WorshipInDepth
Infusing modern worship with the wisdom of historic liturgy.
  • The Latest
  • About
  • Song Lists
  • Resources
  • Matt's Music
  • Contact

16 New Christmas Songs Your Church Could Be Singing

12/11/2013

3 Comments

 
Several weeks ago I posted some ideas for Advent; now it's almost time for Christmas!  Are you looking for some new songs to complement the carols?  I'll cover a few of those first, then move into updated version of the classics.
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!
3 Comments
buyautoiglikes.com/instagram-likes link
4/26/2014 09:16:45 pm

Likes significantly boost the attractiveness of one's website and as well as the suitable variety count; quite a few of us could possibly be drawn to your account. The providers giving these merchandise and solutions, will give you with non-automated or robotic likes and provide you with authentic Instagram likes. The great depth relating to this is usually that these are definitely straight away despatched for the account therefore you do not have to show up at that substantially. And when you are a company, elevating your Instagram likes will very likely be valuable.

Reply
Mark
12/1/2015 09:12:12 pm

May I suggest two songs by 33Miles?
O Come All Ye Faithful / Sing to the King
Joy to the World

I feel these songs add a great contemporary feel to traditional Christmas songs. 33Miles even has the chord charts posted on their website.

Reply
Jyl
11/15/2016 08:50:38 am

Matthew, I was really excited to find your website! I have been involved with the planning of our contemporary/modern worship service since it began 20 years ago. I am a member of Advent Lutheran Church in Melbourne, Florida, where our Pastor David Jahn is a rocking guitarist. :) Thanks for posting these lists! I look forward to listening to your original music! God Bless!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    WorshipInDepth evaluates current worship music in depth theologically so that the worship in our churches engages and addresses the whole person and community in depth.  Join the conversation!  More...

    Welcome!

    My name is Matthew Anderson I am a pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Victorville, CA, and a graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary. I've also done some post-graduate work at Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.  I have been leading worship in various contexts for over a decade. More...

    Archives

    January 2015
    December 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    April 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    September 2012

    Categories

    All
    Baptism
    Christmas
    Communion
    Introduction
    Liturgy
    Reviews
    Sample
    Seasonal
    Song Choices
    Worship Order

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.