The following is a list of church cantatas, sorted by the liturgical occasion for which they were composed and performed. The genre was particularly popular in 18th-century Lutheran Germany, although there are later examples.
The liturgical calendar of the German Reformation era had, without counting Reformation Day and days between Palm Sunday and Easter, 72 occasions for which a cantata could be presented. Composers such as Telemann composed cycles of church cantatas comprising all 72 occasions (e.g. "Harmonischer Gottes-Dienst"). Such a cycle is called an "ideal" cycle, while in any given liturgical year feast days could coincide with Sundays, and the maximum number of Sundays after Epiphany and the maximum number of Sundays after Trinity could not all occur.
In some places, of which Leipzig in Johann Sebastian Bach's time is best known, no concerted music was allowed for the three last Sundays of Advent, nor for the Sundays of Lent (apart when Annunciation fell on a Sunday in that period, or in Holy Week), so the "ideal" year cycle (German: ) for such places comprised only 64 cantatas (or 63 without the cantata for Reformation Day).
As the bulk of extant cantatas were composed for occasions occurring in the liturgical calendar of the German Reformation era, including Passion cantatas for Good Friday, that calendar is followed for the presentation of cantatas in this section. Most cantatas made reference to the content of the readings and to Lutheran hymns appropriate for the occasion. The melodies of such hymns often appeared in cantatas, for example as in the four-part settings concluding Bach's works, or as a cantus firmus in larger choral movements. Other occasions for church cantatas include weddings and funeral services. Thus below also readings and hymns associated with the occasion are listed, for the hymns for instance based on Vopelius' "Neu Leipziger Gesangbuch". Data such as readings and hymns generally apply to Bach's Leipzig: differences may occur in other places, or other times, as indicated.
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 The Christmas season was celebrated from Christmas Day through Epiphany. Three days were observed for Christmas, with a Christmas cantata performed every day. The next feast days were New Year and Epiphany. Sundays may occur between the third day of Christmas and New Year and/or between New Year and Epiphany: thus the period had at least five occasions, or at most seven.
 For the Christmas season of 1734–35 Bach composed the "Christmas Oratorio" in six parts, to be performed as the cantata in the service on the six feast days, three days of Christmas, New Year, the Sunday after New Year and Epiphany (there was no Sunday between the third day of Christmas and New Year in 1734).
 Eastertide comprises the time up to Pentecost, starting with three days of Easter. There are five Sundays between Easter and Ascension. Ascension is followed by one Sunday before the three feast days of Pentecost.
 The Sundays between Easter and Pentecost have Latin names, derived from the beginning of the prescribed readings. For example, the first Sunday after Easter is called Quasimodogeniti. Some sources name the Sunday after Easter the second Sunday in Easter, counting Easter Sunday as the first.
Occasions of the liturgical year.
Telemann's ideal cycle thus consists of four Sundays of Advent; Seven occasions from Christmas to Epiphany; Nine Sundays between Epiphany and Lent; Six Sundays of Lent; 14 occasions from Easter to Trinity; 27 Sundays after Trinity; Three Marian Feasts, St. John's Day (24 June) and Michaelmas – totalling 72 occasions for which he provided a cantata.
Graupner's church cantatas don't include the sixth Sunday after Epiphany, nor cantatas for St. John's Day or Michaelmas, however there are cantatas for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, which totals 71 occasions from GWV 1101 to 1171, with GWV 1173 indicating Reformation Day cantatas.
 Several cantata libretto cycles were published in the first half of the 18th century:
* Erdmann Neumeister:
** "Geistliche Cantaten" (1702)
* Anonymous (Ernst Ludwig I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen?)
