Communion worship services are full of history. They always provide a special experience to draw close to our Savior as we remember His sacrifice. Church history is also rich with traditions around the sacrament of communion-like liturgies, songs, and familiar scripture readings that are significant to Christians of all ages.
Today’s worship leaders and teams have many choices on how to approach communion worship services and even selecting fitting songs for them. So we’ve gathered the top 12 songs for your communion worship service to help you provide an engaging and immersive experience for your congregation as they participate in communion.
1. Remembrance – Hillsong Worship
I take the bread of life
Broken for all my sin
Your body crucified
To make me whole again
I will recall the cup
Poured out in sacrifice
To trade this sinner’s end
For Your new covenant
Hallelujah
I’ll live my life in remembrance
Hallelujah
Your promise I won’t forget
With a soft and reverent feel and words written specifically about remembering the bread and cup as the body and blood of Jesus, “Remembrance” by Hillsong Worship is the perfect song to do as communion is taken or in the set in your communion worship service.
2. Mystery – Charlie Hall
Sweet Jesus Christ my sanity
Sweet Jesus Christ my clarity
Bread of heaven broken for me
Cup of salvation held up to drink
Jesus, Mystery
Christ has died and Christ is risen, Christ will come again
Celebrate his death and rising
Lift your eyes, proclaim His coming
Celebrate His death and rising
Lift your eyes, lift your eyes
Starting very soft and introspective as the verse lyrics process the mystery of Jesus Christ, this song also moves to a hopeful proclamation of the Gospel in the chorus. Then the bridge unleashes a powerful celebration of what we can look forward to in Christ’s return.
3. Remember – Steffany Gretzinger
You broke the bread and blessed the cup
You served the sacrifice of Love
Holy, holy, holy
I wanna see the Glory
Of all that You are
And all that You’ve done
Jesus the Lamb of God
Oh what a Saviour
You took the altar
And made it a table
Nothing can separate
What You bring together
Now and forever
I will remember
An intimate and introspective song that’s perfect for the moments while communion is served is “Remember” by Steffany Gretzinger. Even as a new song released in 2020, it already carries the weight of a song that’s been incorporated in worship services for decades.
4. Surrounded (Fight My Battles) – Upperroom
There’s a table that You’ve prepared for me
In the presence of my enemies
It’s Your body and Your blood You’ve shed for me
This is how I fight my battles
And I believe You’ve overcome
And I will lift my song of praise for what You’ve done
This is how I fight my battles
It may look like I’m surrounded but I’m surrounded by You
When building out the rest of the songlist for the communion worship service, you may want some more upbeat and energetic songs that still fit the communion theme. “Surrounded” by Upperroom is perfect for this with its reference to the Lord’s table in the presence of our enemies.
5. Carried to the Table – Leeland
Wounded and forsaken
I was shattered by the fall
Broken and forgotten
Feeling lost and all alone
Summoned by the King
Into the Master’s courts
Lifted by the Savior
And cradled in His arms
I was carried to the table
Seated where I don’t belong
Carried to the table
Swept away by His love
And I don’t see
My brokenness anymore
When I’m seated
At the table of the Lord
I’m carried to the table
The table of the Lord
Here’s a song with very poetic lyrics. “Carried to the Table” by Leeland works great as a song for communion worship services with its description of what a privilege it is to share the table with our Savior. Because of His sacrifice, we’re invited to His feast and seated where we don’t belong!
6. Behold the Lamb (Communion Hymn) – Keith & Kristyn Getty
Behold the Lamb who bears our sins away,
Slain for us – and we remember
The promise made that all who come in faith
Find forgiveness at the cross.
So we share in this bread of life,
And we drink of His sacrifice
As a sign of our bonds of peace
Around the table of the King
A modern hymn, written specifically for the Lord’s supper, with lyrics by Keith & Kristyn Getty are beautifully descriptive and immersive for reflecting and remembering the cost of our salvation– the body and blood of Jesus on the cross. This is one of the best worship songs for communion services.
