1. Born in Bethlehem - Third Day.  Off their great "Christmas Offerings" album, this song connects Christmas with Holy Week and Jesus' resurrection.
2. Shout for Joy - Lincoln Brewster.  So good I wish we could sing it all year long!  What an album Lincoln put out last year.
3. Christmas Offering - Paul Baloche.  A nice Christmas version of his song called "Offering."
4. Glory Be - Sojourn.  This band from the church of the same name in Kentucky doesn't get enough attention. This is a great, subdued piece that also works for Advent.
5. Hosanna in the Highest - Sojourn.  This one rocks a bit more.  Will work well into Epiphany, with its reference to being guided by "stars over Bethlehem."
6. Unto Us - Dave Chumchal.  Nice upbeat song that references a text from Isaiah 9 not common in carols - "unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given."
7. You're Here - Francesca Battisteli.  What a beautiful song written from Mary's perspective.  Would be great especially for a solo or special music piece.
8. Gloria - Mercy Me.  A new chorus and bridge are added to an arrangement of "Angels We Have Heard On High."

The rest of this list are my favorite updated arrangements of the well-known worship carols:
9. Joy to the World - Lincoln Brewster.  If you like guitar, you NEED to hear this album.
10. Hark the Heral Angels Sing - Brewster.  If angels had electric guitars!
11. Silent Night - Brewster.  This nice bluesy version has surpassed the simpler Third Day version for me.  By the way, this one was written on guitar.  So if nothing else, just grab an acoustic and play it.
12. What Child is This - Future of Forestry and Sojourn both have great, unique renditions.
13. The First Noel - David Crowder Band.  If you like Crowder, you'll love this.  If not, you won't.
14. God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman - MercyMe (loud) or Jars of Clay (soft). 
15. Angels We Have Heard On High - If you don't like MercyMe's new version, check out Chris Tomlin or Third Day.
16. O Come All Ye Faithful - Third Day provides a nice southern rock version of this classic carol. 

For a list of albums to consider adding to your Christmas collection - many of which will give you additional arrangement options - see my Advent/Christmas post from last year.  Merry Christmas and blessings as you worship the newborn King!

Reformation (Oct 27)
For those who may not be as familiar with Reformation Sunday, it is a day when Lutherans and some Reformed Christians remember the pivotal events in the church of the 16th century.  At its best, however, Reformation is not just a celebration of denominational heritage, but a day to renew our focus on God’s grace through Jesus Christ.  In that light I offer the following suggestions:
1)    Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) – Chris Tomlin’s update to the world’s most famous hymn fits Reformation well with its emphasis on freedom in Christ.
2)    Here I Am to Worship – Tim Hughes.  This modern worship classic helps remind us why we gather – because Jesus came to us and for us.
3)    By Faith – Keith and Kristyn Getty (with Stuart Townend).  These modern hymn-writers from Northern Ireland are often lauded for their theological focus, and for good reason. This very singable tune recalls Hebrews 11 with its focus on reading Scripture through the eyes of faith.  They have also given us…
4)    In Christ Alone – Getty/Townend, with its fitting title.  I won’t tell the copyright police if you change the one troubling lyric in verse 2 from “’Til on that cross as Jesus died/the wrath of God was satisfied” to “the wrath of God was set aside.” This keeps the cross a loving act of both Father and Son rather than having God take out his vengeance on Jesus (a distortion of biblical atonement theology).* 
5)    Speak, O Lord – Getty/Townend.  One more from this duo.  God’s Word is a correlative focus of Reformation, and this song asks God to continue to speak to us today.
6)    Every Promise – Getty/Townend.  Ditto.  Last one, I promise.  “I’ll stand on every promise of your word.”   
7)    Your Grace Is Enough – Matt Maher (also recorded by Chris Tomlin).  Good, easy to sing, upbeat opener or closer.
8)    Rock of Ages – Rita Baloche.  Another rocker.  A bit older, but it’s got a good classic rock groove and is loved by many congregations.
9)    Thy Mercy – Sandra McCraken’s update of the old John Stocker hymn was also recorded by her husband Derek Webb and Caedmon’s Call. 
10) A Mighty Fortress – Aaron Schust and Christy Nockels have both recorded songs by this name if you’re looking for updated versions of Luther’s classic language.

* An interesting related story: the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA), in forming their new hymnal, asked Getty and Townend if they could change these lyrics to “the love of God was magnified.” They refused, reasoning that it would result in a watered down version of the gospel.  I have to wonder how it would have gone if the hymnal committee would have presented my suggestion above to the hymn writers.

