The Ultimate List of Church Christmas Songs for Your December Setlists

The Christmas and Advent season is a unique time of year for planning worship sets. It can be a very fun but also challenging task for worship leaders to find the perfect blend of Christmas songs and more “regular” worship songs, or even Christmas songs with new additions like modern choruses. So every year when the season comes around to plan December setlists for church, it’s another chance to mix familiar, heartwarming traditions with fresh and creative new expressions. This keeps people excited for the season every year! So, here’s our ultimate list of Church Christmas Songs for Your December Setlists.

Hark The Herald Angels Sing – Jeremy Riddle

“Hark! The herald angels sing

“Glory to the newborn King”

Peace on earth and mercy mild

God and sinners reconciled…”

Jeremy Riddle’s take on this classic Christmas song brings so much energy and life to these timeless lyrics, you’d definitely be able to throw this in as an opener for your December setlist for church and get a great response from your congregation.

Adore Him – Kari Jobe

“…And searching for a king

But finding a child, no crown, no throne

Still they bowed down

Come, let us adore him

Oh come, let us adore him

Oh come, let us adore him

Christ the Lord”

In “Adore Him,” Kari Jobe puts together new and very singable, melodic verses that tell the story of Christmas with a traditional and familiar chorus. This song exudes peace and can bring a perfectly soothing and wonder-filled feeling to your Christmas worship set.

Joy to the World (Unspeakable Joy) – Chris Tomlin

“Joy to the world! The Lord is come.

Let earth receive her King…

Joy unspeakable joy

An overflowing well

No tongue can tell

Joy unspeakable joy

It rises in my soul

Never lets me go”

This version of “Joy to the World” is the perfect example of a new take on an older song, where a chorus is added to the traditional verses to make a modern classic. Chris Tomlin and his team created a bright and upbeat arrangement with this song that will absolutely bring *joy* to your congregation.

King of Kings – Hillsong Worship

“Praise the Father, praise the Son

Praise the Spirit, three in one

God of glory, Majesty

Praise forever to the King of Kings”

Hillsong Worship wrote this hugely popular anthem that embodies the entire gospel. This is a song you can sing any time of the year but is especially powerful in the Christmas season. It will work great for your December setlists as you blend Christmas songs and other general modern worship songs.

Here I Am to Worship – Tim Hughes

“Light of the world

You stepped down into darkness

Opened my eyes, let me see

Beauty that made this heart adore You

Hope of a life spent with You

Here I am to worship

Here I am to bow down

Here I am to say that You’re my God

You’re altogether lovely

Altogether worthy

Altogether wonderful to me”

This song has been around the Church for so long that it’s as well-known as a traditional hymn. It just so happens to be perfect for Christmas with its verses singing the story of Jesus from the beginning and a chorus that’s so easy to instantly engage with.

Glorious – Chris Tomlin

“We lift our hands in praise to You

We lift in our hearts in worship to You, Lord

You Lord

We lift our voice to You and sing

Our greatest love will ever be You, Lord

Glorious

Over us

You shall reign

Glorious”

Chris Tomlin’s version of “Glorious,” sung with Christy Nockels, has been around a long time now but it is still filled with life. Although its simple verses, chorus, and bridge are singable for any worship set, it works with a perfect vibe for church Christmas setlists in December. It’s also perfect for acoustic sets when you don’t have a huge group of musicians scheduled for a set.

Christ Be Magnified – Cody Carnes, Cory Asbury

“Were the whole Earth echoing His eminence

His name would burst from sea and sky

From rivers to the mountain tops

We’d hear Christ be magnified

Oh! Christ be magnified

Let His praise arise

Christ be magnified in me

Oh! Christ be magnified

From the altar of my life

Christ be magnified in me”

This newer song by worship leaders Cody Carnes and Cory Asbury mixes beautiful poetic words with a powerful modern melody and arrangement that is sure to draw your congregation in as they sing and declare the greatness of Christ.

Silent Night – Hillsong Worship

“Silent night, holy night

All is calm and all is bright

Round yon virgin, mother and child

Holy infant, so tender and mild

Sleep in heavenly peace, ooh

Sleep, sleep in heaven, heavenly peace”

Another gentle and peaceful song for the church Christmas December setlist line up that you are probably intimately familiar with is “Silent Night.” You can’t forget the special moments of hearing and singing this song nearly every Christmas, and when put in a worship set, it makes a beautiful experience for all who participate. Hint: try this one with candlelight for your service.

Even So Come – Chris Tomlin

“All of creation. all of the earth

Make straight a highway, a path for the Lord

Jesus is coming soon…

Like a bride, waiting for her groom

We’ll be a church, ready for You

Every heart longing for our King, we sing

Even so come, Lord Jesus come”

Chris Tomlin and the Passion team made an anthem out of this scriptural cry for the Church. Engage your congregation with this powerful song and as you lead them this December leading up to Christmas to process the story of Jesus coming and coming again.

Come and Worship – Bebo Norman

“Angels from the realms of glory,

Wing your flight o’er all the earth;

Ye who sang creation’s story

Now proclaim Messiah’s birth.

Come and worship, come and worship,

Worship Christ, the newborn King”

This more modern arrangement is a take on the Christmas classic, “Angels from the Realms of Glory.” If you’re looking for a little more “angst” in your December worship setlists, this song fits the bill. It features a driving feel for the verses and chorus, with lots of interesting dynamics in the song flow.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel – For King & Country

“O come, O come, Emmanuel,

and ransom captive Israel,

that mourns in lonely exile here

until the Son of God appear

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel,

shall come to thee o Israel!”

