Every year at Christmas time I eagerly look for the new CD’s that will potentially provide new songs to celebrate this season of hope. I particularly look out for songs that emphasize the incarnation as well as the reason Christ came – to save us from our sins. While there are some wonderful Christmas hymns already written, the mystery of the incarnation is so awe-inspiring that I always think there can be more.
Earlier this year a few of the Sovereign Grace song writers got together for a retreat and worked on songs devoted to the theme of God becoming man. I’m happy to let you know that those songs (along with a few others) have now become a CD.
Savior: Celebrating the Mystery of God Become Man will be released, Lord willing, in early November. Many of the songs can be used for congregational worship, but all of them help us rejoice in God’s mercy to us in sending his Son. You can pre-order it now at our online store. You can also listen to song samples, download lyrics, and see a video interview with songwriters Mark and Stephen Altrogge at the CD webpage.
We’re also giving away the song "Hope Has Come" from Savior as a free MP3 download. Written and sung by Stephen Altrogge (Mark Altrogge’s son), "Hope Has Come" rejoices in the One who came to break sin’s power and set us free. Here’s the first verse:
Let us join with the angel voices
Let us join their happy song
All of heav’n and earth rejoices
For the Lamb of God has come
He has come to rescue sinners
Come to meet our desperate need
He was born to bring forgiveness
Born for Calvary
To download the song, visit our online store, place the song in your shopping cart, and proceed to checkout. No download code is necessary. (If the above link does not lead you to the webpage for "Hope Has Come," use the online store’s search feature to search for this item number: M4185-02-51.) This free download will be available until the CD is released next month.
Bob,
I have downloaded the free song (thanks for generously providing it) and listened to the song samples on the CD’s web page. It sounds good, and I’m excited to obtain this great resource as soon as it’s available!
Could you recommend any other CD’s of “contemporary” congregational songs about the incarnation? I always struggle planning worship services as Christmas approaches, because the songs with which we are all familiar seem strange in anything other than their traditional musical setting. Do you know of A) Good band arrangements of well-known Christmas carols, and/or B)New songs that are thoughtful and appropriate for congregational worship?
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your service to Jesus and his church.
Rejoicing in grace,
Kyle
Kyle: You’re right–it does take some planning to find good Christmas songs that will cause the congregation to thoughtfully ponder Christ’s coming to earth. Our pastor and his wife traditionally sing a Christmas song each year at our banquet, and this year, my friend loaned me Keith Getty’s New Irish Hymns #3 to listen to in order to find a new song. There are several good songs on that cd about the incarnation that could be used in corporate worship. Also, you probably have already heard the City on a Hill Christmas collection, but if not, try it out.
for our Savior,
pianomom
HELLO “MR” ………..I WAS JUST ON THE SOVEREIGN GRACE SITE LOOKING AT THE “LEAD” SHEETS OF VARIOUS RECENT CDS. WE HAVE SOME BUDDING MUSICIANS IN OUR HOUSEHOLD…….SO I PRINTED A FEW FAMILIAR AND REQUESTED SONGS OFF FOR THEM TO PLAY AND LEARN THEIR CRAFT…
ALSO I MUST SAY….GREAT JOB AND A GREAT RESOURCE TO MAKE AVAIABLE….
THANKS AGAIN FOR SERVING US SO WELL AND GENEROUSLY…….marilyn