** "Sonn- und Fest-Andachten" (Meiningen 1704)
* Benjamin Schmolck:
** "Das Saiten-Spiel des Hertzens" (1720)
* Picander:
** "Sammlung Erbaulicher Gedanken" (1724–25)
** "Cantaten auf die Sonn- und Fest-Tage durch das gantze Jahr" (1728–29)
Advent Sunday, first of the four Sundays of Advent, which are the four Sundays preceding Christmas
, night is advanced, day will come
, the Entry into Jerusalem
"Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland" by Martin Luther ("Erfurt Enchiridion", 1524) and its Latin model "Veni redemptor gentium" by Ambrose
"Von Adam her so lange Zeit" by Michael Weiße
"Menschenkind merk eben" by Michael Weiße
"Gottes Sohn ist kommen" by Michael Weiße or Johann Horn
"Als der gütige Gott" (text by Michael Weiße, hymn tune by Johann Crüger)
"Mittit ad virginem" (text by Peter Abelard)
"Lob sei dem allmächtigen Gott" (text by Michael Weiße, hymn tune by Johann Crüger)
"Gott durch deine Güte"
"Heilig ist Gott der Vater"
"Gläubiges Herze, freu dich heut" by Michael Altenburg
"Gott, heilger Schöpfer aller Stern" and its Latin model "Conditor alme siderum"
"Frohlock o Tochter Zion fast"
"Nun jauchzet, all ihr Frommen" by Michael Schirmer
"Gott Vater uns sein Sohn fürstellt"
"Wir danken dir, Herr Jesu Christ, Daß du vom Himmel kommen bist" by Bartholomäus Helder
"Macht hoch die Tür" by Georg Weissel (after Psalm 24:7-10)
Georg Böhm:
* Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland
Georg Philipp Telemann:
* "Saget der Tochter Zion", TWV 1:1234 (1716–17 cantata cycle)
* "Machet die Tore weit", TWV 1:1074 (1722?; staged in Leipzig 28 November 1734; BDW 08913)
* "Erwachet zum Kriegen", TWV 1:481 ("Harmonischer Gottes-Dienst", 1725-1726)
Christoph Graupner (see also List of cantatas by Christoph Graupner § GWV 1101):
* (1727)
Johann Sebastian Bach (see also Church cantata (Bach) § Advent I):
* "Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland", BWV 61 (2 December 1714; 28 November 1723)
* "Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland", BWV 62 (chorale cantata, 3 December 1724)
* "Schwingt freudig euch empor", BWV 36 (early version: 1725-30; final version: 2 December 1731)
Gottfried Heinrich Stölzel:
* "", H. 339 (1738)
* "", H. 348
* "", H. 349
* "", H. 350
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach
*"Lasset uns ablegen die Werke der Finsternis", BR F 1 (30 November 1749, BDW 09449)
Second Sunday in Advent
, call of the Gentiles
, coming of the Son of man
"Es ist gewißlich an der zeit" (text by Bartholomäus Ringwaldt)
Georg Philipp Telemann:
* "Huetet euch, dass eure Herzen", TWV 1:811 (1716–17 cantata cycle)
* "Endlich wird die Stunde schlagen", TWV 1:440 ("Harmonischer Gottes-Dienst", 1725-1726)
Christoph Graupner:
* see List of cantatas by Christoph Graupner § GWV 1102
Johann Sebastian Bach (see also Church cantata (Bach) § Advent II):
* "Wachet! betet! betet! wachet!" BWV 70a (6 December 1716)
Gottfried Heinrich Stölzel:
* "", H. 340 (1737)
Third Sunday of Advent, a.k.a. Gaudete Sunday
, the ministry of faithful apostles
, John the Baptist in prison
"Helft mir Gotts Güte preisen"
Georg Philipp Telemann:
* "Mein Kind, willtu Gottes Diener sein", TWV 1:1129 (1716–17 cantata cycle)
* (1719 or 1720, based on ; misattributed to Bach as BWV 141, BDW 00173)
