Most are free-to-use (ie public domain or copyright-free)means 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 which are still copyright may also be included, if they are particularly relevant.
Most communities have a familiar repertoire of public domain Christmas music, so finding free-to-use hymns for time is simple. The list below doe not include all well known Christmas carols, just ones that are a particularly good fit with the lectionary themes for this feast.
Readings
First: Ecclesiasticus 3:2-6, 12-14 - Honour your father and mother.Psalm: Psalm 127 - O blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways / Your wife like a fruitful vine / Indeed thus shall be blessed
Second: Colossians 3:12-21 - Calling the people of God to live as a loving family.
Gospel: Matthew 2: 13-15, 19-23 - The Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, and warned him to escape to Egypt. Joseph obeyed, and stayed until the Lord told him that it was safe to go back to Israel.
Themes
Love, family life, being faithful to what the Lord asks.Art for this week
See lectionary art for this Sunday for suggested pictures and art-works based on today's readings.Free-use hymns
- A Child is Born in Bethlehem - Richard Frederick Littledale (1833-1890)
- Angels we Have Heard on High - Chadwick
- Away in A Manger - Vs 1-2 - Unknown, Vs 3 - John T. McFarland (1851-1913)
- Be Joyful Mary
- Child in a Manger / Child in the Manger - Lachlan Macbean (1853-1931)
- Coventry Carol - Unknown, 16th century
- For the Beauty of the Earth
- Gaudate - Unknown - pre 1582
- Go Tell it on the Mountain
- God is Love His the Care
- God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen - Unknown
- Good Christians all, rejoice - John Mason Neale (1818-1866)
- Hark the Herald Angels Sing - Wesley / Whitefield / et al
- In Christ there is no East or West - William A. Dunkerley (pseudonym John Oxenham, 1852-1941)
- In Dulci Jubilo - Robert L. Pearsall (1795-1856)
- In the Bleak Mid-winter - Rossetti
- Infant Holy Infant Lowly - Edith Margaret Gellibrand Reed (1885-1933)
- Jesus my Lord my God my All
- Joy to the World the Lord is Come - Watts
- Lord of all Hopefulness
- Love Came Down at Christmas
- O Come all ye Faithful - Oakeley / Brooke
- O Holy Night - John Sullivan Dwight (1813-1893)
- O Little Town of Bethlehem - Brooks
- Of the Father's Love Begotten - Neale / Baker
- Once in Royal David's City
- See Amid the Winter's Snow - Edward Caswall (1814-1878)
- Sleep, Holy Babe - Edward Caswall (1814-1878)
- The First Noël - Anonymous (pre 1833)
- The Virgin Mary had a Baby Boy - unknown
- Unto us a Boy is Born - Percy Dearmer (1867-1936)
- Unto Us is Born a Son - George Ratcliffe Woodward (1848-1934)
- What Child is This
Hymns which may still be copyright
- A Song Was Heard At Christmas - Timothy Dudley-Smith (1926-2024)
- A Stable Lamp is Lighted - Richard Wilbur (1921-2017)
- A Voice Was Heard In Ramah - Gillette (ref)
- Away from the Manger (Refugee King) - Liz Vice, Wen Reagan, Bruce Benedict, Greg Scheer, Lester Ruth (2018)
- Bethlehem (Starlight in a mother's eyes) - Chris Tomlin
- Build a Family (Different hearts, different minds) - Ed Bolduc
- Come, Sing a Home and Family - Alan J. Hommerding (b. 1956)
- Deep in the Darkness a Starlight is Gleaming - Berry
- Flight into Egypt - Vincent Uher (1997)
- For us a Child is Born - Paul Inwood
- God's Holy Family (Father God, bless this family) - John Schiavone
- Holy Family (Where two or more are gathered) - Danielle Rose
- How Dark was the Stable Where Jesus was Born - Michael Cockett (b 1938)
- In the Night the Sound of Crying - Martin Leckebusch (b. 1962)
- Joseph, what News has Brought such Gloom - Martin Leckebusch (b. 1962)
- Lord, Who Left the Highest Heaven - Timothy Dudley-Smith (1926-2024)
- Lovely in your Littleness - Hayes
- Love has Come to Show the Way - Maher - Matt Maher
- O Bethl'hem is a Small Place - Richard Simmons Breene (1886-1974)
- Refugee King - Vice (video)
- Sing of Mary Pure and Lowly - Roland F. Palmer (1891-1985)
- The Aye Carol - John Bell (b. 1949)
- The Word of Life (In a byre near Bethlehem) - John L Bell (b. 1949)
- There Is Nothing Told - Christopher Willcock (b 1947)
- Unto us a Child is Given - Nuns of Stanbrook Abbey (1971)
- When Jesus Was a Refugee - Mary Nelson Keithahn (b. 1934)
- When Jesus was a Refugee - Damon (ref)
- Where is Love and Loving Kindness - Ronald Arbuthnott Knox (1888-1957)
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