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CHRIS TOMLIN Emmanuel : Christmas Songs of Worship
HIGHLANDS WORSHIP Comfort and Joy
“ Emmanuel God With Us ” is one of the newer songs and kicks off the album with an excited melody as we are called to “ go tell it on the mountain that the Savior of the world is born ”. " All the World Awaits ( Hosanna )" sees Tomlin focusing on the expectation of the Messiah before exploding with the good news in the chorus .
1 . Emmanuel God With Us 2 . Christmas Day 3 . All The World Awaits ( Hosanna ) 4 . Hallelujah 5 . I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day 6 . His Name Is Wonderful 7 . O Come , O Come Emmanuel 8 . Hope Of Israel 9 . O Holy Night 10 . Crown Him ( Christmas ) 11 . O Little Town Of Bethlehem 12 . Crown Him ( Reprise )
Worship legend , Chris Tomlin is no stranger to making great congregationally friendly Christmas music . His third Christmas album , Emmanuel : Christmas Songs of Worship is more than just a nice background track to listen to in the car while you are heading to the mall to shop for presents . The twelve song collection features mostly newly penned Christmas worship offerings , a few re-wrapped classics and some old yule tied familiars that you and your Advent / Christmas season audiences will love .
The album also features some recognizable worship giants such as We the Kingdom , Matt Redman , and CeCe Winans to help ring in the holiday season and celebrate the birth of the Savior .
“ Christmas Day ” is one of the better cuts on the album as Tomlin is joined by the vocals of worship artist ; We The Kingdom in this celebratory annunciation of the blessed birth . Lyrically we find ourselves at the manger side with angels , wise men and shepherds shouting for joy at the birth of Jesus while at the same time pointing the listener to the fact that this baby was born to conquer the grave .
" Hope of Israel " is the best written track on the album . Co-written with Reuben Morgan , Ben Fielding and Jason Ingram , " Hope of Israel " boasts a well-written melody while declaring the timeless message of salvation for all through the promise of a Savior .
CeeCee Winans vocals soar on a more classic arrangement of “ Oh Holy Night ” and Matt Redman joins Tomlin on a creative Christmas tweak of the classic hymn , “ Crown Him ” which works rather well .
Overall , this is another really good Christmas collection from Tomlin . I would have enjoyed a bit more holiday instrumentation , such as bells , chimes , strings etc . but there are a lot of really solid , easy to sing Christmas songs here that bridge the gap between praising the reason for Christmas and just re-telling the story .
1 . |
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen |
2 . |
Away In A Manger |
3 . |
Carol of the Bells |
4 . |
Luke 2 : 1-14 ( Interlude ) |
5 . |
O Come All Ye Faithful |
6 . |
The First Noel |
7 . |
Comfort and Joy ( Interlude ) |
8 . |
O Holy Night |
9 . |
Greater |
10 . Silent Night |
Motivated |
by |
a |
passion |
to |
encourage |
congregational |
worship |
while |
providing |
the greater church with musical resources , |
Highlands Church located in Birmingham , |
Alabama . has released a collection of ten festive |
Christmas worship songs entitled Comfort and |
Joy . The spirited collection was recorded during |
the 2020 Christmas Season and features a |
55 member community symphony playing |
alongside the worship collective leaders and |
band members . |
“ God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen ” is a gorgeous |
mix of acapella harmonies ala Pentatonix with |
soaring orchestral parts while “ Away In A |
Manger ” gets an R & B soulful wrapping which |
sparkles with Christmas joy . |