Cornerstone Choir

Look up and let us worship Him, let us with one accord. In presence of our Maker kneel. In presence of our Maker kneel, and bow before the Lord.

Because He truly is our God, and we His chosen sheep. The people of His pasture land. The people of His pasture land, whom His own bread will keep.

Good evening. Welcome each one of you out to join us this evening for this choir program, and I hope that you can worship with us. You were given a handout on the way through the door, hopefully, and inside we have a little bit, a little bit something different this year than we do most years. We decided to take a journey through time following sacred music. This is not a greatest hits list. This is not an end-all compilation of songs. These songs that we are singing this year are chosen not so much for their theme, but more for their significance in the time period in which they were written or who they were written or composed by.

So in this first half, the first song that we just sang is taken from the Book of Psalms, and our next number will be as well. The early church, like the Jews for thousands of years before them, would have sung directly from the Psalms.

Sadly, a lot of that music was not notated, and it's been lost to time. So we have modern music to that. The next two songs come from a later period of time known as the medieval period. The words to these hymns were written around 200 to 300 years after Christ was here on Earth, and then the music was added to them later, and they were sung in Latin for well over 1000 years. It wasn't until the 1800s that they were translated to English, and now we can sing them today.

And then the final four songs of the first half show the difference in the way church music was headed versus the way—how do you want to say it? Maybe God's people's music was headed. The first two songs, songs number six and seven, were written by English court composers. They were hired by the Crown to write songs to sing in the royal courts and whatnot. And then the final two songs of the first half, one was written by Martin Luther and another by one of his contemporaries who followed after him. The start of the Reformation and the birth of Christianity, which later led to the Anabaptist movement, who—you know, our ancestors and whatnot. So I wanted to show the difference in the way music started to be written and how it got more and more complex and a little crazy.

And then the second half will continue to follow church music up through time. So invite you to follow along in the handout and worship with us as we sing these songs. Thank you.

Oh, one thing I always forget to say. Sorry. Sorry about that. We do have CDs from previous years in the back for donation on the table back there, so feel free to help yourself afterwards. Thank you.

The skies above declare the glory of our God. The firmament displays His handy work abroad. From day to day they pour out speech. Their knowledge every day they teach. Although you must speak and utter not a word, though they know language yours, our voice that can be heard, their message to the world they send.

Their word truestly wise means and stand.

In handy niche attention he gave the sun its place, and with an earthly joy it thrills to run its race. It rises glorious like the moon when he emerges out in splendid moon.

The heavens are his course at one end. It will rise till to the other end. It runs across the skies. Its rays extend on every side, and none is proud; its mountains he can hide.

Gentle words of wretched silence, and with fear and trembling stance, honored of the earthly mind, they poureth blessing in his hand. Christ, our God, to earth descended. Our fallen should be mended.

King of kings yet born of Mary, as a bull on earthy sky. Lord of lords in union and despair, in the body and the blood, he will give to all the faithful his own self for every he knew.

Ring on, ring the horns of heaven. Spread his vanguard on the way, as the light of might descended from the realms of endless day. Let the bars of hell be banished, as the darkness clears away.

As his feet ascend, sings Sarah, cherub in with sleepless eyes. Veil their gazes to the presence, as his ceaseless voice they cry. Hallelujah, hallelujah.

Hallelujah, Lord Most High.

What a father's lovely heart and. Let our worlds binger to hear. He is a fond omega. He the source, the end, repeat. Of the things that are to happen, and the future you shall see, evermore and evermore. Oh, that mirror forever blessed, with a virgin full of grace, by the Holy Ghost conceived, for the Savior of our grace.

And the faith, the world's redeemer, first revealed his sacred face, evermore and evermore.

Let the heights of heaven adore him. Angel hosts his praises sing. Our dominions bow before him. Man-made soul our guard and keep. Let those on our earth be silent. Every voice he'd concert sing, evermore and evermore.

Christ to the great God the Father, and all holy Gods to thee. Him and chant with our thanksgiving, let our weary praises be. Honor, glory, and your living God, when eternal victory, evermore and evermore.

Amen.

