From declarations of praise to cries of lament, 2017 has much to offer in the realms of devotional art and music in the service of prayer
BETHEL MUSIC
STARLIGHT | BETHEL MUSIC
ALBUM RELEASE DATE: 4.7.17
Bethel Music presents, Starlight, their first full-length album recorded live on tour. The project is a follow-up to the acclaimed You Make Me Brave (2014), with songs led by Bethel Music artists Jenn Johnson, Steffany Gretzinger, Amanda Cook, Kristene DiMarco, Kalley Heiligenthal, Melissa Helser, Hannah McClure, and Grammy-award winning guest worship leader and songwriter, Francesca Battistelli. Starlight is anchored in the message that our lives, our world, and all eternity are held together in Jesus. Like his stars placed in the universe, no distance separates us from our Creator, and we are handcrafted and deeply known as children of God. The project’s title track poetically describes God’s vastness and simultaneous nearness to us as the One closer than our next breath. Just as the night sky displays starlight that has been traveling for years to reach our eyes, may what we sow in this life bear fruit that extends to generations we will never see.
Top Congregational Songs: “Starlight,” “Take Courage,” “King of My Heart,” “God I Look to You,” “There’s No Other Name”
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BRIAN AND JENN JOHNSON
AFTER ALL THESE YEARS | BETHEL MUSIC
ALBUM RELEASE DATE: 1.27.17
Bethel Music presents After All These Years, Brian and Jenn Johnson’s first solo album release in 10 years. These songs capture the wonder, conviction, and tenderness of heart that have marked this last season of life for the Johnsons. The album carries a message that the unseen history we build with God is the greatest treasure that sustains our lives personally and from generation to generation. The presence of an 80-piece orchestra on every track sets this album apart from all previous Bethel Music recordings. The album stirs great hope for worshipers, reminding us to cherish our own history with God and empowering us to build a legacy that will last.
Top Congregational Songs: “Mention of Your Name,” “Only Jesus,” “After All These Years,” “For the One,” “Here I Bow”
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DARLENE ZSCHECH
HERE I AM SEND ME | INTEGRITY MUSIC
ALBUM RELEASE DATE: 3.3.17
“Here I Am Send Me”
Here I am send me, You send me to the nations
You send me to my neighbors, send me with Your love
Renowned worship leader Darlene Zschech releases Here I Am Send Me, a live CD/DVD recorded at her church, Hope Unlimited, in New South Wales, Australia. The album takes its title from Genesis 22 in which Abraham responds to God by saying, “Hineni,” meaning, “Here I am Lord, whatever you ask, my answer is ‘yes.’” This theme of surrender combines with one of commissioning woven through songs penned by Darlene, her team, and guest writers Paul Baloche, Jenn Johnson, Martin Smith, and Leeland Mooring. Tracks include “You Will Be Praised,” “You Are Great,” “Here I Am Send Me,” and “Go.”
Top Congregational Songs: “You Are Great,” “You Will Be Praised,” “Kingdom Come,” “Here I Am Send Me”
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ELEVATION WORSHIP
THERE IS A CLOUD | ELEVATION WORSHIP RECORDS
ALBUM RELEASE DATE: 3.17.17
“There Is a Cloud”
Hear the word roaring as thunder, with a new future to tell
For the dry season is over, there is a cloud beginning to swell
Revival is rising in God’s Church. Faith is stretching. Hope is being restored. Echoing this spirit of the prophet Elijah, it is the prayer of Elevation Worship, with the release of their new live album, There Is a Cloud, that these songs will usher in a new season of revival in our hearts, in our churches, and in our world. These new songs are meant to fuel our faith and restore our hope as we draw closer to the heart of Christ.
