Tag: Praise and Worship

"Awesome God" – Maurette Brown Clark

“Awesome God”
Maurette Brown Clark
From the CD, The Sound of Victory (2011)
www.maurettebrownclark.com

Maurette Brown Clark is the kind of singer that can usher you right into the presence of the Lord, and the vertical “Awesome God” from her The Sound of Victory project is confirmation.

The choir along with gospel music’s sweetheart worship their way through the song’s alternating stanzas, with each set getting a modulation and an additional layer of instruments.  “Awesome God” crescendos to its zenith shortly after the three-minute mark, before bursting into its refrain: “Oh You/Oh You/You are an awesome God!”

Maurette’s ability to lead you into the Lord’s presence makes it likely that you will lose yourself in worship and forget all about her simple but intense lead vocals and exhortations.

"Burn It All Down" – Lexi

“Burn It All Down”
Lexi
Available online March 13, 2012
www.foreverlexi.com

Lexi’s brand new single “Burn It All Down” is a worshipful plea for the Lord’s refining fire to “wipe out my sin and purify me again…leave only You/Let nothing stand in the place of Your truth.”  Lexi’s fervent prayer is sure to find its way to contemporary worship sets everywhere.

The songstress and media personality will debut her single live this weekend at Radio One’s Praise 103.9 Inspiration and Music Conference in Philadelphia.

Yancey Family Ministries presents Harbour House Convention, Sept. 28 – Oct. 1

The Harbour House 2011 Convention, presented by Cornerstone Christian Community Church and Yancey Family Ministries, starts today and continues through Saturday, October 1.  This year’s theme is “Work While It Is Day.”  All convention proceeds go to the Harbour House Ministry, which provides transitional housing for broken, bruised and battered persons in Granville and neighboring NC counties. 


This year’s convention will feature preaching by Pastor James Isaac, III, Dr. M.R. Weaver, and Minister Chad Downey.  Music will be rendered by Vision A Capella Group, SwS Music Group, the Baldwin Family, and others.

The Yancey Family

Saturday’s service will feature the Yancey Family in concert.  Called “the best kept secret in Granville County” by legendary gospel singer Evangelist Dorothy Norwood, all eleven Yancey siblings have sung and/or played an instrument since childhood.  Collectively, they emerged to become one of the most requested groups in the area.  Upon hearing Gloretta Yancey McNeil’s project, Thou Art Worthy, Evangelist Norwood, taken by the family’s talent and anointing, presented the Yancey Family in its first “live” recording.  The project will be released in the coming months on Movonia Records. 

Convention At-A-Glance

All services will be held at Cornerstone Christian Community Church, 3237 Knotts Grove Road, Oxford, NC 27565.  An offering will be received nightly.  

Wednesday, Sept. 28 – 7 PM
Guest speaker: Pastor James Isaac, III (New Hope Granville Baptist Church)

Thursday, Sept. 29 – 7 PM
Guest speaker: Dr. M.R. Weaver (Seed Time & Harvest Fellowship)

Friday, Sept. 30 – 7 PM  Youth Night
Guest speaker: Min. Chad Downey (Raleigh International Church)

Saturday, Oct. 1 – 5 PM
Musical featuring the Yancey Family and the Baldwin Family

“I Believe” – Praises of Zion

“I Believe”
Praises of Zion
From the CD, I Believe (2010)
Savoy Records

Praises of Zion may not be on your personal playlist–yet. Put ’em there.  The bouncy “I Believe” is one tune from their current project (by the same name) that is infectious.

On the title song, Wayne Robinson leads the choir in acknowledging their trust in the promises of God in celebratory fashion.

“I read Your letter sent from above / Every single word tells of Your love / No longer doubting the path I go / All is in Your hands and that I know.”

Recorded live at The First Cathedral in Bloomfield, CT, on the Savoy label (a Malaco subsidiary), “I Believe” is Praises of Zion’s personal approach to a very public praise.

Sizzlin' This Week (5/9/11) – "We Cry Out"

“We Cry Out”
Wil E. Coleman
From the CD, The Necessity Project: A Night of Worship & Giving (2010)
 
I had the privilege of hearing Wil E. Coleman for the first time in 2009.  He was a featured guest at the live recording for a Pelham, NC ensemble called Visionz of Priase.  His was one of the memorable performances of the evening–for his sheer talent, sincere worship, and earnest delivery.
 
A year and a half later, toward the close of 2010, the youth pastor and minister of music at New Jerusalem Cathedral & Monument of Praise Ministries released The Necessity Project: A Night of Worship & Giving, a 15 track project that features “We Cry Out” (which is also available as a single).  Coleman invites us to come to God with an open heart and yielded spirit, crying out for more of Him: our Father, our Savior, our Healer, our Ruler. 
 
How deeply we rely on God as our Everything in times like these!

Sizzlin’ This Week is the GMF editor’s gospel music pick of the week from her personal playlist.  Every style. Every era.

"I Know Who I Am" – Michelle Williams

“I Know Who I Am”
Michelle Williams
Available at CD Baby

Michelle Williams asserts her identity in Christ in the aptly titled single, “I Know Who I Am.”  Throughout the uptempo praise declaration, Williams testifies to being an overcomer: “‘Cause I’m a victor / Yes I’m a winner / In the presence of my foes, He makes me dinner / I’m a champion / A kingdom heir / Don’t be mad at me ’cause favor ain’t fair!”

Accented with punchy bass, exploding drum licks, and hammering horns, “I Know Who I Am” is right at home on playlists alongside contemporary praise artists like Martha Munizzi.

"Absolutely, Positively" – Shaunda

“Absolutely, Positively”
Shaunda
From the upcoming CD, Sweet Smelling Savour
Available at Shaunda Music

“Absolutely, Positively” is for lovers.  With only piano accompaniment–which Rashaunda McNeil, known simply as Shaunda, plays when performing live–and tender background vocals, Shaunda takes us on an acoustic stroll through the intense emotion of a fulfilling love affair.

You see, this sister is in love.  Just ask her, and she’ll tell you about “JC.”  Shaunda will even tell you how He gave her the inspiration for this neo-soul worship ballad.

“I was playing around with some beautiful chords in the practice room of [North Carolina] A&T’s music room, and I asked the Lord to give me some words. As I was playing I saw the phrase ‘ABSOLUTELY no eating or drinking in this room’–no joke,” she laughs.  “Then I said to myself, ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY.  From there, the words to ‘Absolutely, Positively’ flowed out….Even though seeing the word ‘absolutely’ sparked a start, I honestly believe the lyrics that flowed were in my heart already, from a life of worship to God.”

Whether ministering with Kim Burrell and Earnest Pugh, opening for Mali Music at a neo-soul gathering, serenading couples on their nuptial day, or working within the music and young adult ministries at Cornerstone Christian Community Church (her home base in Oxford, NC), it’s clear that worship is the essence of her being and therefore the thrust of her ministry to others.

“Absolutely, Positively” is currently available at Shaunda Music.  The full-length project, Sweet Smelling Savour, is currently being completed; GMF will keep you posted.