Here’s a new (corporate worship) song I wrote both for Easter and for regular corporate worship use fro Col. 1:15-20, the Christ Hymn. A rough ‘demo’; just me in our den worshipping with it – and a Flip HD camera. Imagine symphony and loop behind it if you would – season it with your own harmonies.
My scholarly brother-in-law, Ed Gentry, challenged me to write something out of this beautiful Christological hymn passage in Paul’s letter.
It’s laced with all the new creation, resurrection, Christocentric themes inherent to Colossians 1:15-20. The chord chart is below; feel free to use it. (Excuse the wallpaper, and mediocre keyboard playing!) Emerging churches will like it’s themes, I think.
Artist and pal Joel Auge (On The Blue) helped me shape the final chorus.
BEFORE ALL THINGS (CHRIST HYMN)
By Dan Wilt, M.Min.
Ref.: Col. 1:15-20
Vamp: G D Em7 C
Verse 1
G
You are the image of
D
God invisible,
Em7 C
You’re the firstborn over all creation;
G
By You all things were made,
D
Seen and unseen worlds
Em7 C
From earth below, to heights of heaven
Pre-chorus
Am7 G/B Dsus
Every throne, and power and ruler here,
Am7 G/B C
Owes a vow of loyalty to You…
Chorus
G
You are before all things,
D
You are beyond all things, and
Em7 C
Everything is held together in Your hands
G
You are the Head of those,
D
Who call upon Your name, and
Em7
Everything is changed because You
C
Rose again
Verse 2
You have supremacy,
Over all that is,
For God was pleased to fully dwell in You
Through the death you died
All is reconciled
Every part of this creation will be new
Tag:
G
We sing a song of new creation,
D/F#
We sing a song of resurrection,
Em7
We sing a song of new creation,
C
Let Your Kingdom come (repeat)
© 2009 Dan Wilt, M.Min.,
The Institute Of Contemporary And Emerging Worship Studies
www.essentialscourse.com
10 Comments
Hi Dan,
I found it interesting how my NIV has the Col 1 passage justified as normal text. My NLT has the passage set as a song would be. Christ being the visible image of the invisible God seems to be a simple lyric but when I thought deeply about it, it hurts my head a little. I also wonder how the world dismisses realms we can’t see. The Bible tells us they plainly exist – whether we choose to acknowledge them or not.
I also loved your line about that everything changed when Christ rose again. That moment was the moment where all history revolves around. How good it is for our thoughts to dwell on that moment.
Your pre-chorus reminds me also of Psalm 2:10.
Blessings,
Mark
Hey Dan,
So enjoyed checking out your site this morning and seeing you had put one of your song’s on. It is such a rich scriptural passage, one that I really enjoy and you have crafted a great lyric and melodic line. One that is very accessible to a congregation. I was singing along in the staffroom before i could stop myself (a few raised eyebrows but no damage!!!).
Just had a question about the prechorus and development. I was wondering what led to the “owes a vow of loyalty” line in your process. This idea is interesting and I was intrigued as to where it came from in the thought process. Can you unpack it a bit??
The tag is fantastic and is a lyric we need to be singing in our churches and gatherings. Dan you are a Salvific Storyteller and singing the tag is a proclamation of God’s salvific story!!
Thankyou for sharing your gift in this way. My prayer is the song will bring great blessing to the church.
Blessings,
Phil
Hi Dan,
What a fantastically crafted song! This is one of my favourite scriptures passages : there’s no room for doubt, is there?
I, too, was singing along before I could stop myself…:)
Thank you! -we’ll definitely be giving it a try at church!
Bev
PS Hope the keyboard playing didn’t hurt your finger!
Beautiful, rich and filled with big thoughts… nice one Dan. Great to have songs of truth like this that lead us to a place of worshiping the Resurrected King of New Creation. Bless you.
My wife was having dream this morning with your song in it ,, Big Table Waitress comes around very tired sits down at table exhausted, song comes up in the background, Who will Ascend the Mountain of the Lord,
I was hearing the Fixed my Eyes on the Prize worship song together with it .
Wow. Very cool.
Just come across your hymn. A great way to start the working week leading up to Easter. A great meditation. Much appreciated.
Nice song Dan. It kind of reminds me of a Michael W Smith worship song, maybe it’s just the keys. A modern hymn that really captures the essence of the scripture. I’m just a guitar player, but I think I’m going to spend some time learning it.
Hi Dan, what a great song. That passage is one I have been doing some lectio divina on. It brings out some great images. As I have contemplated on these verses I thave hought “I would love to hear this in a song”. And WOW here it is! I have been singing it since!
There is just something about being a small part of this BIG story that makes my head spin.
PS Looking forward to catching up with you in Oz!
Hi, I love your song. Do you have the piano music for it or where can I get it?
Thanks!
Incoming Links
Leave a Reply