The Heavens Declare

©2003 Cheryl A. B. Boydston
CCLI Song #4586560
Scripture Reference: Psalm 19
Theme: God's glory in creation
Key: C
Mood/Tempo: ballad/gentle, upbeat praise

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." (TNIV) This first line of Psalm 19 gives rise to the first line of the chorus of The Heavens Declare. In this psalm, we are reminded that the natural order of creation speaks clearly of the glory of the Creator; the glory of God is also reflected in God's law and statutes. And, with the psalmist, our earnest plea is that our own words and thoughts would also bring glory to God.

The form of this song is Verse 1, Chorus, Verse 2, Chorus, repeat Chorus.

The Heavens Declare .pdf file (sheet music)
The Heavens Declare .mid sound file (audio sample)
The Heavens Declare .pdf file (bulletin insert)

The Heavens Declare
Verse 1
Each day pours forth speech,
Each night finds its voice;
The dawn and the starlight
Together rejoice.
And the wind and the waves
Join them to proclaim
The glory of the Lord,
And to honor his name.

Chorus
The heavens declare
The glory of God;
The skies proclaim
The work of his hands.
All without speech,
Without a single word,
Yet ev'rywhere
Their message is heard:
The heavens declare
The glory of God,
And all creation
Honors the Lord.

Verse 2
The law of the Lord
Is perfect and sure;
His knowledge and his wisdom
Forever endure.
May the words that we speak,
Ev'ry secret thought,
Bring honor to the Lord,
Our Redeemer and Rock.

Chorus

Repeat Chorus

Give Us a Vision of Your Glory

©2005 Cheryl A. B. Boydston
CCLI Song #4586412
Scripture Reference: Revelation 4 & 5
Theme: heavenly worship; God's glory and holiness
Key: C
Mood/Tempo: reverent worship/medium slow

This anthem to the Lord is inspired by the revelation of God's glory, as recorded by John in Revelation 4-5. Oh that we would all have a clear vision of the glory of God!

With John, we see flashes of lightning, hear peals of thunder and smell the aroma of incense. We catch a glimpse of the throne of God as the focal point of the entire universe. What can our response be but to join the millions who are continually worshiping the Lord in a crescendo of "Holy! Holy! Holy!"

The form of this song is Verse, Chorus, repeat Verse and Chorus, Bridge, repeat Chorus, Tag.

Give Us a Vision of Your Glory .pdf file (sheet music)
Give Us a Vision of Your Glory .mid sound file (audio sample)
Give Us a Vision of Your Glory .pdf file (bulletin insert)

Give Us a Vision of Your Glory
Verse
Give us a vision of your glory
As the universe surrounds you, Lord.
Lightning flashes in your temple
And the smoke of incense drifts upward.
Give us a vision of your glory:
All creation circles 'round your throne.
Thunder crashes with your power
And ten million voices crescendo!

Chorus
Holy! Holy! Holy!
You are holy, holy, holy.
Holy, you are holy.

repeat Verse and Chorus

Bridge
Almighty God!
May our praise rise up as incense
To the center of your throne.
Joining angels in your presence,
We worship you alone,
At the center of your throne,
At the center of your throne.

repeat Chorus

Tag
Almighty God!

Christmas Praise

Also known as Glory to God
©2003 Cheryl A. B. Boydston
CCLI Song #4577799
Scripture Reference: Luke 2:13-14

Theme: Christmas
Key: F to G
Mood/Tempo: joyful/lilting

This song is appropriate anytime during the Christmas season but works especially well for worship on Christmas Eve. We hear the angels' message, proclaiming the good news of Christ's birth, and then we join the angels and blend our praises to God.

The format of the song is Chorus, Verse 1, Chorus, Verse 2, Chorus, repeat Chorus. The last time the chorus is sung, the key changes from F to G. There is a violin obbligato throughout the song.

During the year we use a modified version of the chorus only as a Scripture response; samples of this (Glory to God) are included in the resources below.

If reporting usage to CCLI, this song should be listed as Christmas Praise-- regardless of when you use it. :-)

Christmas Praise .pdf file (sheet music)
Christmas Praise .mid sound file (audio sample)
Christmas Praise .pdf file (bulletin insert)
Glory to God .pdf file (sheet music)
Glory to God .mid sound file (audio sample)
Glory to God .pdf file (bulletin insert)

Christmas Praise
Chorus
Glory to God in the highest!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Peace and goodwill and God's favor
On earth tonight,
This holy night.

Verse 1
God's wondrous light
Shines forth tonight.
The angels raise
Their Christmas praise.

Chorus

Verse 2
To all the earth
Proclaim Christ's birth.
To God we raise
Our Christmas praise.

Chorus

Repeat Chorus

Tag
Glory to God in the highest!

Glory to God
Glory to God in the highest!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Glory to God in the highest!
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Great and Good

©2002 Cheryl A. B. Boydston
CCLI Song #4578396
Scripture Reference: Psalm 145
Theme: God's greatness, God's goodness, praise
Key: F to Bb
Mood/Tempo: joyful praise/energetic

The theme for Great and Good arises from Psalm 145, echoing the expression of the psalmist that the Lord is both gloriously great and abundantly good. All creation declares his greatness and celebrates his goodness.

