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Music - Sunday, 2 April 2023 – Palm Sunday/Passion Sunday, Year A
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.
Hymns and Songs for the Palm Procession/Entry to the Church
All glory, praise and honour (LH 86, TIS 333) is the traditional hymn for the palm procession.
Alternative songs for the palm procession can be found here.
A dramatised reading of the gospel for use on Passion Sunday, year A (which you can find on the Visual Arts & Drama page) includes verses of ATO 335 ‘And we stood right there’ by Leigh Newton. Leigh Newton has given his permission for the words of his song ‘And we stood right there’ (All Together OK 335) to be reprinted for this use. Please mark all reproductions as ‘(c) Leigh Newton 1993. Used with permission.’
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.
LH 86 All glory, praise and honour - Backing track
LHB 18 Lift up your heads - Backing track
LHB 62 My song is love unknown - Backing track
LHB 60 Christ the Life - Backing track
LHB 73 Go to dark Gethsemane - 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 211 (orange) Hosanna (CCLI)
AT 374 (red) Always remember me (One Licence)
AT 190 (blue) Low, the way is low (CCLI, One Licence)
LHS 759 When his time was over (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.
Hosanna - Hillsong - CCLI by Brooke Ligertwood
Only a Holy God - CityAlight - CCLI by Dustin Smith, Jonny Robinson, Michael Farren, Rich Thompson
Be Thou My Vision - Celtic Worship - Public Domain tune and lyrics
Yet Not I, But Through Christ In Me - CityAlight - CCLI by Jonny Robinson, Michael Farren, Rich Thompson
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
For an additional list of All Together Songs suitable for Palm/Passion Sunday, please click here.
First Reading: Palm gospel: Matthew 21:1-11
LHS
5 O bride of Christ, rejoice* G4
7 Come, Thou precious ransom, come G8
10 O how shall I receive Thee (vv 1,2)* G3
18 Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates* G5
62 My song is love unknown G8
86 All glory, laud and honour G5
87 Ride on, ride on in majesty (tune Winchester New, TIS 348)
733 Daughter of Zion, O rejoice G6 (Public Domain)
737 Prepare the royal highway G4 (One Licence)
AT
211 Hosanna! (CCLI)
328 Tell the city (Permission granted by LCA)
335 And we stood right there (v 1) (CCLI)
344 The New Road (from v 5) (Replace ‘Alleluia’ with ‘Sing hosanna’) (Public Domain)
TIS
219 Jesus comes with all his grace
244 Trotting, trotting through Jerusalem
267 Lift up your heads, you mighty gates
279 The King of glory comes, the nation rejoices
333 All glory, praise and honour
336 O bride of Christ, rejoice
341 My song is love unknown
346 Prepare the royal highway
348 Ride on, ride on in majesty
353 The glory of our King was seen
724 Hosanna!
First Reading: Isaiah 50:4-9a
LHS
48 Lamb of God most holy* G5
52 O sacred head, now wounded (vv 1,2,4,5)* G6
55 O dearest Jesus, what law hast Thou broken* G4
57 A Lamb goes uncomplaining forth (Pt 1)* G5
60 Christ, the life of all the living G5
62 My song is love unknown G5 (alt tune A8, G8)
70 Stricken, smitten and afflicted* G3
406 God still lives and His compassion G7
413 Why should cross and trial grieve me? (vv 1,2,5,6) G5
AT
245 You are the prisoner (CCLI, One Licence)
347 O dearest Jesus (CCLI, One Licence)
TIS
337 O dearest Jesus, why aren’t you acquitted
339 O sacred head sore wounded
341 My song is love unknown
Second Reading: Philippians 2:5-11
LHS
11 The advent of our King G4
36 Jesus, name of wondrous love* G6
166 All hail the power of Jesus’ name G8 (see also TIS tune 224(i))
174 All praise to Thee, for Thou, O King divine G7
239 Son of God, eternal Saviour G4
782 At the name of Jesus G7 (CCLI)
790 O Lord of light, who made the stars (alt tune 346) G5 (One Licence)
807 Lift high the cross GS (CCLI, One Licence)
857 Low, the way is low GS (CCLI, One Licence)
AT
31 Freely, freely (CCLI, One Licence)
50 I will sing (v 5) (CCLI, One Licence)
55 His name is wonderful (CCLI, One Licence)
139 Christ humbled himself (CCLI, One Licence)
157 Jesus, name above all names (CCLI)
190 Low, the way is low (CCLI, One Licence)
261 The Servant King (CCLI)
370 You are glorious (contact author – see Copyright Listings)
TIS
174 Morning glory, starlit sky
218 Jesus! The name high over all
224 All hail the power of Jesus’ name
225 My heart and voice I raise
231 At the name of Jesus
247 Let all be one in mind and heart
256 From heaven you came, helpless babe
271 The advent of our God
351 Lift high the cross
373 Hail, our once despised Jesus
422 Come Holy Spirit, come (vv 1,2,5,6)
448 Blest are the pure in heart
