Words for the Beginning: Music Ideas for Advent & Christmas
We’ve curated a long list of hymns and songs that work well with our Words for the Beginning 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.)
Original music for Words for the Beginning
Rev. Anna Strickland has written 7 original hymns for this series (you will also see these linked in the weekly lists below). They are set to familiar Christmas tunes (public domain) with fresh lyrics inspired by our theme and weekly sub-themes. The hymns are free for congregational use. You can download a PDF with the sheet music and lyrics for all the hymns, as well as image files for including the hymns in bulletins or worship slides.
Words for the Beginning
Music for the whole series
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“We Gather Up an Ancient Cloth” [↗]
Words: Hannah C. Brown (2024) Tune: PUER NOBIS NASCITUR (8.8.8.8)“This Is a Day of New Beginnings” [↗]
Words: Brian A. Wren (1978) Tune: BEGINNINGS (9.8.9.8)“O God Our Help in Ages Past” [↗]
Public domain. Words: Isaac Watts (1719) Tune: ST. ANNE (8.6.8.6)“Wonderful Words of Life” [↗]
Public domain. Words and music: P. P. Bliss (1874)“O God in Whom All Life Begins” [↗]
Words: Carl P. Daw, Jr. (1990) Tune: NOEL (8.6.8.6 D)“God Who Spoke in the Beginning” [↗]
Words: Fred Kaan (1968) Tune: CORBRIDGE (8.7.8.7.8.7)
First Sunday of Advent
You are a blessing | Luke 1:26-38 & Isaiah 43:1-7
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“In Case No One Ever Told You” [↗]
Free use. Words: Anna Strickland (2024) Tune: LOBE DEN HERREN (14.14.4.7.8)“A Word Went Out to Mary” [↗]
Words: Hannah C. Brown (2022) Tune: ES IST EIN’ ROS’ ENTSPRUNGEN (7.6.7.6 with refrain)“God Calls You Good” [↗]
Words and music: Paul Vasile (2017)“The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came” [↗]
Public domain. Basque carol.“Fearfully, Wonderfully Made” [↗]
Words and music: Nathan Crabtree and Erik Whitehill (2019)“The Holy One Has Chosen You” [↗]
Words and music: Paul Vasile (2015)
Second Sunday of Advent
We can’t go alone | Ruth 1 & Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Songs for Listening, Preludes, or Special Music
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“To Be Known” [↗]
Free use. Words: Anna Strickland (2024) Tune: WALTHAM (8.8.8.8)“Are You Lost?” [↗]
Words: Hannah C. Brown (2023) Tune: CIVILITY (8.7.8.7 D)“I Shall Not Leave from by Your Side” [↗]
Words: Chris Shelton (2018) Tune: PROSPECT (8.8.8.8)“I Need You to Survive” [↗]
Words and music: David Frazier (1995)“Blest Be the Tie That Binds” [↗]
Public domain. Words: John Fawcett (1782) Tune: DENNIS (6.6.8.6)“Called as Partners in Christ’s Service” [↗]
Words: Jane Parker Huber (1981) Tune: BEECHER (8.7.8.7 D)“We Are One in the Spirit” [↗]
Words and music: Peter Scholtes (1966)“The Servant Song” [↗]
Words: Richard Gillard (1977) Tune: THE SERVANT SONG (8.7.8.7)
Third Sunday of Advent
Do the good that is yours to do | Luke 3:7-16 & Isaiah 58:9b-12
Songs for Listening, Preludes, or Special Music
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“Do the Good That’s Yours to Do” [↗]
Free use. Words: Anna Strickland (2024) Tune: TEMPUS ADEST FLORIDUM (13.13.13.14)“We’ll Build a World” [↗]
Free use. Words and music: David Lohman (2010)“I Can Do Small Things” [↗]
Words and music: Paul Vasile (2016)“If I Have Two Coats” [↗]
Free use. Words: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (2015) Tune: LYONS (10.10.11.11)“Forth in Thy Name, O Lord, I Go” [↗]
Public domain. Words: Charles Wesley (1749) Tune: DUKE STREET (8.8.8.8)“Take My Life, and Let It Be” [↗]
Public domain. Words: Frances Ridley Havergal (1874) Tune: HENDON (7.7.7.7.7)“If Any Little Word of Mine” [↗]
Public domain. Words and music: Lanta Wilson Smith (1899)
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Hope is worth the risk | Matthew 1:18-25 & Luke 1:46-55
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“Hope Is Worth the Risk” [↗]
Free use. Words: Anna Strickland (2024) Tune: NOËL NOUVELET (11.10.11.10)“How Can It Be” [↗]
