Remembrance Hymn: Here is a song that you can use for your Remembrance Day Service. The words were written by Tim Chester and can be used in several ways:

1. Sung by the congregation: for this to work well we recommend you teach the song the week before and have the youtube link put in your notice sheet, website, or emailed to the congregation  so they can learn it.

2. Sung 'live' as a reflective solo song

3. Play the Youtube video at an appropriate point in your service either as a musical accompaniment for the congregation to sing along to, or as a reflective song to listen to.
Free Piano Sheet Music​
When The Word of God: is a new song written with our good friend Tim Chester, which traces the word of God through creation, the scriptures and most clearly when The Word became flesh and made his dwelling amongst us. This is a great song for the Advent season as a lead into your Christmas services in a few weeks. Listen on iTunes here or on Spotify here and get the lead sheet here. 
SONGS FOR MISSION & EVANGELISM
BE MERCIFUL was written by the early 19thCentury English hymn writer, Josiah Conder as a paraphrase of Psalm 67. Conder played a significant political role in the early stages of the Abolition of Slavery around the world. This hymn is a wonderful prayer for God to make himself known to the nations, so that every family and people group of the world might know the saving plan of God. We love to use this song when thinking about the theme of mission, as Jesus calls his disciples to make disciples, who make disciples this hymn gives us a vocabulary in which to articulate a global prayer for many to come to Jesus, and be saved to live in the beauty of the new creation.
WE HAVE HEARD A JOYFUL SOUND (HE SAVES)
I am an evangelist at heart and so any song on world mission and evangelism will always hold a special place in my heart. I can remember being introduced to this rousing hymn whilst working at Westminster Chapel in London.  It captured so brilliantly the joyful energy of the good news of the gospel as well as the urgency to proclaim that to others. 
 
The words were composed sometime before 1882 by Pricilla J Owens who was of Scottish and Welsh decent. She lived in Baltimore, Maryland in the USA and was a prolific hymnwriter and wrote some of our best loved hymns (including Will your anchor hold). Pricilla loved children and was a school teacher by profession as well as a Sunday school teacher at the Un­ion Square Meth­od­ist Epis­co­pal Church where she served for over 50 years!  We have heard a joyful sound" was originally written for a Sunday-school Mission Anniversary at her church in order that the children might grasp the importance of telling others about Christ (a lesson we all need reminding of!).  
Owens rousing words were set to the equally rousing music composed by William James Kirkpatrick which was first published in 1882. 
I added this new chorus as I felt that the melody of the verse ended on such a high and positive note that it was worth extending that.  Hence the joyful appeal of ‘He saves, He saves Christ Jesus is alive, His cross and grave become our victory cry…” was born.  

​We often use this song as a ‘sending out’ song at the close of sermons on missions, or on Pentecost Sunday, or at the close of conferences as a reminder that we have good news that is worthy to be shared with the world. People from all generations have told me how much they love this version and how well used it is in their churches. I trust you will enjoy introducing it to others too. 
​HOW SWEET THE NAME OF JESUS SOUNDS
John Newton wrote this hymn in 1774 and he knew just how sweet the name of Jesus was to his own ears. He worked on slave ships in that cruel and brutal trade. But he had a dramatic change of heart when his ship encountered a fierce storm and Newton in fear for his life came under conviction of his own soul and cried to God for mercy. Sometime later a genuine repentance ensued. He was so transformed that he abandoned the slave trade and entered the Christian ministry and a prominent supporter of the abolition of slavery. 
The opening lines “How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer's ear! It soothes our sorrows, heals our wounds, 
and drives away our fear’ has echoes of that day, when in fear and trembling during that storm he sought the Lord earnestly.  
 
This new, bright lilting melody with its fresh chorus, breaks away from the two other tunes to which the hymn is often sung.  We trust that our arrangement gives opportunities for this classic hymn to be sung by the next generation.   
AMAZING GRACE (AULD LANG SYNE)
 
In January 1772 John Newton penned words to a new song he had written to close his New Years sermon on the text 1 Chronicles 17:16,17. The words were “Amazing Grace how sweat the sound” – he had just written the greatest hymn of all time. It is also the most recorded song of all time having been recorded some 7,000 times by different artists and musicians. 
 
But the truth is, no-one knows what music John Newton originally sung it to, indeed there have been over 20 different melodies associated with that one song before we settled on the one which we all know and love called “New Britain” composed in 1835 but with no clearly identified author to that tune.  
 
One thing I do know is that the old Scottish melody Auld Lang Syne is 30 years older than the words of Amazing Grace! And the words fit perfectly to that melody. I appreciate that it’s speculation on my part but when I get to heaven I will ask Newton whether he originally sang it to Auld Lang Syne at new year! I do hope so!!!
 
