Hymns by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette

A Dozen Ways to Support Carolyn's Hymn-writing

Your prayers are always needed and appreciated. Hymns are prayers and Carolyn is very grateful for your prayers as she writes hymns for churches.
Some people find it helpful to read hymns (prayers set to music) as part of their devotional reading. Songs of Grace has a meditation/reflection next to each one of the hymns, so you can reflect on scripture readings related to the hymn, learn about what inspired it, and more. You can also use the lectionary index on this web site to find hymns that relate to the scriptures used in your Sunday worship.
Please bookmark http://www.carolynshymns.com/ as one of your favorites. Print off the list of hymns and the lectionary index, and share them with those who plan the worship services in your congregation (pastor, church musicians and worship committee). Check this web site for new hymns.
Find creative ways to help your congregation learn new hymns. Two helpful online resources are Introducing New Hymns to the Congregation from the United Methodist Church's Worship Office web site and Introducing New Music from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Worship web site.
Please share Carolyn's hymns with others (pastors and church musicians) in your community and with your online friends. Please remember to include the copyright and contact information (sometimes there have been problems with others selling Carolyn's hymns for their personal profit).
Your email comments about Carolyn's hymns are always welcome: bcgillette@comcast.net
Please send ideas for topics for new hymns. Do you have a favorite scripture reading, biblical theme, pastoral or social concern, or mission project that would inspire a hymn? Many of the hymns that Carolyn has written were inspired by someone asking, "Could you write a hymn about...?"
Please consider buying one or both of Carolyn's books. If you look at the web site list of Carolyn's hymns, you will see that many of these new hymns are found in either Gifts of Love or Songs of Grace. Both books have indices that make them very usable for worship planning. The purchase of one of these books gives you permission for one-time use of its hymns in worship and other settings.
Give Carolyn's books as gifts. Copies of them make great gifts for Christmas, birthdays, ordination and installations. We have heard from pastors, church musicians, choir members and people who love hymns that they were grateful to receive the books as gifts.
If you do not own Gifts of Love or Songs of Grace, please contact Carolyn for permission to use any of the hymns that are found in these books. Note: Hymns that are posted on denominational, ecumenical, or peace/justice/relief agency websites do not require additional permission, because they are on those websites as Carolyn's way of supporting those churches or organizations posting them.
Some churches have generously sent Carolyn $10 - $20 for use of a hymn. Carolyn and her husband Bruce are co-pastors, and Carolyn's pastoral work at the church is part-time. Any gifts of appreciation that Carolyn receives for hymn-use go into their three children's college funds. If you are planning to use one of Carolyn's hymns in your church and would like to support her hymn-writing with a contribution, you may send your gift to Carolyn at 2606 Salem Drive, Wilmington, DE 19808. Often it has been the small churches, their pastors, and church musicians with limited budgets who have been most generous and considerate in supporting Carolyn's hymn writing. Carolyn is very grateful for these gifts. She does not want using her hymns to be a financial burden for small churches. Her hope is that these hymns will be used to help churches in their praise of God and their serving to neighbors in need.
Consider asking Carolyn to write an anniversary hymn for your congregation. A number of churches have commissioned her to write hymns for special occasions in their churches. She writes to popular hymn tunes that are in the public domain, which helps congregations to sing these hymns more easily. Carolyn would be happy to talk with you about helping your congregation sing their praises to God.
Sing to the Lord a new song!