Over the last 2 months, I've used the "Song of the Week" post to point you to several church ministries that are reviving old hymn texts by writing new tunes for the Church today. And today, I'll add one to the list - our very own music ministry at Grace Evan.
Many of the songs we sing together in worship at Grace Evan, as well as songs performed by our bands and soloists during the offering time, are written by our worship minister, Jim Umlauf. Whether writing new tunes for old hymn texts, or penning new songs from scratch, Jim consistently finds a way to combine enjoyable, singable (and often flat-out cool) music with Scripture-based, gospel-rich, Christ-exalting lyrics.
I'll be featuring a number of Jim's songs in the future, but since this is the "song" of the week (and not "songs"), I'll limit to just one for today.
The Song of the Week is "Come Ye Sinners" (click to listen, right-click to download), a hymn text written in 1759 by Joseph Hart, and set to new music in recent years by Jim Umlauf. Few songs proclaim the finished work of Jesus and plead for sinners to embrace him like this hymn does. And Jim's tune carries the good news and its passionate invitation beautifully.
Check it out, download the mp3 for free, and marvel that Jesus came to save sinners like you and me.
Come Ye Sinners(if you're reading this from an email subscription, you may need to click the title link to the actual Blog page in order to download the mp3. just a heads-up.)
words by Joseph Hart
music written and performed by Jim Umlauf
Come, ye sinners, poor and wretched
Weak and wounded, sick and sore
Jesus ready stands to save you
Full of pity joined with power
He is able, He is able
He is willing, doubt no more
Come, ye needy, come and welcome
God’s free bounty glorify
True belief and true repentance
Every grace that brings you nigh
Without money, without money
Come to Jesus Christ and buy
Come, ye weary, heavy laden
Bruised and broken by the fall
If you tarry till you're better
You will never come at all
'Twas not the righteous, not the righteous
But sinners Jesus came to call
Let not conscience make you linger,
Nor of fitness fondly dream;
All the fitness he requireth
Is to feel your need of him;
This he gives you, this he gives you;
It is the Spirit’s rising beam
Lo! The incarnate God ascended
Pleads the merit of His blood
Venture on Him, venture wholly
Let no other trust intrude
None but Jesus, none but Jesus
Can do helpless sinners good
Come, ye sinners, poor and wretched
Weak and wounded, sick and sore
