Epiphany, celebrated on January 6, marks the end of the Christmas season (commonly referred to as the 12 days of Christmas).
It’s a time in the liturgical year when we remember the magi’s journey and Jesus being revealed as the Savior of the world. In fact, the word “Epiphany” comes from the Greek epiphaneia, meaning “manifestation” or "striking appearance.” (source)
In some churches, Epiphany is considered the start of a new season that runs through the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. In other churches, Epiphany is celebrated as a single day, and the period that follows is considered Ordinary Time. (source)
Regardless of how you celebrate, Epiphany Sunday and the weeks that follow are about light, revelation, and glory; God manifested in the flesh, come to dwell among us.
Today, I'm sharing 40 songs, hymns, and anthems plus a few liturgy ideas that would work well for Epiphany Sunday and the season that follows. Enjoy!
Worship Planning Resources for Epiphany
*Disclosure: I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
SATB Anthems for Epiphany
The Star Carol
John Rutter
SATB Choir with opt. Children’s Choir, Piano or Orchestra, and Brass
What Star is This?
Jay Althouse
SATB Choir with Piano
Work of Christmas
Dan Forrest (beautiful text by Howard Thurman)
SATB Choir, a cappella
Brightest and Best
arr. Shawn Kirchner
TTBB or SATB Choir with Piano, Solo Violin, and String Bass
Carol of the Kings
arr. Ruth Elaine Schram
SATB Choir with Piano and opt. Oboe and Finger Cymbals
We Three Kings
arr. Craig Courtney
SATB Choir with Piano and opt. Orchestration and Congregation
Walk in Light
Karen Marrolli
SAB Choir with Piano and Violin/Oboe
Christ Whose Glory Fills the Skies
Brad Nix
SATB Choir, a cappella
Star in the East
arr. William Allen Pasch
SATB Choir, a cappella with opt. Handbells or Chimes
Joy Has Dawned
Keith Getty/Stuart Townend, arr. Molly Ijames
SATB Choir with Piano and opt. Orchestration
Arise, Arise, and Shine!
Mary McDonald
SATB Choir with Piano and opt. Orchestration
We Three Kings
arr. Matthew Culloton
SATB Choir, a cappella with Oboe
Keep God’s Light
Mark Patterson
SATB Choir, a cappella with Djembe or Conga Drum
Children's Choir Anthems for Epiphany
The Light of God’s Love
Mark Burrows
Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano and opt. Percussion
Shine Your Light (Set of 3 Pieces)
Terry Taylor
Unison Choir with Piano
Arise, Shine!
Thomas Keesecker
2-Part Choir with Piano and opt. Flute
This Little Light of Mine
Mark Patterson
Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano and opt. Tambourine
2-3 octave handbells (12-16 bells)
Four Pieces for Epiphany
A printable collection of four short pieces for your worship services during the season of Epiphany.
Written for 12-16 bells, these pieces are easy to put together and accessible for smaller (and younger) groups of 6-8 ringers.
This collection includes a solo piece, a processional, a hymn descant, and an original prayer and accompanying underscore. Performance notes are included for each piece.
Hymns for Epiphany
We Three Kings
Epiphany Carol [BEACH SPRING]
As with Gladness Men of Old
O God, Who By a Star Did Guide
In Christ There Is No East or West
Angels From the Realms of Glory (3rd verse)
What Star is This With Beams So Bright
Brightest and Best of the Stars
The First Noel (vv. 3-5)
The Light of the World is Jesus
I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light
Go, Tell It On the Mountain
O Christ, Our True and Only Light
O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright
*Don’t have some of these hymns in your hymnal? Some are the in the public domain and are free to reproduce and share. If your church has a CCLI license (or similar copyright license), check the database to see what hymns are included with your license and what would be free to reproduce for your congregation.
For more info, see this post: The Church Musician’s Guide to Copyright and Licenses
Songs for Epiphany
Come, Now Is the Time to Worship
Brian Doerksen
Light of the World
Matt Redman
Joyous Light
Chris Tomlin, David Crowder, John Henry Gower, Louie Giglio
You Are the Light
Steve Fee
Oh Gracious Light
The Brilliance
The Lord Is My Light
Taize Community
Shine, Jesus, Shine
Graham Kendrick
O Church Arise (Arise, Shine)
Keith Getty, Stuart Townend
3-octave handbells (11 bells) + Cello or Solo C Instrument
I Wonder As I Wander
This traditional Appalachian carol is a thoughtful and meaningful addition to Advent, Christmas, or Epiphany worship.
The singing bell (S.B.) technique in the beginning adds a haunting quality to the contemplative melody. The arrangement ends with a delicate eighth-note pattern in the handbells, marked L.V. (let vibrate) to indicate that the bells should not be damped. This is meant to evoke the sparkle of starlight in the night sky.
Epiphany Liturgy
An Epiphany Liturgy
Prayers for Epiphany
Epiphany Call to Worship and Invocation
Epiphany Call to Worship
Epiphany Prayer
Looking for more Epiphany resources? Take a look at this helpful liturgical resource library curated by Sacred Ordinary Days—there’s one for every season of the church year!
I’d love to hear from you:
How do you celebrate Epiphany with your congregation?
