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Sunday by Sunday - the RSCM's quarterly liturgy and worship planner

Sunday by Sunday coverFirst issued in July 1997, Sunday by Sunday is the RSCM's quarterly liturgy planner, offering clergy and church musicians a week-by-week guide to planning music for worship.

This page contains a description of Sunday by Sunday, together with a listing of its special contents and online resources, which are available for you to download, whether you are a member or not.

The title "Sunday by Sunday" takes its cue from the readings in the Common Worship lectionary, which are presented with a brief commentary to provoke reflection and assist planning. In addition to special contents, several lists of suggested music are provided for each Sunday and festival, in accordance with the themes and moods of the readings:

  • Singing the Psalm of the day
  • Hymns and songs from a wide range of styles and traditions
  • Anthems and vocal music, including World Music and music from Iona and Taizé
  • Organ music
  • Music for children

For each piece you will find composers, details of sources and publishers, suggestions for liturgical use, and an indication of the relative difficulty of organ and choral pieces.

Sunday by Sunday follows the readings laid out in the Church of England's Common Worship Lectionary. This lectionary differs slightly from the Revised Common Lectionary and rather more so from the Roman Lectionary. Many festivals do, however, use the same themes and readings. Drawing on the music and spirituality of a wide range of Christian traditions, Sunday by Sunday is a genuinely ecumenical resource.

With effect from issue 24, Sunday by Sunday indicates those few Sundays where the Revised Common Lectionary or Roman Lectionary have a different Gospel reading. We hope that by doing this, the suggestions offered in Sunday by Sunday will be even more accessible and effective for those who plan and lead music in worship.

The full version of Sunday by Sunday is available only in print, to subscribing members of the RSCM. The online resources on this website are available for you to download. If you are not a member and would like to obtain the full version of Sunday by Sunday, details of RSCM membership can be found here.

Remembrance Sunday

Churches Together in Britain and Ireland provide more information about changes made in 2005 to Remembrance Sunday observance, along with an order of service (you can choose PDF or Word format) which can be downloaded.

Downloads

Articles

Liturgy resources

Miscellaneous

Special contents – by issue (beginning with issue 17)

Issue 44

  • Liturgy resources for Ordinary Time:
    The Fourth Sunday after Trinity to the Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity (Year A)

    Additional services

    • Peter and Paul, Apostles
    • Bartholomew the Apostle
    • Holy Cross Day
    • Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist
  • An article by Geoff Weaver on using songs from the world church, with a piece of music from a new RSCM collection of global song, In Every Corner Sing

Issue 43

  • Liturgy resources for Holy Week, Eastertide and Ordinary Time:
    Palm Sunday to the Third Sunday after Trinity (Year A)

    Additional services

    • The Easter Triduum (including an enlarged section of resources for the Easter Vigil)
    • Ascension Day
  • General Passiontide hymns, songs, anthems and vocal music
  • Information about a new Passiontide sequence, The Way of the Cross, with a short musical extract

Issue 42

  • Liturgy resources for Epiphany, Ordinary Time and Lent:
    Epiphany to the Fifth Sunday of Lent (Year A)

    Additional services

    • The Presentation of Christ in the Temple
    • Mothering Sunday
  • 'O Lord, hear our prayer’
    Resources for sung prayer and services where intercession is a particular focus
  • A responsorial setting of the canticle ‘A Song of Anselm’ and an anthem based on the same text

Issue 41

  • Liturgy resources for Ordinary Time, All Saints to Advent, Advent and Christmas:
    The Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity (Year C) to the First Sunday of Christmas (Year A)

    Additional services

    • Simon and Jude, Apostles
    • All Saints’ Day
    • Commemoration of the Faithful Departed
  • Hymn Book Survey: (the survey is now closed)
  • ‘Celebrating the Ministry of Musicians’
    Resources for services with a particular musical focus, including the commissioning of those who serve the Christian community through music
  • A flexible setting by John Harper of ‘Bless, O Lord, us your servants’ (the RSCM Choristers’ Prayer)

Issue 40

  • Liturgy resources for Ordinary Time:
    The Third Sunday after Trinity to the Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity (Year C)
    Additional services
    • The Birth of John the Baptist
    • Mary Magdalene
  • Gospel acclamations – eight pages of music