Free use. Words: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (2015) Tune: FAITHFULNESS (11.10.11.10 with refrain)“A Better Way” [↗]
Free use. Words: Anna Strickland (2022) Tune: GOD REST YOU MERRY (8.6.8.6.8.6 with refrain)
*Bulletin insert available here.“Let Us Hope When Hope Seems Hopeless” [↗]
Words: David Beebe (1989) Tune: LET US HOPE (8.7.8.7 D)“Canticle of the Turning” [↗]
Words: Rory Cooney (1990) Tune: STAR OF THE COUNTY DOWN (8.6.8.6 D)“Song of Mary” [↗]
Words: Miriam Therese Winter (1987) Tune: MORNING SONG (8.6.8.6)“Magnificat” [↗]
Words: Taizé Community (1978) Tune: MAGNIFICAT
Christmas Eve
Love knows your name | Luke 2:1-20 & Isaiah 9:6
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“Love Broke Forth” [↗]
Free use. Words: Anna Strickland (2024) Tune: IRBY (8.7.8.7.7.7)“Carol at the Manger” [↗]
Words: Marty Haugen (1987) Tune: JOYOUS LIGHT (8.7.8.7 D)
*If this hymn is not in your hymnal, you can purchase the sheet music here.“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.“Where Is This Stupendous Stranger?” [↗]
Public domain. Words: Christopher Smart (18th cent.) Tune: HYFRYDOL (8.7.8.7 D)“Of the Father’s Love Begotten” [↗]
Public domain. Words: Aurelius Clemens Prudentius (4th cent.) Tune: DIVINUM MYSTERIUM (8.7.8.7.8.7.7)
*The New Century Hymnal contains a beautiful modern translation of the original Latin, using inclusive language.“Behold, the Great Creator Makes” [↗]
Public domain. Words: Thomas Pestel (17th cent.) Tune: THIS ENDRIS NYGHT (8.6.8.6)“Love Came Down at Christmas” [↗]
Public domain. Words: Christina Georgina Rossetti (1885) Tune: GARTAN (6.7.6.7)“O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High” [↗]
Public domain. Words: Thomas á Kempis (15th cent.), transl. Benjamin Webb (1854) Tune: DEO GRACIAS (8.8.8.8)
Sunday after Christmas
Don’t forget to laugh | Luke 2:10, Matthew 2:10, Isaiah 9:2-3, Psalm 148,
Psalm 126:1-3, Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, Isaiah 55:12-13
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“Let Joy Be Your Companion” [↗]
Free use. Words: Anna Strickland (2024) Tune: GO TELL IT (7.6.7.6 with refrain)“Let All Creation Dance” [↗]
Words: Brian A. Wren (1989) Tune: DARWALL (6.6.6.6.4.4.4.4)“Joy to the World” [↗]
Public domain. Words: Isaac Watts (1719) Tune: ANTIOCH (8.6.8.6)“The Trees of the Field” [↗]
Words: Steffi Karen Rubin (1975) Music: Stuart Dauermann (1975)“Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee” [↗]
Public domain. Words: Henry Van Dyke (1907) Tune: HYMN TO JOY (8.7.8.7 D)“Angels We Have Heard on High” [↗]
Public domain. Traditional French carol (18th cent.)“Go Tell It on the Mountain” [↗]
Public domain. African-American spiritual“O Come, All Ye Faithful” [↗]
Public domain. Words: John Francis Wade, transl. Frederick Oakeley (1841) Tune: ADESTE FIDELES (11.11.11.11.11)“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” [↗]
Public domain. Words: Charles Wesley (1739) Tune: MENDELSSOHN (7.7.7.7 D with refrain)
Epiphany Sunday
The road isn’t straight | Matthew 2:1-12 & Isaiah 43:16-21
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“The Road Winds Ever On” [↗]
Free use. Words: Anna Strickland (2024) Tune: DIVINUM MYSTERIUM (8.7.8.7.8.7.7)“Home By Another Way” [↗]
Free use. Words: Anna Strickland (2021) Tune: KINGS OF ORIENT (8.8.4.4.6 with refrain)
*Bulletin insert available here.“Wise Ones Called to Journey On” [↗]
Words: Hannah C. Brown (2023) Tune: DIX (7.7.7.7.7.7)“Who Would Think That What Was Needed” [↗]
Words: John L. Bell (1990) Tune: SCARLET RIBBONS (8.7.8.7 D)“Wise Men, They Came to Look” [↗]
Words: Christopher M. Idle (1981) Tune: NEUMARK (9.8.9.8.8.8)“The Star of Bethlehem” [↗]
Public domain. Words: Henry Kirke White (19th cent.) Tune: TRURO (8.8.8.8)“As With Gladness Men of Old” [↗]
Public domain. Words: W. Chatterton Dix (1861) Tune: DIX (7.7.7.7.7.7)
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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.