LiturgyTools.net: Hymns for the 1st Sunday of Advent, Year C

A selection of hymns and songs, based on themes from the Revised Common Lectionary for the first Sunday of Advent, Year C.

Most are free-to-use (ie public domain or copyright-free) meaning 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, but are a particularly good fit for the day's readings, are also included.

1st Advent, Year B

Reign of Christ, Year B

2nd Advent, Year C

1st Advent, Year A

Readings

First: Jeremiah 33:14-16 - "I will make a virtuous branch grow for David" - the city will be called "The Lord-our-integrity"

Psalm: 25: 1-10 - To you O Lord I lift up my soul ... Make me know your ways ... The Lord is good and upright ... His ways are faithfulness and love

Second: 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 - How can we thank God for the joy we feel because of you? ... May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another.

Gospel: Luke 21:25-36 - There will be signs that the Son of Man is coming, just as the fig tree spouts leaves when summer is coming. ... Be alert. Stay awake praying at all times for strength and confidence to stand before the Son of Man

Themes

Prepare the way - the Kingdom is coming - be watchful for the Son of Man

Free-use hymns

All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name
All my Hope On God is Founded
At the Name of Jesus
Battle Hymn of the Republic (Mine eyes have seen the coming)
Be Still and Know that I Am God
Behold a Rose is Growing - Spaeth
Bread of the World in Mercy Broken
Brotherly Love - Wesley

Come Thou (O) Long Expected Jesus
Come ye Thankful People Come
Come, O Thou All-Victorious Lord - Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
Come, Quickly Come, Dread Judge of All - Lawrence Tuttiett (1825-1897)
Comfort, Comfort Ye my People - Winkworth, trans from Olearius
Creator of the Stars of Night - Caswall
Crown Him With Many Crowns
Earth was Waiting Spent and Restless - Walter C. Smith (1824-1908)
Forth in Thy Name O Lord I Go - Wesley
Forty Days and Forty Nights
Freedom Is Coming - Unknown

God is Working His Purpose Out / As the Waters Cover the Sea - Arthur Campbell Ainger (1841-1919)
God's Son Came to Bless Us - Winkworth
Hail Thou Once Despised Jesus - Toplady
Hail to the Lord's Anointed
Hark a Herald Voice is Calling
Hark the Glad Sound the Saviour Comes - Doddridge
Hark What A Sound and Too Divine For Hearing - Myers
Here O my Lord I See Thee Face to Face - Bonar
Hills of the North Rejoice

I Cannot Tell (why he whom angels worship)
I Know Whom I have Believed (I know not why God’s wondrous grace) - Whittle
I Will Trust in the Lord - Unknown
I'm Not Ashamed To Own my Lord - Watts
Jesus Calls us O’er the Tumult - Alexander
Jesus Priceless Treasure - Winkworth, trans from Franck
Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun - Isaac Watts (1674-1748)
Jesus, Priceless Treasure - Catherine Winkworth

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence (Alleluias of St James)
Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates - Winkworth
Lo He Comes with Clouds Descending
Lo, how a Rose E’er Blooming
Lord Enthroned in Heavenly Splendour
Lord I Want to be A Christian - Unknown - Afro/American
My Heart is Full of Christ - Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
My Hope is Built on Nothing Less (On Christ the Solid Rock) - Mote
My Lord, What a Morning - unknown
O Come O Come Emmanuel
O For A Heart to Praise my God - Wesley
O Jesus King Most Wonderful - Edward Caswall (1814-1878)

Rejoice the Lord is King
Saviour like a Shepherd Lead Us
Saviour of the Nations, Come - Reynolds
Sing to the King (Sing we the King who is coming to reign) - Horne
Soldiers of Christ Arise - Wesley
Some Day (Beams of heaven as I got) - Tindley
Songs of Thankfulness and Praise (God in man made manifest) - Wordsworth
Stand By Me (When the storms of life are raging) - Tindley

Take Time to be Holy
The Advent of our God - Chandler
The Day Is Surely Drawing Near - Peter, trans from Ringwaldt
The End of Things Created (Great God, what do I see and hear!) - William Bengo Collyer (1812), Thomas Cotterill (1820)
The God of Abraham Praise - Olivers
The Head that Once Was Crowned With Thorns - Kelly
The King Shall Come when Morning Dawns
The Lord our Righteousness (Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness) - John Wesley (1703-1791)
The Lord Will Come and Not be Slow - Milton
The Work of Faith (Author of faith, eternal Word) - Wesley
Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne and Thy Kingly Crown - Elliot
Thy Kingdom Come O God - Hensley
Tis Good Lord to be Here

Wake Awake for Night is Flying (Zion Hears the Watchmen / Sleeper’s Awake)
Wake O Wake With Tidings Thrilling - Burkitt, trans. From Nicolai
When Morning Gilds the Skies - Caswall
Ye Servants of God, Your Master Proclaim - Charles Wesley (1707-1788)

Hymns that may still be copyright

Blessed be the God of Israel - Daw
Christ is Surely Coming Bringing his Reward - Idle
Christ is the World's Light He and None Other - Pratt Green (1903–2000)
Darkness like a Shroud covers the Earth - Kendrick
Even So Come (All of creation) - Chris Tomlin, Jason Ingram, Jess Cates

God, Who Has Caused to Be Written - Herbert O'Driscoll (b. 1928)
Great is the Darkness That covers the Earth - Coates / Richards
He Walks Among the Golden Lamps - Timothy Dudley-Smith (1926-2024)
Long Ago Prophets Knew (Ring, Ring, Ring) - Pratt Green (1903–2000)
Lord we Wait (for the day of Your appearing) - Stuart Townend and Keith Getty
Make Way, Make Way - Kendrick

O Day of God, Draw Nigh - Scott (1899-1987)
O Lord the Clouds are Gathering - Kendrick
O Saviour Rend the Heavens Wide - Seltz (1907-1967)
Open Your Ears O Christian (Faithful) People - the Torah Song - Song of Good News - Willard F. Jabusch (1930-2018)
People Look East (Carol of the Advent) - Farjeon (1881-1965)
People Look East to See at Last - Leckebusch (b. 1962)
Praise to the God who Clears the Way - Berry

Sleepers Wake a Voice Astounds Us - Carl P Daw (b. 1944)
Soon and Very Soon - Crouch
Stay Awake (There will be signs Upon the sun) - O'Hara
The Clouds of Judgment Gather - Unknown - from the Lutheran Book of Worship, 1978
Though the Fruit Tree Doesn't Blossom - Latty (b. 1963-)
To Him Who Sits On the Throne And Unto the Lamb - Graafsma