Songs We Sing (10.04.2009)

We occasionally get asked what this or that song was after services. So, I thought I'd provide a small service to CCJ'ers and the general lurkers out there. I'll list each song and give you the original artist and/or songwriter and a few details. If you'd like to purchase the original song, I suggest using iTunes or Amazon's MP3 Store.

For the services of October 4, 2009, we sang:



Shall We Gather At The River?
Written by Robert Lowry, 1864. I'm starting to realize that Robert Lowry (pictured left) was the Chris Tomlin (pictured below) of the mid-1800s (well, Chris Tomlin is probably the Robert Lowry of today, but I digress ...). Part of this hymn was sung in the Academy Award winning movie, "Trip to Bountiful" (1985). It was also sung at the funeral of American Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas. Lowry said this of the song:
"One afternoon in July, 1864, when I was pastor at Hanson Place Baptist Church, Brooklyn, the weather was oppressively hot, and I was lying on a lounge in a state of physical exhaustion…My imagination began to take itself wings. Visions of the future passed before me with startling vividness. The imagery of the apocalypse took the form of a tableau. Brightest of all were the throne, the heavenly river, and the gathering of the saints…I began to wonder why the hymn writers had said so much about the “river of death” and so little about the “pure water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and the Lamb.” As I mused, the words began to construct themselves. They came first as a question of Christian in quiry, “Shall we gather?” Then they broke in chorus, “Yes, we’ll gather.” On this question and answer the hymn developed itself. The music came with the hymn."

Mighty To Save
Written by Ben Fielding and Reuben Morgan, 2006. Originally recorded by Hillsong (appears on a few albums including "Mighty To Save" and "Hillsong Ultimate Worship Collection Volume II"). I love the emphasis on Jesus rising and conquering the grave. BECAUSE of that, we can "Shine y(our) light, let the whole world see/We're singing/For the glory of the risen King, Jesus."

Shout to the North
Written by Martin Smith, 1995. Originally recorded by Delirious? Appears on their album "Cutting Edge." A great song of unity and admonition to the church.



How Great Is Our God
Written by Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash and Jesse Reeves, 2004. Appears on the Chris Tomlin album "Arriving." This is what you would call a "modern classic." It is consistently the most sung song in churches across the U.S. and the world each year since its release.

God Of this City
Written by Aaron Boyd, Andrew McCann, Ian Jordan, Peter Comfort, Peter Kernaghan and Richard Bleakley, 2006. Originally written and recorded by Bluetree on the album "God Of This City" (this is the version we play). This was also made popular by Chris Tomlin on his album "Hello Love." This is a personal opinion, but I think Tomlin's version is much more watered-down (much more pop) than Bluetree's and I would recommend Bluetree's version if you are going to buy it.

Awesome Is The Lord Most High
Written by Cary Pierce, Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves and Jon Abel, 2006. From the Chris Tomlin album "See The Morning." I appreciate how many of you do what the chorus says we are doing.
;-)