LiturgyTools.net: Hymns for the Sunday of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16, Year C (20 July 2025)

A selection of hymns and songs, based on themes from the Revised Common lectionary for the Sunday of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16, in 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 - sometimes in a limited setting. Many such hymns are old/traditional - but where possible a variety of styles and genres are included. A small selection of hymns that are still copyright may also be included if they are particularly relevant.

Suggestions about other free-to-use hymns that could be included are welcome: leave a message in the Comments box near the bottom of the page.

5th Sunday after Pentecost

7th Sunday after Pentcost

Readings

First: Amos 8:1-12 The Lord shows Amos a basket of summer fruit, predicts the time of judgement and a famine of hearing the words of the LORD. He promises that he will never pass by Israel again.

Genesis 18:1-10a - The Lord appears to Abraham. He is welcomed, and a feast is prepared for. The visitor enquires after Sarah, and promises that she will have a son within a year.

Psalm: 52 - Why do you boast, O mighty one, of mischief done against the godly

14 - The just will live in the presence of the Lord / Lord who shall dwell on your holy mountain / He who does no wrong to his brother / He who keeps his pledge

Second: Colossians 1:15-28 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation ... the head of the body, the church.... For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell .... I, Paul, became a servant of this gospel. I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake .... It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom.

Gospel: Luke 10:38-42 - Jesus visits the home of Martha and Mary: Martha welcomes him but is distracted with the serving, her sister Mary sits at his feet and listens: Jesus says this is the better part.

Themes

Hospitality, service. Recognizing and welcoming Jesus as God and Man.

Free-use 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 Mighty Fortress is Our God - Hedge, trans from Luther
At the Name of Jesus
Author of Life Divine - Charles Wesley
Be Present at Our Table, Lord - John Cennick (1718-1755)
Be Still and Know that I Am God
Be Still my Soul
Be Thou my Vision
Before the Throne of God Above (The Advocate) - Charitie Lees Smith Bancroft (1841-1923)
Blest are the Pure in Heart - John Keble (1792-1866)
Brotherly Love - Wesley

Christ is Made the Sure Foundation
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Dear Lord and Father of Mankind
Fairest Lord Jesus - Unknown
Glory be to Jesus
God Himself is Present - Foster / Miller, translated from Blumengärtlein
God Moves in a Mysterious Way
Great is Thy Faithfulness - free use in the USA
Hail Thou Once Despised Jesus - Toplady
Hail to the Lord's Anointed
Hark my Soul it is The Lord - Cowper
Holy Fortitude (Am I a soldier of the cross) - Watts
How Firm A Foundation - Keith / Keen

Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
In Christ there is no East or West - William A. Dunkerley (pseudonym John Oxenham, 1852-1941)
In the Cross of Christ - Bowring
It is a Thing Most Wonderful
It is Well With my Soul (When peace like a river)
Jesus Priceless Treasure - Winkworth, trans from Franck
Jesus the Name High Over All - Wesley
Jesus the Very Thought of Thee - Caswall
Jesus, Priceless Treasure - Catherine Winkworth
Judge Eternal, Throned In Splendor - Henry Scott Holland (1847-1918)
Just as I Am Without One Plea

Let Saints On Earth In Concert Sing - Wesley
Let There be Light - Marriot
Lift Every Voice and Sing - John R Johnson (1873–1954), adapt from James Weldon Johnson (1871–1938)
Lord Dismiss us with Thy Blessing - Fawcett (1740-1817)
Lord Enthroned in Heavenly Splendour
Lord Jesus Christ be Present Now - Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878)
Lord of all Hopefulness
Master Speak Thy Servant Heareth - Havergal
More Love to Thee O Christ - Prentiss
My God I Love Thee (My Eternal King) - St. Francis Xavier's Hymn of Love - Edward Caswall (1814-1878)
My God, How Wonderful Thou Art - Faber
My Lord, What a Morning - unknown

Nature With Open Volume Stands - Watts
Near the Cross - Crosby
New Every Morning is the Love - Keble (1792-1866)
O Jesus I Have Promised
O Jesus Joy of Loving Hearts / Jesus Thou Joy of Loving Hearts - Palmer, trans from Bernard of Clairvaux
O Jesus Joy of Loving Hearts / Jesus, Thou Joy of Loving Hearts - Palmer, trans from Bernard of Clairvaux
O Love Divine How Sweet Thou Art! - Wesley
O Love of God How Strong and True - Bonar (1808-1889)
O Master Let me Walk with Thee (You) - Gladden
O Spirit of the Living God - James Montgomery (1771-1854)
O Splendor of God’s Glory Bright - Benson (1855-1930)
O Thou Who Camest From Above - Wesley
Of the Father's Love Begotten - Neale / Baker
Peace, Perfect Peace - original version
Praise to the Lord the Almighty - Winkworth

Take my Life and Let it Be
Take Time to be Holy
Teach Me my God and King - Herbert
The Excellency of Scripture (Father of mercies, in Thy word) - Anne Steele (1717-1778)
The Promised Rest (God of all power, and truth, and grace) - Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
The Strife Is Past the Battle Done - Pott
This This Is the God We Adore - Hart
Thy Kingdom Come O God - Hensley
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus - Lemmel (1863-1961)- free use in the USA
Victory in Jesus - Bartlett
What a Friend we have in Jesus
When we Walk with the Lord (Trust and Obey)
Wonderful Words of Life - Bliss

Hymns which may still be copyright

Across the Lands (You're the Word of God the Father) - Getty / Stuart Townend (b. 1963)
All are Welcome - Haugen
All Heaven Declares - Richards
All Who Love and Serve Your City - Routley
Behold a Broken World - Timothy Dudley-Smith (1926-2024)

Christ be the Lord of all our Days - Timothy Dudley-Smith (1926-2024)
City of God - Schutte
Come and Find the Quiet Center - Murray
Come Share the Lord - Leech
Deep in the Shadows of the Past - Wren
Father We Have Sinned In Word and Deed and Thought - Getty / Stuart Townend (b. 1963)
For all the Faithful Women - Stuempfle - verse 7
For the Healing of the Nations - Fred Kaan (1929-2009)
God has Spoken by his Prophets - Briggs

In My Life Lord be Glorified - Kilpatrick (b 1952)
Knowing You (All I once held dear) - Kendrick
Let There be Peace on Earth - Jackson-Miller / Miller
Lord of Beauty, Thine the Splendour - Cyril Argentine Alington (1872-1955) - free use from end 2026 in many countires
Lord of the Home, Thine Only Son - Albert F. Bayly (1901-1984)
Make Me A Servant - Willard F. Jabusch (1930-2018)
Meekness and Majesty (For this is your God) - Graham Kendrick (b. 1950)
My Eyes be Open to Your Presence - Nick Haigh / Anita Haigh
My Life is in You Lord - Gardner (b 1956)

O Christ the Same (through all our story's pages) - Timothy Dudley-Smith (1926-2024)
On this House Your Blessing Lord - Maria Lydia Pereira (b.1920)
Rejoice, Rejoice Christ is in You - Kendrick (b. 1950)
Rise Shine You People - Klug (b 1939)
Said Judas to Mary
Sanctuary (Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary) - Scruggs / Thompson
Seek Ye First - Karen Lafferty (b. 1948)
Silent Surrendered Calm and Still - Rizza (b. 1929
Speak in the Stillness God we Pray - Hill
Standing on Holy Ground - Davis