Hymns for the church year
Advent hymns for the four Sundays before Christmas
Advent is the season of waiting. For the four Sundays before Christmas the church remembers Israel's long hope for the Messiah, prepares to celebrate his birth, and looks ahead to the day he will come again. The hymns of Advent carry all three of those threads: the ache of “O come, O come, Emmanuel,” the call of John the Baptist to prepare the way, and the bright expectation of the King who is on his way.
Singing Advent hymns before the carols gives Christmas its weight. A congregation that has spent four weeks singing “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” hears “Joy to the World” differently on Christmas Eve. Many churches light one candle of an Advent wreath each Sunday, and these hymns sit naturally beside that reading and prayer.
The hymns below are grouped by theme: songs of longing for the promised Savior, hymns that take up the voices of the prophets and John the Baptist, and hymns of Christ's return in glory, which are especially fitting on the first Sunday of Advent. Every text is in the public domain in the United States, taken from a hymnal printed before 1931, so you can print, project or record them freely. Hymns marked “▶ Play along” have a free accompaniment if you have no pianist that week.
When Christmas arrives, the Christmas carols page has everything you need for Christmas Eve and the twelve days that follow.
Print all lyricsBuild an order of service
O come: hymns of longing
The heart of Advent — waiting for the promised Savior.
- O Come, O Come, Emmanuel — O come, O come, Immanuel,
- Come, Thou long expected Jesus — Come, Thou long-expected Jesus,
- The Race That Long in Darkness Pined — The race that long in darkness pined
- Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming — Lo, how a rose e’er blooming
- Watchman, Tell Us of the Night — Watchman, tell us of the night,
Prepare the way
The prophets and John the Baptist — fitting for the second and third Sundays of Advent.
- On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry — On Jordan's bank the herald's cry
- Comfort, comfort ye my people — Comfort, comfort ye My people,
- Hark! a Thrilling Voice Is Sounding — Hark! a thrilling voice is sounding:
- Hark, the Glad Sound — Hark, the glad sound! the Savior comes,
- Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates — Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates,
The King is coming
Hymns of Christ's reign and return, often sung on the first Sunday of Advent.
Questions about advent hymns
When is Advent this year?
Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day — between November 27 and December 3 — and runs until Christmas Eve. In 2026 the first Sunday of Advent is November 29.
What is the most popular Advent hymn?
“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” is the best-known Advent hymn in English-speaking churches, and “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” is close behind. Both are on this page with free lyrics.
Should we sing Christmas carols during Advent?
Churches differ. Some save carols for Christmas Eve so Advent keeps its own character of waiting; others mix in a carol or two in December. A common middle way is to sing Advent hymns on Sunday mornings and carols at Christmas events.
Can I print these Advent hymns for our service?
Yes. The words are in the public domain in the United States. Use “Print all lyrics” for a single sheet, or open a hymn to print it on its own.