Of the fathers world begotten, heir the worlds began to be. He is Alpha and Omega. He the source and ending he. Of the things that are that have been and the future years shall see, evermore and evermore. God is Alpha and Omega. No matter what, he will always be there. He's beginning and end. He'll never not be there. We mess up over and over again, but God is always right there waiting to welcome us home. The next song talks about confessing sins and begging for mercy. Sometimes it feels like all we do is cry out in our mess-ups and then do it all over again because we try to do it with our own strength.

We can only truly overcome our weaknesses when we give it to God and use his strength. This is way easier said than done, but you just need to trust and pray that God truly has the best plan for each of our lives. Just like Micah 6:8 says, "Do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God."

Eyes must drown thy face from us, O Lord, and cast not off thy servants in thy displeasure. For we confess our sins unto thee, and thy not humble our justness. For thy mercy's sake, for thy mercy's sake, deliver us from all our sins.

Deliver us from all our sins. For thy mercy's sake, for thy mercy's sake, deliver us from all our sins. Deliver us from all our sins.

If ye love me, keep my commandment, as I will pray the prayer of the Father. And I will pray the Father, and he shall meet with you an hour of humble return. Then he may thy name I hold with all truth, may I reach you forever.

The Spirit of Spirit of Spirit of Spirit of Spirit of Spirit of Spirit of Truth. The Spirit of Spirit of Spirit of Spirit of Truth of Truth of Truth.

Then he may thy name I hold with all truth, may I reach you forever.

The Spirit of Spirit of Spirit of Truth of Truth of Truth of Truth of Truth of Truth of Truth of Truth.

Almighty fortresses are God above, never failing. Our helper Eamith of. Of our mortal wills prevailing. For still our age at come, God seek to work us home. His pattern, power, and grace, and armament who awaits. But earth is not his equal.

Did we in our goal strength confide our striving would be losing? Were not the right men on our side the men of God's own choosing? Just as true that may be, Christ Jesus did disease. The Lord of hosts is named.

From age to age the same. And he must with the past home.

And though this world with devils' hill should gratten to undo us, we will not fear, for God hath with his truth to triumph through us. The prince of darkness grinned. We tremble not for him. His rage we can endure.

For though he is to be sure, one little word shall fell in.

As word up above our earth leap, ours the thanks to them abide in. The spirit and darkness are our true innu with our side in. Let grudge and kindred know this mortal life also. The body they may kill, the truth abide still.

His kingdom is forever.

Good evening. Thank you for coming out this evening. Hope you can be blessed. So I have a hypothetical situation for you. What if tomorrow God made an announcement that he was no longer available? The scientific cycles would continue. The sun rises and sets. The seasons change. But he would no longer be available for prayer or relationship. What would your response be? Would you be relieved, joyful, terrified, or would you be heartbreaking as if you had lost a dear one? I believe these feelings on this could be a good indicator on our relationship with him. The next song we are singing is Jesus' priceless treasure. I'll read the first verse. Jesus' priceless treasure, source of purest pleasure, truest friend to me.

Long my heart hath panted till it well-nigh fainted, thirsting after thee. Thine I am, O spotless lamb. I will suffer not to hide thee. Ask for not beside thee. I've been through some dark and hard times, but Jesus has always been there, even in the moments I couldn't see him. He truly is his priceless treasure to me. Is he a treasure to you? If not, seek diligently for him while he may be found.

Jesus' priceless treasure, source of purest pleasure, truest friend to me. Long my heart hath panted till it well-nigh fainted, thirsting after thee. Thine I am, O spotless lamb. I will suffer not to hide thee. Ask for God beside me.

In thy arms I rest me. Those who would molest me cannot reach me. Though the earth be shaking, every heart be breaking, Jesus comes my dear. Sin and hell with God they fell, with their abused storms are sailing.

Jesus will not fail me.

Heads of hearts of sadness, for the Lord of Laments, Jesus hath risen! Those who love the Father, though those thorns may gather, still have peace with him. Yet whatever he hear us say, thou art still my pureest pleasure, Jesus' priceless treasure.

O for a thousand tongues to sing thy great redeemer's praise, thy great redeemer's praise. The glories of my God and King, the triumphs of his triumphs, the triumphs of his triumphs, the triumphs of his triumphs have his grace.

Jesus' name that charms our fears and ends our sorrows' seeds, that binds our sorrows' seeds. Tears piercing in the sinner's ears is life and health and peace. Is life and health and peace. Is life and health and peace. Is life and health and peace.