* "Vor des lichten Tages Schein", TWV 1:1483 ("Harmonischer Gottes-Dienst", Hamburg 1726; text refers to Psalm 139:11–12, and )
Christoph Graupner:
* see List of cantatas by Christoph Graupner § GWV 1103
Johann Sebastian Bach (see also Church cantata (Bach) § Advent III):
* "Ärgre dich, o Seele, nicht", BWV 186a (13 December 1716)
Gottfried Heinrich Stölzel:
* "", H. 341 (1740)
* "", H. 351
Fourth Sunday in Advent
, Be joyful in the Lord
, testimony of John the Baptist
same as for Advent III
Georg Philipp Telemann
* "Ihr seid alle Gottes Kinder", TWV 1:914 (1716–17 cantata cycle)
* "Lauter Wonne, lauter Freude", TWV 1:1040 ("Harmonischer Gottes-Dienst", 1725-1726)
Christoph Graupner:
* see List of cantatas by Christoph Graupner § GWV 1104
Johann Sebastian Bach (see also Church cantata (Bach) § Advent IV):
* "Bereitet die Wege, bereitet die Bahn", BWV 132 (22 December 1715)
* "Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben", BWV 147a (20 December 1716)
Gottfried Heinrich Stölzel:
* "" (1737)
Christmas (25 December)
, God's mercy appeared (or
, Unto us a child is born)
, Nativity, Annunciation to the shepherds and the angels' song
"Christum wir sollen loben schon" (Luther, "Erfurt Enchirdion", 1524)
"Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ" (Luther, "Eyn geystlich Gesangk Buchleyn", 1524)
"Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her" (Luther, 1534; melody 1539)
"Vom Himmel kam der Engel Schar" (Luther, same melody as previous)
Georg Philipp Telemann:
* "Erquickendes Wunder der ewigen Gnade", TWV 1:469 ("Harmonischer Gottes-Dienst", Hamburg 1726)
Christoph Graupner (see also List of cantatas by Christoph Graupner § GWV 1105 and § GWV 1172):
* (1722; also January 1723 in Leipzig, as audition piece for his candidacy as Thomaskantor)
Johann Sebastian Bach (see also Church cantata (Bach) § Christmas Day):
* "Christen, ätzet diesen Tag", BWV 63 (1714; 1723)
* Magnificat, BWV 243a (1723)
* "Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ", BWV 91 (chorale cantata, two versions, earliest version 1724)
* "Unser Mund sei voll Lachens", BWV 110 (1725)
* "Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe", BWV 197a (1728)
* "Jauchzet, frohlocket! Auf, preiset die Tage", BWV 248I ("Christmas Oratorio" Part I, 1734)
* "Gloria in excelsis Deo", BWV 191 (1745)
* "Uns ist ein Kind geboren", BWV 142 (probably spurious)
Gottfried Heinrich Stölzel:
* "", H. 342
* "", H. 352 (1737)
* "" (1720)
* "", H. 354
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach:
* "O Wunder, wer kann dieses fassen", BR F 2 (BDW 09774)
* "Ach, daß du den Himmel zerrissest", BR F 3 (BDW 09776)
* "Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe", BR F 4 (BDW 09778)
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach:
* "Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe", H 811 (1772, 1778 and 1782; BDW 02237)
* "Auf schicke dich", H 815 (1775, 1779 and 1786; BDW 02258)
Georg Anton Benda:
* "Gott steigt herab" (arranged by C. P. E. Bach for performances in 1771, 1777 and 1784: BDW 10617)
Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach:
* "Dessen Preis die Hirten sangen" (c.1788 or later, BDW 01953)
Second day of Christmas (Boxing Day), also St. Stephen's Day; On this day Leipzig celebrated Christmas and St. Stephen's Day in alternating years, with different readings.