Top Congregational Songs: “Do It Again,” “Yours”
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FAMILY CHURCH WORSHIP
UNDEFEATED | FAMILY CHURCH
ALBUM RELEASE DATE: 2.5.17
“I Found Freedom”
You are the Father who takes me back again
Crowning me with mercy, like I’d never left
From the multi-cultural region of South Florida comes Undefeated, a collection of original worship songs written by the Family Church Worship team. They testify of God’s grace on Family Church, which less than ten years ago was on the brink of collapse. From the pulsing vibe of “Undefeated,” declaring that God has conquered more than what we face now, to the soaring, anthemic “The Glory of the Cross,” celebrating the mercy of our sinless Savior, these songs have become the heartcry of an on-mission congregation amid one of the most unreached areas of the country.
Top Congregational Songs: “I Found Freedom,” “The Glory of the Cross”
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FULLER MUSIC COLLECTIVE
REVERE | RESTORE | JUBAL HOUSE
ALBUM RELEASE DATE: 10.17.16
“Restore”
Restore our hearts, restore our minds, make us anew, Lord,
make us anew; restore our lives, restore our faith, only
through You, Lord, only through You
The music on Revere | Restore was created through the grid of themes studied in the fuller seminary spiritual formation curriculum. Theological themes such as restoration, confession, meditation, unity, and justice are expressed in a wide spectrum of musical styles, from traditional to gospel, modern band to orchestral. Beyond musical styles, Spanish, Korean, and spoken word languages are utilized for these expressions of faith. There is also an intentional focus on lyrical language that is both corporate and vertical. All of the music was created, performed, and produced by students and alumni of Fuller Theological Seminary.
Top Congregational Songs: “Restore,” “Kyrie (Grant Us Forgiveness),” “God of Justice, Love, and Mercy”
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HILLSONG WORSHIP
LET THERE BE LIGHT | HILLSONG MUSIC/CAPITOL CMG
ALBUM RELEASE DATE:10.14.16
With a catalog sung by an estimated 50 million people worldwide each week, Hillsong Worship is passionate about equipping and mobilizing believers everywhere with Christ-centered songs of God-glorifying worship for the building of the Church. For almost three decades Hillsong Worship has served people across nations and generations, traveling the world leading diverse expressions of the Church in the worship of Jesus. By God’s grace its “local church” worship songs such as “Shout to the Lord,” “Mighty to Save,” “Hosanna,” “Cornerstone,” “Forever Reign,” “Broken Vessels,” and “This I Believe (The Creed)” have become the songs of local churches all over the globe, in addition to finding a place in the personal devotion of individual believers everywhere. Their latest, Let There Be Light, is available now.
Top Congregational Songs: “What a Beautiful Name,” “Behold (Then Sings My Soul),” “Let There Be Light,” “Grace to Grace”
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LU PRAISE
THIS FAR BY FAITH | RED TIE MUSIC
ALBUM RELEASE DATE: 5.1.17
LU Praise is a multi-ethnic, gospel-singing group of 27 dynamic musicians dedicated to glorifying God through testimony, song, and worship. Members come to Liberty University from across the United States and the Caribbean as a community of worshipers devoted to spreading the gospel. While LU Praise performs various genres of music in churches and events across the country, the group is best known for singing “praise and worship” in gospel style. The first release for LU Praise in five years, this project truly represents their diverse musical styles. LU Praise performed the title song on January 21, 2017, at the National Prayer Service honoring the newly elected President and Vice President of the United States.
Top Congregational Songs: “I Must Tell Jesus,” “Center of My Joy,” “We’ve Come This Far by Faith,” “Overcome,” and “Total Praise”
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NORTH POINT INSIDEOUT
NOTHING ORDINARY | CENTRICITY MUSIC
ALBUM RELEASE DATE: 4.7.17
“Death Was Arrested”
He canceled my debt and He called me His friend
When death was arrested and my life began
In 2010, North Point Ministries launched North Point Music to bring local worship leaders, musicians, and songwriters together to inspire a generation and influence the church. Led by best-selling author, communicator and pastor Andy Stanley, North Point Ministries was founded in 1995 with the vision of creating churches that un-churched people love to attend. Today, NPM consists of six churches in the Atlanta area that collectively serve nearly 70,000 people weekly. Nothing Ordinary, North Point’s first release with Centricity Music, will be a five song EP that will feature five brand new songs for the church.
