‘Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.’ (Psalm 96:1)

From time to time we learn new songs in our services. Here you can listen to some of the songs we’ve learned recently as well as songs we’re planning to introduce in future services. This may help you to learn them more quickly.

For the Love of God

For the Love of God (Holiness surrounds his throne) is the title track from an album of songs with words by Bible scholar Don Carson and music by songwriter Rob Smith.

To view the lyrics, please click here: 

You can purchase the album as a digital download from here

With its expression of the truth that, ‘Jesus is God’s love unfurled – our redemption won,’ this song was first used at HPC at Christmas time. Now being sung at other times of the year besides, the song helps us – haltingly for now – to applaud God’s holy, loving and gracious ways:

Heart and mind and soul and strength –
would that I were true,
faithfully adoring him,
totally renewed!
How I long to praise his name,
all his ways applaud.
So I’ll raise my halting hymn
for the love, O for the love,
for the love of God.

The Night Song (In the darkness, God will keep me)

We learned this song at our recent church weekend away and sang it in the fading light around the campfire. The song reassures us: ‘In the darkness God will keep me; he will stay and never sleep.’ We’ve chosen the song to conclude our upcoming evening prayer meeting. 

Click here to view the lyrics in full and/or to buy the track. 

Apostles' Creed (I believe in God the Father)

Enjoyed by a number of our congregation at Bible by the Beach 2023, this sung creed is being introduced here by our Youth Band in July.

Click on this link to view the lyrics and/or to buy the song.

Also, clicking here will take you to an article by Tim Chester – one of the writers who contributed to this song – about why we should sing the creeds. 

The King of love my shepherd is

A while back, HPC’s Youth Band enjoyed learning Emu Music’s new tune to H. W. Baker’s old hymn The King of love my shepherd is, from Psalm 23. Now, we’re introducing this fresh setting of a beautiful text to the congregation as we focus on Jesus feeding the five thousand from Mark chapter 6. The song expresses the wonderful truth that Jesus is all that we need:

‘…I nothing lack if I am his
and he is mine for ever…’

‘…and where the greenest pastures grow, 
my aching heart he satisfies…’

Its final verse helps us to make a glorious response: 

‘…Good Shepherd, may I sing your praise
within your house for ever.’

Click on this link to view the lyrics in full and/or to purchase the track. 

Christ Our Hope in Life and Death (What is our hope in life and death?)

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.’ (1 Corinthians 15:20)

First sung at HPC on Easter Sunday morning 2023 using a special choir and band arrangement, this song, written by a team at Getty Music, is now being introduced to and sung by our evening congregation. 

The lyrics to this song, inspired by the Heidelberg Catechism of 1563, can be viewed here. From the same page, you can listen to and purchase the music and also read and watch a video about the song’s background. 

To hear the new arrangement of Christ Our Hope in Life and Death by Lloyd Larson that our musicians learned for Easter ’23, please follow this link: 

See Him in Jerusalem (Jerusalem)

Having been included in our lockdown services through video, CityAlight’s See Him in Jerusalem is being sung live at HPC for the first time on Good Friday 2023.

Click on this link to watch a video about the story behind the song: 

You can view the lyrics and listen to and buy the music here: 

Hallelujah! The King is risen!

This song, written by Brian Mayhew in 1995, is a lively celebration of Jesus’ resurrection. The lyrics are adapted from part of the Holy Communion liturgy of the Church of England’s then Alternative Service Book (1980). 

The song has been published by Praise Trust: https://www.praise.org.uk/ 

Glory to Jesus (Jesus healed the blind man)

In this song, children – and grown-ups too – can sing ‘Glory to Jesus’: glory to the holy saviour and Lord of everything, who said, ‘”Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”‘ (Mark 10:14)

You can view the lyrics and buy the music here. 

Show Us Christ (Prepare our hearts, O God)

How amazing it is that ‘God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.’ (2 Corinthians 4:6)!

