Most are free-to-use (ie public domain or copyright-free), meaning that the words can be copied and sung to at least one tune with no concerns about copyright or performance licensing. Many such hymns are old/traditional - but where possible a variety of styles / genres are included.
A small selection of hymns that are still copyright may also be included, if they are particularly relevant.
Seasonal Note
In some countries, the bishops have decided to observe the feast of Epiphany on Sunday, and it replaces this day. Check with your local liturgical calendar to see what is happening in your country.Also, most communities have a familiar repertoire of public domain Christmas music, so choosing free-to-use hymns for this season is simple. The list below doesn't include all well known Christmas carols, just ones that are a particularly good fit with the lectionary themes for this day.
Suggestions about other hymns that could be included are welcome: either leave a message in the Comments section below.
Readings
First: Ecclesiasticus / Sirach 24: 1-2, 8-12 - The wisdom of God has pitched her tent among the chosen people.Psalm: Psalm 147 - The Word was made flesh and lived among us / O praise the Lord Jerusalem / He established peace on your borders / He makes he word known to Jacob
Second: Ephesians 1: 3-6, 15-18 - Before the world was made, God chose us to be his children.
Gospel: John 1: 1-18 - In the beginning was the word ... John came, sent by God as a witness for the light ... no one has even seen God, only the Son who is nearest the Father's heart.
Themes
The incarnate Christ, come to live on earth. Christ - son of God and Word of God. We are God's children.Free-use artworks
Free-use hymns
- All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name
- Alleluia Sing to Jesus
- Angels From the Realms of Glory
- As With Gladness Men Of Old - Dix
- At the Name of Jesus
- Father and Life-Giver
- For the Beauty of the Earth
- Go Tell it on the Mountain
- Good Christians all, rejoice - John Mason Neale (1818-1866)
- Hark the Herald Angels Sing - Wesley / Whitefield / et al
- Holy God we Praise Thy Name
- Infant Holy Infant Lowly - Edith Margaret Gellibrand Reed (1885-1933)
- Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence (Alleluias of St James)
- Love Came Down at Christmas
- Mary Had a Baby, Yes Lord - Unknown
- O Come all ye Faithful - Oakeley / Brooke
- O Word of God Incarnate - How
- Of the Father's Love Begotten - Neale / Baker
- Once in Royal David's City
- Praise my Soul the King of Heaven
- Saviour of the Nations, Come - Reynolds
- See Amid the Winter's Snow - Edward Caswall (1814-1878)
- Songs of Thankfulness and Praise (God in man made manifest) - Wordsworth
- The First Noël - Anonymous (pre 1833)
- The Rocking Carol (Little Jesus, sweetly sleep) - Percy Dearmer (1867-1936)
- There's a Wideness in God's Mercy (Souls of men, why will ye scatter) - Faber
- What Child is This
Hymns which may still be copyright
- Before the World Began One Word Was There - Bell (b. 1949)
- Bread of Life Hope of the World - Christmas verses - Bernadette Farrell
- Christ be our Light - Bernadette Farrell (b. 1957)
- Christ is the World's Light He and None Other - Pratt Green (1903–2000)
- Father, Lord of Earth and Heaven - James Quinn (1919-2010)
- God Hath Spoken by His Prophets - Briggs (1875-1959)
- I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light / Shine in my Heart
- In Deepest Night, in Darkest Days - Susan Palo Cherwien (1953-2021)
- In the Beginning was the Word - Chris Shelton (b. 1978)
- Jesus Christ, by Faith Revealed - Delores Dufner (b. 1939)
- Jesus the Word has Lived Among Us - Pearson (b 1925)
- Mother of God's Living Word - Damian Lundy (1944-1996)
- O God You Search me and You Know Me - Farrell (b 1957)
- See Him Lying on a Bed of Straw - Perry
- Song for a Young Prophet (O the Word of my Lord) - Damian Lundy (1944-1996)
- The Word of God Became Flesh - Rick Founds
- The Word of Life (In a byre near Bethlehem) - John L Bell (b. 1949)
- We have a Gospel to Proclaim - Burns
- Word Made Flesh (Come Lord Jesus, come again) - Virginia Vissing
- Word of God Come Down to Earth - James Quinn (1919-2010)
- Word of the Father - John L Bell (b. 1949)
- The Light of Christ - Fishel
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