All Saints (Nov 3)
This is a day of remembering all those who have gone to be with God before us, but also to remember the ultimate hope that each of us has in Christ.  
1)    I Will Rise – Chris Tomlin. This poignant song celebrates the destiny each of us has because of Jesus’ resurrection. 
2)    For Those Who Are to Come – Matthew Anderson.  I wrote this one specifically for All Saints, to look forward as well as back.  Listen and find lyrics/chords here.
3)    Gracious Host – Matthew Anderson.  I hesitate to put two of my own songs here, but this is my most oft-sung worship song.  Based on Isaiah and Revelation’s visions of the great feast of nations at the coming of God’s kingdom, it is quite appropriate for this day.  Again, find a recording, lyrics, and chords here.  It could also work for Christ the King.
4)    We Fall Down – Tomlin.  Another song celebrating that moment when we will join all the saints worshipping before the throne.
5)    Come Let Us Worship – Tomlin.  “For we will never be forsaken.”
6)    You Never Let Go – Matt Redman.  This one could also work for Reformation. 

Christ the King (Nov 24)
The church year ends with a festival worshipping Jesus as king, as the New Testament asserts over and over.  But we have a king that rules not by coercive force, but by the power of self-giving love.  Just a list here – I’ll put them in order from faster to slower tempo.  Lots of “epic” going on here as you move down this list. 
1)    Here is Our King – David Crowder. 
2)    Let God Arise – Chris Tomlin.  This was also on my Advent list, and would also work for Reformation.  Now is a great time to introduce it! 
3)    My Redeemer Lives – Reuben Morgan (Hillsong).
4)    O Praise Him – Crowder.
5)    Manifesto – City Harmonic
6)    Lord Reign in Me – Brenton Brown.
7)    Revelation Song – Jennie Lee Riddle.
8)    Be Unto Your Name – Travis Cottrell.
9)    Overcome – Jon Egan.  Just look at the passion in this recording from a church who had just gone through a lot.
10) Wonderful King – Crowder.

It’s interesting to note how the strengths of three of modern worship’s most prolific writing teams come out in these three festivals.  Getty and Townend shine with their emphasis on faith and God’s Word (Reformation); Tomlin’s focus is often on the church worshipping together as one body (All Saints), and Crowder often sings about Jesus’ kingship (Christ the King). 

Many songs from your regular rotation will work great for Advent.  Themes of hope, longing, expectation, and waiting are all appropriate.  Keep in mind that Advent is as much about Christ’s coming into our world in a new way now as it is about preparing to celebrate his birth.  During Advent the church cries, “Come, Lord Jesus!” for the renewal of our lives and our world now.

1)    You’ll Come – Brooke Fraser (Hillsong).  This one seems to be overlooked among Brooke’s songs, but not when I’m leading worship!
2)    Let God Arise – Chris Tomlin.  Great for a rocking Advent opener.
3)    Advent Song – Matthew Anderson.  Self-serving here, but it’s one of my most-used worship songs.  It was written as an Advent liturgy.  Listen to it and find chords/music here.
4)    The Fall – Gungor. 
5)    This Is Not The End – Gungor.  These two songs lament our sin and brokenness and proclaim they are not God’s end for us, respectively.  The latter would be a powerful way to close an Advent service.
6)    Build Your Kingdom Here – Rend Collective Experiment.  This is what Advent is all about.  We long for God’s kingdom of peace and wholeness to come, on earth as it is in heaven.
7)    Everlasting God – Brown/Riley.  This popular song is great for Advent with its themes of waiting.
8)    Song of Hope – Robbie Seay Band.  A Christian radio station favorite that expresses the present longing of Advent: “God of heaven come down, heaven come down.”
9)    Hosanna – Paul Baloche.  Hosanna means “Come, save us,” so songs with this language are perfect for Advent.  The same goes for…
10)  Hosanna – Brooke Fraser.  The bridge of this song is gold.
11)  Lord Have Mercy – Merkel, recorded by M.W. Smith.  Lent is the church’s season of repentance, but it’s a part of Advent, too, as we long for our lives to reflect God’s presence.
12)  Desert Song – Fraser.  Having an Advent faith means worshipping in the midst of trial, even when we don’t sense God’s presence in our lives.  This song expresses that hope beautifully.
13)  Glory Be – Sojourn.  A pleasant song from this skilled Kentucky church group with the simple prayer, “O come, come Messiah,” leading to a bridge that poetically expresses what Advent is all about.
14)  Joy to the World – Jaime Barnes (Sojourn).  Did you know Joy to the World is in the Advent section of the Lutheran hymnal (ELW)?  This gorgeous new setting sets a reflective, intimate tone.  You have to hear it. 
15)  O Come O Come Emmanuel – check out arrangements by Future of Forestry (their Advent Christmas EP is on iTunes), Sojourn (also available on iTunes), Lincoln Brewster (Joy to the World album), or write your own. 

