Music for the 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B

Suggestions of hymns that are appropriate for the fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time Year B

For suggestions for the 3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time click here. For hymn suggestions for the 5th Sunday of Ordinary Time click here.

Suggestions from the hymn books

Title	Ref	CFE	Laudate
A mighty stronghold is our God	G	3
A new commandment		4	920
All hail the power of Jesus name		19	323
Alleluia sing to Jesus		37	644
Amazing grace		40	846
As the deer longs		53	214
At the name of Jesus		59	762
Be still and know Iona		78	968
Be still and know that I am God		71	909
Be still for the presence of the Lord		72	720
Be still my soul		73
Be thou my vision		74	969
Blest are the pure in heart	C	88	908
Breathe on me breath of God		98	302
Christ be our light		891	883
Christ is made the sure foundation		109	456
Christ’s church shall glory in his power	G		826
Come to set us free	G	135	81
Eat this bread		151	633
Eye has not seen		154	792
Firmly I believe and truly		173	962
For the healing of the nations		179	886
Forgive our sins as we forgive		182	845
Forth in the peace of Christ we go		183	853
Gather us in		253	475
Glory and praise to our God		196	695
God has chosen me		212	858
God is love and where true love is		214	242
God is our fortress and our rock			958
Healer of our every ill	G		427
Holy God we praise thy name		257	708
I have loved you		276	775
I heard the voice of Jesus say			795
I sing the almighty power of God	G		684
Into one we all are gathered		312	243
Jesus Christ is waiting		323	889
Jesus the word has lived among us		331	161
King of glory king of peace		343	715
Lord of all hopefulness		386	970
Lord you give the great commission		394	870
O Christ the healer	G		430
O God our help in ages past		528	955
O Lord my God when I in awesome wonder		568	721
Praise to you O Christ our Saviour	G	416	200
Psalm 94	Ps		52
Rejoice the Lord is king	Ps	619	326
Seek ye first		633	820
Servant song		795	924
Sing to the world		658	857
Taste and see		682	617
The church’s one foundation		688	830
The light of Christ		703	747
The summons		812	877
There is a longing		915	941
There’s a wideness in God’s mercy			810
Thou whose almighty word	G	738	887
To God with gladness sing	Ps	746	3
Ubi caritas			245
We are many parts			822
When John baptised by Jordan’s river	G	804	173
Where is love and loving kindness		809
Word of God come down on earth	G		741
Your hands O Lord in days of old	G		431

Suggestions from other sources

Title	Ref	Composer	Publisher	Comments
At Jesus’ name		Michael Joncas	GIA	Refrain and verses. This would make a change from using the straight hymn.
At the name of Jesus		Chris Walker	OCP	Traditional words with a new tune.
Beati voi poveri	C	Taizé		Ostinato response is in Italian though there is an English translation. Verses and instrument parts available. Video from Taizé
Beatitudes	C	Suzanne Toolan	GIA	The assembly have the same response throughout ‘Blessed. O blessed indeed are you.’ Cantors or choir sing the rest.
Behold I make all things new		John Bell	Iona	In the collection ‘Come, all you people’. Also available from GIA
Come let us sing	Ps	Christopher Walker	OCP	A setting of psalm 94/95. Arranged for SATB if required and a solo instrument part is included.
Come let us sing	Ps	Marty Haugen	GIA	This piece uses psalm 94/95 but is more of a paraphrase so probably best used elsewhere in the liturgy, perhaps as a gathering song. Set for SATB with a descant for verse 3. In the collection of the same name.
Come to me (Shoulder my yoke)	C	Martin Barry		The verses are based on the beatitudes
From the many make us one		Tony Alonso	GIA	A call/response piece where the response and refrain are arranged for SAB. There are a large number of verses so this is extremely useful for the Communion procession. Instrument parts are avilable.
Gifts of finest wheat		Robert E Kreutz Omer Westendorf	GIA	An excellent piece for communion with a refrain for the assembly and verses that can be sung by choir in harmony or cantor. This has stood the test of time. It is in ‘Alleluia, Amen’ (a little brown book) published by the Irish Church Music association in 1978.
If today you hear God’s voice	Ps	Farrell	OCP	A straightforward setting of psalm 94/95 with chanted verses. The choral version has the verses set for SATB. However, in ‘Go before us‘ it is given as lyrical verses but with the same refrain.
If today you hear the voice of God	Ps	James Chepponis	GIA	A lyric setting of psalm 94/95. Make sure you sing the correct verses if using this as the responsorial psalm – the octavo does actually tell you which verses are used for each of the Sundays when this psalm occurs. It is also one of the common psalms for Ordinary Time. The verses start in unison then can have harmony added if desired. The refrain is set for SATB and a solo instrument part is included.
La tenebre (Our darkness)	G	Taize		Available in French from the Taize website. In the book ‘Taize: songs for prayer’.
Lead me Lord	C	John Becker	OCP	With verses from the beatitudes this gentle piece would make a good addition to the repertoire. Unison with option 4-part harmony under the refrain. Solo instrument parts are included in the octavo. Listen here.
O Lord heal us		Christopher Walker	OCP	A simple verse/refrain piece. Unfortunately the ordinary version is not available separately but it is in the collections ‘Hear the prayers that rise’ and ‘At the name of Jesus’. Two sets of choir harmonies are given along with a choice of verses. Looking ahead, this song would be very suitable during Lent and Holy Week.
Open my eyes		Jesse Manibusan	OCP	A very simple song which can be sung in unison or there is SAB harmony. Multi-lingual which may be a plus for some parishes.
Plenty good room		Arr Glover	GIA	A spiritual arranged for choir/all. GIA has other versions of this song, including ‘A festival gathering’.
Save us O Lord		Bob Dufford	OCP	An upbeat setting of psalm 79/80. Unison with a final refrain descant. Parts for flute and oboe are included and the assembly edition also has the verses.
Sent forth by God’s blessing		Omer Westendorf	GIA/WLP	A hymn for sending forth set to the tune ‘The Ash Grove’. GIA have various versions, mainly arranged for choir so the OCP version is included for ease of use.
Ubi Caritas est vera		Bob Hurd	OCP	From the collection ‘Ubi Caritas’.
Who will speak	1	Marty Haugen	GIA	‘Who will speak if you don’t?’ From the ‘Agapé’ collection. Not for everyone but this hymn has a strong social justice and responsibility theme.

Click here for suggestions for other Sundays