Congregational Songs – New Songs for Corporate Worship

Album Worth Having

July 3, 2010

I don’t buy much worship music.  When I do buy, it’s usually singles off iTunes for the purpose of learning the song and helping others learn it.  But this album is worth having even if it were just for listening (which it’s not – these songs are meant to be sung in corporate worship).

Ligonier Ministries, RC Sproul’s ministry, commissioned this album by Gregory Wilbur entitled “My Cry Ascends.”  Greg is the Director of Worship for Parish Presbyterian Church in Franklin, TN.  We recorded his song “Come Ye Souls” on Grace Community’s second release “Waves of Grace.”  His specialty is finding old texts and putting beautiful melodies to them.  Both Michael Card and Wes King lent their talents to various tracks, and the album was recorded at Card’s place, Mole End Studios.

Musically, Wilbur sprinkles the tracks with Celtic flavoring, weaves psalter texts and centuries-old hymns into lilting melodies, and gives the listener the encouragement of the psalmist in a way I would imagine King David himself would appreciate.  My favorites are the opening track “Now Unto Jehovah (Psalm 29),” “Mighty Lord, Extend Your Kingdom” – a rousing hymn with a world missions emphasis – “Call Jehovah Your Salvation (Psalm 91),” and “Come Ye Disconsolate.”

You can download “Now Unto Jehovah” free, listen to samples, and purchase the album here.  You can also read a series of posts about the songs and download lead sheets at Greg’s site, greyfriarspress.com.

Filed under: Resources