Do you have other ideas?  Happy planning!

In some ways this album is the dark side of Ghosts.  Whereas that album is saturated with hope even in its darker moments, Mountain has to strain to see the light, even in its most optimistic moments.  Listening to Michael and Lisa talk about the album, it’s apparent this is a reflection of where they are at this point of their journey.  What we have to realize is that when we listen to Gungor albums we are eavesdropping on one couple’s conversations about life, faith, doubt, and hope.  The last time out that meant we joined them on an enchanted path unveiling divine sights and sounds all around us.  This time it means walking with them into a dark forest and honestly explaining what we see around us.  There is a kind of disillusionment happening here (see especially “Yesternite”).  The result is that you’re unlikely to find any gems here for corporate worship, save for maybe “Wandering,” which could serve to fill in the lack of available laments in some contexts. 

That’s not to say that Gungor isn’t still having fun along the way.  Incorporating as many musical styles as they can get their highly dexterous fingers on, the group experiments with equal parts Americana (“Wayward and Torn," "God and Country") and synth-pop (“Let It Go”).  The title track appears to begin where Ghosts left off, powerfully stating that we are simultaneously both nothing but dust and everything of stardust – and we constantly live out this contradiction.  In the process they make clear – in case this wasn’t completely evident previously – that they see no conflict between creation and evolution (“Momentary carbon stories/From the ashes/Filled with holy ghost”).  This energetic and accessible track gets you excited for the rest of the album.

“Beat of Her Heart,” a retelling of the Greek myth of Orpheus ending in tragedy, is then the first indication that this is going to be a different kind of journey, both musically and thematically.  A part of the brutal honesty of the album is a strong socially critical element, which is not new territory for Gungor (see their classic “God is Not a White Man”).  “Long Way Off” is a refreshing evaluation of the myth of human progress - including theological progress, and the scathing “God and Country” leaves nothing to interpretation regarding this often unholy American matrimony (“God we love our God/Oh God we love our guns” and “Those who live by the gun/Die by the gun”).

Ghosts was a glorious journey of an album, and Mountain is no different.  Don’t listen waiting for the next radio hit to come along.  Immerse yourself in it, and be troubled.  Then immerse yourself in it again, and be moved.  The aptly titled “Finally” brings the listener to a place of hopeful resolution, though still not to the point of  “This is Not The End.” They're not going to set you down that easily.  Something to appreciate is the space Gungor allows the listener.  It would be easy for such skilled musicians to fill every space with sound.  But there is a peace in the tension, a peace witnessed again in the closing lament, “Upside Down.” 

So listen with an open mind, and be disappointed.  Then grant the artist freedom to be authentically who they are at the moment of creation, and listen again.  And love it.  

6) “Hosanna” “Desert Song” “Lord of Lords” “You’ll Come” (bonus pack) – Brooke Fraser.  If you haven’t discovered Brooke’s songs yet (she also goes by her married name Ligertwood), please do.  I just wish she would give us even more worship tunes - they're spectacular.
7) “Happy Day” and “Jesus Saves” – Tim Hughes (bonus pack 2).  Looking for some new upbeat rockers?  Tim’s your man. More to start working on for the Easter season, if not sooner.
8) “All the Earth Will Sing Your Praises” – Paul Baloche.  It’s been around for a while, but if you still do “Lord I Lift…” trade it out for this one for a while and see how you like it.  Good gospel-summary tune.
9) “Second Chance” – Rend Collective Experiment.  “Build Your Kingdom Here” is all the rage right now, but this song might actually be the better song of the two (and more suitable for many congregations).
10) “Hold Us Together” and “Remembrance” – Matt Maher.  Great songs for Christian community and Holy Communion, respectively. 

Okay, so that’s 15 songs your congregation should be singing (excuse the presumptuous nature of that phrase, but these are excellent corporate worship songs, in my humble opinion).  And almost all these artists have other great songs to use, as well.  Check out my song lists for more ideas.  God bless you in worship!

Songs of Repentance: Traditionally a time of self-examination, Lent is a season when we turn from our sin and turn toward God.  A warning: some of these might be difficult to find music for.  Contact me and I’ll see if I can help. 