This new arrangement Amazing Grace (Auld Lang Syne) retains the original words of Amazing grace but with an additional chorus which ties that ‘grace’ to the cross of Christ, which is absolutely vital to the song.  
 
This is the easiest song to teach at your church, because everyone knows the melody (even the unconverted visitor)!  All this makes this a brilliant song to use at the close of an evangelistic service. It has also been sung at the close of carol services and to start the new year.  Don’t sing the song in the fast paced way that folks sing ald lang syne at new year, but rather sing it slowly and reflectively to allow the space for those rich words to penetrate peoples hearts. A key change for that last verse moving it from D to E helps it soar so keep that in if at all possible. 
​ROCK OF AGES
Colin writes : My wife’s family live near to Burrington Combe in the Mendips where in 1763 the Rev Augustus Toplady reputedly penned the first few lines of Rock of ages whilst sheltering from a storm. I have visited the site in the gorge where there is a plaque to commemorate Toplady’s inspiration for the hymns composition.  There can be few words more rich in theological truth than this hymn, it’s focus on the believers utter dependency upon the mercy of God and the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice alone to save completely those who trust in Him, is utterly breath-taking.  I love the line “nothing in my hands I bring, simply to the cross I cling”.  That’s it, that’s the gospel message right there, it’s not our good works but only by God’s grace that we are saved.  Its climax in the last verse gives the assurance that even in death our Rock of ages stands firm and leads us to a safer shore.
 
In 1830 Thomas Hastings an American born hymn composer set the words to a tune he called "Toplady" and this is perhaps the most well known melody in the USA. However, some 23 years later Richard Redhead from England composed a new melody to the hymn in 1853 which was more sombre and this became popular in the UK.  Which  just shows that even in the 1800’s people were writing new melodies to well loved hymns (so what Phil and I do is nothing new!).  
 
Our composition has a gentle Celtic lilt and it works well if a strong melody lead on violin or flute can be used to pick up the melody line for the introduction and the links between verses.  We also recommend using a key change going up to that final verse which links with the soaring hope of the lyrics which helps the congregations volume to swell. 
SONGS OF ENCOURAGEMENT IN CHRISTIAN LIFE
​NOW THANK WE ALL OUR GOD
In the 17th Century Martin Rinkart was a minister in the city of Eilenburg during the Thirty Years War. During that time many people in his parish lost their lives though plague, disease and hunger due to the consequences of the war. In the Epidemic of 1637, Martain Rinkart officiated at over four thousand funerals, in that year, alone! He sometimes carried out fifty funerals in a day and one of those was the funeral of his own beloved wife.  
 
It is unimaginable to begin to comprehend what he witnessed. Yet staggeringly, it was after these events that he composed the words for ‘Now thank we all our God”. The words were originally meant to be a prayer said before meals. But others felt its ministry should go beyond the dinning table and into the wider sphere of congregational praise. It was Catherine Winkworth who translated his words from German into English in the mid 1800’s. 
Rinkart recognized that God is faithful, even when the world looks bleak. He is “bounteous” and is full of blessings, if only we will look for those blessings in our every day life. Our blessings can be found in something as small as a dinner meal, or as large as the end of a  war. We can all find reason to be thankful with hearts and hand and voices if we look.
 
Knowing something of that amazing story, drew me to the hymn and my desire to write a more cheerful and uplifting melody to it than the version I knew. This new arrangement is meant to be a joyful celebration for all of God’s mercies and it should be sung with a steady bright pace.     
​O THE DEPTH AND THE HEIGHT
Colin writes: This was the first ever congregational song that I penned back in  2005.  But even then, I didn’t have the courage to play the song to the church.  Eventually, some 2 years after writing it Pete Brown (one of our worship leaders at church) decided he was going to introduce the song and, to my surprise, it was warmly received. I’m pleased to say has made regular appearances on service set list. 
 
If you are starting out as a congregational songwriter then ask some of the church staff and music team what they think of your lyrics and if the melody works for a congregation. It’s a useful sounding board before trailing the song with the wider congregation.  
 
The inspiration of this song comes from the doxological phrase from the Apostle Paul in Romans 11:33 where he writes “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!” 
 
The chorus line expresses how ‘All the treasures of earth could not outshine this Son, for his kingdom is glorious.  He is all that I need in this life and beyond for his kingdom is glorious” Jesus is the pearl of great price, our greatest treasure in this life and beyond. Nothing outshines this bright and morning sun. 
 
