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.
Suggestions about other hymns that could be included are welcome: either leave a message in the Comments section below.
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.
Seasonal Note
In some places, the feast of Epiphany is observed on Sunday, and it replaces this day.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.
Readings
First:Jeremiah 31:7-14 - "Save, O Lord, your people, the remnant of Israel." .... See I am going to bring them back ... For the Lord has ransomed Jacob, and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him.
Second: Ephesians 1: 3-14 - 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.
See lectionary art for this Sunday for suggested pictures and art-works based on today's readings.
OR
Ecclesiasticus / Sirach 24: 1-12 - The wisdom of God has pitched her tent among the chosen people.
Psalm:
Psalm:
Solomon 10:15-21 - A holy people and blameless race wisdom delivered from a nation of oppressors ...
OR
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
OR
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: 3-14 - 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
- A Great and Mighty Wonder - Neale
- A Virgin Unspotted (The great God of heaven is come down to earth) - Henry Ramsden Bramley (1833-1917)
- Again the Lord's Own Day is Here - John Mason Neale (1818-1866)
- All Hail to You, O Blessed Morn - Ernst W. Olson (1870-1958), trans from Johan Olof Wallin (1819) -free use in the USA only
- Amazing Grace
- Angel Voices Ever Singing - Pott
- As With Gladness Men Of Old - Dix
- At the Lamb's High Feast we Sing
- At the Name of Jesus
- Be Thou my Vision
- Behold the Great Creator Makes - Thomas Pestel (1584-1659)
- Bless the Lord O my Soul
- Blessed Jesus, at Thy Word - Catherine Winkworth (1858), trans from Tobias Clausnitzer (1663)
- Brightest and Best of the Sons of the Morning - Heber
- Children of the Heavenly Father - Olson. tr from Sandell -free use in the USA only
- Christ is the World 's Redeemer - MacGregor (1854-1923)
- Christ Whose Glory Fills the Skies - Wesley
- Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
- Come Thou Holy Spirit Come - Caswall
- Come Ye Faithful Raise the Strain - John Mason Neale (1818-1866)
- Come, Ye Faithful Raise the Anthem - Hupton (1762 - 1849) / Neale (1818 - 1866)
- Crown Him With Many Crowns
- Earth has Many a Noble City - Edward Caswall (1814-1878)
- Eternal Light Eternal Light - Thomas Binney (1798-1874)
- Fairest Lord Jesus - Unknown
- Faithful Shepherd Feed Me - Pollock
- Father of Heaven Whose Love Profound - Cooper
- Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken
- Go Tell it on the Mountain
- God is Working His Purpose Out / As the Waters Cover the Sea - Arthur Campbell Ainger (1841-1919)
- God Moves in a Mysterious Way
- Good Christians all, rejoice - John Mason Neale (1818-1866)
- Great Is Our Redeeming Lord - Wesley
- Guide me O Thou Great Redeemer / Jehovah (Bread of Heaven)
- Hark the Herald Angels Sing - Wesley / Whitefield / et al
- Hills of the North Rejoice
- How Brightly Beams the Morning Star - Winkworth
- Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
- In the Bleak Mid-winter - Rossetti
- It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
- Jesus Good Above All Other - Percy Dearmer (1867-1936)
- Jesus the Name High Over All - Wesley
- Joy to the World the Lord is Come - Watts
- Lead us Heavenly Father Lead Us
- Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence (Alleluias of St James)
- Love Came Down at Christmas
- Love Divine all Loves Excelling
- May the Grace of Christ Our Saviour - John Newton (1725-1807)
- Most Ancient of all Mysteries
- My God, I Am Thine - Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
- Nature With Open Volume Stands - Watts
- O Come all ye Faithful - Oakeley / Brooke, trans from Wade
- O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing - Wesley
- O God of Bethel By Whose Hand - Doddridge
- O Little One - Percy Dearmer (1867-1936)
- O Little Town of Bethlehem - Brooks
- O Lord of Heaven and Earth and Sea - Wordsworth
- O Love How Deep How Broad How High - Webb, trans from á Kempis
- O Strength and Stay Upholding all Creation - John Ellerton (1826-1893)
- O Word of God Incarnate - How
- Of the Father's Love Begotten - Neale / Baker
- On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry
- Once in Royal David's City
- Open now Thy Gates of Beauty - Winkworth, trans from Schmolck (1704)
- Praise my Soul the King of Heaven
- See Amid the Winter's Snow - Edward Caswall (1814-1878)
- Silent Night
- Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above - Cox
- The Bells of Christmas - Charles Porterfield Krauth (1823-1883), trans from Nikolai F. S. Grudtvig (1783-1872)
- The First Noël - Anonymous (pre 1833)
- The Lord's my Shepherd - Scottish Psalter translation
- There's a Wideness in God's Mercy (Souls of men, why will ye scatter) - Faber
- This is my Father's World - Babcock (b. Syracuse, NY, 1858-1901)
- Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne and Thy Kingly Crown - Elliot
- Thy Words to Me - Martin (1865-1937)
- To God be the Glory
- Trust in Providence (Captain of Israel's host, and Guide) - Wesley
- We Three Kings
- What Child is This
- Where is this Stupendous Stranger? - Christopher Smart (1722-1771)
- While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night - Nahum Tate (1652-1715)
- Who is He in Yonder Stall - Hanby (1833-1867)
- Ye Watchers And Ye Holy Ones - Riley
- Your Ceaseless Unexhausted Love - Wesley
Hymns which may still be copyright
- Across the Lands (You're the Word of God the Father) - Getty / Stuart Townend (b. 1963)
- Before the World Began One Word Was There - Bell (b. 1949)
- Can we By Searching Find Out God - Cosnett
- Christ is the World's Light He and None Other - Pratt Green (1903–2000)
- Emmanuel, Emmanuel - McGee
- God Hath Spoken by His Prophets - Briggs (1875-1959)
- God's Love Made Visible - Iola Brubeck (1923-2014)
- Here I am to Worship (Light of the world) - Tim Hughes (b. 1977)
- Into the Darkness of of this World - Dawn (1959)
- Jesus is Lord! Creation's Voice Proclaims It - Mansell
- Jesus let me Meet You in Your Word (Now in reverence and awe) - Graham Kendrick (b. 1950)
- Light of the World, True Light divine - Timothy Dudley-Smith (1926-2024)
- Long Ago Prophets Knew- Pratt-Green
- O Lord of Every Shining Constellation - Albert F Bayly (1901-1984)
- See Him Lying on a Bed of Straw - Perry (1942-1996)
- The Perfect Wisdom of our God - Stuart Townend (b. 1963) and Keith Getty
- This Child (secretly comes in the night) - Graham Kendrick (b. 1950)
- We have a Gospel to Proclaim - Burns
- Word of God come Down on Earth - James Quinn (1919-2010)
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