• Be Merciful To Me – Written by Randall Goodgame and recorded by Caedmon’s Call, this beautiful prayer displays a heartfelt gratitude for the depths of God’s mercy.                        
• God Be Merciful to Me – Recorded by Jars of Clay, the union of such upbeat, almost bouncy music and penitent lyrics actually matches the paradox of the cross.  I could see doing this at a pivotal moment of a dark Good Friday service, adding a surprising element of hope.
  
• Give Us Clean Hands – Charlie Hall invites worshippers to cry out not only for themselves, but for an entire generation.
  
• Kindness – One of my favorites, this early Chris Tomlin gem doesn’t get the attention it should.  Wrapping in baptismal language, this song reminds us that it’s God’s first step, not ours, that leads to forgiveness.
  
• Lord, Have Mercy – This song of repentance popularized by Michael W. Smith was actually written by Steve Merkel.  
  
• Since I Am So Sick – Yes, the title of this song from Enter the Worship Circle seems depressing, but it  acknowledges our utter dependence on God, “since I have no healing within me.”  And it continues with a powerful proclamation that God comes through. 
• You Have Redeemed My Soul – Another great song from the Worship Circle, this song is more thanksgiving than request.  But I love the imagery it uses: “I was a burned out forest…but to my blackened branches you brought the springtime green of new life.”
  
• We Will Run – Penned by Lisa Gungor (wife of Michael), this song begins with the classic prayer of the Psalmist, “create in me a clean heart,” and turns into a communal plea that both we and “all things” would be made new.  
  
• The Fall – This song from Gungor – one of the rare songs of lament we have available to us – acknowledges universal guilt while pleading, “How long will you wait…how long ‘til you save us all?”                        
  

Discipleship: During the 40 days of Lent we focus on Jesus’ call to take up our cross and follow him.  These songs help to extend that call into our entire lives. 

• Blessed Be Your Name – Matt and Beth Redmans’ classic is a call to discipleship and worship, in both the good times and the bad.  
  
• Desert Song – Similarly, Brooke Fraser brings praise, even in the midst of trial and need, when victory is still to come.  And she finds renewal in giving herself away.  
  
• You Alone Can Rescue – I include it here because it puts the focus of discipleship back on the action of God in Christ.  “You alone can lift us from the grave/You came down to find us/led us out of death/to you alone belongs the highest praise.”
  
• Wholly Yours - David Crowder seamlessly weaves together human depravity, divine holiness, redemption, and response, all in one song.  Warning: includes “Alleluias,” which some congregations give up for Lent.            
  
• Songs with themes of “surrender” also work well here.
  

The Cross: While especially appropriate for Good Friday, these songs can be sung anytime during the Lenten journey.

• Draw Me Nearer – Diane Sheets revised this classic hymn, and Caedmon’s Call did again when they recorded it.  A powerful prayer to be brought closer to Jesus and the love displayed on the cross.  
  
• God Who Saves – Written by Aaron Senseman and recorded by Caedmon’s Call, this song praises not just the Son, but the God whose life was “poured out” at Calvary, keeping the triune God united at the pivotal moment.  
  
• In Christ Alone – You are probably more likely to use Getty and Townend’s now-classic on Easter, but you could also sing the first two verses during Holy Week, and then do the whole song on Easter.  To avoid placing the blame on God the Father for Jesus’ death, change “satisfied” in verse 2 to “set aside.”  
  
• Lead Me to the Cross – Brooke Fraser leads us to sing of how “everything I once held dear/I count it all as loss,” for the life that is found in the cross.  
  
• Oh Great Love of God – “…who takes away the sin of all of us/gone forever” sings David Crowder on this song that works equally well after Easter, or anytime.  
  
• Wonderful Cross – Chris Tomlin added a chorus to Isaac Watts’ classic hymn, giving us a great anthem for Good Friday.              
  

What songs are you using this Lent?  For more ideas see my song list by theme and look under Lent, Holy Week/Good Friday, and Confession.  Blessings to you and your community on your journey of discipleship.

God-focused: Worship is about what God does, not about what I will do.  It’s an easy trap for worship songwriters to fall into.  Songs often come out of deep emotion, and beginning lyrical phrases with “I” is often the most natural way of expressing that emotion.  And yes, worship is about response.  But the act of singing is itself the response – the lyrics should express the reality we are responding to.  If we continually sing about what I will do, we never actually get to the content of God’s promises.  However, if we begin with that content – what God has done – it is easy and natural to move into response. 