This joyfully energetic call to worship has the format: Verse, Chorus, repeat Verse, repeat Chorus, Bridge, repeat Verse*, Tag.

(*At the last line "And I will praise your name" of the final repeat of the verse, the key changes from F to Bb)


Great and Good .pdf file (sheet music)
Great and Good .mid sound file (audio sample)
Great and Good .pdf file (bulletin insert)

Great and Good
Verse
Ev'ry day I will bless you,
Ev'ry day I will sing,
For you are great,
And you are good,
And I will praise your name!

Chorus
Forever and ever
And ever and ever
I will sing
Of your greatness.
Forever and ever
And ever and ever
I will sing
Of your goodness to me.

Repeat Verse

Bridge
All your works
Declare your greatness
And the splendor
Of your majesty.
I'll join in
And celebrate your goodness
And your lovingkindness to me.

Repeat Verse

Tag
Forever and ever
And ever and ever
I will sing
Of your greatness.
Forever and ever
And ever and ever
I will sing
Of your goodness.
Forever and ever
And ever and ever
I will sing
Of your greatness
And goodness to me.

Celebrate Your Name

©2003 Cheryl A. B. Boydston
CCLI Song #4562955
Scripture Reference: Psalm 135
Theme: God's name, gathering, worship
Key: D
Mood/Tempo: joyful reverence/medium

This song is a joyfully reverent anthem to God, lifting up his holy name.

The format of the song is Verse, repeat Verse, Chorus, Verse, Chorus, Tag. The chorus features alternating lines of acclamation and echo.

Celebrate Your Name .pdf file (sheet music)
Celebrate Your Name .mid sound file (audio sample)
Celebrate Your Name .pdf file (bulletin insert)

Celebrate Your Name
Verse
We celebrate your wonderful name with music.
We sing for joy in all the earth.
We gather in your holy name to worship.
We praise you, Lord, for you are good.
We magnify your marvelous name.
We celebrate your wonderful name.

repeat Verse

Chorus
Your name, O Lord, (Your name, O Lord)
Endures forever. (Endures forever)
Your fame, O Lord, (Your fame, O Lord)
Resounds forever. (Resounds forever)
We magnify your marvelous name.
We celebrate your wonderful name.

Verse
Chorus

Tag
We magnify your marvelous name.
We celebrate your wonderful name.

Sing with All the Saints/Holy, Holy, Holy

©2003 Cheryl A. B. Boydston
CCLI Song #45556789
Sing with All the Saints/Words and Music by C. Boydston
Holy, Holy, Holy/Words by R. Heber; Music by J. Dykes
(public domain)

Scripture Reference: Revelation 4:8-9; 5:12
Theme: All Saints Day, heavenly worship
Key: C
Mood/Tempo: joyful/energetic


This song connects us with saints who have gone before us, both from the Old and New Testaments. Even now as we sing, we join the heavenly chorus in praising the great I Am, and we look forward to the endless days ahead of us when we will join together to worship our God forever.

Sing with All the Saints flows directly into a medley with the second verse of Holy, Holy, Holy. This verse is included in the key of C in the sheet music arrangement to facilitate a smooth transition.

Sing with All the Saints .pdf file (sheet music)
Sing with All the Saints .mid sound file (audio sample)
Sing with All the Saints .pdf file (bulletin insert)

Sing with All the Saints
Verse
When David fought Goliath,
And Paul was put in chains,
When Anna sought Messiah,
And Ruth collected grains,
Each of them gave praise
For what the Lord had done.
And now through endless days
They sing to the Three in One.

Chorus
I want to sing with David,
I want to sing with Paul,
I want to sing with all the saints
That Jesus is Lord of all.
I want to sing with Anna,
I want to sing with Ruth,
I want to sing and worship
In spirit and in truth.
I want to join with all the saints
Singing, "Worthy is the Lamb!,"
Singing "Holy, holy, holy!,"
Is the great I Am.
Singing "Holy, holy, holy!,"
Is the great I Am.

medley ending
Holy, holy, holy!
All the saints adore thee,
Casting down their golden crowns
Around the glassy sea.
Cherubim and seraphim
Falling down before thee,
Who wert, and art,
And evermore shalt be.

Behold Your King

©2001 Cheryl A. B. Boydston
CCLI Song #4556772
Scripture Reference: Matthew 21:1-9
Theme: Palm Sunday
Key: C
Mood/Tempo: exuberant/upbeat

This song for Palm Sunday allows the congregation to participate in joyfully welcoming Jesus as King.

The song opens with the chorus—the men sing the first line, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord," then the women echo that acclamation, singing the same words but with a different melody. These two lines are then repeated. This format (acclamation, echo, acclamation, echo) is used each time the chorus is sung. When the chorus is sung at the end of the song, there is an additional unison line of "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord."

