Hymns of Confession and Lament
Coming to God in our pain ... asking God's forgiveness for the pain we cause
God’s goodness … our sin and grief … the groaning of creation … God’s abounding mercy … these are the themes of the hymns below. Some may be familiar, others less so. We pray they will be helpful.
Traditional hymns…
* indicates out of copyright, ** indicates CCOW powerpoint version, (C) indicates especially useful for children
Links are to Hymnary where words are available on the site, and to videos where they are not.
- Creating God, your fingers trace (Jeffery Rowthorn)
- Father Eternal, Ruler of creation (Laurence Housman)*
- O Crucified Redeemer (Timothy Rees)
From new sources
Mostly in copyright – check licensing where necessary.
Resound Worship has put out a series of new songs – Doxecology. They focus on different aspects of creation care – go to the Resound Worship page for licensing: the links are to videos. You might want to look at:
- If the fields are parched (Have mercy, Lord)(Chris Juby)
- Hear the song of our lament (Keiko Ying)
- We are the tenants of the King (Joel Payne)
They join a wide range of new music from different traditions. We’ve got a sampling below.
- Beauty for Brokenness/ God of the Poor (Graham Kendrick) – in many hymnals
- The Climate is Changing! (Carolyn Winfrey Gillette – to the tune of Immortal, invisible)
- Creative God, you spread the earth (Ruth Duck)
- The Garden of the World – Lament for the Earth (Shirley Erena Murray)
- Goodness is stronger than evil (Desmond Tutu/John Bell)
- In a round world (Manley Olson)
- Isaiah the prophet has written of old (Joy F Patterson)
- Make me a channel of your peace (St Francis of Assisi/Sebastian Temple) – in most hymnals
- Oceans (Joel Timothy Houston, Matthew Crocker, Salomon Lighthelm/Hillsong)
- Pelas dores deste mundo, Senhor /For the troubles and the sufferings of the world – (Rodolfo Gaedo Neto, tr Simei Monteiro)
- Touch the earth lightly (Shirley Erena Murray) – in many hymnals
Jubilate Hymns appear in some hymnals, but the words can also be found on the Jubilate website. They include many new hymns set to familiar tunes – and some completely new words and tunes. You might want to look at:
- Forgive, bless, direct us, Lord (John Miller)
- Forgive us when our deeds ignore (Martin E Leckebusch)
- Now we hear creation groaning (Martin E Leckebusch)
- Thank you, God, for water, soil, and air (Brian Wren – thanking God for gifts, lamenting misuse and asking for grace to help renewal)
Green Christian has a list with links to the words of new hymns, which are often set to familiar tunes. These include:
- Pat Bennett’s “Creator God, abundant life your mark”
Richard Baker, scientist and Methodist lay pastor, has a collection of hymns that you can read online and download as a booklet. There is lament – but also a lovely vision of what a 2050 with climate goals reached would look like.
You might not have heard …
One Planet (From the Salvation Army – for children – great song, full of ideas for environmental action – great resource for all age worship, downloadable)
Also great for children (and apt given the 2026 Season of Creation theme) – Fischy music’s “Let justice roll like a river” Score is free to download: video below.
From Andy Flannagan and Lucy Grimble – a worship song that brings together lament and hope.
