Tell Me Something Good: Music suggestions for Lent–Easter
Here we’ve collected hymns and songs that work well with our Tell Me Something Good Lent theme and weekly sub-themes. 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.)
Tell Me Something Good Original Music
This season, we’re partnering with Britt Kusserow to create an original theme song for Tell Me Something Good. The sheet music and music video will be available soon for purchase. Bundle patrons will automatically receive access to the theme song when it is released.
Additionally, Rev. Anna Strickland has written five original hymns to familiar hymn tunes for the 1st through 5th Sundays in Lent, which are linked in the list below. See this blog post for more about these hymns.
music for all season
Tell Me Something Good: Grounding ourselves in the good news this Lent
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“Be Rooted in Hope” [↗]
Words and music: Paul Vasile (2015)“To What Can the Kingdom of God Be Compared?” [↗]
Words: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (2011) Tune: TO GOD BE THE GLORY (11.11.11.11 with refrain)“Your Love Is a Wider Love” [↗]
Words: Hannah C. Brown (2024) Music: Sally Ann Morris (2024)“The Kin-dom of God Is the Queerest of Nations” [↗]
Words: Amanda Udis-Kessler (2019) Tune: KREMSER (12.11.12.11)“Do We Love Christ Enough” [↗]
Words: Adam M. L. Tice (2009) Music: Sally Ann Morris (2009)“Teacher Jesus, Source of Knowledge” [↗]
Free use. Words: Amanda Udis-Kessler (2024) Tune: HYFRYDOL (8.7.8.7 D)“We Reclaim the Name of Jesus” [↗]
Words: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (2011) Tune: HOLY MANNA (8.7.8.7 D)
ash wednesday
The good news is… all are invited | Luke 14:15-24
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“Just as I Am” [↗]
Public domain. Words: Charlotte Elliott (1836) Tune: WOODWORTH (8.8.8.8)“Happy Are All Who Are Called to the Feast” [↗]
Words: Delores Dufner (2015) Music: Michel Guimont (2015)“The Last, the Lost, the Least” [↗]
Words and music: David Lohman (2013)“God Is Waiting at the Table” [↗]
Words: Adam M. L. Tice (2014) Tune: JEFFERSON (8.7.8.7 D)“At the Table, All Are Equal” [↗]
Words: David Bjorlin (2020) Music: Benjamin Brody (2020)“For Everyone Born” [↗]
Words: Shirley Erena Murray (1998) Music: Brian Mann (2006)“Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling” [↗]
Public domain. Words and music: Will L. Thompson (1880)“Jesus Calls Us Here to Meet Him” [↗]
Words: John L. Bell and Graham Maule (1989) Tune: LEWIS FOLK MELODY (8.7.8.7 D)“I’m Gonna Eat at the Welcome Table” [↗]
Public domain. African-American spiritual“The Summons” [↗]
Words: John L. Bell (1987) Tune: KELVINGROVE (7.6.7.6.7.7.7.6)
First sunday in lent
The good news is… so good it catches us by surprise | John 2:1-11 & Matthew 13:31-32
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“In a Neat and Tidy Garden” [↗]
Words: Anna Strickland (2025) Tune: ALL THE WAY (8.7.8.7 D)“The Wedding Was Over” [↗]
Words: David Bjorlin (2023) Music: Ryan M. Flanigan (2023)“Come, Join in Cana’s Feast” [↗]
Words: Herman G. Stuempfle (1993) Tune: FRANCONIA (6.6.8.6)“Wine at a Wedding” [↗]
Words: Ruth Duck (2018) Tune: RUBY'S GIFT (11.10.11.10 with refrain)“The Seeds of Grace” [↗]
Words: Hannah C. Brown (2023) Tune: DURROW (8.6.8.6 D)“Seeds of God’s Garden, Tenderly Planted” [↗]
Free use. Words: Amanda Udis-Kessler (2025) Tune: BUNESSAN (5.4.5.4 D)“Take My Gifts” [↗]
Words: Shirley Erena Murray (1988) Tune: TALAVERA TERRACE (8.7.8.7 D)
*This hymn would be appropriate if you are celebrating communion on this Sunday.
