LiturgyTools.net: Hymns for the 1st Sunday of Advent, Year B - Revised Common Lectionary (3 Dec 2023)

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

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 which are still copyright, but are a particularly good fit for the day's readings, are also included.

1st Advent, Year A

Reign of Christ, Year A

2nd Advent, Year B

1st Advent, Year C

Readings

First: Isaiah 64:1-9 - The prophet pleads with God to come: "Our Redeemer is your ancient name .... Oh that you would tear the heavens open and come down - at your Presence the mountains would melt.)

Psalm 79 - God of hosts, bring us back; let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.

Second: I Corinthians 1:3-9 - I never stop thanking God for all the graces you have received ... you are waiting for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.

Gospel: Mark 13:33-37- Stay awake because you do not know when the master of the house is coming ... if he comes unexpected he must not find you asleep.

Themes

Waiting for Christ's coming. Being ready, prepared, alert.

Free-use artwork

See lectionary art for this Sunday for suggested pictures and art-works based on today's readings.

Free-use hymns

A Charge to Keep I Have - Wesley
A Mighty Fortress is Our God - Hedge, trans from Luther
All my Hope is Firmly Grounded - Neander
All my Hope On God is Founded
All Praise to Our Redeeming Lord - Wesley
All Things Bright and Beautiful
And Can it be that I Should Gain
At the Name of Jesus Every Knee Shall Bow

Battle Hymn of the Republic (Mine eyes have seen the coming)
Christ is our Corner-Stone - Chandler
Come Holy Ghost our Souls Inspire (And lighten with celestial fire) - Cosin
Come Thou (O) Long Expected Jesus
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Comfort, Comfort Ye my People - Winkworth, trans from Olearius

Day of Judgment! Day of Wonder! - Newton
Dear Shepherd of Your People Hear - Newton
Drop Down Ye Heavens From Above - Unknown
Father of Everlasting Grace - Wesley
Freedom Is Coming - Unknown

God of Mercy God of Grace - Lyte
God's Son Came to Bless Us - Winkworth
Great is Thy Faithfulness - copyright free in the USA only

Hail to the Lord's Anointed
Hallelujah Sing To Jesus - Dix
Hark a Herald Voice is Calling
Hark the Glad Sound the Saviour Comes - Doddridge
Hark What A Sound and Too Divine For Hearing - Myers
Have Thine Own Way Lord! - Pollard
How Brightly Beams the Morning Star - Winkworth
How Can a Sinner Know - Wesley
How Firm A Foundation - Keith / Keen

I Know Whom I have Believed (I know not why God’s wondrous grace) - Whittle
Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
Jesus Calls us O’erthe Tumult - Alexander
Jesus Came the Heavens Adoring - Thring
Jesus Lover of my Soul - Wesley
Jesus Where'Er Thy People Meet - Cowper
Joy to the World the Lord is Come - Watts

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence (Alleluias of St James)
Let all the World in Every Corner Sing
Lift up Your Heads you Mighty Gates - Winkworth
Lo He Comes with Clouds Descending
March on my Soul with Strength - Wright
My Lord, What a Morning - unknown
Nothing Between my Soul and my Savior - Tindley
Now Israel May Say - Whittingham

O Come and Dwell in Me - Wesley
O Come O Come Emmanuel
O Freedom - Unknown
O God of Earth and Altar
O Lord, How Shall I Meet Thee - Winkworth
O Mary don’t you Weep - Unknown
O Morning Star How Fair and Bright - Winkworth, tr from Nicolai
O Thou in Whose Presence my Soul Takes Delight - Swain
Open my Eyes that I May See - Scott

Praise my Soulthe King of Heaven
Praise to the Holiest in the Height Saviour of the Nations, Come - Reynolds

Sing With all the Saints In Glory - Irons
Sometimes a Light Surprises - Cowper
Songs of Praise the Angels Sing / Sang - Montgomery
Songs of Thankfulness and Praise (God in man made manifest) - Wordsworth

Ten Thousand Times Ten Thousand - Alford
The Advent of our God - Chandler
The Day Is Surely Drawing Near - Peter, trans from Ringwaldt
The Day Thou Gavest Lord is Ended
The King Shall Come when Morning Dawns
The Lord Will Come and Not be Slow - Milton
There's a Light Upon the Mountains
Through the Love of God our Saviour - Peters
To God be the Glory

Wake Awake for Night is Flying (Zion Hearsthe Watchmen / Sleeper’s Awake)
Wake O Wake With Tidings Thrilling - Burkitt, trans. From Nicolai
Walking with God - Cowper
Watchman Tell Us of the Night - Bowring
We Pray until the Hour, that Awesome Hour Unknown - Wesley
When we All Get to Heaven / Sing the Wondrous Love of Jesus
Ye Servants of the Lord - Doddridge

Hymns that are / may be still copyright

As Servants Working an Estate Whose Owner is Away - Troeger
At the First Coming of the Lord (Advent Carol) - Graham
Christ be our Light - Farrell

Christ is the World's Light He and None Other - Pratt Green
Christus Paradox (You, Lord, are both Lamb and Shepherd) - Dunstan
Come O Jesus Come O Lord - McAuley
Come Risen Lord and Deign to be Our Guest - Briggs

Darkness like a Shroud covers the Earth - Kendrick
Faithful One so Unchanging - Doerksen
Into the Darkness of of this World - Dawn (1959)

Light a Candle in a Darkened Place - Stainsby
Light One Candle - Sleeth - Sleeth
Lord Jesus our Bright Morning Star - Pfitzner
O Day of God, Draw Nigh - Young (1899-1987)
O Lord the Clouds are Gathering - Kendrick

Open Our Eyes - Cull
People Look East (Carol of the Advent) - Farjeon (1881-1965)
Stay with me (Stay with me, remain here with me) - Communaute de Taizé

The Clouds of Judgment Gather - Unknown - from the Lutheran Book of Worship, 1978
The Heavens Shall Declare the Glory of His Name - Bullock (b 1955)
Until Jesus Comes - Crouch

Waken O Sleeper - Forster
We Trust the Mighty Love of God - Gaunt
Where Love And Loving Kindness Dwell - Preston (1936-1977)