Behold Your King .pdf file (sheet music)
Behold Your King .mid sound file (audio sample)
Behold Your King .pdf file (bulletin insert)

Behold Your King
Chorus
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
(Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord).
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
(Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord).

Verse 1
Behold your king is coming on a colt,
Humbly as a servant.
Hosanna in the highest to David's Son,
Joyfully welcome him.

Chorus

Verse 2
For there is peace in heaven, glory to God,
The King of Israel.
Rejoice for he is gentle and worthy of praise:
Jesus Emmanuel.

Chorus

Tag
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Make a Joyful Noise

©2004 Cheryl A. B. Boydston
CCLI Song #4551674
Scripture Reference: Psalm 100
Theme: worship, thanksgiving, God's goodness
Key: G
Mood/Tempo: exuberant/upbeat

Based on the text of Psalm 100, this call to worship is a joyful expression of praise and thanksgiving for God's goodness.

Make a Joyful Noise .pdf file (sheet music)
Make a Joyful Noise .mid sound file (audio sample)
Make a Joyful Noise .pdf file (bulletin insert)

Make a Joyful Noise
Chorus
Make a joyful noise to the Lord all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come into his presence with singing,
For the Lord is good!
Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
Enter his courts with praise.
Give thanks and bless his name,
For the Lord is good!
The Lord is good!

Repeat Chorus

Verse
For his loving care, his loving care
Endures forever.
And his faithfulness, his faithfulness
Endures always!

Chorus

Tag
The Lord is good!
The Lord is good!

My Soul Magnifies the Lord

©2003 Cheryl A. B. Boydston
CCLI Song #4551708
Scripture Reference: Luke 1:26-56
Theme: Advent, redemption, Savior
Key: C
Mood/Tempo: expectant/gentle

This song for the season of Advent echoes Mary's response to the amazing events of Luke 1: after she has received the announcement of the angel Gabriel that she will be the mother of the Savior of the world, and after she has received the blessing of her relative, Elizabeth, Mary bursts forth into a song of praise to God. "My Soul Magnifies the Lord" allows the congregation to enter into that time of wonder and waiting, of adoration and anticipation.

My Soul Magnifies the Lord .pdf file (sheet music)
My Soul Magnifies the Lord .mid sound file (audio sample)
My Soul Magnifies the Lord .pdf file (bulletin insert)

My Soul Magnifies the Lord
Verse 1
God promised the lowly a Savior
When he looked on Mary with favor.
An angel appeared
And God's Spirit came near.
We wait for our King
And with Mary we sing:

Chorus
"My soul magnifies the Lord;
My spirit rejoices in Almighty God."
We wait for his kingdom to come to this earth.
We wait for our strong Savior's birth.

Verse 2
God's mercy is shown to the lowly
As he lifts us up pure and holy.
For all who draw near,
Our redemption is here.
We wait for our King
And with Mary we sing:

Chorus

Repeat Chorus

Wisdom and Power Forever

©2002 Cheryl A. B. Boydston
CCLI Song #4551791
Scripture Reference: Daniel 2:20-23
Theme: wisdom, knowledge, power
Key: Dm
Mood/Tempo: contemplative/moderate

Wisdom and Power Forever .pdf file (sheet music)
Wisdom and Power Forever .mid sound file (audio sample)
Wisdom and Power Forever .pdf file (bulletin insert)

This song is based on Daniel's canticle of praise, found in Daniel 2:20-23. It is Daniel's heartfelt response to answered prayer, that God has revealed to him the mysteries of Nebuchadnezzar's dream.

This doxology can be used congregationally as a Scripture response or prayer response.

Wisdom and Power Forever
Verse 1
Praise the name of the Lord forever and ever,
For he alone has wisdom and power forever.
The Lord imparts wisdom to the wise
And knowledge to those who understand.
Praise the name of the Lord forever and ever.

Verse 2
Praise the name of the Lord forever and ever,
For he alone has knowledge of all mysteries.
Our God is surrounded by pure light
And nothing is hidden from his sight.
Praise the name of the Lord forever and ever.

Verse 3
Praise the name of the Lord forever and ever,
For he alone has given us wisdom and strength.
The Lord has revealed his truth to us
And given the answer to our prayers.
Praise the name of the Lord forever and ever.

Tag
Praise the name of the Lord forever and ever.

Enthroned on Our Praises

©2003 Cheryl A. B. Boydston
CCLI Song #4551612
Scripture Reference: Psalm 22:3
Theme: invocation, gathering
Key: Ab
Mood/Tempo: joyful/upbeat

When we use this invocation, based on Psalm 22:3, we sing it through twice.

Enthroned on Our Praises .pdf file (sheet music)
Enthroned on Our Praises .mid sound file (audio sample)
Enthroned on Our Praises .pdf file (bulletin insert)

Enthroned on Our Praises
O God, You are enthroned
On the praises of Your people;
Come be present within this congregation.
With joy we bring the praises of Your people,
For You alone deserve our exaltation!

You are holy and righteous and true.
With all of our hearts
We bring our praises to You.
O God, You are enthroned
On the praises of Your people;
Come be King in our hearts.
Come be King in our hearts.