If there is any song that is just asking to be made into an epic, all-immersive experience in a Christmas service or production, it’s “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” And in the version we’re referencing here, For King & Country does just that. This church Christmas hymn brings the power of the Christmas message to any December setlist. 

O Holy Night – Hillsong Worship

“O holy night the stars are brightly shining

It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth…

Fall on your knees

O hear the angel voices

O night divine

O night when Christ was born”

It doesn’t get more classic than this timeless treasure of a song, “O Holy Night.” With dozens or even hundreds of versions of this song released over the years, we’re tapping the Hillsong Worship version for this ultimate list of church Christmas songs for December sets. Everyone will breathe in God’s peace singing this wonderful and inspired song.

O Come All Ye Faithful – Chris Tomlin

“O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant

O come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem

O come and behold Him, born the King of Angels

O come, let us adore Him

O come, let us adore Him

O come, let us adore Him

Christ the Lord”

You can always count on Chris Tomlin to make a playable and singable arrangement for your worship team and congregation. This medium to upbeat rendition, true to the lyrics of the original version, is a perfect arrangement that’s easy to throw in for any Christmas setlist.

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus – Christy Nockels

“…And searching for a king

But finding a child, no crown, no throne

Still they bowed down

Come, let us adore him

Oh come, let us adore him

Oh come, let us adore him

Christ the Lord”

Jeremy Riddle’s take on this classic Christmas song brings so much energy and life to these timeless lyrics, you’d definitely be able to throw this in as an opener for your December setlist for church and get a great response from your congregation.

Worthy of it All – Hillsong Worship

“All the saints and angels

They bow before Your feet

All the elders cast their crowns

before the lamb of God and sing

You are worthy of it all

You are worthy of it all

For from You are all things

And to You are all things

You deserve the glory”

Birthed from a spontaneous prayer house set by worship leaders David Brymer and Ryan Hall, this song has become hugely popular in the last few years. Hillsong’s is one of the newest versions to be released and will carry the song to even more churches and communities across the world. “Worthy Of It All” is a perfect song to give Jesus an offering of worship just like the Wise Men did.

Light of the World (Sing Hallelujah) – We The Kingdom

“Light of the world, treasure of heaven

Brilliant like the stars, in the wintery sky

Joy of the father, reach through the darkness

Shine across the earth, send the shadows to flight…

Sing hallelujah, Sing hallelujah, Sing hallelujah

For the things he has done

Come and adore him, Bow down before him

Sing hallelujah to the light of the world”

Ed Cash has long been a masterful songwriter and his team of family plus some with We The Kingdom has brought us a wonderful and inspired Christmas song for December setlists every year. With beautiful words and powerful instrumentation to back them up, this one is a great one for your band to learn and introduce.

Great Are You Lord – All Sons & Daughters

“You give life, You are love

You bring light to the darkness

You give hope,You restore

Every heart that is broken

And great are You Lord”

As a song that’s become a unifying declaration all over the world, “Great Are You Lord” is about as simple and easy to engage with as it gets, but it is equally breathtaking and powerful to hear when God’s children come join in singing these words of hope. With the bridge providing an opportunity to declare God’s greatness together with all of the earth, this song is sure to provide an opportunity for deep worship in your December services.

Angels We Have Heard on High – Chris Tomlin

“Angels we have heard on high

Sweetly singing o’er the plains

And the mountains in reply

Echoing their joyous strains…

Gloria, in excelsis Deo

Gloria, in excelsis Deo”

Another wonderfully singable and recognizable Christmas classic with a modern groove from Chris Tomlin is his version of “Angels We Have Heard on High.” It’s an easy add for any church Christmas set, and works well with other Christmas songs or “regular” worship songs alike. Your congregation will have fun singing these familiar words over this energetic and faster paced arrangement.

God With Us – All Sons & Daughters

“You’ve come to bring peace

To be love, to be nearer to us

You’ve come to bring life, to be light

To shine brighter in us

Oh Emmanuel, God with us

Our Deliverer, You are Savior

In Your presence we find our strength

Over everything, our redemption

God with us, You are God with us”

This song has quickly become a Christmas favorite in recent years. With a feel that just sits perfectly in a December setlist for church or any worship gathering, it has a familiar focus on God coming to be with us as Emmanuel and provides an opportunity to declare His holiness and glory.

Glory in the Highest – Chris Tomlin

“You are the first, You go before

You are the last, Lord, You’re the encore

Your name’s in lights, for all to see

The starry Host, declare Your glory

Glory in the highest

Glory in the highest

Glory in the highest”

The characteristic writing in this song provides captivating melodies and stirring instrumentation. While it’s been around for a while, it’s still a fresh addition for Christmas setlists. This rendition has been very popular in choral arrangements and Christmas productions and is also at home in a band-led setlist or even a worship set with an acoustic feel.

Love Came Down – Kari Jobe, Brian Johnson

“Love came down and rescued me

Love came down and set me free

I am Yours I am forever Yours

Mountain high or valley low

I sing out remind my soul

That I am Yours I am forever Yours”

Brian Johnson’s commanding songwriting style and the smooth performance from Kari Jobe on this version make for a song that’s very moving. “Love Came Down” is so versatile to be arranged with a slower, more intimate and acoustic feel, or a more upbeat and driving version with your worship band. With the gospel-centered focus on hope coming for all the world, this song works great with Christmas songs and setlists.

We know there are too many great Christmas songs to put on any one list, but these songs are definitely a great place to start. And many of these songs have multiple versions or a traditional version with newer remakes. We’ve selected just one popular arrangement to mention in this ultimate list of church Christmas songs for December setlists, but we encourage you to check them all out to find the ones that fit your team and your church the best!