This song is best started on just a guitar or piano for the first verse with the other instruments joining in from the second verse.  If you drop the volume of the instruments during the bridge section and gradually build up with each phrase till you get to the chorus line that usually works well. One other tip, I sometimes end by dropping the instruments out for the final chorus and letting the congregation sing acapella. 
HOLY FATHER RICH IN MERCY
Phil writes: When I was a student at the University of Nottingham one of the great blessings of that season of life was the opportunity to dig deeply into God’s word and sit under some great doctrinal teaching as I grappled with the big questions of God, the universe and everything else – fuelled by baked beans on toast and gallons of tea. Holy Father rich in mercy was inspired by some excellent teaching I received on the Trinity. As we look at the storyline of the bible we see God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit enjoying one another in perfect unity. Our great God who is rich in mercy for 33 years put on flesh and bones when Jesus entered our world to seek and save the lost, leaving the Holy Spirit who was sent as our guarantee, our guide, our comforter and our advocate. We love to sing this song to celebrate Trinity Sunday or to complement those amazing passages of scripture which speak of God as three in One.
 
COME THOU FOUNT (JESUS FOUNT)
The first two verses of this classic and much loved hymn were first penned by Robert Robinson in 1758. Whilst as an unconverted young man he attended an evangelical meeting in 1752 in order to heckle the speaker, who happened to be one George Whitfield. But as he listened to Whitfield he was in awe of his message and three years later he surrendered his life to Christ.  He wrote the hymn whilst preparing a sermon for his church in Norfolk . 
Verse 3 which begins “O to grace how great a debtor, daily I’m constrained to be” was added by Martin Madan, 1760. This again shows that many of our hymns have continued to evolve either lyrically with additional verses or with refreshed melodies. 
Although a number of people have added or amended verses to this hymn over the years I don’t think anyone has added a chorus. The thought behind the chorus was to clearly identify Jesus as being that  fount of every blessing in such an explicit way that no-one misses it. It does go high if its sung in the key of C, but its only high for one note as does Londonderry Aire tune of I cannot tell why he whom angels worship (which we all love).  So be bold and go for it! Or drop the song down to Bb if needs be using the version on song select.   
WE HAVE AN ANCHOR
Phil writes : From the ages of 4-18 I was a long standing member of the Boys Brigade, and I’m proud to say that I still hold the record as Northern Ireland Solo Bugle Champion for 8 years in a row – some achievements are best left unspoken! It was during these years that I first knew and loved the words of that anthemic hymn Will your anchor hold. What a captivating image that Jesus is our anchor, and that we might be grounded firm and deep in His amazing love! It’s so encouraging to know that even in the storms that life will bring to us all we have a God who is not far away, He is with us, He is carrying us safely to the shores of eternal life with him. In this reworking of that old hymn we have kept the original chorus line, just adding a fresh melody and additional words to the verses. We love to sing it as a final hymn, as a prayer as we are sent out that we will know the stabilising confidence that Christ is with us. 
SONGS THAT FOCUS ON THE CROSS 
​YOUR GREAT LOVE
The Apostle Paul was utterly astonished’ by the depth of God’s love when he penned these lines in Romans 5:8 “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”.   He went on to say in that magnificent chapter eight “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom 8:38-39)
 
I think Paul’s conclusion was that God’s love is unfathomable, its depths are greater than our sin and its height towers over us with its vast canopy of grace. The cross is the pinnacle of God’s love and this song was an attempt at trying to express something of my own astonishment at God’s love found in Christ’s great sacrifice.  
 
This song has a Celtic lilt to it (that’s my Scottish roots coming out) though I have been told by Chinese friends that they think the melody refrain sounds ‘oriental’ and that’s why they like it! 
 
I recommend keeping this song strong right from the very beginning and only dropping the volume during the first half of the bridge section, but start to build with power and conviction in the second two lines  where the lurics say “I lift my voice for you alone are worthy…”  So lift your voices at that very point and then keep them up for the two final chorus’ (which deliberately have different lyrics). 
I WILL SAY MY GOD IS GLORIOUS
Colin writes: This song arose whilst contemplating the great miracles which Jesus performed of healing the lame and enabling the blind to see. These were dramatic and staggering displays of his power and love towards a wounded and broken humanity. But however great those miracles may be, they are eclipsed by the greatest miracle of all that Jesus Christ took our sin upon himself as he hung on the cross so that we might be forgiven and saved for all eternity. This song expiresses the wonder and glory of the Christ of Calvary.  One of my favourite passages of scripture is this one from Colossians 1: 21-22 which says  “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behaviour. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation”  That my friends, is the greatest miracle of all and we must never lose sight of it.
 
This is a great song to use at Easter and at any occasion there is a particular focus on the cross of Christ.