What do you fear? Music Ideas for Advent & Christmas
We’ve curated a long list of hymns and songs that work well with our What do you fear? Advent–Epiphany series. We hope these ideas and suggestions help you to plan meaningful worship services throughout this season. Be sure to check out our Spotify playlist as well!
(Note: While we do not own the licensing rights to these songs—other than the hymns written specifically 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.)
What do you fear?
Music for the whole series
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“How Can It Be” [↗]
Words: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (2015) Tune: FAITHFULNESS (11.10.11.10 with refrain)“This Time of Darkness Bears a Dream” [↗]
Words: Hannah C. Brown (2024) Tune: WEXFORD CAROL (8.8.8.8 D)“Better Days Are Dawning” [↗]
Public domain. Words: Annie Lewis Pinfold (1908) Tune: COURAGE MOTHER (9.9.9.12)“Give to the Winds Thy Fears” [↗]
Public domain. Words: Paul Gerhardt (1656) trans. John Wesley (1737) Tune: FESTAL SONG (6.6.8.6)“Whispering Hope” [↗]
Public domain. Words and music: Septimus Winner (1868)“Come Thou Long Expected Jesus” [↗]
Public domain. Words: Charles Wesley (1744) Tune: HYFRYDOL (8.7.8.7 D)“We Light a Candle” [↗]
Words and music: Richard Bruxvoort Colligan (2016)
*This simple refrain works well as a response to the candle lighting each week of Advent
First Sunday of Advent
In the time of Herod, we long for God to break in | Luke 1:5-13 & Lamentations 3:55-57
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“In the Time of Herod” [↗]
Words: Anna Strickland (2025) Tune: CRANHAM (11.11.11.11)“O Come, Emmanuel” [↗]
Free use. Words: Avery Arden (2023) Tune: VENI EMMANUEL (8.8.8.8.8.8)
*We encourage you to read this blog post by Avery Arden (a guest contributor of ours) and use their fresh language for this beloved hymn.“Break, Day of God” [↗]
Public domain. Words: Henry Burton Tune: CHRISTCHURCH (6.6.6.6.8.8)“We Wait the Peaceful Kingdom” [↗]
Words: Kathleen R. Moore (2010) Tune: MERLE’S TUNE (7.6.7.6 D)“Where Are You, God?” [↗]
Words and music: Scott A. Ressman (2007)“There Is a Longing on Our Hearts” [↗]
Words and music: Anne Quigley (1992)“O Lord, Hear My Prayer” [↗]
Words: Taizé Community (1982) Tune: HEAR MY PRAYER (5.5.6 D)“Christ, Be Our Light” [↗]
Words and music: Bernadette Farrell (1993)“Wait for the Lord” [↗]
Words: Taizé Community (1984) Tune: WAIT FOR THE LORD (8.8)“The God Some May Imagine” [↗]
Words: Adam M. L. Tice (2015) Music: Randall Sensmeier“Waiting For You” [↗]
Words and music: Christopher Grundy (2004)
Second Sunday of Advent
When we’re running out of hope, God is at work | Matthew 11:1-12 & Isaiah 43:19-21
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“Looking Out a Prison Window” [↗]
Words: Anna Strickland (2025) Tune: IRBY (8.7.8.7.7.7)“With Us” [↗]
Words and music: Emma Ceurvels (2024)“Hope Is a Seed” [↗]
Words: Mary Louise Bringle (2025) Tune: FLEDGLING (9.9.9.5.5)“Hymn of Promise” [↗]
Words and music: Natalie Sleeth (1986)“God, Be With Your Weary People” [↗]
Words: Hannah C. Brown (2023) Tune: HYFRYDOL (8.7.8.7 D)“We Hope” [↗]
Words and music: Bryan Sirchio (2018)“Trust the Work” [↗]
Words and music: Paul Vasile (2019)“Are You the One?” [↗]
Words: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (2010) Tune: CORONATION (8.6.8.6.8.6)“The Universe Is Bending” [↗]
Words and music: Jeremy McLeod (2006)“The Great Forerunner of the Morn” [↗]
Public domain. Words: The Venerable Bede (8th cent.), trans. John M. Neale (19th cent.) Tune: WINCHESTER NEW (8.8.8.8)
Third Sunday of Advent
Even in our fear, we are called forward | Luke 1:26-39 & Jeremiah 1:4-10
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“O Come, Take Heart” [↗]
Words: Anna Strickland (2025) Tune: VENI EMMANUEL (8.8.8.8 with refrain)“The Summons” [↗]
Words: John L. Bell (1987) Tune: KELVINGROVE (7.6.7.6.7.7.7.6)“Do It Afraid” [↗]
Words and music: Bryan Sirchio (2018)“At the Learning Curve’s Beginning” [↗]
Words: Andrew Pratt (2008) Tune: RATHBUN (8.7.8.7)“A Word Went Out to Mary” [↗]
Words: Hannah C. Brown (2022) Tune: ES IST EIN’ ROS’ ENTSPRUNGEN (7.6.7.6 with refrain)“No Wind at the Window” [↗]
Words: John L. Bell (1992) Tune: COLUMCILLE (11.11.11.11)“The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came” [↗]
Public domain. Basque carol.“O God, As Troubles Here Increase” [↗]
Words: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (2025) Tune: KINGSFOLD (8.6.8.6 D)“I Can Do Small Things” [↗]
