New Songs
Scripture encourages us to 'Sing to the Lord a new song.' While the hymns we know by heart remain a cornerstone of our worship, there is a wealth of modern music that captures the Holy Spirit’s movement in our current time. We are introducing these new selections to expand our vocabulary of praise and to ensure our worship remains as dynamic as the grace we receive each day. We invite you to lift your voices with us as we explore these new expressions of devotion.
And, speaking of new expressions, you may have noticed that some of our congregation raise their hands during our songs. While this may feel new to some in our pews, it is actually a deeply rooted, scriptural practice.
Throughout the Bible, we see believers using their whole selves to honor God. Raising hands is often a physical sign of:
Surrender: Much like a child reaching up to a parent, it acknowledges our reliance on God’s grace.
Adoration: It serves as a physical 'amen,' magnifying the Lord as described in Psalm 63:4: 'I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.'
Prayer: It is an ancient posture of petition, as noted in 1 Timothy 2:8, where we are encouraged to lift 'holy hands' in prayer.
Worship is a personal response to a very public God. Whether you feel led to raise your hands in praise, or not, please know that this is a safe space for you to respond to the Holy Spirit as you feel led. Our goal is not a specific 'style,' but a sincere heart.
You might notice a shift in the language of the songs we sing, too. Some of our music invites us to sing about Jesus—declaring His truths and reminding each other of the great things He has done. We love those hymns and always will. But other songs invite us to sing directly to Jesus. There is a profound difference between talking about someone and speaking straight to them. When we make that shift, our music turns into a personal, face-to-face conversation with our Savior, transforming our corporate praise into a deeply personal prayer of 'I love You' rather than just 'I love Him.'
10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)
10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord), was written by Matt Redman and Jonas Myrin. It is based on the beautiful words of Psalm 103: 'Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.' It’s a song that reminds us that no matter what our circumstances look like—whether the sun is rising or the day is ending—there are countless reasons to lift our voices in praise.
In Christ Alone
This is one of my favorites!
While 'In Christ Alone' was written in 2001 by Stuart Townend and Keith Getty, it has the heart and soul of the great hymns of old. I chose this song because it carries a deep, sturdy theology that matches the hymns we’ve always loved, while giving us a fresh voice to declare that 'no guilt in life, no fear in death' can separate us from God's love.
The Blessing
This would be a great song to end our service on Sunday morning. It was written by Chris Brown, Cody Carnes, Kari Jobe and Steven Furtick of Elevation Worship.