Integrity Music Releases 'Majesty In A Manger'

Album features Paul Baloche, Darlene Zschech, All Sons & Daughters, Michael Farren, Seth & Nirva and more

Committed to resourcing churches with songs of substance for every service need, Integrity Music announces the global release of Majesty In A Manger, a new worship album for the Christmas season. Produced by Dove Award winner Michael Farren (AllAboutWorship) and Daniel Kinner (Mandisa/Royal Tailor), the album features 11 tracks including new songs and an instrumental.

"The Advent season brings some challenges to most worship leaders," explains Adrian Thompson, Integrity's Vice President of Song & Artist Development. "Suddenly their normal list of songs for Sunday is thrown into disarray as the focus is on the Savior's birth while at the same time, many of the familiar Christmas songs aren't vertical in nature and the lyrics simply don't lead us into worship."

"The songs for Majesty In A Manger were written by worship leaders and pastors for other churches," he adds. "Our prayer is that the songs will give voice to congregations throughout the Advent season while opening hearts to worship the King."

Integrity songwriter and recording artist Travis Ryan, who is also the worship pastor for LifePoint Church in Smyrna, Tennessee, adds: "When I was asked to participate in writing and singing on Majesty In A Manger, I was thrilled because I know how hard it is to find the right, theologically strong songs for the season... Christmas is a time when you are not only serving your regular congregation, but you are also interacting with and leading guests who may not attend church regularly, guests who may be gleaning the Gospel for the first time through the songs you are leading."

"Listening through Majesty, I realized that these songs are exactly what I need for my own church!" continues Ryan. "And with the chord charts available, it's easy for me to start building set lists now."

Majesty In A Manger is available in Christian retail stores and through all major digital service providers including iTunes and Amazon, with a companion digital songbook and chord charts available at www.WeAreWorship.com. Split tracks for select songs, including the Darlene Zschech-performed "Gloria (Our Savior Found Us)," will also be available through resource partners including Multitracks.com and PraiseCharts.com.

The complete tracklist for Majesty In A Manger, including the featured artists, is:

1. "Joy" - featuring Dustin Smith

2. "Majesty In A Manger" - featuring Greg Sykes

3. "Son Of God, Son Of Man" - featuring Travis Ryan

4. "Gloria (Our Savior Found Us)" - featuring Darlene Zschech

5. "Will Ever Be" - featuring Christine D'Clario

6. "Fill The Silent Night" - featuring Seth & Nirva

7. "Let My Soul Sing (Gloria)" - featuring Michael Farren

8. "Forever Amen (Glory To God)" - featuring Michael Neale

9. "Come To Save Us" - featuring All Sons & Daughters

10. "King Of All The Earth" - featuring Paul Baloche

11. "O Little Town Of Bethlehem (Instrumental)" - featuring Lincoln Brewster

MUSIC: Paul Baloche to Release Christmas Worship Vol. 2 October 2

 

Recording Features Collaborations With All Sons & Daughters, Kathryn Scott, Lenny LeBlanc, Onajé Jefferson, Graham Kendrick, More.

One of today's most influential worship leaders, songwriters and artists, Paul Baloche, releases Christmas Worship Vol. 2 globally Oct. 2 through Integrity Music. The album features Christmas classics seamlessly married with vertical worship lyrics, and is an extension of Baloche's 30-year mission in ministry to equip worshipers and worship leaders with songs and resources that help them express glory to God.

For singer/songwriter Paul Baloche, writer of worship standards like "Open The Eyes Of My Heart," "Hosanna," "Our God Saves," "Your Name" and "A New Hallelujah," Christmas is a season of worship. With Christmas Worship, Baloche is aiming higher than nostalgia; higher than recreating the sounds of the season.

"There is so much content and beauty and theology in a song like 'Hark the Herald Angels Sing' and 'What Child Is This?,' but most of these traditional carols are not vertical in nature; not speaking to the Lord," says Baloche. "'O Holy Night' is a perfect example. At the climax, we're singing, hands raised, to a thing, 'Oh night divine.' By adding a simple chorus at the end, a response to the beauty of the lyric, melody and the nostalgia of these beautiful carols, and then segueing into a first-person response in keeping with the Advent season, it's amazing the shift in perspective."

"Paul has a genuine passion to see local church worship leaders equipped to lead their churches week in and week out," says Adrian Thompson, ‎VP Song & Artist Development at Integrity Music. "This project comes from Paul's desire to see local churches engaged in worship during the advent season rather than just having a season of special church music."

Produced by Baloche and Michael Rossback (The Brilliance/Desperation Band) Christmas Worship Vol. 2 follows the 2013 release of Christmas Worship (Vol. 1) and continues the collaborative, community aesthetic for which Baloche is known: Modern folk/worship duo All Sons & Daughters put a beautifully simple spin on "Joy To the World/Our God Saves" while Irish worship leader Kathryn Scott joins Baloche on "O Holy Night/Love Shines Bright." Lenny LeBlanc, with whom Baloche wrote the Dove Award winning song, "Above All," contributes to the reimagining of "The First Noel/Above All," and Onajé Jefferson (Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir/New Breed) gives "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear/Glorious" a soulful gospel vibe. WorshipMob's Gina Milne adds a sweet tenderness to "What Child Is This/Praise Emmanuel" and veteran British worship leader Graham Kendrick and Baloche reimagine their song "Creation's King," now titled "Newborn King."

Another highlight on Christmas Worship Vol. 2 is "When Love Crossed Over," a new song written by Baloche's wife Rita and performed by Madison Cunningham, a young Calvary Chapel worship leader and daughter of Costa Mesa worship pastor Scott Cunningham. In addition, the traditional "Silent Night" gets the Baloche family treatment, with Rita and their son David (who also plays guitar on the project) joining Paul on vocals.

"In many ways, I'm even more excited about Christmas Worship Vol. 2 because of the collective, community nature of it," Baloche says. "So many friendships and relationships have been forged through the years. This is like a 'Paul Baloche and Friends' project, which is such a beautiful thing. There are different streams and generations represented in this effort, and each one inspires me in different ways to write and sing and be better."

In addition to the new album, Baloche's touring/workshop/teaching schedule takes him around the world. Having recently returned from a concert/workshop in Manilla (Philippines) followed by the Experience Conference in Orlando, he will host "LeadWorship" workshops beginning today in Portland (Sept. 18-19) and in Fairfield, CT (Oct. 30-31). He will also be featured at a "Christmas In September: A Conversation With Paul Baloche" Multitracks webinar Tuesday, Sept. 22 beginning at 2pm CT. Following a workshop and concert in Issaquah, WA (Nov. 13-14), Baloche travels back overseas to The Netherlands and the United Kingdom before returning to North America for a series of Canadian Christmas events to begin Dec. 1. All the latest tour news can be found at http://www.leadworship.com/calendar/.

Source: Hoganson Media Relations