Alternative Hymn Texts Made Available
In August, 2026 Church Publishing Incorporated (CPI) announced a new digital collection of alternative hymn texts, offering Episcopal congregations options for singing familiar hymns using updated language. The hymns included in this collection are offered as alternatives for those who wish to use them on an experimental basis. Their publication does not constitute a revision of the authorized hymnal.
The digital collection of Alternative Hymn Texts was developed by the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music in response to General Convention Resolution 2024- A130 which mandated its creation. The collection offers alternative versions of hymns that address issues of ”colonialist, racist, white supremacist, imperialistic, and nationalistic language.”
Over several years, the SCLM conducted focus groups, engaged in a comprehensive study of The Hymnal 1982, and worked to achieve consensus on revision of texts. Some hymns contained problematic language and imagery that could not be addressed with minor edits and were omitted from the collection. Others could not be changed due to restrictions imposed by copyright holders.
Diverse approaches and cultural contexts influence decisions regarding the Church’s song. This collection represents an initial step in evaluating the words of our worship to ensure that all find a welcome.
The hymn texts posted below are for those in the public domain, and may be used freely without further copyright permission. The entire collection, including graphic files with words and music, can be found on RiteSong or RitePlanning, which require a subscription.
Click on a title below to see the text:
Hark! a thrilling voice is sounding, #59 from The Hymnal 1982
1 Hark! a thrilling voice is sounding:
“Christ is nigh,” it seems to say;
“Cast away the works of evil,
O ye children of the day.”
2 Wakened by the solemn warning,
from earth’s bondage let us rise;
Christ, our sun, all sloth dispelling,
shines upon the morning skies.
3 Lo! the Lamb, so long expected,
comes with pardon down from heaven;
let us haste, with tears of sorrow,
one and all to be forgiven;
4 so when next he comes with glory,
and the world is wrapped in fear,
may he with his mercy shield us,
and with words of love draw near.
5 Honor, glory, might, and blessing
to the Father and the Son,
with the everlasting Spirit
while unending ages run.
Hark! a thrilling voice is sounding, #59 from The Hymnal 1982 — Words: Latin, ca. 6th cent.; tr. Hymns Ancient and Modern, 1861, alt. Music: Merton, William Henry Monk (1823-1889); desc. Alan Gray (1855-1935).
H059 / H82_059
“Christ is nigh,” it seems to say;
“Cast away the works of evil,
O ye children of the day.”
2 Wakened by the solemn warning,
from earth’s bondage let us rise;
Christ, our sun, all sloth dispelling,
shines upon the morning skies.
3 Lo! the Lamb, so long expected,
comes with pardon down from heaven;
let us haste, with tears of sorrow,
one and all to be forgiven;
4 so when next he comes with glory,
and the world is wrapped in fear,
may he with his mercy shield us,
and with words of love draw near.
5 Honor, glory, might, and blessing
to the Father and the Son,
with the everlasting Spirit
while unending ages run.
Hark! a thrilling voice is sounding, #59 from The Hymnal 1982 — Words: Latin, ca. 6th cent.; tr. Hymns Ancient and Modern, 1861, alt. Music: Merton, William Henry Monk (1823-1889); desc. Alan Gray (1855-1935).
H059 / H82_059
At the Lamb’s high feast we sing, #174 from The Hymnal 1982
1 At the Lamb’s high feast we sing
praise to our victorious King,
who hath washed us in the tide
flowing from his piercèd side;
praise we him, whose love divine
gives his sacred Blood for wine,
gives his Body for the feast,
Christ the victim, Christ the priest.
2 Where the Paschal blood is poured,
death’s dread angel sheathes his sword;
Israel’s hosts triumphant go
through the wave that drowns the foe.
Praise we Christ, whose blood was shed,
Paschal victim, Paschal bread;
with sincerity and love
eat we manna from above.
3 Mighty victim from on high,
hell’s fierce powers beneath thee lie;
thou hast conquered in the fight,
thou hast brought us life and light:
now no more can death appall,
now no more the grave enthrall;
thou hast opened paradise,
and in thee thy saints shall rise.
4 Easter triumph, Easter joy,
these alone do sin destroy.
From sin’s power do thou set free
souls new-born, O Lord, in thee.
Hymns of glory, songs of praise,
Father, unto thee we raise:
risen Lord, all praise to thee
with the Spirit ever be.
At the Lamb’s high feast we sing, #174 from The Hymnal 1982 — Words: Latin, 1632; tr. Robert Campbell (1814-1868), alt. Music: Salzburg, melody Jakob Hintze (1622-1702); harm. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750).
praise to our victorious King,
who hath washed us in the tide
flowing from his piercèd side;
praise we him, whose love divine
gives his sacred Blood for wine,
gives his Body for the feast,
Christ the victim, Christ the priest.
2 Where the Paschal blood is poured,
death’s dread angel sheathes his sword;
Israel’s hosts triumphant go
through the wave that drowns the foe.
Praise we Christ, whose blood was shed,
Paschal victim, Paschal bread;
with sincerity and love
eat we manna from above.