The song Show Us Christ serves as both a prayer and a reflection for us to use as we prepare to hear God’s word read and preached. The unique significance of the word around which we gather is expressed in the song’s bridge section, which picks up Peter’s words to Jesus in John 6: ‘”Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.’

You can access the lyrics of this song and purchase the recording here: 

Ancient of Days (Though the nations rage)

 

Here are some words from Daniel chapter 7, which records a dream that Daniel had:

‘”In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshipped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.”‘ (Daniel 7:13-14)

As we sing this song, we’re reminded that, no matter what, there’s no need for us to fear, for ‘[our] God is the Ancient of Days’, the One in whose hands is all of time!

Click here to view the lyrics and to listen to and buy the track: 

God Sits in the Highest Place

Enjoyed at this year’s Bible by the Beach conference, we introduced this song by Colin Buchanan at our recent church weekend away.  Throughout the weekend, we were reading and learning together from the book of Acts — seeing the gospel at work in three ancient cities and to the ends of the earth!  Knowing that ‘it don’t matter what the proud ones say [because] God sits in the highest place’ was crucial for the apostles as they faced persecution for preaching Christ, and it’s crucial for those living and speaking for Jesus today. 

You can view the lyrics and buy the music here:  

God Is for Us (We won't fear the battle) 

‘If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all — how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?’  (Romans 8:31b-32) 

What a reason not to fear the battle, and what a basis for exhorting one another, as the chorus begins, to ‘sing for joy now’!

You can view the lyrics and listen to and buy the music for this song from CityAlight here:  

10, 9, 8, God Is Great!

In a recent all-age service, we focused on the contest between Elijah and the prophets of Baal — or rather between the true God and the god who was actually no god at all. In 1 Kings 18:38-39, we read: ‘Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. When the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The LORD — he is God! The LORD — he is God!”‘

The title track from Colin Buchanan’s kids’ album 10, 9, 8…God Is Great hadn’t been sung for several years at HPC, but this was a brilliant occasion for re-introducing it!

You can view the lyrics and buy the music here: 

Trust in the Lord

Having learnt this catchy memory verse song in Sunday School, the children in our Seekers and Discoverers groups (ages 5-11) have in turn taught it to the whole congregation! Johnny Burns wrote the song to help people remember the words and message of Proverbs 3, verses 5-6: ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean upon your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your path straight.’

To purchase the track as a digital download, please visit the Emu Music website:  You can find out more about the album the track appears on, Let Your Light Shine, by visiting Johnny Burns’ website: http://www.johnnyburns.com.au/

Nothing but the Blood of Jesus

Both the words and the tune of this hymn were written by the American preacher Robert Lowry (1826-99).  The words express the need for redemption from sin and the matchless value of the redeeming blood of Jesus, whilst the tune is simple and upbeat, making it ideal for congregational singing.  When the hymn was first published in 1876, these words from Hebrews 9:22 appeared beneath the title: ‘Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin.’

See here for the text and more information about the hymn.

To quote the refrain, praise God for the ‘precious…flow that makes [us] white as snow; no other fount [we] know: nothing but the blood of Jesus.’ 

No Other Name

‘”Salvation is found in no-one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.'” (Acts 4:12)

There is no other name (No Other Name) by Trevor Hodge reminds us, as we sing of Jesus our all-in-all, that ‘no other song remains but, ‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was for sinners slain.’

Read the lyrics and listen to different recordings of the song by following these links: www.trevorhodgemusic.com  and emumusic.com 

So Great Is Jesus' Love

‘As high as the sky is above the earth,
so great is his love for those who respect him.
He has taken our sins away from us
as far as the east is from the west.’

(Psalm 103:11-12, ICB)

So Great Is Jesus’ Love (As far as east is from the west) is a catchy song from Emu Music’s album God Unlimited, designed especially for primary-school aged children.

Click on this link to to view the lyrics and/or purchase the track.

 

From the sun's rising

At the end of the Old Testament, in Malachi 1:11, the LORD Almighty says, ‘”My name will be great among the nations, from the rising to the setting of the sun. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to my name, because my name will be great among the nations.”‘ Then, at the end of the beginning of the New Testament, in Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus says, ‘”All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”‘ These Bible texts, among others, are brought together in this rhythmic, mission-themed song by Graham Kendrick.

