You can find a YouTube playlist here with many of the songs suggested below.
Gathering
There are far too many wonderful Easter songs to include them all on one day so make the most of the full season and consider using songs you may not have sung on Easter Sunday. Come, you faithful, raise the strain (CH 414 / MP 103) and This joyful Eastertide (CH 415) would both be excellent well known hymns to open with. Great things (CCLI) would also work well as a general Easter season opening song as would King of Kings (CCLI) which also picks up some of the themes from the readings. One church, one voice (Satellite) is always a good opening song and could link to the doubts of Thomas in v3. Humbly in your sight (CH 496) could also link to the Gospel, both in the call for Jesus to be present, but also in the reference to the different senses. If you used any of the more contemporary hymns on Easter Sunday such as Christ is alive, and the universe must celebrate (CH 422), Away with gloom, away with doubt (CH 418), Earth, earth, awake; your praises sing (CH 420) or Christ was raised (Resound) it could also be worth considering repeating them to help them become part of your congregation’s repertoire.
Word
O God, my refuge, keep me safe (CH 9) is a very useable metrical setting of the psalm but with some archaic language so for those who prefer more contemporary language you might want to consider Keep me, Lord, for in your keeping (WGRG) which is set to Hyfrydol or God of refuge (New Scottish / CCLI) which is set to Nettleton. There are a number of lovely responsorial settings where either just the chorus could be used or a solo voice could sing or read the verses, including Harbour of my heart (PFAS 16B / Hymnary), Keep me safe (GIA) and Lord, you will show us the path of life (GIA).
Response
You may have used the first few verses of O sons and daughters, let us sing (CH 431) last week and vv.1,5-8 pick up on the story in this week’s Gospel. There is also an alternative translation of this hymn, My daughters and my sons hear, tell (Hymnary), which can be sung to the same tune. There are various songs which explore when we have doubts such as How often we like Thomas (CH 432) and Have mercy (link) with its second verse of “Oh help my unbelief”. Listening God, you hear us when we cannot speak (STF 524) and Now the green blade riseth (CH 417) both reference the touch of Christ as important in times of trouble and are both set to the same tune. The other angle to look at would be songs which are more focused on faith such as True faith needs no defence (MV 139) and By faith (MP 1262 / CCLI / Getty), with the line “We’ll walk by faith and not by sight” particularly relevant. Listen to the words (Peace be with you) (Resound) is a really simple call and response using the words of Jesus in v21 and you could also link into this verse using a blessing song such as The peace of the earth be with you (CH 798) or May you find peace (Fischy).
Some of the short songs suggested last week would link well to the passage from Acts, echoing Peter’s testimony to the Israelites that Christ is risen. The Lord is risen from the dead (CH 797) and Jesus the Lord, has risen / Surrexit Dominus vere (CH 794) are both simple rounds while Jesus is risen, Alleluia (CH 409) is a wonderful song from Tanzania. Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord (MP 30) and Christ was raised (Resound) are also worth considering while Murassala (WGRG / H 82) from South Sudan would link to the theme of being “witnesses” to Jesus’ resurrection.
Blest be the everlasting God (CH 424) is one of the classic Scottish Paraphrases which sets vv.3-5 of the Epistle and singing this is an excellent option whichever reading you are focusing on. You could also consider other classic Easter songs such as The strife is o’er (CH 412 / MP 670), The day of resurrection (CH 413), I know that my Redeemer lives (CH 423) or Great things (CCLI).
Sending
There are a couple of hymns which tie into the Gospel story which could work as closing songs. Christ has risen while earth slumbers (CH 430) can be sung to Blaenwern or Hyfrydol if the tune is unfamiliar while The risen Christ who walks on wounded feet (link) can be sung to Woodlands (you could also use this earlier in the service in which case the tune Upper Room is worth considering for a more reflective feel). As with the opening song, you could also use some general Easter hymns which speak into themes across all the readings such as To God be the glory (CH 512 / MP 708), The power of the cross (MP 1217 / CCLI / Getty), This is amazing grace (CCLI), or Christ is alive! Let Christians sing (CH 416).
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