3 Mighty victim from on high,
hell’s fierce powers beneath thee lie;
thou hast conquered in the fight,
thou hast brought us life and light:
now no more can death appall,
now no more the grave enthrall;
thou hast opened paradise,
and in thee thy saints shall rise.
4 Easter triumph, Easter joy,
these alone do sin destroy.
From sin’s power do thou set free
souls new-born, O Lord, in thee.
Hymns of glory, songs of praise,
Father, unto thee we raise:
risen Lord, all praise to thee
with the Spirit ever be.
At the Lamb’s high feast we sing, #174 from The Hymnal 1982 — Words: Latin, 1632; tr. Robert Campbell (1814-1868), alt. Music: Salzburg, melody Jakob Hintze (1622-1702); harm. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750).
For all the saints, who from their labors rest, #287 from The Hymnal 1982
1 For all the saints, who from their labors rest,
who thee by faith before the world confessed,
thy Name, O Jesus, be for ever blessed.
Alleluia, alleluia!
2 Thou wast their rock, their fortress, and their might:
thou, Lord, their Captain in the well-fought fight;
thou, in the darkness drear, the one true Light.
Alleluia, alleluia!
3 O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
yet all are one in thee, for all are thine.
Alleluia, alleluia!
4 The golden evening brightens in the west;
soon, soon to faithful servants cometh rest;
sweet is the calm of paradise the blest.
Alleluia, alleluia!
5 But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
the saints triumphant rise in bright array;
the King of glory passes on his way.
Alleluia, alleluia!
6 From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
through gates of pearl streams in the countless host
singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
Alleluia, alleluia!
For all the saints, who from their labors rest, #287 from The Hymnal 1982 — Words: William Walsham How (1823-1897). Music: Sine Nomine, Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958).
who thee by faith before the world confessed,
thy Name, O Jesus, be for ever blessed.
Alleluia, alleluia!
2 Thou wast their rock, their fortress, and their might:
thou, Lord, their Captain in the well-fought fight;
thou, in the darkness drear, the one true Light.
Alleluia, alleluia!
3 O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
yet all are one in thee, for all are thine.
Alleluia, alleluia!
4 The golden evening brightens in the west;
soon, soon to faithful servants cometh rest;
sweet is the calm of paradise the blest.
Alleluia, alleluia!
5 But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
the saints triumphant rise in bright array;
the King of glory passes on his way.
Alleluia, alleluia!
6 From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
through gates of pearl streams in the countless host
singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
Alleluia, alleluia!
For all the saints, who from their labors rest, #287 from The Hymnal 1982 — Words: William Walsham How (1823-1897). Music: Sine Nomine, Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958).
O worship our God, all glorious above, #388 from The Hymnal 1982
1 O worship our God, all glorious above!
O gratefully laud his power and his love!
Our shield and defender, the Ancient of Days,
pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise.
2 O tell of his might! O sing of his grace!
Whose robe is the light, whose canopy space.
His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,
and dark is his path on the wings of the storm.
3 The earth, with its store of wonders untold,
Almighty, thy power hath founded of old,
hath stablished it fast by a changeless decree,
and round it hath cast, like a mantle, the sea.
4 Thy bountiful care, what tongue can recite?
It breathes in the air; it shines in the light;
it streams from the hills, it descends to the plain,
and sweetly distills in the dew and the rain.
5 Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
in thee do we trust, nor find thee to fail;
thy mercies, how tender! how firm to the end!
Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend!
O worship our God, all glorious above, #388 from The Hymnal 1982 — Words: Robert Grant (1779-1838), alt. Music: Hanover, att. William Croft (1678-1727).
O gratefully laud his power and his love!
Our shield and defender, the Ancient of Days,
pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise.
2 O tell of his might! O sing of his grace!
Whose robe is the light, whose canopy space.
His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,
and dark is his path on the wings of the storm.
3 The earth, with its store of wonders untold,
Almighty, thy power hath founded of old,
hath stablished it fast by a changeless decree,
and round it hath cast, like a mantle, the sea.
4 Thy bountiful care, what tongue can recite?
It breathes in the air; it shines in the light;
it streams from the hills, it descends to the plain,
and sweetly distills in the dew and the rain.
5 Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
in thee do we trust, nor find thee to fail;
thy mercies, how tender! how firm to the end!
Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend!
O worship our God, all glorious above, #388 from The Hymnal 1982 — Words: Robert Grant (1779-1838), alt. Music: Hanover, att. William Croft (1678-1727).
Come, labor on, #541 from The Hymnal 1982
1 Come, labor on.
Who dares stand idle on the harvest plain,
while all around us waves the golden grain?
And to each servant does the Savior say,
“Go work today.”
2 Come, labor on.
The enemy is watching night and day,
to sow the tares, to snatch the seed away;
while we in sleep our duty have forgot,
he slumbered not.
3 Come, labor on.
Away with gloomy doubts and faithless fear!
No arm so weak but may do service here:
by feeblest agents may our God fulfill
his righteous will.
