Songs for Seeking: A Lenten Soundtrack
Music has a way of speaking to the deeper questions we ask in this season of Lent. Here we’ve collected hymns and songs that work well with our Seeking Lent theme and weekly sub-themes based on the Year A texts of the Revised Common Lectionary. We hope these lists help you as you’re planning meaningful worship services for the Lenten season.
(Note: While we do not own the licensing rights to these songs—other than the hymns and theme song commissioned specially for this series—we have linked to more information about the hymnals containing these songs or to other licensing options. Since U.S. law does not allow churches to “broadcast” recorded music without a particular license to do so—including music played in YouTube and Facebook live services—we encourage you to share recorded songs with your congregation by sharing a link to the video or our Spotify playlist in bulletins, emails, or social media to avoid copyright strikes in livestream worship.)
Seeking Original Music
This season, we’ve partnered with Spencer LaJoye to create an original theme song for Seeking. The music video and sheet music will be available soon for purchase. Bundle patrons will automatically receive access to the theme song files as they are released.
Additionally, Rev. Anna Strickland has written six original hymns to familiar hymn tunes for the 1st through 5th Sundays in Lent and Easter Sunday. The tunes are all public domain, and the hymn texts are free for congregational use. You can download the sheet music and lyrics for these hymns here.
music for all season
Seeking: Honest questions for deeper faith
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“We Seek You With Our Questions, God” [↗]
Words: Hannah C. Brown (2022) Tune: LUCY (8.6.8.6 D)“Ask the Complicated Questions” [↗]
Words: David Bjorlin (2018) Tune: RESTORATION (8.7.8.7)“By Whatever Name We Call You”[↗]
Words: Dosia Carlson (1990) Tune: OGONTZ (8.5.8.5 D)“Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God” [↗]
Words and music: Karen Lafferty (1972)
*Note: This simple, familiar song is suitable for a children’s choir to learn and perform.“Broken Body of Christ” [↗]
Words: Leonora Rand (2019) Music: Gary Rand (2019)
*Note: This song would be appropriate for communion at any point during the series.
ash wednesday
Is this the fast that I choose? | Isaiah 58:1-12
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“Faith Begins by Letting Go”[↗]
Words: Dosia Carlson (1990) Tune: LUX PRIMA (7.7.7.7.7.7)“Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service” [↗]
Words: Albert F. Bayly (1961) Tune: BEACH SPRING (8.7.8.7 D)“O God of Love, The Fast You Choose” [↗]
Free use. Words: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (2012) Tune: KINGSFOLD (8.6.8.6 D)“Leaning In” [↗]
Words and music: Christopher Grundy (2013)“Attend, and Mark the Solemn Fast” [↗]
Public domain. Words: John Logan (18th cent.) Tune: ST. BERNARD (8.6.8.6)“Return to God” [↗]
Words and music: Marty Haugen (1990)“From Ashes to the Living Font” [↗]
Words: Alan J. Hommerding (1994) Tune: ST. FLAVIAN (8.6.8.6)
First sunday in lent
Who will you listen to? | Matthew 4:1-11 & Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“Who Will You Listen To?” [↗]
Free use. Words: Anna Strickland (2022) Tune: LEONI (6.6.8.4 D)“Help Us to Hear” [↗]
Words and music: Bryan Sirchio (2017)“Listening People” [↗]
Words and music: Richard Bruxvoort Colligan (2018)“Listen to the Word Which God Has Spoken” [↗]