Issue 39

  • Liturgy resources for Holy Week, Eastertide and Ordinary Time:
    Palm Sunday to the Second Sunday after Trinity (Year C)
    Additional services
    • The Easter Triduum (including an enlarged section of resources for the Easter Vigil)
    • Ascension Day
    • Day of Thanksgiving for Holy Communion (Corpus Christi)
  • General Passiontide hymns, songs, anthems and vocal music
  • General Eucharistic hymns, songs, anthems and vocal music

Issue 38

  • Liturgy resources for Epiphany, Ordinary Time and Lent:
    Epiphany to the Fifth Sunday of Lent (Year C)
  • 'The Light of the World'
    Resources for occasions focussing on the light of Christ, including Christingle services
  • 'O Trinity of blessed light', music arranged by Sam and Ally Barrett
  • 'Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven'
    Resources for services of healing and reconciliation

Issue 37

  • Liturgy resources for Ordinary Time, All Saints to Advent, Advent and Christmas:
    The Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity (Year B) to the First Sunday of Christmas (Year C)
  • Varied accompaniments and descants for hymns
  • A responsorial setting by Colin Mawby of the Benedictus (The Song of Zechariah)
  • 'Let justice flow…'
    Music for services on themes connected with social justice

Issue 36

  • Liturgy resources for Ordinary Time:
    The Third Sunday after Trinity to the Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity (Year B)
  • Organ music for manuals only
  • A Hymn for St Matthew, words by Timothy Dudley-Smith, music by John Harper
    (see downloads for alternative accompaniment)
  • ''Called to Serve'
    music for services of commissioning for ministry

Issue 35

  • Liturgy resources for Holy Week, Eastertide and Ordinary Time:
    Palm Sunday to the Second Sunday after Trinity (Year B)
    Additional services
    • The Easter Triduum
    • Ascension Day
    • Day of Thanksgiving for Holy Communion (Corpus Christi)
  • General Passiontide hymns, songs, anthems and vocal music
  • General Eucharistic hymns, songs, anthems and vocal music
  • Singing the Psalms at the Easter Vigil
  • An Easter Fanfare for organ by Alan Wilson
  • Preface
    how to access the Common Worship: Times and Seasons material, plus a brief tribute to Brother Roger of Taizé (1915-2005)

Issue 34

  • Liturgy resources for Epiphany, Ordinary Time and Lent:
    Epiphany to the Fifth Sunday of Lent (Year B)
  • Additional services
    • The Presentation of Christ in the Temple (Candlemas)
    • Ash Wednesday
  • 'In Christ alone'
    arrangement for SATB choir by Paul Leddington Wright of the hymn by Stuart Townend and Keith Getty, with a descant for v.4
  • Music for services of baptism and confirmation
    a baptismal hymn, a pastoral introduction to music for baptisms, and lists of music for initiation services, including suggestions for canticles sung in procession to the font
  • The Earth is the Lord's
    music on the theme of creation
  • Preface
    including an announcement that, from Issue 35 onwards, hymns will be listed from the Church of Scotland's newly revised hymnal (CH4) rather than Church Hymnary 3

Issue 33

  • Liturgy resources for Ordinary Time, All Saints to Advent, Advent and Christmas:
    The Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity (Year A) to the Second Sunday of Christmas (Year B)
    Additional services
    • Dedication Festival
    • Bible Sunday
    • All Saints' Day
    • New Year (including resources for the Methodist Covenant Service)
  • Remembering those who have died
    music for funerals, memorial services and other occasions of remembrance
  • 'The Carol Book'
    an introduction to a new RSCM seasonal resource for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany
    with two musical extracts: 'Lord, when you came to earth' and 'Go, tell it on the mountain'
  • 'Dona nobis pacem'
    musical resources to support prayer for world peace
  • Preface
    possible changes to Remembrance Sunday ceremonies are being considered following the sixtieth anniversary in 2005 of the ending of the Second World War.