Words and music: Paul Vasile (2016)
Fourth Sunday of Advent
When you’re afraid, give me your hand | Matthew 1:18-25 & Isaiah 41:5-10
Songs for Listening, Preludes, or Special Music
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“We’re Not Alone” [↗]
Words: Anna Strickland (2025) Tune: ADESTE FIDELES (Irr. with refrain)“O Joseph, Awaken, Let Go of Your Fear” [↗]
Words: Chris Shelton (2020) Tune: GARCEAU (11.11.11.11)“I Need You to Survive” [↗]
Words and music: David Frazier (1995)“The Servant Song” [↗]
Words: Richard Gillard (1977) Tune: THE SERVANT SONG (8.7.8.7)“I Can Celebrate You” [↗]
Words: Anna Strickland (2023) Tune: CRANHAM (11.11.11.11)“Gentle Joseph, Joseph Dear” [↗]
Words: Carol Birkland (1993) Tune: RESONET IN LAUDIBUS (7.8.8.11)“Precious Lord, Take My Hand” [↗]
Words: Thomas Andrew Dorsey (1938) Tune: PRECIOUS LORD (Irr.)“Joseph Was Troubled” [↗]
Words: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (2016) Tune: ADELAIDE (5.4.5.4 D)
Christmas Eve
Good news is louder than fear | Luke 2:1-20
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“Shout!” [↗]
Words: Anna Strickland (2025) Tune: GREENSLEEVES (8.7.8.7 with refrain)“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” [↗]
Public domain. Words: Charles Wesley (1739) Tune: MENDELSSOHN (7.7.7.7 D with refrain)“Awake! Awake, and Greet the New Morn” [↗]
Words and music: Marty Haugen (1983)“Angels We Have Heard on High” [↗]
Public domain. French carol.“Who Would Think That What Was Needed” [↗]
Words: John L. Bell (1990) Tune: SCARLET RIBBONS (8.7.8.7 D)“Joy to the World” [↗]
Public domain. Words: Isaac Watts (1719) Tune: ANTIOCH (7.7.7.7 D with refrain)“Love Has Come!” [↗]
Words: Ken Bible (1996) Tune: BRING A TORCH (9.9.10.9.9.8)
*If this hymn is not in your hymnal, you can purchase the sheet music here.“Angels from the Realms of Glory” [↗]
Public domain. Words: James Montgomery (1816) Tune: REGENT SQUARE (8.7.8.7.8.7)“It Came Upon the Midnight Clear” [↗]
Public domain. Words: Edmund Hamilton Sears (1849) Tune: CAROL (8.6.8.6 D)“O Little Town of Bethlehem” [↗]
Public domain. Words: Phillips Brooks (1868) Tune: ST. LOUIS (8.6.8.6 D)
Sunday after Christmas
Let fear fuel a fire for justice | Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“Let the Fires of Justice Grow” [↗]
Words: Anna Strickland (2025) Tune: JEFFERSON (8.7.8.7 D)“I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” [↗]
Public domain. Words: Henry W. Longfellow (1864) Tune: WALTHAM (8.8.8.8)“When Hope is Crushed” [↗]
Words: Adam M. L. Tice (2020) Tune: JAVIER (8.8.8.5 with refrain)“As Joseph Lay in Troubled Sleep” [↗]
Words: Mary Louise Bringle (2001) Tune: BUTTONWOOD (8.6.8.6 D)“A Voice Was Heard in Ramah” [↗]
Words: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (2004) Tune: LLANGLOFFAN (7.6.7.6 D)“Go Tell It on the Mountain” [↗]
Public domain. African-American spiritual.“Why?” [↗]
Words and music: Dosia Carlson (2005)
Epiphany Sunday
Fear doesn’t stop us | Matthew 2:1-12, 16-18
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“We’ve Seen God’s Face” [↗]
Words: Anna Strickland (2025) Tune: W ŻŁOBIE LEŻY (8.7.8.7.8.8.7.7)“The Star of Bethlehem” [↗]
Public domain. Words: Henry Kirke White (19th cent.) Tune: TRURO (8.8.8.8)“God of Grace and God of Glory” [↗]
Public domain. Words: Harry Emerson Fosdick (1930) Tune: CWM RHONDDA (8.7.8.7.8.7.7)“When Our Lives Are Ruled by Fear” [↗]
Words: David Bjorlin (2020) Tune: ABERYSTWYTH (7.7.7.7 D)“Hope Is Worth the Risk” [↗]
Words: Anna Strickland (2024) Tune: NOËL NOUVELET (11.10.11.10)“I’m Determined” [↗]
Public domain. African-American spiritual“We Can’t Give In to Hate and Fear” [↗]
Words: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (2025) Tune: O WALY WALY (8.8.8.8)“What God Hath Promised” [↗]
Public domain. Words: Annie Johnson Flint (1919) Music: William M. Runyan (1919)“As With Gladness Men of Old” [↗]
Public domain. Words: W. Chatterton Dix (1861) TUNE: DIX (7.7.7.7.7.7)“We Shall Overcome” [↗]
Public domain. African-American spiritual.
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Rev. Anna Strickland
Operations Support & Content Creation
Rev. Anna Strickland (she/her) 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 former teacher and college minister, a proud Texas Longhorn and graduate of Iliff School of Theology, a Baptist to the core ministering in ecumenical spaces, and a lover of chaos anchored by the belief that the Spirit is most active in the spaces between us.