Top Congregational Song: “Death Was Arrested”
centricworship.com/npinsideout
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PASSION
WORTHY OF YOUR NAME | SIXSTEPSRECORDS/CAPITOL CMG/SPARROW RECORDS
ALBUM RELEASE DATE: 2.17.17
“Glorious Day”
You called my name, and I ran out of that grave
Out of the darkness, into Your glorious day
Passion has encountered millions of students and 18-25-year-olds—young people whose lives have been transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. Transcending the conferences, songs from Passion have become some of the most recognizable and unforgettable worship anthems of this generation. Currently helmed by Kristian Stanfill, Brett Younker, and Melodie Malone, Passion’s newest offering, Worthy of Your Name, was recorded live at Passion 2017. Reflected in the words and atmosphere of these songs, Jesus continues to remain at the center. Passion is more than music. More than events. Passion is a generation living for his name.
Top Congregational Songs: “Glorious Day,” “Worthy of Your Name,” “How Great Is Your Love”
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RITA SPRINGER
BATTLES | GATEWAY PUBLISHING
ALBUM RELEASE DATE: 3.24.17
“Defender”
When I thought I lost me, You knew where I left me, You
reintroduced me to your love, You picked up all my pieces,
Put me back together, You are the defender of my heart
Rita Springer started writing music for the church as part of the Vineyard Movement in the late 1980s into the ’90s. Her love of music flowed out as an extension of her passionate relationship with God and what she describes as her musical “journal to God in private.” Rita has recorded multiple albums, featuring the songs “Worth It All,” “I Have to Believe,” and “You Are Still Holy.” Rita is now an artist-in-residence with Gateway Worship part of Gateway Church. In March 2017, she will release Battles, her 10th album, through Gateway Publishing. She resides in the Dallas area with her son, Justice.
Top Congregational Songs: “Every Battle,” “I Believe in You,” “Never Lost,” “Defender,” “Our God Is With Us”
ritaspringer.com | gatewaypublishing.com
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THURANE
WORSHIP SERVANT | INDEPENDENT
ALBUM RELEASE DATE: 11.1.17
“Over and Under”
Over and under and upside down and all around
Your love is found
Thurane leads worship at Valley Community Church in Peoria, Arizona. He is a co-founding member of Phoenix-based Christian rock band New Jerusalem and adult contemporary Christian duo Kenyon Grey. Thurane signed New Jerusalem to Gray Dot Records/Bulletproof Music-Bulletboy, the label that originally signed Third Day. With Kenn Long, Thurane secured a record deal with RCM Records. He has worked on film scores, released music as a solo artist, and taken part in working with international Christian and secular charities.
Top Congregational Songs: “Over and Under,” “We Believe,” “You Gave Me,” “Trust in You,” “Worthy”, “My Victory,” “In Your Hands,” “Your Love Never Fails,” “Because of Your Love,” “Angel Armies”
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VARIOUS ARTISTS
SONG DISCOVERY, MARCH/APRIL #133
WORSHIP LEADER MEDIA
ALBUM RELEASE DATE: 3.1.17
Part of the Worship Leader Media suite of resources, at Song Discovery, we carefully sift through the vast amount of music being produced in the Church today and share the songs that most impact you. It is a place for you to discover new songs and obtain the necessary resources with the purpose of leading a service of worship, encouraging your congregation to sing their prayers as the body of Christ. Downloadable as well as delivered via CD, each Song Discovery volume gives you up to 12 songs for your service of worship, complete with chord charts and lead sheets, ready for you to share with your team and congregation. Artists range from indies to well-known worship leaders and everything in between.
Top Congregational Songs: From vol. 133 “Only Jesus” (Brian & Jenn Johnson), “You Carried Me” (Will Reagan & United Pursuit), and “King Forevermore (God the Uncreated One)” (Aaron Keyes).
