Ephesians Hymn Project

The Letter to the Ephesians has long been one of my favorite New Testament books. It is filled with gratitude and praise, practical wisdom for living a life in Christ, invitations to become new creations in Christ, and resources for the journey with Christ in the world. It has been suggested that the letter circulated widely in the early church, nurturing the faithful as they sought to live a life in Christ. For me the Letter to the Ephesians became a touchstone in my personal faith and my preaching.

Like many pastors, for me matching scriptures and hymns was often an adventure. When I began a new ministry of the writing of new hymn texts, I started by writing a series of Advent hymn texts based on the scriptures for Advent appointed in the New Revised Common Lectionary. As that project was coming to a close, it occurred to me that The Letter to the Ephesians held much that lent itself to song.

Thus began my Ephesians Hymn Project: write a series of hymn texts based on the texts from the Letter to the Ephesians found in the Revised Common Lectionary as printed in The United Methodist Book of Worship, Copyright 1992 The United Methodist Publishing House, [pp. 227-237]. It was to become a much larger and much longer project than I could have imagined, beginning in 2009 and completed in 2015.

In the writing I did not attempt link the twelve texts, although some common themes did begin to emerge. Thanksgiving and praise are called forth in response to a gracious God. Grace, empowered by hope and love, shows how God is active in the lives of the faithful. People are invited to become new creations in Christ: to become one in compassion and witnesses to peace, justice and reconciliation. In the Spirit the saints are invited to become one in Christ and equipped to love and serve the world. While each hymn text is unique to the passage from the letter that called it forth, all speak of the love and grace of God in Christ.

It has been said that, when you sing, you pray twice. I commend these texts to you and, if they make it possible for you to sing, pray, and learn the scriptures from which they come, then To God Be The Glory!

F. Richard Garland,
North Kingstown, RI - 2015

Ephesians Hymn Texts

This is a series of hymn texts based on the texts from the letter to the Ephesians found in the Revised Common Lectionary as printed in The United Methodist Book of Worship, Copyright 1992 The United Methodist Publishing House, [pp. 227-237]

Two formats for the list of hymns are provided. The first is an alphabetical list by title of hymn. The second list is based on where in the Letter to the Ephesians the scripture text is located. Both lists provide where in the Revised Common Lectionary the Passages are appointed for use.

Listing by Hymn Title

Build Up the Saints in Love
Ephesians 4:1-16
Lectionary Year B - for Sundays between July 31 & August 6

Christ Is Our Peace
Ephesians 2:11-22
Lectionary Year B - for Sundays between July 17-23

Christ Is Raised
Ephesians 1:15-23
Ascension of the Lord - Lectionary Years A,B,C
Christ the King/Reign of Christ - Lectionary Year A

God Calls Us from Darkness
Ephesians 5:8-14
Fourth Sunday in Lent, Year A

God Envisions Full Redemption
Ephesians 1:11-23
All Saints - Lectionary Year C

God, Who Is Rich in Mercy’s Grace
Ephesians 2:1-10
Fourth Sunday in Lent, Year B

If You Would Have New Life
Ephesians 4:25-32
Lectionary Year B - for Sundays between August 6-13

In Christ Is Blessedness
Ephesians 1:3-14
Lectionary Year B - for Sundays between July 10-16

In Righteousness Stand Firm
Ephesians 6:10-20
Lectionary Year B - Sundays between August 21-27

Let Us Kneel Before Our Maker
Ephesians 3:14-21
Lectionary Year B - for Sundays between July 24-30

Take Care in How You Live
Ephesians 5:15-20
Lectionary Year B - for Sundays between August 14-20

When God Envisioned Love’s Birth
Ephesians 3:1-12
Epiphany of the Lord - Lectionary Years A,B,C

Listing by Scripture

Ephesians 1:3-14
In Christ Is Blessedness
Lectionary Year B - for Sundays between July 10-16

Ephesians 1:11-23
God Envisions Full Redemption
All Saints - Lectionary Year C

Ephesians 1:15-23
Christ Is Raised
Ascension of the Lord - Lectionary Years A,B,C
Christ the King/Reign of Christ - Lectionary Year A

Ephesians 2:1-10
God, Who Is Rich in Mercy’s Grace
Fourth Sunday in Lent, Year B

Ephesians 2:11-22
Christ Is Our Peace
Lectionary Year B - for Sundays between July 17-23

Ephesians 3:1-12
When God Envisioned Love’s Birth
Epiphany of the Lord - Lectionary Years A,B,C

Ephesians 3:14-21
Let Us Kneel Before Our Maker
Lectionary Year B - for Sundays between July 24-30

Ephesians 4:1-16
Build Up the Saints in Love
Lectionary Year B - for Sundays between July 31 & August 6

Ephesians 4:25-32
If You Would Have New Life
Lectionary Year B - for Sundays between August 6-13

Ephesians 5:8-14
God Calls Us from Darkness
Fourth Sunday in Lent, Year A

Ephesians 5:15-20
Take Care in How You Live
Lectionary Year B - for Sundays between August 14-20

Ephesians 6:10-20
In Righteousness Stand Firm
Lectionary Year B - Sundays between August 21-27