I've been meaning to ask. . . Songs for Community
Whether at summer camp, protests, or in the pews, music has a way of bringing the community together. Here we’ve collected hymns and songs that work well with our “I’ve been meaning to ask...” worship series on curiosity, courage, and connection. Each week contains songs that speak to the weekly sub-theme and the scriptures we’ve selected. We hope these lists help you as you’re planning meaningful worship services.
(Note: While we do not own the licensing rights to these songs—other than the hymn written 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.)
I’ve been meaning to ask…
music for all season
Songs for Listening, Preludes, or Special Music
“More Love” arr. Sid Davis [↗]
* This is an arrangement of a beautiful Shaker hymn.“Tear Down the Walls” by The Many [↗]
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“A Covenant of Grace” [↗]
Free use. Words: Anna Strickland (2021) Tune: O WALY WALY (8.8.8.8)
* This hymn was written and arranged specifically for the series.“Where Charity and Love Prevail” [↗]
Words: Latin, 8th cent., trans. Omer Westendorf (1961) Tune: CHRISTIAN LOVE (8.6.8.6)“Help Us Accept Each Other” [↗]
Words: Fred Kaan (1975) Tune: AURELIA (7.6.7.6 D)“Blest Be the Tie That Binds” [↗]
Public Domain. Words: John Fawcett (1782) Tune: DENNIS (6.6.8.6)“I Come With Joy” [↗]
Words: Brian A. Wren (1970) Tune: DOVE OF PEACE (8.6.8.6.6)
* This hymn is particularly good for Sundays when communion is celebrated.“Where Two or Three Are Gathered” [↗]
Words and music: Bruce Harding (2002)
* This simple hymn can be sung as a round and is particularly good for opening worship.“Bringing Our Questions” [↗]
Words and music: Bret Hesla (2015)
Where are you from?
Genesis 2:4b-15 | John 1:35-51
Songs for Listening, Preludes, or Special Music
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“Diverse in Nation, Culture, Race” [↗]
Words: Ruth Duck (1992) Tune: TALLIS CANON (8.8.8.8)“In Christ There Is No East or West” [↗]
Public Domain. Words: John Oxenham (1908) Tune: MC KEE (8.6.8.6)“Who Is My Mother? Who Is My Brother?” [↗]
Words: Shirley Erena Murray (1992) Tune: KINDRED (5.4.5.4 D)“Dazzling Bouquet” [↗]
Words and music: Bret Hesla (1995)“Imago Dei” [↗]
Words and music: Richard Bruxvoort Colligan (2018)“What Good Can Come From Nazareth?” [↗]
Currently free use. Words: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (2018) Tune: AURELIA (7.6.7.6 D)
Where does it hurt?
1 Samuel 1:1-18 | Mark 5:21-43
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“Be Still My Soul” [↗]
Public Domain. Words: Kathrina von Schlegel, trans. Jane Borthwick (1855) Tune: FINLANDIA (10.10.10.10.10.10)“O Love That Will Not Let Me Go” [↗]
Public Domain. Words: George Matheson (1882) Tune: ST. MARGARET (8.8.8.8.6)“I Want Jesus to Walk With Me” [↗]
Public Domain. African-American Spiritual“Rebuilding Starts With Weeping” [↗]
Free use. Words: Amanda Udis-Kessler (2020) Tune: PASSION CHORALE (7.6.7.6 D)“Be Still and Know” [↗]
Words and music: John L. Bell (1989)“God Weeps” [↗]
Words: Shirley Erena Murray (1996) Tune: DAKE (6.4.8.10)“Why?” [↗]
Words and music: Dosia Carlson (2005)“She Suffered Twelve Long Years” [↗]
Currently free use. Words: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (2015) Tune: LEONI (6.6.8.4 D)
What do you need?
Job 2:11-13 | 2 Timothy 4:9-18
Songs for Listening, Preludes, or Special Music
“We Will” by Bryan Sirchio and Richard Bruxvoort Colligan [↗]
“Lean on Me” by Bill Withers [↗]
“I’ll Be There for You” by The Rembrandts [↗]
“100 Bandaids (Stripped)” by Faouzia [↗]
“Fight for You” by H.E.R. [↗]
“Lifted” by Mona Haydar [↗]
“I’ll Be There” by Jess Glynne [↗]
“Breathe (2AM)” by Anna Nalick [↗]
“Satellite Call” by Sara Bareilles [↗]
“I Will Follow You Into the Dark” by Death Cab for Cutie [↗]
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“The Servant Song (Will You Let Me Be Your Servant)” [↗]
Words: Richard Gillard (1977) Tune: THE SERVANT SONG (8.7.8.7)“Stand By Me (When the Storms of Life Are Raging)” [↗]
Public Domain. Words: Charles Albert Tindley (1905) Tune: STAND BY ME (8.3.8.3.7.7.8.3)“God Has Given Us Each Other” [↗]
Words and music: Bret Hesla (2019)“Make Me a Channel of Your Peace” [↗]
Words: St. Francis of Assisi, adapt. to music by Sebastian Temple (1967)“There Is a Time for Silence” [↗]
Currently free use. Words: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (2020) Tune: ST. CHRISTOPHER (7.6.8.6.8.6.8.6)“Here Am I” [↗]
Words: Brian A. Wren (1983) Tune: STANISLAUS (3.7.6.5.D.3)
Where do we go from here?
Ruth 1:1-22 | Acts 10
Songs for Listening, Preludes, or Special Music
“I Choose You” by Sara Bareilles [↗]
“All of Who I Am” by Amanda Udis-Kessler [↗]
* The songwriter has given permission for free use of this song. Recording available here.“The Blessing of Life Forevermore” by Richard Bruxvoort Colligan [↗]
“Embolden My Heart” by Bret Hesla [↗]
“Space” by Biffy Clyro [↗]
“This Is Me” from The Greatest Showman [↗]
“Give Me Your Hand” by Michael Tolcher [↗]
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“Lift Every Voice and Sing” [↗]
Public Domain. Words: James Weldon Johnson (1900) Tune: LIFT EVERY VOICE (Irr.)“Draw the Circle Wide” [↗]
Words and music: Gordon Light (1994)“We Will Not Curse What God Has Blessed” [↗]
Free use. Words and music: Amanda Udis-Kessler (2019)“Bread for the Journey” [↗]
Words and music: Bret Hesla (1990)“No Longer” [↗]
Currently free use. Words: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (2005) Tune: LEONI (6.6.8.4 D)“There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy” [↗]
Public domain. Words: Frederick William Faber (1862) Tune: WELLESLEY (8.7.8.7)
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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.