,5) G4
436 Come, let us join our cheerful songs G8
454 Ye servants of God, your master proclaim G6
459 Worship, honour, glory, blessing G8
484 Blessed are the heirs of heaven G6
666 Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
667 Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
794 What wondrous love is this GS

AT

145 What wondrous love is this (Public Domain)
161 Majesty (CCLI)
163 Glory, halleluia (CCLI, One Licence)
247 Alabare, alabare (Public Domain)
443 Like an angel (CCLI, One Licence)

TIS

142 Glory be to God the Father
189 Glory to our boundless God
204 Come, let us join our cheerful songs
215 You servants of God
237 Hail Redeemer, King divine
343 Nature with open volume stands
770 To him who sits upon the throne
772 Worship, honour, glory, blessing

Gospel Reading: John 21:1-19

LHS

AT

413 The Summons (CCLI, One Licence)
509 You hear the lambs a-cryin’ (CCLI, One Licence)

TIS

451 Pour out your Spirit from on high
589 Jesus calls us! O’er the tumult

Other Suitable Hymns and Songs: Children's Songs

LHS

601 Jesus, tender shepherd, hear me (an evening hymn)
602 I am Jesus’ little lamb*
604 Saviour, like a shepherd lead us* (verses 1 and 2)
607 Loving Shepherd of thy sheep*

The poem ‘The Lamb’ written by William Blake has been recast by David Schubert as the following hymn, which may be sung to the tune Wollt ihr wissen (LH 163). It could be sung by a child or children holding a toy woolly white lamb (perhaps from the manger scene), with the questions addressed to the lamb. Perhaps the congregation could join in singing a repeat of verse 4.

Who has made you, little lamb?
Who has made you, little lamb?
gave you life and let you feed
by the stream and in the mead;
who has made you, little lamb?

gave you clothing of delight, softest clothing, woolly, bright;
gave you such a tender voice,
making all the vales rejoice?
Do you know who made the lamb?

I will tell who made the lamb,
I will tell you, little lamb:
he is called by your own name,
for he calls himself a Lamb.
He has made the little lamb.

He is meek and he is mild,
he became a little child:
I a child and you a lamb,
we are called by his own name.
We are called by his own name.

AT

TIS

Psalms

PSALM 30

The following paraphrase of Psalm 30 by David Schütz may be sung to the tune Bethany (‘Nearer my God to thee’, LHS 872). If reproducing this version, please put ‘Words (c) David Schütz’ at the beginning or the end of the psalm.

I will exalt you, Lord;
you rescued me
from the deep grave of death
that threatened me.
You did not let my foes
gloat over me in death;
I called to you for help,
you spared my life.

Sing to the Lord, you saints,
and praise his name.
Weeping may last the night,
joy comes with dawn.
His anger is so short,
his favour is so long!
So I rejoice in him,
singing my song.

Feeling secure, I said:
‘I shan’t be moved!’
But when you hid your face,
I was dismayed!
To you, O Lord, I called;
‘Have mercy!’ was my cry.
‘What gain is there for you,
if I should die?’

‘How can I praise you, Lord,
if I am dust?
How, from the grave, can I
speak of your trust?
Hear and be merciful!
O Lord, come to my aid!’
I called to God for help,
and I was saved.

You turned my mournful tears,
into a dance.
You stripped me of my grief,
robed me with joy!
I will not hold my tongue!
Now I, with all my heart,
sing songs of thanks to you,
O Lord, my God.

Music Resources Vol. 3 Psalm settings: Psalm 30 p51, Psalm 30 p52, Psalm 30 p53

Advice for Musicians

Advice for Congregations Without Musicians

Other Music Resources

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

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.

While the LCA does not necessarily endorse the content of these websites, you may find them helpful in your worship planning.
Small Church Music – You can download mp3 and midi files of popular hymn tunes from this site.
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.