606 Son of God, eternal Saviour
746 The heavens shall declare
Gospel Reading: Gospel: Matthew 26:14 – 27:66 or Matthew 27:11-54
LHS
51 Let Thy blood in mercy poured* G5 (before holy communion)
53 Jesus, refuge of the weary* G3
55 O dearest Jesus, what law hast Thou broken?* G4
59 Jesus, I will ponder now* G8
60 Christ, the life of all the living G5
62 My song is love unknown (final song) G5 (alt tune A8, G8)
65 Lord Jesus, we give thanks to Thee* G5 (final song)
70 Stricken, smitten and afflicted* G3
73 Go to dark Gethsemane* G5 (preparation for Holy Week)
79 Lord Jesus, when we stand afar G8 (final song)
85 According to Thy gracious word G5 (final song)
281 Jesus Christ our blessed Saviour G8 (holy communion)
285 To Thy most holy supper, Lord* G5 (holy communion)
620 O dearest Lord, Thy sacred head G6
752 A purple robe, a crown of thorns (CCLI, One Licence)
753 Downtrodden Christ, to you we pray (final song) (CCLI)
754 Jesus dying on the cross GS (final song) (One Licence)
758 The royal banners forward go G8 (Public Domain)
759 When his time was over GS (CCLI, One Licence)
840 Lord Jesus, we humbly pray G8 (holy communion) (One Licence)
857 Low, the way is low GS (CCLI, One Licence)
AT
22 He was wounded (CCLI)
135 Bitter was the night (CCLI, One Licence)
139 Christ humbled himself (CCLI, One Licence)
143 Jesus dying on the cross (final song) (One Licence)
147 When his time was over (CCLI, One Licence)
190 Low, the way is low (final song) (CCLI, One Licence)
261 The Servant King
287 Stay here and keep watch with me (final song)
335 And we stood right there (CCLI)
347 O dearest Jesus (CCLI, One Licence)
374 Always remember me (One Licence)
387 Jesus, remember me (One Licence)
449 Walk him along (CCLI)
TIS
256 From heaven you came
332 The royal banners forward go
337 O dearest Jesus, why aren’t you acquitted
340 Before the cock crew twice
341 My song is love unknown (final song)
345 Were you there when they crucified my Lord? (omit v 6?)
352 O dearest Lord, thy sacred head
354 O Jesus crucified
357 When his time was over
501 Sing my tongue, the Saviour’s glory (holy communion)
502 Soul of my Saviour, sanctify my breast (holy communion)
515 According to thy gracious word (final song)
519 And now, O Father, mindful of the love (holy communion)
Psalms
PSALM 118:1,2,19-29
The following paraphrase of Psalm 118 by David Schütz may be sung to the tune St Denio (LHS 768, TIS 143). If reproducing this version, please put ‘Words (c) David Schütz’ at the beginning or the end of the psalm.
verses 1-2,14
Give thanks to the Lord, for his goodness and love.
‘His love is forever’, let Israel say:
The Lord is my strength, my salvation and might,
the homes of the righteous are filled with glad songs.
verses 19-21
So open the door of the temple to me,
and let me go in to give thanks to the Lord.
The righteous shall enter the door of the Lord.
‘My saving God, thank you for hearing my prayer.’
verses 22-24
The stone that the builders rejected is now
the chief cornerstone of the temple of God.
The Lord God has done this, a marvelous sight,
The Lord made this day, let’s rejoice and be glad.
verses 25-27a
O Lord, come and save us, and give us success!
We bless you who come in the name of the Lord.
We bless you from Zion, the house of the Lord!
The Lord is our God, he has given us light.
verses 27b-29
In festal procession, with branches in hand,
we go to the altar to give thanks to God.
For you are my God, whom I thank and I praise!
Give thanks to the Lord, for his goodness and love.
PSALM 31:9-16
The following paraphrase by David Schütz may be sung to the tune Von Gott will ich (Erfurt), LH 400, or Von Gott will ich (Crüger), LH 130. If reproducing this version, please put ‘Words (c) David Schütz’ at the beginning or the end of the psalm.
O Lord, be gracious to me,
for I am in distress.
My eyes are sore from crying,
my soul and body too.
My life is spent in grief,
my years are spent with sighing,
I’m weak from all my troubles,
my bones all waste away.
My enemies reproach me,
my neighbours run in fear,
my friends in fright run from me,
and all who see me flee.
Forgotten like the dead,
I’m like a broken vessel.
I hear the whisp’ring schemers:
they plot to take my life.
And yet, O Lord, I trust you,
I say, ‘You are my God.’
My life and times and future
all in held in your hand.
Deliver me, O Lord,
from those who seek to harm me,
and let your face shine on me,
and rescue me in love.
Music Resources Vol. 3– Psalm settings: Psalm 31 p55 , Psalm 31 p56 , Psalm 118 p197 , Psalm 118 p198 , Psalm 118 p200
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.
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.
