Host a Special Service for Music Sunday
In the past, various churches have organised their Music Sunday services in different ways;
- • Invite members of the choir and musicians to lead different parts of the service
- • Ask the Director of Music to speak about how he or she makes the music choices
- • Ask the choir and/or congregation to choose the hymns, or even all of the music
- • You could choose to sing one of this year’s Music Sunday anthems (see below)
- • Why not join with other local churches to put on a large service together?
- • Use this link to access the Music Sunday recommended music choices and readings for 2023
- • We will be uploading a complete service here soon that you can adapt to suit your own circumstances.
However you decide to celebrate Music Sunday, remember to register your event so that we can acknowledge your involvement.
Register your events
This Year’s Music Sunday Anthem
Why not sing one of the versions of the Music Sunday anthem from 2023, In the sound of song? Chris Artley and Anthony Gray were joint winners for the Harold Smart Composition Competition. Both worthy winners, but in contrasting, approachable styles, they are ideal to be included in your special Music Sunday service! Both are written for Soprano, Alto and Unison Lower Voices. Anthems from previous years are also available.
Purchase the music
Put on a concert
There are so many possibilities according to your local circumstances! Large or small, formal or informal, could you combine with other local groups? One of our favourites of the last few years was a Pimms and Pipes event!
To help you with publicity why not use our poster template in the toolkit. There are lots of ideas as well in the publicity guide.
Click here to head to the ToolkitOther Ideas for Music Sunday
Ideas for a Music Sunday Service
- Hold workshops with church/school groups in advance then the children present their work in church on Music Sunday and invite parents
- Use congregational musicians to enhance the music in the service
- Extended services with additional music and/or music groups
- Small churches join together for a special service
- Include at talk on the works, composers, elements of the music of the service
- Invite a composer/hymn writer/prayer writer
- Hold your service in a different location, eg outdoor services, a private chapel, a stately home a football stadium
- Church crawl (particularly for benefices or the churches of a village/small town) – hold different parts of the service in different churches
- Invite back former choristers and musicians
- Hold a poll to choose the hymns for the service
- Ask your musicians to take different roles in the service
- Ask your musicians and/or congregation about the impact on them of some of your music or talk about their favourites
Musical Ideas for Music Sunday
- Organ crawl
- Hymns & a pint
- Eat, meet & sing
- Music marathon – hymn singing, organ playing
- Music Festival
Social and Other Ideas for Music Sunday
- Coffee & Cake/coffee morning/cake sale
- Quiz
- Bring & share picnic
- Dance
- Barbecue
- Auction of Promises
- Sponsored events – run, walk, cycle, sing, play the organ