7. Remembrance (The Communion Song) – Matt Redman, Matt Maher
Oh how could it be
That my God would welcome me
Into this mystery
Say take this bread take this wine
Now the simple made divine
For any to receive
By Your mercy we come to Your table
By Your grace You are making us faithful
Lord we remember You
And remembrance leads us to worship
And as we worship You
Our worship leads to communion
We respond to Your invitation
We remember You
This song by Matt Redman and Matt Maher provides an excellent way for your congregation to respond to communion with worship. Though we don’t fully understand the mystery of communion, when we simply realize and remember what Jesus did and who He is, we can have no other response but to accept the invitation to His table and worship!
8. The Table – Chris Tomlin
I will feast at the table of the Lord
I will feast at the table of the Lord
I won’t hunger anymore at His table
Come all you weary come and find
His yoke is easy His burden is light
He is able He will restore
At the table of the Lord
(At the table of the Lord)
Masterfully but simply written by Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash, and Wayne Jolley, “The Table” provides a singable invitation for us to embrace the joy and restoration of the Lord through communion with Him. As the song goes, we remember that peace and healing are found at God’s table, and there’s a place for all of us there.
9. Communion – Brooke Ligertwood
This is communion
Your body broken
The cup we’re drinking
Is bittersweet
We remember the sacrifice of love
We remember the blood poured out for us
We remember the only Son of God
Upon the cross
Take of the bread
Receive the cup
For His mercy is enough
For the many and the one
This is communion
A brand new song written 2022, this song for communion worship services is sure to catch on and bless churches around the world. Structured with a bridge at the end with the words “Take of the bread, receive the cup,” it makes a perfect song to accompany the sharing of the elements in worship.
10. Forgiven – Bethel Music
I will sing for You alone have rescued this life
Jesus You have set me free
You alone took away all sin and disgrace
When You gave Your life to ransom me
I am forgiven at the foot of the cross
I am accepted by the power of Your love
My every stain is washed away
I am forgiven
One song that works well in a communion worship set (or just about any worship set) is this song by Bethel Music. Our minds and hearts go to thinking about forgiveness when processing communion. The forgiveness made available to us by the sacrifice of Jesus. “Forgiven” provides a triumphant response of thankfulness for our forgiveness.
11. Nothing But The Blood – Corey Voss
To the sinners ears it may sound strange
That freedom could be found through death and pain
Why sinless perfection took the blame
But hallelujah
For our pardon it would take the cross
Salvation paid for at the highest cost
Our redemption gained at Heaven’s loss
Oh hallelujah
What can wash away my sin
Nothing but the blood
Nothing but the blood
What can make me whole again
Nothing but the blood
The timeless hymn “Nothing But The Blood” is a great communion worship song many will already be familiar with. And Corey Voss’s song of the same title and implementing some of the traditional lyrics is a great choice as well. Modern yet intimate and authentic, this arrangement is powerful and sure to be received well in your communion worship service.
12. This I Believe (The Creed) – Hillsong Worship
I believe in God our Father
I believe in Christ the Son
I believe in the Holy Spirit
Our God is three in One
I believe in the resurrection
That we will rise again
For I believe in the Name of Jesus
I believe in life eternal
I believe in the virgin birth
I believe in the saints’ communion
And in Your holy Church
I believe in the resurrection
When Jesus comes again
For I believe in the Name of Jesus
With lyrics coming from the Apostle’s Creed, this song by Hillsong Worship makes space for remembering the vastness and goodness of God through the generations. “This I Believe” is one of the best songs to incorporate not only the theme of communion but all of the timeless truths of our faith in Jesus and our history as the Church into your communion worship service.
Communion worship services can be some of the most special and experiential services for those attending and facilitating. Jesus’s last meal with His disciples was so symbolic. It is a privilege to participate in the communion meal together as His followers even today.
We hope these top 12 songs for your communion worship service are helpful as you carefully plan this sacred experience for your congregation!
Bonus: You can find backgrounds, videos, and more for your communion worship service here!