He breaks the power of cancelled sin. He sets a prisoner free. He sets a prisoner free. His blood can make the fallen sleep. His blood avail for me. His blood avail for me. His blood avail for me. His blood avail for me.

He speaks and letters speak to his voice. New life does every seek. New life does every seek. The mark of broken hearts rejoices. Thee humble for believing. Thee humble for believing. Thee humble for believing. Thee humble for believing.

Okay. The next song is quite possibly the most famous song ever written in the world, Amazing Grace. It is written and sung yeah, I don't know how many times. I just want you to take a look at Amazing Grace. It's one of those songs where it's so familiar you can just wheelbar your way through it and not think about the words. But if you think about the fact that our Creator God, in his infinite wisdom, made us human beings who are very broken. And a God who cannot literally cannot stand sin in his presence was willing to make provision to give us grace so that in our imperfect state, we can still come to him and accept salvation and be holy like he is.

That's the only way we can possibly be perfect, as Jesus commanded us, is that through the grace of God, we can accept salvation and live in holiness with him. So as we sing this song, think about the words. I know they're very familiar. You can probably all sing them by memory. Think about the words as we're singing and just let the message of grace sink into your heart. On the fifth verse, when we sing the fifth verse, it starts, "When we've been there 10,000 years, you all are willing, able to help us sing that if you are willing."

O grace, sing grace, thou speak the sound as cage a wretch might bear. I once, once lost the gall and gall. Was blind but gall I see.

Was grace that taught my heart to fear and grace my fear revealed. How precious did that grace appear! The hour I first believed.

The Lord hath boundless good to me. His friends I all seek your host. He will my sheer then portion me as long as the house endures.

Too many dangerous souls and stairs I have already come. His grace that brought me safe thus far and grace will lead me home.

When we met there's 1,000 years, bright shining as the sun. We know there's days to sing God's praise than when we first begun.

I love thy kingdom, Lord, the house of thine abode. The church of thy redeemer saved with his own precious blood. I love thy church, O God. There was before thee sand, dear as the apple of thine eye, and graven on thy hand.

For her my tears shall fall, for her my prayers ascend. To her my cares and tolls begin till tolls and cares shall end. Beyond my highest joy, I prize her heavenly ways. Her sweet communion's song of hell serves hymns of love and praise.

Jesus, our friend divine, our Savior and our King. Thy hand from every snare and toll shall great deliverance bring. Sure as I true shall ask, to Zion shall begin. The brightest glories earth can yield and rise her bliss afend.

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest spring, but wholly lean on Jesus' name. On Christ the solid rock I stand, on other ground is sinking sand. On other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to veil his face, I rest on his unchanging grace. In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil. On Christ the solid rock I stand, on other ground is sinking sand. On other ground is sinking sand.

He's oath, his covenant, and blood support me in a whelming flood. When all around my soul is wet, he then is all my hope and stay. On Christ the solid rock I stand, on other ground is sinking sand.

On other ground is sinking sand.

When he shall come with trumpet sound, for great are thy name in him be found. When in his righteousness alone, all thus to stand before the throne. On Christ the solid rock I stand, on other ground is sinking sand.

On other ground is sinking sand.

Good evening, everyone. The next song is Every Time I Feel the Spirit. This is speaking of the Spirit of God, which each of us can have if we give our lives to Christ. When we feel the spirit of the world, the spirit of anger, the spirit of fear coming against us, we have to remember that the Spirit of God is more powerful and pray for deliverance from the attacks of the spirits of evil.

As the song, the history of the song a little is that the slaves, the masters would beat them, try to kill their spirit for freedom, and it would just drive them to cry out to the Spirit of God and continue to believe that he had their best interest in mind with what was going on.

Another reference with Moses when he was one of the phrases is, "Upon the mountain when my God spoke, out of his mouth came fire and smoke." And that was when the Ten Commandments were. And then later, the second experience was after Moses had failed and became angry and struck the rock instead of speaking to it and lost his privilege to go to the Promised Land. But God took him to the mountain and showed him the Promised Land that the people he had led would go to. I just asked that you would pray for me, that I would be able to feel the proper Spirit at the right time.