4 Come, labor on.
Claim the high calling angels cannot share--
to young and old the Gospel gladness bear:
redeem the time; its hours too swiftly fly.
The night draws nigh.
5 Come, labor on.
No time for rest, till glows the western sky,
till the long shadows o’er our pathway lie,
and a glad sound comes with the setting sun,
“Servants, well done.”
Come, labor on, #541 from The Hymnal 1982 — Words: Jane Laurie Borthwick (1813-1897), alt. Music: Ora Labora, Thomas Tertius Noble (1867-1953).
Who dares stand idle on the harvest plain,
while all around us waves the golden grain?
And to each servant does the Savior say,
“Go work today.”
2 Come, labor on.
The enemy is watching night and day,
to sow the tares, to snatch the seed away;
while we in sleep our duty have forgot,
he slumbered not.
3 Come, labor on.
Away with gloomy doubts and faithless fear!
No arm so weak but may do service here:
by feeblest agents may our God fulfill
his righteous will.
4 Come, labor on.
Claim the high calling angels cannot share--
to young and old the Gospel gladness bear:
redeem the time; its hours too swiftly fly.
The night draws nigh.
5 Come, labor on.
No time for rest, till glows the western sky,
till the long shadows o’er our pathway lie,
and a glad sound comes with the setting sun,
“Servants, well done.”
Come, labor on, #541 from The Hymnal 1982 — Words: Jane Laurie Borthwick (1813-1897), alt. Music: Ora Labora, Thomas Tertius Noble (1867-1953).
O God of Bethel, by whose hand, #709 from The Hymnal 1982
1 O God of Bethel, by whose hand
thy people still are fed;
who through this earthly pilgrimage
hast all thine Israel led:
2 Our vows, our prayers, we now present
before thy throne of grace:
O God of Israel, be the God
of every time and place.
3 Through each perplexing path of life
our wandering footsteps guide;
give us each day our daily bread,
and raiment fit provide.
4 O spread thy sheltering wings around,
till all our wanderings cease,
and at our Father’s loved abode
our souls arrive in peace!
5 Such blessings from thy gracious hand
our humble prayers implore;
and thou shalt be our covenant God
and portion evermore.
O God of Bethel, by whose hand, #709 from The Hymnal 1982 — Words: Philip Doddridge (1702-1751), alt. Music: Dundee, melody from The CL Psalmes of David, 1615; fauxbourdon The Psalmes of David in Prose and Meeter, 1635.
thy people still are fed;
who through this earthly pilgrimage
hast all thine Israel led:
2 Our vows, our prayers, we now present
before thy throne of grace:
O God of Israel, be the God
of every time and place.
3 Through each perplexing path of life
our wandering footsteps guide;
give us each day our daily bread,
and raiment fit provide.
4 O spread thy sheltering wings around,
till all our wanderings cease,
and at our Father’s loved abode
our souls arrive in peace!
5 Such blessings from thy gracious hand
our humble prayers implore;
and thou shalt be our covenant God
and portion evermore.
O God of Bethel, by whose hand, #709 from The Hymnal 1982 — Words: Philip Doddridge (1702-1751), alt. Music: Dundee, melody from The CL Psalmes of David, 1615; fauxbourdon The Psalmes of David in Prose and Meeter, 1635.
God of the ages, whose almighty hand, #718 from The Hymnal 1982
1 God of the ages, whose almighty hand
leads forth in beauty all the starry band
of shining worlds in splendor through the skies,
our grateful songs before thy throne arise.
2 Thy love divine hath led us in the past,
in this free land by thee our lot is cast;
be thou our ruler, guardian, guide, and stay
thy word our law, thy paths our chosen way.
3 From war’s alarms, from deadly pestilence,
be thy strong arm our ever sure defense;
thy true religion in our hearts increase,
thy bounteous goodness nourish us in peace.
4 Refresh thy people on their toilsome way,
lead us from night to never-ending day;
fill all our lives with love and grace divine,
and glory, laud, and praise be ever thine.
God of the ages, whose almighty hand, #718 from The Hymnal 1982 — Words: Daniel Crane Roberts (1841-1907); The United Methodist Hymnal (1989), alt. Music: National Hymn, George William Warren (1828-1902).
leads forth in beauty all the starry band
of shining worlds in splendor through the skies,
our grateful songs before thy throne arise.
2 Thy love divine hath led us in the past,
in this free land by thee our lot is cast;
be thou our ruler, guardian, guide, and stay
thy word our law, thy paths our chosen way.
3 From war’s alarms, from deadly pestilence,
be thy strong arm our ever sure defense;
thy true religion in our hearts increase,
thy bounteous goodness nourish us in peace.
4 Refresh thy people on their toilsome way,
lead us from night to never-ending day;
fill all our lives with love and grace divine,
and glory, laud, and praise be ever thine.
God of the ages, whose almighty hand, #718 from The Hymnal 1982 — Words: Daniel Crane Roberts (1841-1907); The United Methodist Hymnal (1989), alt. Music: National Hymn, George William Warren (1828-1902).