Communal rather than individual: Counterculturally, our relationship with God happens primarily in the context of community.  Our worship should include more "we's" than "I's".  Biblically, God relates to humanity mostly through Israel (OT) and the church (NT).  The wonder for the New Testament writers was not simply that Jesus died “for me,” but that I (and everyone else!) am included in the community that receives God’s promises. 

So to review so far: God, not me; and not “I” but “we.”   Should we then strike all “I’s and “me’s” out of our worship?  No, but we should be conscious of them as leaders.  Another problem with too much first-person language is that we may put words in worshippers’ mouths that may not be true for them in that moment.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve stopped singing in worship because what was being sung did not express my heart at that time.  But if we are singing about God – or if we are singing as a member of a community – we can sing about deeper truths whether or not we feel them at the moment. 

Anchored in Scripture: Scripture is the primary anchor for lyrical themes.  The language we use in worship is extremely powerful.  Language gives shape to reality.  If we are using “small” language, our concept of God and of our relationship with God will correspond with that.  I am not saying that the more ten-letter words we have, the better.  I am referring more to concepts.  Our language should be intentional—not just regurgitated Christianese.  When held all together, our worship should tell the whole story of Scripture and of the gospel - from creation and fall through redemption and renewal.  

The language of Scripture is not small (although of course, if you sing ten songs based on the same verse, its likely to lose its power).  Songs that are born from specific passages of Scripture, therefore, are more than likely to pass the “small” test.  But there are two other “anchor points” that derive from Scripture: liturgical function and season of the church year.  Both our worship order (assuming it is formed throughtfully!) and the church year are themselves informed by Scripture, and especially by the gospel.  So songs can also be properly anchored to a specific part of the service (confession and absolution, Holy Communion, etc.) or to a season of the church year (Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, All Saints, etc.)

Gospel-centered: Our worship follows a two-part rhythm: acknowledge our need, celebrate Christ as fulfillment of that need.  In choosing worship songs, we need both parts.  Not necessarily in the same song; but we need songs that do each. 

Hopefully this gives you some things to think about as you choose songs and plan worship on behalf of your community.  Have fun, and let me know how it goes!

For example, “Brother Moon” by the band Gungor is not a song many people would likely consider for congregational singing.  It is actually very singable.  However, without skillfully played percussion accompanying it, a congregation will likely have a very difficult time picking up the rhythms. 

In choosing whether to introduce a new song, you also have to consider how often you will be able to repeat it.  If you will only be able to sing a song once or twice in the coming months, then it needs to be easy to catch onto.  But if you can repeat the song for 3-4 weeks, or play it at about half of the services over 2-3 months, you may be surprised what a congregation can learn. 

Generations will worship
Another thing to consider the diversity of ages represented in worship.  In recent years there has been an intergenerational renaissance in the church.  Congregations have realized that there is great value in fostering interaction between different generations, and the church is one of the few places where that is available in today’s culture outside the family.  So rather than segregating a worshipping community by ages on Sunday morning, we should try to keep our worship accessible for the whole body of Christ - young, old, and everyone in between. 

Key issues
A common musical mistake is singing in a key that is not congregationally friendly for that song.  Again, this is a contextual question.  An appropriate song key for an arena full of people who feel comfortable singing at full voice can be higher than for the same song being used for a small congregation meeting in a classroom.  Many if not most worship songs are recorded at a higher key than most congregations will be comfortable with.  Chris Tomlin, for example, has a tenor voice that sounds great in its upper range, so he routinely records songs higher than most people would feel comfortable singing.  

This of course can be fixed by simply transposing to a lower key.  If you use chord charts, transposing is simple.  If you need help, www.chordchanger.com is a handy tool.  If you use sheet music, it can be a bit more complicated, but you probably already know that.  

So how do you choose a key?  In most contexts, a congregation’s comfortable range is from a low A to a high D.  But it’s also important to factor in the “energy” of a song.  Slower songs are usually comfortably sung a bit lower, while up-tempo songs will lack energy if they are sung too low.  People will find it easier to hit that D in a louder, upbeat chorus than in a slow, quiet ballad.  

If you’re not sure about the appropriate range for your own congregation, just look and listen.  If half the congregation is dropping out on the chorus, or if males are consistently dropping an octave, it’s probably too high.  On the other hand, if you can’t hear the congregation on the verses, it’s probably too low.  If you’re still not sure, start asking around.  There will probably be no shortage of people willing to give you feedback (just be prepared for some unsolicited comments about other aspects of the music as well)!  

For more on the important topic of keys, see this blog entry from Bob Kauflin from a couple years ago.  

What are some of your struggles or successes related to choosing songs for worship from a musical standpoint?

See part II for the lyrical aspect of choosing worship songs.