Hymn suggestions for Sunday 13 April

6th Sunday in Lent / 2nd Sunday of the Passion / Palm Sunday

Below we have suggestions for (a) the Entry into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday) itself and (b) all of Holy Week, for when this is explored in full on this Sunday

The Methodist Church in Britain's Lent theme this year is Soul Food. Worship resources for each week of Lent follow the lectionary readings as below. They include specially selected hymns and songs from Singing the Faith and elsewhere, as well as an opening liturgy, prayer ideas and activities. The theme for Palm Sunday is 'Soul Songs'.

Entry into Jerusalem

Luke 19: 28-40 (The triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem)

All glory, laud and honour (StF 262)
Blest are the pure in heart (StF 244)
Christ, our king before creation (StF 318)
*Food to pilgrims given, strength upon the way (StF 584)
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest (StF 263)
Jesus comes with all his grace (StF 326)
Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim (StF 276)
Lord, enthroned in heavenly splendour (StF 593)
Make way, make way, for Christ the king in splendour comes (StF 264)
*My song is love unknown (StF 277)
Ride on, ride on in majesty! (StF 265)
*Santo, santo, santo (Holy, holy, holy God of power and might) (StF 766)

Psalm 118: 1-2, 19-29

Hymns echoing the psalmist’s theme

All people that on earth do dwell (StF 1)
Christ is made the sure foundation (StF 677)
He is exalted, the King is exalted on high (StF 52)
Only by grace can we enter (StF 565)
*Santo, santo, santo (Holy, holy, holy God of power and might) (StF 766)
Praise is rising, eyes are turning to you (StF 64)
Who would true valour see (StF 486)

The Passion

** If using some of the suggestions below for Good Friday, consider ending your service for that day with Come, thou long-expected Jesus (StF 169), sung to the second tune, “Cross of Jesus”, which is taken from John Stainer’s cantata, The Crucifixion.

Isaiah 50: 4-9a

Come, wounded healer, your sufferings reveal (StF 271)
God of my faith, I offer you my doubt (StF 629)
My soul finds rest in God alone (StF 633)
Who would ever have believed it? (StF 290)

Psalm 31: 9-16

Hymns echoing the psalmist’s theme

Open, lord, my inward ear (StF 450)
When circumstances make my life too hard to understand (StF 641)
When, O God, our faith is tested (St 643)

Philippians 2: 5-11

And can it be that I should gain (StF 345)
At the name of Jesus (StF 317)
Hail, thou once despised Jesus (StF 301)
I am not skilled to understand (StF 349)
The head that once was crowned with thorns (StF 312)

Luke 22: 14- 23: 56
or Luke 23: 1-49

To assist with the ordering of hymns in a service, the following suggestions are placed in shorter biblical sections. If your service is a reading of the longer Passion Narrative alongside a celebration of Holy Communion you may like to consider reading Luke 22:39 – 23:56 after the elements have been distributed.

Luke 22: 14-38 (The Last Supper)

All the room was hushed and still (StF 266)
An upper room did our Lord prepare (StF 569)
Because you have said ‘Do this for my sake’ (StF 574)
Dusty-footed, heavy-hearted (website only)
*Food to pilgrims given, strength upon the way (StF 584)
*From heaven you came, helpless babe (StF 272)
I am the bread, the bread of life (StF 587)
Lord Jesus Christ, you have come to us (StF 594)
Sing my tongue the Saviour’s glory (StF 268)
Up to your table, Lord, you call us (StF 599)
We gather round this table (website only) communion

Luke 22: 39-65 (Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane – his betrayal and arrest)

Breathe on me, breath of God (StF 370)
*From heaven you came, helpless babe (StF 272)
*Jesus in the olive grove (StF 267)
Lord, in our lonely hours (StF 616)
One human family God has made (StF 687)
*Praise to the Holiest in the height (StF 334)
*Pray for the Church, afflicted and oppressed (StF 711)
Stay with me, remain here with me (StF 780)
To see the King of heaven fall (StF 269)
Up to your table, Lord, you call us (StF 599)
*We do not hope to ease our minds (StF 717)
When my love for Christ grows weak (StF 289)
*When you prayed beneath the trees, it was for me (StF 339)
Who would ever have believed it? (StF 290)
You call us, as you called the Twelve (website only)

Luke 22: 65 – 23:25 (Jesus on trial)

Come and see, come and see (StF 270)
I will sing the wondrous story (StF 323)
*Jesus in the olive grove (StF 267)
*Pray for the Church, afflicted and oppressed (StF 711)
*We do not hope to ease our minds (StF 717)
We have a gospel to proclaim (StF 418)
When my love for Christ grows weak (StF 289)
*When you prayed beneath the trees, it was for me (StF 339)

Luke 23: 26-49 (The crucifixion and death of Jesus) – see note above **

And can it be that I should gain? (StF 345) especially suitable as a closing hymn
Come and see, come and see the King of love (StF 270)
Forgive our sins as we forgive (StF 423)
From heaven you came, helpless babe (StF 272)
Here hangs a man discarded (StF 273)
*I danced in the morning when the world was begun (StF 247)
Jesus, remember me (StF 777)
Jesus the carpenter, hanging on Calvary (StF 275)
Lord Christ, we praise your sacrifice (StF 359)
*Meekness and majesty, manhood and deity (StF 362)
*My song is love unknown (StF 277)
O Love divine, what have you done! (StF 278)
O the bitter shame and sorrow (StF 432)
Stay here where nails are driven (StF 282)
*Praise to the Holiest in the height (StF 334)
There is a green hill far away (StF 284)
*We do not hope to ease our minds (StF 717)
We trust the mighty love of God (StF 742)
When I survey the wondrous cross (StF 287)
*When you prayed beneath the trees, it was for me (StF 339)
*Why has God forsaken me? (StF 291)

Luke 23: 50-56 (The burial of Jesus)

All for Jesus (StF 341)
*I danced in the morning when the world was begun (StF 247)
*My song is love unknown (StF 277)
Were you there when they crucified my Lord? (StF 285)
*Why has God forsaken me? (StF 291)