Every time I feel the Spirit moving in my heart, I will pray. Every time I feel the Spirit moving in my heart, I will pray. Upon the mountain when my God spoke, out of God's mouth came fire and smoke.

All around me, it goes so far. I ask the Lord if all was mine. Every time I feel the Spirit moving in my heart, I will pray. Every time I feel the Spirit moving in my heart, I will pray.

O joy and grace. Joy and river. Joy and call. Chill and hope. It chills so far. Chills so far. Not on the soul. Not on the soul. Wearing but one chain. Wearing but one chain. On this track. On this track. It comes to pass. On a sweet heaven it runs right back. And right back. Every time I feel the Spirit moving in my heart, I will pray.

Every time I feel the Spirit moving in my heart, I will pray. Yes, every time I feel the Spirit moving in my heart, I will pray. Every time I feel the Spirit moving in my heart, I will pray.

Moving in my heart, I will pray. Every time I feel the Spirit, I will pray.

Reading how I love to proclaim it. Reading by the blood of the Lamb. Reading through his infinite mercy. His shallow and forever I am. Reading, reading, reading, reading. Reading by the blood of the Lamb. Reading, reading, reading, reading.

His shallow and forever I am. Reading that so happy in Jesus. No language my rapture can tell. I know that the light of his presence will me up continually well. Reading, reading, reading, reading. Reading by the blood of the Lamb. Reading, reading, reading, reading.

His shallow and forever I am. I think of my blessed Redeemer. I think of him all the day long. I sing for I cannot be silent. His love is the theme of my song. Reading, reading, reading, reading. Reading by the blood of the Lamb.

Reading, reading, reading, reading. His shallow and forever I am.

I know I shall see in his beauty the king in whose heart delight. Who lovingly guarded my footsteps and given me salt in the night. Reading, reading, reading, reading. Reading by the blood of the Lamb. Reading, reading, reading, reading.

His shallow and forever I am.

When the mist arrowed in splendor from the beauty of the hills, then the sunlight falls in gladness on the river and the river. We recall our fathers promising the ringlow of the spring. We shall know each other better when the mist has rolled away.

We shall know. We shall know. 'Cause we are known. 'Cause we are known. Nevermore. Nevermore to walk alone. To walk alone. In the dawning of the morning, on that bright and happy day. We shall know each other better when the mist has rolled away.

Once we trek the path before us with the weary burning heart, often we toll him in the shadows and our fields are far apart. But the Savior's come, he blessed it, all our labor will be paid. When together in the morning when the mist has rolled away.

We shall know. We shall know. 'Cause we are known. 'Cause we are known. Nevermore. Nevermore to walk alone. To walk alone. In the dawning of the morning, on that bright and happy day. We shall know each other better when the mist has rolled away.

We shall come with joy and gladness, we shall gather 'round the throne. Face to face with those that love us, we shall know as we are known. And the song of our redemption shall resound through endless day. When the shadows have departed and the mist has rolled away.

We shall know. We shall know. 'Cause we are known. 'Cause we are known. Nevermore. Nevermore to walk alone. To walk alone. In the dawning of the morning, on that bright and happy day. We shall know each other better when the mist has rolled away.

When peace like a river attended my way, when sorrows like sea yellows grow, whatever my heart now has done me to say, it is well. It is well with my soul. It is well. It is well with my soul. With my soul.

It is well. It is well with my soul.

Those days and shall come, then the trial shall come. Let this place assure and control. That Christ, every love and my hell, let's unsend and have shed his own blood for my soul. It is well. It is well with my soul.

With my soul. It is well. It is well with my soul.

My sing, O love this of this glorious heart. My sing not in part but the whole. His nail to the cross, and I bear it no more. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, O my soul. It is well.

It is well with my soul. With my soul. It is well. It is well with my soul.

And Lord, hast the day when my faith shall be sighed. The vows be rolled back as a scroll. The trump shall resound, then the Lord shall be sent. Even so, it is well with my soul. It is well.

It is well with my soul. With my soul. It is well. It is well with my soul.

I trust this evening that it is well with your soul. And if it's not, I welcome you to find someone to speak to so that you can make sure that it is. Thank you for coming out to worship with us. I'll turn it over back to the brothers here at Shippingsburg College.