Songs for the Wilderness: A Lenten Soundtrack
Feel like you’re wandering through an endless landscape of music while planning Lent worship? Here we’ve collected hymns and songs that work well with our Wilderness Lent resources (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 journey.
All Lent
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“Wilderness Gifts Us a Holy Disruption” [↗]
Words: Stephen M. Fearing (2019) Tune: O QUANTA QUALIA (11.11.11.11)“Jesus, Thy Boundless Love to Me” [↗]
Words: Paul Gerhardt (1653), trans. John Wesley (1739) Tune: ST. CATHERINE (8.8.8.8.8.8)“Pray for the Wilderness” [↗]
Words: Dan Damon (1994) Tune: WILDERNESS (10.10.10.10)“I’m Determined” [↗]
African-American Spiritual“From Ashes to the Living Font” [↗]
Words: Alan J. Hommerding (1994) Tune: ST. FLAVIAN (8.6.8.6)“I Want Jesus to Walk With Me” [↗]
African-American Spiritual“Throughout These Lenten Days and Nights” [↗]
Words: James Gertmenian (1993) Tune: TALLIS’ CANON (8.8.8.8)“Lord, Dismiss Us with Thy Blessing” [↗]
Words: John Fawcett (1786) Tune: SICILIAN MARINERS (8.7.8.7.8.7)
*The first stanza could be used as a sung benediction throughout Lent
Songs for Listening, Preludes, or Special Music
Ash Wednesday
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“Wash Me in Mercy, God of Love” [↗]
Words: Stephen M. Fearing (2015) Tune: MARYTON (8.8.8.8)“A Trumpet Blows on Zion’s Hill” [↗]
Words: Stephen M. Fearing (2015) Tune: KINGSFOLD (8.6.8.6 D)“Dust and Ashes” [↗]
Words: Brian A. Wren (1989) Tune: DUST AND ASHES (7.8.11.14 with refrain)“Sing Out! We’re Made of Common Dust” [↗]
Words: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (2018) Tune: CANONBURY (8.8.8.8)
Songs for Listening, Preludes, or Special Music
First Sunday in Lent
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“From the Water to Wilderness” [↗]
Words: Stephen M. Fearing (2019) Tune: WALK WITH ME (8.8.8.8)“In the Garden God Told Adam” [↗]
Words: Stephen M. Fearing (2019) Tune: RESTORATION (8.7.8.7)“Sing We Now of Eve, First Woman” [↗]
Words: Edith Sinclair Downing (2007) Tune: PICARDY (8.7.8.7.8.7)“O Love, How Deep” [↗]
Words: Benjamin Webb (1854) Tune: DEO GRACIAS (8.8.8.8)“When We Are Tested” [↗]
Words: Ruth C. Duck (1996) Tune: SLANE (10.10.10.10)“Our Lord, You Were Sent” [↗]
Words: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (2000) Tune: FOUNDATION (11.11.11.11)“To the Wilderness” [↗]
Words and music: Richard H. Scheffler (1999)
Songs for Listening, Preludes, or Special Music
Second Sunday in Lent
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“For God So Loved the World” [↗]
Words: Stephen M. Fearing (2019) Tune: DARWALL’S 148TH (6.6.6.6.8.8)“Spirit” [↗]
Words: James K. Manley (1975) Tune: SPIRIT (Irr.)“Nicodemus Sought Out Jesus” [↗]
Words: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (2011) Tune: NETTLETON (8.7.8.7 D)“Womb of Life” [↗]
Words: Ruth C. Duck (1992) Tune: LADUE CHAPEL (8.7.8.7 D)“I Journey Through the Wilderness” [↗]
Words: Stephen M. Fearing (2020) Tune: FOREST GREEN (8.6.8.6 D)
Songs for Listening, Preludes, or Special Music
Third Sunday in Lent
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“Why Stands the Woman by the Well?” [↗]
Words: Stephen M. Fearing (2020) Tune: NOEL (8.6.8.6 D)“Once a Woman Seeking Water” [↗]
Words: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (2012) Tune: BEACH SPRING (8.7.8.7 D)“Woman in the Night” [↗]
Words: Brian A. Wren (1982) Tune: HAIZ (5.5.5.5 with refrain)“Come to the Water” [↗]
Words and music: Ray Makeever (1999)“Like a Healing Stream” [↗]
Words and music: Bruce Harding (2003)“Crashing Waters at Creation” [↗]
Words: Sylvia G. Dunstan (1994) Tune: CRASHING WATERS (8.7.8.7)“Have You Heard the Raindrops?” [↗]
Words: Christian Strover (2005) Tune: HAVE YOU HEARD THE RAINDROPS (12.11.12.9 with refrain)“Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah” [↗]
Words: William Williams (1745) Tune: CWM RHONDDA (8.7.8.7.8.7.7)“Shepherd of Souls, Refresh and Bless” [↗]
Words: James Montgomery (1825) Tune: ST. AGNES (8.6.8.6)“I Hunger and I Thirst” [↗]
Words: John S.B. Monsell (1866) Tune: IBSTONE (6.6.6.6)
Songs for Listening, Preludes, or Special Music
Fourth Sunday in Lent
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“A Man Who Could Not See” [↗]