second sunday in lent
The good news is… great love for God and neighbor | Luke 7:36-50 & Matthew 25:35-40
Songs for Listening, Preludes, or Special Music
“More Love” by Sid Davis [↗]
“Imago Dei” by Richard Bruxvoort Colligan [↗]
“Love Shine A Light” by Katrina & The Waves [↗]
“Everybody” by Ingrid Michaelson [↗]
“Love Is His Word” by Luke Connaughton and Ronald Krisman [↗]
“The More I Seek You” by Gateway Worship [↗]
“Put a Little Love in Your Heart” by Jackie DeShannon [↗]
“The Greatest Commandment” by The Soil and The Seed Project [↗]
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“I Come With My Devotion” [↗]
Words: Anna Strickland (2025) Tune: ANGEL’S STORY (7.6.7.6 D)“Behold, a Woman from the City” [↗]
Words: Gracia Grindal (1983) Tune: TEARS (9.8.8.9.7)“I Sing the Praise of Love Almighty” [↗]
Words: Gerhard Tersteegen (1757), transl. Madeleine Forell Marshall (1993) Tune: ST. PETERSBURG (9.8.9.8.9.9)“Take My Life, and Let It Be” [↗]
Public domain. Words: Frances R. Havergal (1874) Tune: HENDON (7.7.7.7.7)“We Remember Hands That Tend” [↗]
Words: Hannah C. Brown (2023) Music: Kate Williams (2023)“I Saw a Stranger” [↗]
Words: Anna Strickland (2024) Tune: KINGSFOLD (8.6.8.6 D)“Who Is Thy Neighbor?” [↗]
Public domain. Words: William Cutter (19th cent.) Tune: DALEHURST (8.6.8.6)“What Are We Called to Do” [↗]
Free use. Words and music: Amanda Udis-Kessler (2019)“Come Now, You Blessed, Eat at My Table” [↗]
Words: Ruth C. Duck (1979) Tune: COME NOW, YOU BLESSED (10.10.10.10)“Whatever You Do” [↗]
Words: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (2008) Tune: ST. DENIO (11.11.11.11)
Third sunday in Lent
The good news is… together, the impossible is possible | Mark 6:32-44 & Ephesians 3:20-21
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“Human Minds Just Can’t Imagine” [↗]
Words: Anna Strickland (2025) Tune: AUSTRIAN HYMN (8.7.8.7 D)“Called as Partners in Christ’s Service” [↗]
Words: Jane Parker Huber (1981) Tune: BEECHER (8.7.8.7 D)“We’ll Build a World” [↗]
Words and music: David Lohman (2010)“We Come with Gifts, We Come in Need” [↗]
Free use. Words: Amanda Udis-Kessler (2024) Tune: ELLACOMBE (7.6.7.6 D)“We All Are One in Mission” [↗]
Words: Rusty Edwards (1985) Tune: ES FLOG EIN KLEINS WALDVÖGELEIN (7.6.7.6 D)“Christ, You Call Us All to Service” [↗]
Words: Joy F. Patterson (1994) Tune: IN BABILONE (8.7.8.7 D)“We Shall Overcome” [↗]
African-American spiritual (20th cent.)“Are You Lost?” [↗]
Words: Hannah C. Brown (2024) Tune: CIVILITY (8.7.8.7 D)
fourth sunday in Lent
The good news is… protection and care for the vulnerable | Matthew 19:13-15 & Deuteronomy 24:17-22
Songs for Listening, Preludes, or Special Music
“Holy Is the Refugee” by Hannah C. Brown and Mark A. Miller [↗]
“Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand)” by Diana Ross [↗]
“Heal the World” by Michael Jackson [↗]
“Find Your Kindness” by Rend Collective [↗]
“God Help the Outcasts” from The Hunchback of Notre Dame [↗]
*If you choose to perform this song, please consider changing “a g*psy’s prayer” to “a sinner’s prayer” or “my humble prayer” as the word “g*psy” is a slur used against the Romani people.
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“See the Precious Children” [↗]
Words: Anna Strickland (2025) Tune: BEACH SPRING (8.7.8.7 D)“As Christ Has Welcomed Us” [↗]
Words: Ruth Duck (2005) Tune: DENNIS (6.6.8.6)“Christ, You Spoke to Us of Children” [↗]
Words: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (2019) Tune: W ŻŁOBIE LEŻY (8.7.8.7.8.8.7)“Has Jesus Stood in Front of Me” [↗]
Words: Adam M. L. Tice (2018) Tune: DETROIT (8.6.8.6)“Children of God” [↗]
Words: John Greenleaf Whittier (1848) Tune: WELWYN (11.10.11.10)“Heaven Shall Not Wait” [↗]
Words: Graham Maule and John L. Bell (1987) Music: John L. Bell (1987)“These Treasured Children” [↗]
Words: Jacque B. Jones (2009) Tune: PUER NOBIS NASCITUR (8.8.8.8)
fifth sunday in lent
The good news is… rooted in justice, mercy, and faithfulness | John 8:2-11 & Matthew 23:23
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“Let Us Remember” [↗]
Words: Anna Strickland (2025) Tune: ADELAIDE (5.4.5.4 D)“Righteous Mercy” [↗]