You can view the lyrics and download the track here: 

I am the way, the truth and the life

This traditional children’s chorus homes in on the amazing claim of Jesus in John 14:6: ‘I am the way, the truth and the life.’ Maybe you spotted a photo on our homepage banner showing these words of Jesus above the arch at the front of our building?!

You can see the songs words and buy the track from here 

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Jesus Christ is now alive

Emu Music’s album A Very Big God is especially for preschoolers. It includes this song with words about Jesus set to a well-known nursery rhyme melody. At Hailsham Parish Church, we enjoyed the more recent Emu Kids video recording during the Covid-19 lockdown periods.

Click on this link to read the words and access both recordings.

Amazing grace (My Chains Are Gone)

Amazing grace, the classic hymn based on the personal testimony of its author, John Newton (1725-1807), has been given a new chorus by Chris Tomlin and Louie Giglio.

You can view the lyrics, listen to the song, purchase a recording and watch an interview with Chris Tomlin about the song from here 

Maker, Made a Child

Maker, Made a Child (There was once a child) by Abi Marthinet-Glover, Jake Marthinet-Glover and Alanna Glover was included in our music-making for Christmas 2021. 

Listen to and/or buy the song here

Longing for a hope-filled morning

With a text by Ally Barrett set to the French traditional tune Picardy, this carol was included in our candlelit service on Advent Sunday evening 2021. 

More information about this hymn can be found here

My soul praises the Lord

This lively contemporary setting of the Magnificat (Mary’s song, Luke 1:46-55) by Andy Flannagan was chosen for our all-age Countdown to Christmas service 2021. 

The lyrics can be viewed and the album that includes the song purchased from here

Holy Spirit, Living Breath of God

Holy Spirit, Living Breath of God by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend was sung for the first time at HPC as part of our confirmation service on 10th October 2021.

You can view the lyrics of the song, read some background information about it, and/or buy Stuart Townend’s recording of it by clicking on this link

This Is Amazing Grace

This Is Amazing Grace (Who breaks the power of sin and darkness?) by Jeremy Riddle, Josh Farro and Phil Wickham is included on Phil Wickham’s album The Ascension: view it here

Revelation 3:20 (Here I am! I stand at the door and knock)

Chosen for our Jungle Jamboree Holiday Club in August 2021, this song by Colin Buchanan helps us to remember Jesus’ words of challenge and promise to the church in Laodicea in Revelation 3, verse 20: ‘”Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”‘

You can view the lyrics and buy the music here

It Was Finished Upon That Cross

It Was Finished Upon That Cross (How I love the voice of Jesus) is by Jonny Robinson, Rich Thompson and Nigel Hendroff from CityAlight.

View the lyrics and stream or buy the track here: https://www.cityalight.com/it-was-finished-upon-that-cross/

Amazing grace (Auld Lang Syne)

Verses from John Newton’s hymn Amazing grace are combined with some new words by Colin Webster and the traditional tune associated with the song Auld Lang Syne.

The lyrics can be viewed here

There is Hope

We’ve taken the opportunity, during autumn 2020, of bringing some of our musicians together from their own homes to share an uplifting song with a pertinent message:  There is Hope by Matt Weeks (Resound Worship).  Why not take a couple of minutes to listen to and watch the recording we’ve put together in our lockdown project? We hope you enjoy it!   

You can view the lyrics and listen to Resound Worship’s original recording of the song, released in June 2020, here.  

Everywhere Around Me

‘When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?’ (Psalm 8: 3-4)

Tell me who made all of creation (Everywhere Around Me) is an energetic song from Mark and Helen Johnson’s album ‘Songs for Every Assembly’ that helps us respond to our amazing creator God in wonder and worship. Junior Band, our music group for children in Key Stage 2, are learning it then teaching it to the congregation during our all-age service this harvest time.

Here’s a link to the product page.