Free Resources

Three worship resources that have worked well in large and small mainstream church settings are i.  A Modern Creed which takes people through the key evangelical beliefs viewed through the lens of ‘community’ (created in conjunction with TC Media: www.tcmedia.co.nz)   ii.  The Beatitudes   iii. Modern version of the Lord’s prayer.  Instructions for the latter two are included on the final powerpoint slide.  Delete the last slide when using.

Songs

For some good new congregational songs to use with good lyrics, check out the following:
 
(Note: If you can’t find any of these songs on CD’s in your local Christian bookshop a good way to hear them and see if you like them is to search for them on YouTube.  This can save a lot of time and legwork!)

  • ‘Power of the Cross’ (first line : ‘Oh to see the dawn’ by Stuart Townend)
  • ‘Grace’ (first line: ‘Lord I’m Grateful’ by Stuart Townend)
    You can find these two songs on one of the following CD’s: ‘ Mission:Worship’ by a group called ‘Worship Experience’, or Keith Getty’s ‘New Irish Hymns 4’ or ‘The Mandate’ by Worship Experience.
  • Amazing Grace with a very good added chorus (by Chris Tomlin)
  • Uncreated One (first line: Holy Uncreated One by Chris Tomlin)
    These two songs are on Chris Tomlin’s CD, ‘See the Morning’
  • If you’re looking for some good songs on a local mission or justice theme, the best I’ve found are from folk at Spreydon Baptist Church in Christchurch.  Particularly, ‘Hallelujah’ (first line ‘You call us to love) by P. Hegglun, C. Robertson, I. Weeraprajak.  Also Tim Hughes’ song: ‘God of Justice’ (‘We must go’) is worth a look.  Tim Hughes is the writer of ‘Here I am to Worship’
    If you want some Praise songs that actually have some theology(!) see www.geraldinelatty.com  In particular her song ‘First’ works well congregationally.  ‘Dance of our God’ is great too but hard to play well.
  • ‘Made to Worship’ by Chris Tomlin.  I really like this song.  It can be used in any part of the service, has meaningful lyrics and its communal aspect brings some needed balance to all the “I” songs out there. (‘You and I were made to worship…’).  This song is on the same CD mentioned above ‘See the morning’
  • For some good modernised versions of hymns, the best I have come across is the CD called, ‘Hymns’ by Passion band.  Their versions of ‘Fairest Lord Jesus’ and ‘Take my life’ are very good.  Also for an outstanding version of ‘I Stand Amazed in the Presence’ listen to Chris Tomlin’s arrangement on YouTube:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YxRFemLtXU