LiturgyTools.net: Hymns for the 6th Sunday in Lent / Palm Sunday, Year B - Revised Common Lectionary (24 March 2024)

A selection of hymns and songs, based on themes from the Revised Common lectionary for Palm Sunday - which is also the 6th Sunday of Lent - in 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, or may be, still copyright are also included where they are a particularly good for for the theme(s).

Palm Sunday, Year A

5th Sunday of Lent, Year B

Easter Sunday, Year B

Palm Sunday, Year C

Readings

Liturgy of the Palms

Psalm 118 - O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good ...

Mark 11:1-11 - Jesus sends two disciples ahead to get the tethered colt that no one has yet ridden, because "The Master needs it and will send it back here directly". Jesus rides it, on roads covered with cloaks and greenery from the fields, with the people shouting "Hosanna! Blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord."

OR

John 12:12-16 - The crowds heard Jesus was coming, they took branches of palm and went out to meet him. Jesus found a young donkey and mounted it, as scripture said.

Liturgy of of the Passion readings

First: Isaiah 50:4-9a - The Lord has given me a disciples tongue ... I offered my back to those who struck me.

Psalm: 31 - Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress.

Second: Philippians 2:5-11 -His state was divine yet Christ Jesus ... was humbler yet, even to accepting death on a cross. But God raised him high.

Gospel: Mark 14:1 - 15:47 - The Passion, from two days before the Passover when the chief priests were plotting to kill Jesus, and Jesus dining with Simon the leper and being anointed with ointment. Jusas approaches the chief priests ... through to Joseph of Arimathaea putting the body into a tomb and rolling a stone against the entrance.

Themes

The paradox: acclaiming Jesus as king, and one week later putting him to death.

Note: Although the readings cover the full passion story, most of the emphasis in the following list is on Jesus triumphant entrance acclaimed as a king. See the subsequent days suggestions for more penitential / suffering themes hymns.

Artwork

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

Free-use hymns

According to Thy Gracious Word - Montgomery (1771–1854)
Ah Holy Jesu How Hast Thou Offended - Bridges
Alas and Did my Savior Bleed - Watts
All Glory Laud and Honor
All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name
And Can it be that I Should Gain
As Jesus Came to Jerusalem - Unknown
As Pants the Hart for Cooling Streams - Tate and Brady's New Version, 1696, 1698
At the Name of Jesus Every Knee Shall Bow

Beneath the Cross of Jesus - Clephane
Blessed are the Pure in Heart
Blessed be the Name (All praise to Him who reigns on high) - Neale (1818-1866)
Blest are the Poor in Heart
Bread of the World in Mercy Broken

Children of Jerusalem - Henley (1800-1842)
Christ is Made the Sure Foundation
Come Let Us With Our Lord Arise - Wesley
Come O Precious Ransom - Crull, from Olearius
Cross of Jesus Cross of Sorrow - Sparrow-Simpson (1859-1952)
Crown Him With Many Crowns
Finished Redemption - Evans (1748-1809)
For the Bread Which you have Broken - Bensen
Give me Oil in my Lamp / Give me Joy in my Heart / Sing Hosanna - Unknown
Go to Dark Gethsemane - Montgomery (1771–1854)

Hail Redeemer King Divine
Hail Thou Once Despised Jesus - Toplady
Hail to the Lord's Anointed
Hark the Glad Sound the Saviour Comes - Doddridge
Have Thine own way Lord
He Never Said A Mumbalin' Word - Unknown
Help us to Help Each Other Lord - Wesley
Holy Holy Holy (early in the morning) - Heber
Hosanna Loud Hosanna the Little Children Sang - Threlfall

I am not Skilled to Understand - Greenwell (1821-1882)
I Surrender All (All to Jesus I Surrender)
I Will Sing the Wondrous Story - Rowley (1854-1952)
If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee - Winkworth, trans from Neumark
Immortal Love for Ever Full - Whittier
In the Cross of Christ - Bowring
It is a Thing Most Wonderful
Jesus Comes With all His Grace - Wesley
Jesus the Name High Over All - Wesley
Jesus, I Will Ponder Now - Crull, trans from von Birken
Let us Break Bread Together on our Knees
Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates - Winkworth
Lo He Comes with Clouds Descending
Look Ye Saints the Sight is Glorious - Kelly
Lord Enthroned in Heavenly Splendour
Lord is It I? - Clements (1868-1946)
Lord, Speak to Me that I May Speak - Havergal

Man of Sorrows, What a Name - Bliss
Marvelous Grace of Our Loving Lord - Johnston (1849-1919)
Master Speak Thy Servant Heareth - Havergal
May the Mind of Christ my Saviour - Wilkinson
My God I Love Thee (My Eternal King) - St. Francis Xavier's Hymn of Love
My Heart and Voice I Raise - Rhodes (1743-1815)
My Jesus I Love Thee - Duffell / Featherston
My Saviour's Love (I stand amazed in the presence) - Gabriel
My Song is Love Unknown
Nature With Open Volume Stands - Watts
Near the Cross - Crosby
Near to the Heart of God (There Is A Place of Quiet Rest) - McAfee

O Crucified Redeemer - Rees
O Dearest Lord Thy Sacred Head - Hardy
O How I Love Jesus (There is A Name I Love to Hear) - Whitfield (1829-1904)
O Jesu so Meek O Jesu so Kind - Daisley
O Love Divine, What Hast Thou Done - Wesley
O Love How Deep How Broad How High - Webb, trans from á Kempis
O Sacred Head Sore Wounded - Bridges, trans from Gerhardt
O the Depth of Love Divine - Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
Open Lord My Inward Ear - Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
Open my Eyes that I May See - Scott

Praise to the Holiest in the Height
Praise to the Redeemer (To Our redeemer's glorious name) - Steele
Prepare the Royal Highway - Franzen
Rejoice the Lord is King!
Rejoice Ye Pure in Heart - Plumbtree
Ride on Ride on in Majesty - Milman (1791-1868)
Rule of Life - John Wesley (1703-1791)

Sing my Tongue the Glorious Battle - Neale
Take the Name of Jesus with You - Baxter (1809-1874)
Tell Me the Stories of Jesus - Parker
The Royal Banners Forward Go - Neale (1818-1866)
There is A Green Hill Far Away - Alexander (1895-1895)
This is the Day the Lord Hath Made - Watts (1674-1748)
Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne and Thy Kingly Crown - Elliot
To the Name of Our Salvation - Neale
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus - Lemmel (1863-1961) - free-use in the USA

Victory in Jesus - Bartlett
What Wondrous Love
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
When Morning Gilds the Skies - Caswall
When My Love to God Grows Weak - Wreford (1800-1891)

Hymns which may still be copyright

All Hail King Jesus - Moody
All Praise to Thee for Thou O King Divine - Tucker
An Outcast Among Outcasts
An Upper Room Did Our Lord Prepare - Pratt Green (1903–2000)
By Gracious Powers so Wonderfully Sheltered - Pratt-Green, trans from Bonhoeffer