Worship Matters

This Tuesday Sovereign Grace Music released our latest project, All That Thrills My Soul, a 6 song downloadable EP featuring Ryan, Jonathan, and Meghan Baird. Add Zach Boomsma to the mix and you get West Coast Revival.

For years Ryan, Jonathan, and Meghan have been contributing to Sovereign Grace music as vocalists, songwriters, and instrumentalists. Their songs include Always Forgiven, The Prodigal, Completely Done, and most recently Behold our God.

For a while now we’ve been talking about the Bairds working on a project that captured more of their unique influences and sound. I’d describe it as a rootsy, sometimes bluesy, form of Americana, featuring tight harmonies and compelling lead vocals. While the project was going to be a full length album called Behold our God, various limitations reduced it to an EP. And since Behold our God didn’t even make the cut, we had to give it a new title, All That Thrills My Soul. Which I kind of like better any way.

The EP contains six songs, three of which are suitable for congregational singing. One of my favorites is their treatment of All Creatures of Our God and King. I’ve always loved the tune of this hymn but wished the lyrics drew attention to Christ’s atoning work. This version not only does that but references his return as well. Here’s their version:

VERSE 1
All creatures of our God and King
Lift up your voice and with us sing
O praise Him! Allelujah!
Thou, burning sun with golden beam
Thou, silver moon with softer gleam
O praise Him! O praise Him!
Allelujah! Allelujah! Allelujah!

VERSE 2
Let all things their Creator bless
And worship Him in humbleness
O praise Him! Allelujah!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son
And praise the Spirit, Three-in-One
O praise Him! O praise Him!
Allelujah! Allelujah! Allelujah!

VERSE 3
All the redeemed washed by His blood
Come and rejoice in His great love
O praise Him! Allelujah!
Christ has defeated every sin
Cast all your burdens now on Him
O praise Him! O praise Him!
Allelujah! Allelujah! Allelujah!

BRIDGE
To Him who loves us
And is returning be honor
For we shall see Him in His glory

VERSE 4
He shall return in pow’r to reign
Heaven and earth will join to say
O praise Him! Allelujah!
Then who shall fall on bended knee?
All creatures of our God and King
O praise Him! O praise Him!
Allelujah! Allelujah! Allelujah!
Lyrics by St. Francis of Assisi (Verses 1 & 2), Jonathan Baird and Ryan Baird (Verses 3 & 4). Music by William Henry Draper and adapted by Jonathan Baird and Ryan Baird. Copyright 2013 Sovereign Grace Worship

Here’s the track list, with my description of each song.

1. All Creatures of Our God and King
2. All That Thrills My Soul – a prayer that Jesus would be our consuming passion
3. In the Beginning – Reflective, simple song taken directly from John 1:1-5 and John 3:16
4. Plead for Me – a song of faith that we have a great high priest who is aware of our weaknesses
5. Oh, to See You – voices a longing to one day seeing the crucified and risen Savior face to face
6. Time Keeps Slippin’ Away – a beautiful song that expresses our “longing for his appearing”

You can stream the album from Bandcamp, and download it from there or iTunes. Charts coming soon. Let me know what you think.