Words and music: Anonymous (2005)“Teach Me to Stop and Listen” [↗]
Words and music: Ken Medema (1996)“Listen to the Still Small Voice” [↗]
Public domain. Words and music: George H. Carr (1906)“Jesus, Tempted in the Desert” [↗]
Words: Herman G. Stuempfle (1993) Tune: EBENEZER (8.7.8.7 D)“Are You Listening?” [↗]
Public domain. Words: W.S. Marshall (1876) Tune: BLESSED QUIETNESS (8.7.8.7 with refrain)
second sunday in lent
How do we begin again? | John 3:1-17 & Genesis 12:1-4a
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“Begin Again” [↗]
Free use. Words: Anna Strickland (2022) Tune: DIX (7.7.7.7.7.7)“This Is a Day of New Beginnings” [↗]
Words: Brian A. Wren (1978) Tune: BEGINNINGS (9.8.9.8)“To Abraham and Sarah” [↗]
Words: Judith Fetter (1984) Tune: LLANFYLLIN (7.6.7.6.D)“Who on Earth Can Find God's Kingdom?” [↗]
Free use. Words: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (2017) Tune: NETTLETON (8.7.8.7 D)“Ye Must Be Born Again” [↗]
Public domain. Words: William T. Sleeper (1877) Tune: BORN AGAIN (10.11.11.6 with refrain)“Spirit of the Living God” [↗]
Words and music: Daniel Iverson (1926)
Third sunday in Lent
Will you give me a drink? | John 4:5-42 & Exodus 17:1-7
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“We All Come Thirsty” [↗]
Free use. Words: Anna Strickland (2022) Tune: ST. COLUMBA (8.7.8.7)“Come to the Water” [↗]
Words and music: Ray Makeever (1999)“Why Stands the Woman By the Well?” [↗]
Free use. Words: Stephen M. Fearing (2020) Tune: NOEL (8.6.8.6 D)“Like a Healing Stream” [↗]
Words and music: Bruce Harding (2003)“Cuando el Pobre / When a Poor One” [↗]
Words and music: J.A. Olivar and Miguel Manzano, trans. George Lockwood (1976)“I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say” [↗]
Public domain. Words: Horatius Bonar (1846) Tune: KINGSFOLD (8.6.8.6)“I’ve Just Come from the Fountain” [↗]
African-American spiritual.“All Who Are Thirsty” [↗]
Words and music: Brenton Brown & Glenn Robertson (1998)
fourth sunday in Lent
Who sinned? | John 9:1-41
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“We Come With Questions” [↗]
Free use. Words: Anna Strickland (2022) Tune: LOBE DEN HERREN (14.14.4.7.8)“Love Is Not Always Comfortable” [↗]
Words and music: Christian McIvor (2021)“We Walk By Faith” [↗]
Public domain. Words: Henry Alford (1844) Tune: DUNLAP'S CREEK (8.6.8.6)“A Man Who Could Not See” [↗]
Free use. Words: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (2011) Tune: LEONI (6.6.8.4)“Faith Will Not Grow From Words Alone” [↗]
Words: Elizabeth J. Smith (1999) Tune: DUNEDIN (8.8.8.8)
fifth sunday in lent
Can these bones live? | John 11:1-45 & Ezekiel 37:1-14
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“Can These Bones Live?” [↗]
Free use. Words: Anna Strickland (2022) Tune: LAUDA ANIMA (8.7.8.7.8.7)“Break Our Hearts Again” [↗]
Words and music: Paul Demer (2016)“There Are Gardens Waiting” [↗]
Words and music: Bret Hesla (2017)“Send Your Spirit to Set Us Free” [↗]
Words and music: Barbara Hamm (2008)“When Lazarus Lay in Death’s Cold Shroud” [↗]
Words: Joy F. Patterson (1992) Tune: MELITA (8.8.8.8.8.8)“Jesus Is a Rock in a Weary Land” [↗]
African-American spiritual.“Graves Into Gardens” [↗]
Words and music: Brandon Lake, Chris Brown, Steven Furtick, and Tiffany Hammer (2019)
palm/passion sunday
Where are you headed? | Matthew 21:1-11
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“Two Processions” [↗]
Free use. Words and music: Amanda Udis-Kessler (2020)“This Is Our Path” [↗]
