Holy Cross Music Notes

 with Adelaide

This Sunday we will start with Gather Us In, a widely recognized contemporary Christian hymn written and composed by Marty Haugen in 1982. It is primarily used as an opening or gathering hymn to call the church community together. The hymn consists of four powerful verses focusing on bringing all people—regardless of age, background, or social standing—into the light of God.

Our opening song is Stuart Townend’s (The Lord's My Shepherd) Psalm 23.  This song is a popular modern hymn written in 1996 and adapts the biblical text of Psalm 23 into a contemporary format.  Townend’s well-known chorus focuses on absolute trust in God.

Our sequence hymn is Change My Heart, Oh God, written by Eddie Espinosa in 1982. It is heavily inspired by biblical themes of surrender, specifically the imagery of God as the Potter and believers as the clay from Isaiah 64:8 and Jeremiah 18.

The Offertory is The Heart of Worship, a world-renowned Christian worship song written and recorded by Matt Redman. Released in 1999, it remains a staple in modern church liturgies worldwide.  The lyrics emphasize stripping away distractions to focus on sincere worship.  Redman also wrote 10,000 Reasons and Blessed Be Your Name.

We will sing Come Unto Jesus during communion.  Written by Laura Story, Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty, and Jordan Kauflin, the song draws its theological foundation from the biblical invitation in Matthew 11:28, where Jesus says, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."  This modern hymn focuses on bringing wounded, broken, and weary hearts to Christ. It emphasizes trading the burdens of the world for spiritual rest and grace.

We will close with Take My Life and Let It Be, a classic Christian hymn written by English poet and hymnwriter Frances Ridley Havergal in 1874. It is a powerful prayer of total surrender, consecrating every part of one's body, time, and possessions to God.  You will be singing this song all day!