For Christmas (even years):
, God's mercy appeared in Christ
, the shepherds at the manger
for St. Stephen's Day (uneven years):
 and , Martyrdom of Stephen
, Jerusalem killing her prophets
See Christmas
Georg Philipp Telemann:
* "Jauchzet, frohlocket, der Himmel ist offen", TWV 1:953 ("Harmonischer Gottes-Dienst", Hamburg 1726 – cantata for St. Stephen's Day)
Christoph Graupner:
* see List of cantatas by Christoph Graupner § GWV 1106
Johann Sebastian Bach (see also Church cantata (Bach) § Second Day of Christmas):
* "Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes", BWV 40 (1723)
* "Christum wir sollen loben schon", BWV 121 (chorale cantata, 1724)
* "Selig ist der Mann", BWV 57 (1725)
* "Und es waren Hirten in derselben Gegend", BWV 248II ("Christmas Oratorio" Part II, 1734)
Gottfried Heinrich Stölzel:
* "", H. 343
* "", H. 353
Carl Heinrich Graun and Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
* "Ich nahe mich zu deiner Krippen" (C. P. E. Bach's arrangement of C. H. Graun's GraunWV Bv:IX:14; BDW 10557)
 Third day of Christmas, also Feast of St. John the Evangelist
, Christ is higher than the angels (Leipzig); Isaiah 9:1–6 (Hamburg)
, prologue, also called Hymn to the Word
See Christmas
Georg Philipp Telemann:
* "Unverzagt in allem Leiden", TWV 1:1456 ("Harmonischer Gottes-Dienst", Hamburg 1726)
Christoph Graupner:
* see List of cantatas by Christoph Graupner § GWV 1107
Johann Sebastian Bach (see also Church cantata (Bach) § Third Day of Christmas):
* "Sehet, welch eine Liebe hat uns der Vater erzeiget", BWV 64 (1723)
* "Ich freue mich in dir", BWV 133 (chorale cantata, 1724)
* "Süßer Trost, mein Jesus kömmt", BWV 151 (1725)
* "Herrscher des Himmels, erhöre das Lallen", BWV 248III ("Christmas Oratorio" Part III, 1734)
Gottfried Heinrich Stölzel:
* "", H. 322 (St. John the Evangelist)
* "", H. 344
* "Kündlich groß ist das gottselige Geheimnis"
* "", H. 355
* "", H. 356
Sunday between 27 December and 1 January, which doesn't occur every year. A.k.a. Christmas Sunday.
, Through Christ we are free from the law
, Simeon and Anna with Mary in the temple
See Christmas
Georg Philipp Telemann:
* "Was gleicht dem Adel wahrer Christen", TWV 1:1511 ("Harmonischer Gottes-Dienst", Hamburg 1726)
Christoph Graupner:
* see List of cantatas by Christoph Graupner § GWV 1108
Johann Sebastian Bach (see also Church cantata (Bach) § Christmas I):
* "Tritt auf die Glaubensbahn", BWV 152 (30 December 1714)
* "Das neugeborne Kindelein", BWV 122 (chorale cantata, 31 December 1724)
* "Gottlob! nun geht das Jahr zu Ende", BWV 28 (30 December 1725)
Gottfried Heinrich Stölzel:
* "" (1737)
New Year; Feast of the Circumcision of Christ
 by faith we inherit
 circumcision of Jesus
 "Jesu, nun sei gepreiset" by Johannes Hermann
Georg Philipp Telemann:
* "Halt ein mit deinem Wetterstrahle", TWV 1:715 ("Harmonischer Gottes-Dienst", Hamburg 1726)
Melchior Hoffmann
* "Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied", previously attributed to Telemann as TWV 1:1748.
Christoph Graupner:
* see List of cantatas by Christoph Graupner § GWV 1109
Johann Sebastian Bach (see also Church cantata (Bach) § New Year's Day):
* "Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied", BWV 190 (1724; incomplete)
* "Jesu, nun sei gepreiset", BWV 41 (chorale cantata, 1725)
* "Herr Gott, dich loben wir", BWV 16 (1726)
* "Gott, wie dein Name, so ist auch dein Ruhm", BWV 171 (1729)
* "Fallt mit Danken, fallt mit Loben", BWV 248IV ("Christmas Oratorio" Part IV, 1735)
Gottfried Heinrich Stölzel:
* "", H. 345
* "", H. 360
* "", H. 361
* "" (1738)
Johann Friedrich Fasch:
* "Gehet zu seinen Toren ein mit Danken", FWV D:G1, FR 9/2 (1723)
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach:
* "Der Herr zu deiner Rechten", BR F 5 (BDW 09780)
In some years, a Sunday falls between New Year's Day and Epiphany: it is known as the Sunday after New Year (New Year I) or as the second Sunday after Christmas (Christmas II).
 suffering of Christians (Leipzig); : God's mercy appeared in Christ (Hamburg)
 the Flight into Egypt
Georg Philipp Telemann:
* "Schmeckt und sehet unsers Gottes Freundlichkeit", TWV 1:1252 ("Harmonischer Gottes-Dienst", Hamburg 1726)
Christoph Graupner:
*