Words and music: Richard Bruxvoort Colligan (2018)“Christ Jesus, On Sunday, You Rode Into Town” [↗]
Free use. Words: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (2017) Tune: ST. DENIO (11.11.11.11)“Hosanna, Loud Hosanna” [↗]
Words: Jeanette Threlfall (1873) Tune: ELLACOMBE (7.6.7.6 D)“I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” [↗]
Words: Simon K. Marak (20th cent.) Tune: ASSAM (10.10.10.4.4)“He Leadeth Me” [↗]
Public domain. Words: J. H. Gilmore (1862) Tune: HE LEADETH ME (8.8.8.8 D)
maundy thursday
Will you wash my feet? | John 13:1-17, 31b-35
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“Will You Let Me Be Your Servant” [↗]
Words: Richard Gillard (1977) Tune: THE SERVANT SONG (8.7.8.7)“We Are One in the Spirit” [↗]
Words: Peter Scholtes (1966) Tune: ST. BRENDAN'S (7.6.7.6.8.6 with refrain)“Take Your Shoes Off” [↗]
Free use. Words: Anna Strickland (2021) Tune: STOCKTON (8.6.8.6 with refrain)“He Knelt To Wash The Feet Of Friends” [↗]
Words: F. Richard Garland (2007) Tune: TRURO (8.8.8.8)“Jesu, Jesu” [↗]
Words: Tom Colvin (1969) Tune: CHEREPONI (Irr. with refrain)“In This Room, a Towel and Basin” [↗]
Free use. Words: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (2018) Tune: GALILEE (8.7.8.7)“Once in Jerusalem” [↗]
Public domain. Words: T. R. Williamson (1886) Tune: RESTORATION (8.6.8.6 D)“As He Gathered at His Table” [↗]
Words: Paul Akers Richardson (1986) Tune: STUTTGART (8.7.8.7)
good friday
Why have you forsaken me? | Matthew 27:27-50
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“Were You There?” [↗]
African-American spiritual.“O Jesus Who Traveled” [↗]
Words: Hannah Brown (2023) Tune: THE TRAVELER (11.11.11.11)“There By the Cross, the Women Stayed” [↗]
Free use. Words: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (2019) Tune: ST. CATHERINE (8.8.8.8.8.8)“Why, My God?” [↗]
Words and music: Bruce Harding (1997)“Why Has God Forsaken Me?” [↗]
Words: William L. Wallace (1980) Tune: SHIMPI (7.7.7.7)“Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley” [↗]
American spiritual.“When the Weary, Seeking Rest” [↗]
Public domain. Words: Horatius Bonar (1866) Tune: INTERCESSION (7.5.7.5 D with refrain)“Throned Upon the Awful Tree” [↗]
Public domain. Words: John Ellerton (1875) Tune: ARFON (7.7.7.7.7.7)
easter sunday
Who are you looking for? | John 20:1-18
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“Who Are You Looking For?” [↗]
Free use. Words: Anna Strickland (2022) Tune: TERRA BEATA (6.6.8.6 D)“On the Day of Resurrection” [↗]
Words: Michael Peterson (1984) Tune: EMMAUS (8.7.8.7)“God, Known and Unknown” [↗]
Words and music: Richard Bruxvoort Colligan (2018)“Seek Me Early” [↗]
Public domain. Words: Lillian Jackson (1894) Music: John M. Whyte (1894)“Christ Is Alive! Let Christians Sing” [↗]
Words: Brian Wren (1968) Tune: TRURO (8.8.8.8)“Because You Live, O Christ” [↗]
Words: Shirley Erena Murray (1987) Tune: VRUECHTEN (6.11.6.11 with refrain)“The Risen Christ” [↗]
Words: Nigel Weaver (1993) Tune: WOODLANDS (10.10.10.10)
WANT TO LISTEN TO THIS PLAYLIST OR PLAY IT FOR YOUR CONGREGATION?
FOLLOW US ON SPOTIFY!
Rev. Anna Strickland
Operations Support & Content Creation
Rev. Anna Strickland (she/her/hers) looks for the Divine in the everyday like treasure in clay jars and first encountered God in the integration of her spiritual self and artistic self. She is a native Austinite and graduated from the University of Texas where she now works in college ministry, especially serving LGBTQ students.