Hymns, songs & music
Related to the Bible readings
Click here for an article on choosing the opening hymn or song for worship.
Suggestions from Adult & All Ages
(Songs in italics are suitable for all ages.)
Awake, awake: fling off the night
Baptised in water
Christ, when for us you were baptised (CP, AMNS, BPW, HP)
He’s got the whole world in his hands
Let there be love
Lord, I lift your name on high
Now is eternal life
O thou who camest from above
One more step along the world I go
River, wash over me (MP, PRA, SOF)
Songs of thankfulness and praise
Spirit of the living God
Take, O take me as I am (WGWG, CH4/HGSP, SGL, SP)
When Jesus came to Jordan
A song for this issue
‘When Jesus comes to be baptised’ - STANBROOK ABBEY - Sing Praise!
There are some songs which can only be sung once a year, and this is one of them, which may make the text very unfamiliar. However, it's a text full of familiar Biblical images and, although set to the English traditional tune 'Herongate', it can be sung to other LM tunes (sing right through first to make sure all the word stresses work). It's a short but lovely hymn with only four verses, quite economical with words, but every one means something.
Short song suggestion
‘We will take what you offer’ - John L Bell, in There is one among us / Wild Goose Publications.
During these Sundays after Epiphany the psalms offer us many images of how to follow the law of God, and this short, punchy chant is a response which gives a voice to the community for accepting and living by the word of God. It's easy to pick up – there are only two lines and the melody is very intuitive - and can be sung in unison or in the three parts (soprano, alto, men – or whatever you have!) This is a short song which could be sung as a repeated ostinato while people are taking Holy Communion or during a prayer time, or as a response or song of praise afterwards. In this case it's a good plan to vary the dynamics and maybe the accompaniment.
Suggestions from Children & Young People
Sing
He’s got the whole world in his hands
I’m special because God has loved me (JP, KS, RSJ)
Jesus went into the river (SB)
Jesus, you’re the king (KS)
John came a-preaching by the Jordan river (SS)
One more step along the world I go
Spirit of the living God
Why join a large and noisy crowd? (SB)
Wide, wide as the ocean
Key to abbreviations