Issue 32

  • Liturgy resources for Ordinary Time:
    The Second Sunday after Trinity to the Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity (Year A)
    Additional service
    • Thomas the Apostle
  • 'The greatest of these is love'
    music for weddings, renewal of marriage vows, St Valentine's Day, Mothering Sunday and any occasions when the readings focus on the theme of love
  • Advance notice of the publication of Church Hymnary: Fourth Edition, a new hymn book for the Church of Scotland, from which several hymns and songs are listed in this issue

Issue 31

  • Liturgy resources for Holy Week, Eastertide and Ordinary Time:
    Palm Sunday to the First Sunday after Trinity (Year A)
    Additional services
    • The Easter Triduum
    • Ascension Day
    • Day of Thanksgiving for Holy Communion (Corpus Christi)
  • Do this in remembrance of me'
    music for Common Worship Holy Communion
  • 'Watch and pray'
    using music from the Taizé Community
  • General Passiontide organ music
  • General Eucharistic anthems
  • A chanted version of the 'Exsultet', the Easter Song of Praise

Issue 30

  • Liturgy resources for Epiphany, Ordinary Time and Lent:
    The Second Sunday of Christmas to the Fifth Sunday of Lent (Year A)
    Additional services
    • The Presentation of Christ in the Temple (Candlemas)
    • Ash Wednesday
    • Mothering Sunday
  • Invocations and benedictions
    musical suggestions for beginning and ending services
  • Prayer response from 'Bread for the Hungry'
    a short piece by John Harper, 'Father, you sent your Son', from a recent festival service book
  • Announcement of some changes to the team producing Sunday by Sunday

Issue 29

  • Liturgy resources for Ordinary Time, All Saints to Advent, Advent and Christmas:
    The Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity (Year C) to the First Sunday of Christmas (Year A)
    Additional services
    • Dedication Festival
    • Bible Sunday
    • All Saints' Day
    • Remembrance Sunday
    • Stephen, Deacon, First Martyr
  • Making the most of Sunday by Sunday
    an article by Alan Wilson on choosing music for worship
  • Sing Joyfully!
    hymns for times of praise

Issue 28

  • Liturgy resources for Ordinary Time:
    The Fourth to the Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity (Year C)
    Additional services
    • James the Apostle
    • The Blessed Virgin Mary
  • O Gladsome Light
    music for evening services; some of the pieces could also be used during Night Prayer
  • An Evening Psalm
    a simple setting of Psalm 141 by Alan Wilson
  • May the grace of Christ our Saviour
    an anthem for SATB choirs by Gordon Lawson (winner of the Harold Smart composition competition, 2003)

Issue 27

  • Liturgy resources for Holy Week, Eastertide and Ordinary Time:
    Palm Sunday to the Third Sunday after Trinity (Year C)
    Additional services
    • The Easter Triduum
    • Ascension Day
  • From the Rising of the Sun
    music for morning services
  • General Passiontide anthems
  • General eucharistic hymns, songs and anthems

Issue 26

  • Liturgy resources for Epiphany, Ordinary Time and Lent:
    The Second Sunday of Christmas to the Fifth Sunday of Lent (Year C)
    Additional services
    • The Conversion of Paul
    • The Presentation of Christ in the Temple (Candlemas)
    • Ash Wednesday
    • Mothering Sunday
  • Worship during Lent
    an article by Dr David Kennedy, Canon Precentor of Durham Cathedral
  • I will climb the holy mountain
    a hymn for the Transfiguration with words by Angela Tilby and music by Michael O'Connor
  • May They Be One
    music for the Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity

Issue 25

  • Liturgy resources for Ordinary Time:
    The Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity (Year B) to the First Sunday of Christmas (Year C)
    Additional services
    • Dedication Festival
    • Bible Sunday
    • All Saints Day
      Remembrance Sunday
  • Behold the handmaid of the Lord
    music for the Blessed Virgin Mary
  • Carols for Life 1
    listing of contents of this publication, which includes 3 outline carol services (for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany) and training notes for each piece
  • Peter Aston: O my dear heart (setting of a lovely cradle-song text "Balulalow" by the Wedderburn brothers (c. 1567)

Issue 24

  • Liturgy resources for Ordinary Time:
    The First to the Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity (Year B)
    Additional services
    • Peter and Paul, Apostles, or Peter the Apostle
    • Bartholomew the Apostle
    • Holy Cross Day
    • Matthew the Apostle
  • Lectionary variations
    a summary of the features and differences between the Roman Lectionary (1969), the Revised Common Lectionary (1983, revised 1992) and the Common Worship Lectionary (1997, 2000), and how this affects Sunday by Sunday.
  • Hymn book survey

