New Songs (for us!)

An open note to Valley Springs Presbyterian Church where I lead worship on Sunday mornings:

“Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings with loud shouts!” Psalm 33:3

As I prepared for this year’s Easter services, I was reviewing my music files and rejoicing over the number of new songs we have learned over the past year. A few of them have been around for a while, but they were still new to many of us and provided fresh opportunities to reflect on the truth. I commend you all as a congregation: you are willing to learn and you give yourselves to wholehearted worship; indeed, listening to your voices echo back genuine praise Sunday after Sunday is a highlight of my week.

Here’s a partial list of the new tunes we’ve added to our repertoire this year:

• Not In Me
• Come Praise and Glorify
• The Power of the Cross
• All Things New
• He Will Hold Me Fast
• O Great God
• Good Shepherd of my Soul
• I Fix My Eyes on You
• Consider Your Calling
• Behold our God
• He Rose Again
• It is Not Death to Die
• Hide Away in the Love of Jesus
• Now Why This Fear and Unbelief?
• It Is Finished
• You Alone Are God

 These last two were written in house by our own Luke Grant. In addition, we’ve incorporated some new settings to favorite hymns, including “Be Thou My Vision” and “All Hail the Power.”

Perhaps you have noticed an intentional direction to our worship ministry. We have chosen to incorporate more songs that are saturated in the truth—music that hopefully blends memorable, singable melodies with clear affirmations of sound doctrine. If we’re successful, we will provide through the lyrics of each song enough fuel for our own hearts’ praise and enough affirmation of the truth to make the song a fitting tool of edification to those around us. We will then be fulfilling God’s instructions to us in Ephesians 5:19 – “...singing to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart.”

It’s my belief that doctrine is not detached orthodoxy, but life-giving and heart-changing truth. That truth is worth every note, every voice, every crescendo, and every moment in time we commit to proclaiming it in song.

All that to say, thanks for singing along. It seems to me that I can hear your voices a little louder each week. May God bless our unity in worship and our continued commitment to proclaim the truth in song!