Words: Anna Strickland (2024) Tune: HYFRYDOL (8.7.8.7 D)“There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy” [↗]
Public domain. Words: Frederick William Faber (1862) Tune: STUTTGART (8.7.8.7)“Amazing Grace” [↗]
Public domain. Words: John Newton (1772) Tune: AMAZING GRACE (8.6.8.6)“When the Church of Jesus” [↗]
Words: Fred Pratt Green (1968) Tune: KING’S WESTON (6.5.6.5 D)“God Bless Our ‘No’” [↗]
Words: Hannah C. Brown (2023) Tune: KINGSFOLD (8.6.8.6 D)“God, How Can We Forgive” [↗]
Words: Ruth C. Duck (1996) Tune: KINGSFOLD (6.6.8.4 D)“We Limit Not the Truth of God” [↗]
Public domain. Words: George Rawson (1853) Tune: OLD 22ND (8.6.8.6 D)
palm/passion sunday
The good news is… inspiring us to act | Mark 11:1-19
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“Young and Fearless Prophet” [↗]
Public domain. Words: S. Ralph Harlow (1931) Tune: BLAIRGOWRIE (13.13.13.13)“Pray With Our Feet” [↗]
Words and music: Paul Vasile (2018)“I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” [↗]
Public domain. Tune: ASSAM (10.10.10.8)“Holy Spirit, Spark a Vision” [↗]
Words: Hannah C. Brown (2024) Tune: HOLY MANNA (8.7.8.7 D)“O Save Us, Lord! Hosanna!” [↗]
Words: Chris Shelton (2018) Tune: ELLACOMBE (7.6.7.6 D)“Mantos y Palmas” [↗]
Words and music: Rubén Ruiz Ávila (1972)“Hosanna, Loud Hosanna” [↗]
Public domain. Words: Jennette Threlfall (1873) Tune: ELLACOMBE (7.6.7.6 D)“All Glory, Laud, and Honor” [↗]
Words: Theodulf, Bishop of Orléans (c. 820), transl. J. M. Neale (1854) Tune: ST. THEODULPH (7.6.7.6 with refrain)“Community of Christ” [↗]
Words: Shirley Erena Murray (1992) Tune: LEONI (6.6.8.4 D)
maundy thursday
The good news is… even Judas gets his feet washed | John 13:1-35
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“Blessed is the Basin” [↗]
Words: Lindy Thompson (2023) Tune: BASIN AND TOWEL (5.5.4.5 D)“Si Fui Motivo de Dolor, Oh Dios” [↗]
Words: Sara Menéndez de Hall (1988) Tune: CAMACUA (10.10.10.4)“Love for Enemies” [↗]
Words and music: Paul Demer (2020)“Where Charity and Love Prevail” [↗]
Words: 8th cent., trans. Omer Westendorf (1961) Tune: CHRISTIAN LOVE (8.6.8.6)“As the Deer Pants for the Water” [↗]
Words and music: Marty Nystrom (1984)
good friday
The good news is… revealed through nonviolence | Luke 22:47-53; Luke 23:33-38, 44-46
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“You Seize No Sword” [↗]
Words: Adam M. L. Tice (2013) Tune: ST. PATRICK'S BREASTPLATE (8.8.8.8)“Go to Dark Gethsemane” [↗]
Public domain. Words: James Montgomery (1825) Tune: REDHEAD NO. 76 (7.7.7.7.7.7)“Ah, Holy Jesus” [↗]
Public domain. Words: Johann Heermann (1630), transl.Robert Bridges (1897) Tune: HERZLIEBSTER JESU (11.11.11.5)“O Sacred Head, Now Wounded” [↗]
Public domain. Words: Bernard of Clairvaux (12th cent.), transl. James W. Alexander (1829) Tune: PASSION CHORALE (7.6.7.6 D)“He Never Said a Mumbalin’ Word” [↗]
Public domain. African-American spiritual.“O Christ, Your Crucifixion” [↗]
Words: Hannah C. Brown (2024) Tune: PASSION CHORALE (7.6.7.6 D)
easter sunday
The good news is… alive in the world | Matthew 28:1-10
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“Morning Has Broken” [↗]
Words: Eleanor Farjeon (1931) TUNE: BUNESSAN (5.5.5.4 D)“Hymn of Promise (In the Bulb There Is a Flower)” [↗]
Words and music: Natalie Sleeth (1986)“Now the Green Blade Riseth” [↗]
Public domain. Words: John Macleod Campbell Crum (1928) Tune: NOEL NOUVELET (11.10.10.11)
*A choral arrangement of this hymn by Paul Vasile is available here.“Morning Breaks, the World Awakens” [↗]
Words: Hannah C. Brown (2022) Tune: GREENING POWER (8.7.8.7.8.7 with refrain)“Because You Live, O Christ” [↗]
Words: Shirley Erena Murray (1987) Tune: VRUECHTEN (6.11.6.11 with refrain)“Day of Delight and Beauty Unbounded” [↗]
Words: Delores Dufner (1996) Tune: IN DIR IST FREUDE (Irr.)“Christ Is Alive!” [↗]
Words: Brian Wren (1968) Tune: TRURO (8.8.8.8)“Goodness Is Stronger than Evil” [↗]
Words: Desmond Tutu (1994) Music: John L. Bell (1996)
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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.