Issue 23

  • Liturgy resources for Holy Week and Eastertide:
    Palm Sunday to Corpus Christi (Year B)
    Additional services
    • The Easter Triduum
      I am the bread of life (general Eucharistic anthems and vocal music)
      God so loved the world (general Passion anthems and vocal music)
    • Ascension Day
  • Music supplement
    Philip Ledger: Classical Communion Service – Creed (metrical version, text by Timothy Dudley-Smith)
    Richard Shephard: Addington Service – Eucharistic Acclamations from a new (Common Worship compliant) edition
    Philip Godfrey: St James' Mass – Agnus Dei

Issue 22

  • Liturgy resources for Christmastide, Epiphany, Ordinary Time and Lent:
    Christmas Day to the Fifth Sunday of Lent (Year B)
    Additional services
    • The Presentation of Christ (Candlemas)
    • Ash Wednesday
    • Mothering Sunday
  • Born of water and the Spirit:
    music for services of baptism and confirmation
  • Twelve days of Christmas: 26 December – 6 January
    celebrate this part of the season with something extra – suggestions for perhaps a short daily service, private devotion, or family prayers. For each day there is a scripture reading, a selection of hymns and songs for congregational use and suggested choral pieces.

Issue 21

  • Liturgy resources for Ordinary Time and Advent:
    The Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity (Year A) to the Fourth Sunday of Advent (Year B)
    Additional services
    • Michael and All Angels
    • Dedication Sunday
    • Bible Sunday
    • All Saints
    • Remembrance Sunday
  • Music for funerals
  • Carol services in Advent
    three possible outlines are offered, based on the themes of Advent:
    • The Day of the Lord: the second coming of Christ at the end of time
    • The Witness to the Light: John the Baptist who came not to be the light, but to speak for the light
    • Emmanuel, God with us: the first coming of Christ at Christmas

Issue 20

  • Liturgy resources for Ordinary Time:
    The First to the Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity (Year A)
  • Music for weddings
    each wedding is unique. Those leading worship – together with those who are getting married – need to make informed choices. Help is given in thinking about the right choice for this particular wedding, together with suggestions for hymns and songs, music for organ (and trumpet), anthems and vocal music.
  • Music supplement
    Michael O'Connor: The Father's hands
    Timothy Dudley-Smith: To God we come in prayer and praise (text of a new hymn for the Queen's Golden Jubilee)

Issue 19

  • Liturgy resources for Lent and Eastertide:
    Palm Sunday to Trinity Sunday (Year A)
    Additional services
    • The Easter Triduum
  • The cantor: the way forward
    David Ogden continues his article on cantors with practical advice.
    • preparing the way
    • rehearsing the congregation
    • hints for cantors
    • five pointers for rehearsing the congregation
    • recommended further reading

Issue 18

  • Liturgy resources for Epiphany, Ordinary Time and Lent:
    Epiphany to the Fifth Sunday of Lent (Year A)
    Additional services
    • The Presentation of Christ (Candlemas)
    • Ash Wednesday
    • Mothering Sunday
  • One way forward: two-way prayer
    in the first of two installments, David Ogden considers the role of the cantor in worship
    • teaching and leading a congregation in sung prayer
    • the role of the cantor
  • Roads less travelled
    alternative suggestions to Olivet to Calvary and Crucifixion:
    • Harper: The Litany of the Thorns
    • Archer: Love unknown
    • Wood: St Mark Passion
    • Bell and Maule: Enemy of Apathy
    • From Gallows to Glory
    • The Cross of Christ
    • Lift high the cross
    • Kelly: Crucifixion
    • Somervell: The Passion of Christ
    • Dubois: The Seven Last Words
    • Handel: The Passion of Christ
  • Music supplement
    "The Lament of A Sudanese Christian" (from John Harper ed., The Litany of the Thorns)

Issue 17

  • Liturgy resources for Ordinary Time, Advent and Christmastide:
    The Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity (Year C) to First Sunday of Christmas (Year A)
    Additional services
    • Bible Sunday
    • Dedication Festival
    • Simon and Jude, Apostles
    • All Saints
  • Matthew's Gospel
    in Year A of the lectionary's three-year cycle we listen, each Sunday, to extracts from Matthew's version of the Good News. The following points are offered as a guide to Matthew's gospel, highlighting some of his distinctive fingerprints.
    • Jewish roots
    • faith-filled memory
    • worship the Son of God
    • teacher of truth
    • at the centre: the coming Kingdom of heaven

Earlier issues

Currently, issues 1-16 do not have their contents listed on this site.