Words: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (1719) Tune: LEONI (6.6.8.4)“Healer of Our Every Ill” [↗]
Words: Marty Haugen (1987) Tune: HEALER OF OUR EVERY ILL (8.8.9 with refrain)“Siyahamba (We Are Marching in the Light of God)” [↗]
South African Traditional Song“Here I Am to Worship” [↗]
Words and music: Tim Hughes (2001)“Light of the World” [↗]
Words and music: Kelly D. Crawford (2008)“My Shepherd Will Supply My Need” [↗]
Words: Isaac Watts (1719) Tune: RESIGNATION (8.6.8.6)“Shepherd Me, O God” [↗]
Words: Marty Haugen (1986) Tune: SHEPHERD ME (Irr. with refrain)
Songs for Listening, Preludes, or Special Music
Fifth Sunday in Lent
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“Breathe on Me, Breath of God” [↗]
Words: Edwin Hatch (1878) Tune: TRENTHAM (6.8.6.6)“O Breath of Life” [↗]
Words: Bessie Porter Head (1920) Tune: SPIRITUS VITAE (9.8.9.8)“Veni Sancte Spiritus” [↗]
Words: Taizé Community (1978) Tune: VENI SANCTE SPIRITUS (Irr.)“Come Alive” [↗]
Words and music by Benjamin Hastins, Michael Fatkin, and Scott Ligertwood“‘Come, Lazarus,’ the Savior Called” [↗]
Words: Carl P. Daw (1996) Tune: BANGOR (8.6.8.6)“Lord, If Only You Had Been Here” [↗]
Words: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (2017) Tune: BEACH SPRING (8.7.8.7 D)“God Weeps” [↗]
Words: Shirley Erena Murray (1996) Tune: HIROSHIMA (6.4.8.10)
Songs for Listening, Preludes, or Special Music
Palm Sunday (Sixth Sunday in Lent)
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“Come Into the Streets With Me!” [↗]
Words: Shirley Erena Murray (2005) Tune: SEE SAW SACCARA DOWN (7.7.7.7 with refrain)“Pave the Way with Branches” [↗]
Words and music: Bret Hesla (1999)“No Tramp of Soldiers’ Marching Feet” [↗]
Words: Timothy Dudley-Smith (1984) Tune: KINGSFOLD (8.6.8.6 D)“We Have a King” [↗]
Words and music: Fred Kaan (1969)“A Cheering, Chanting, Dizzy Crowd” [↗]
Words: Thomas H. Troeger (1985) Tune: CHRISTIAN LOVE (8.6.8.6)
Songs for Listening, Preludes, or Special Music
Holy Week (Passion Narrative - Maundy Thursday and Good Friday)
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“All Who Hunger, Gather Gladly” [↗]
Words: Sylvia G. Dunstan (1990) Tune: HOLY MANNA (8.7.8.7 D)“Beneath the Cross of Jesus” [↗]
Words: Elizabeth C. Clephane (1868) Tune: ST. CHRISTOPHER (Irr.)“Jesus is a Rock in a Weary Land” [↗]
African-American Spiritual“Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us With Your Love” [↗]
Words: Tom Colvin (1963) Tune: CHEREPONI (7.7.9 with refrain)“Lo, I Am With You” [↗]
Words: Iona Community (1988) Tune: PRESENCE (11.11.10.11)“There By the Cross the Women Stayed” [↗]
Words: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (2019) Tune: ST. CATHERINE (8.8.8.8.8.8)“Go to Dark Gethsemane” [↗]
Words: James Montgomery (1820) Tune: REDHEAD 76 (7.7.7.7.7.7)
Songs for Listening, Preludes, or Special Music
Easter Sunday
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“Come Out the Wilderness” [↗]
African-American Spiritual“Early on a Sunday” [↗]
Words: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (1999) Tune: PROMISES (11.11.11.9 with refrain)“Christ is Alive!” [↗]
Words: Brian Wren (1968) Tune: TRURO (8.8.8.8)“Because You Live, O Christ” [↗]
Words: Shirley Erena Murray (1987) Tune: VRUECHTEN (Irr. with refrain)“God is Walking in the Garden” [↗]
Words and music: Dave Brown (1994)“Now the Green Blade Rises” [↗]
Words: John Macleod Campbell Crum (1928) Tune: NOEL NOUVELET (11.10.10.11)“The Risen Christ, Who Walks on Wounded Feet” [↗]
Words: Nigel Weaver (1993) Tune: WOODLANDS (10.10.10.10)“Christ Has Risen” [↗]
Words: John Bell (1988) Tune: TRANSFORMATION (8.7.8.7 D)“At the Dawning of Salvation” [↗]
Words: Jock Curle (1999) Tune: NETTLETON (8.7.8.7 D)“In the Garden” [↗]
Words: C. Austin Miles (1913) Tune: GARDEN (8.9.10.7 with refrain)
Songs for Listening, Preludes, or Special Music
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Anna Strickland (she/her/hers) is currently pursuing her Master's of Divinity at Iliff School of Theology. She is a native Austinite and graduated from the University of Texas where she now works in college ministry, especially serving LGBTQ students. Anna loves painting, spending time outside, and her family.