Gateway Church introduces their latest live worship album with a fresh take on an old classic, called the New Doxology. Praise God from whom all blessings flow, praise Him all creatures here below. I have sung this song since I was a kid, mostly as an offering of prayer before meal times at our Mennonite family gatherings. The harmonies were always rich, and as a puberty-striving 12 year old, I just couldn't wait till the day when my voice would finally break so that I could sing the base line like my dad! I have to say, I think Gateway has done a remarkable job in bringing this classic into the 21st century.

God Of This City is a powerful new song featuring the voice of Chris Tomlin from the recent Passion worship album.  Only a week after adding this chart to our catalog (by special request from a desperate customer who just couldn't wait), it took less than a week to rise into the Top 25.  There is a powerful build to the chorus, "for greater things are yet to come, and greater things are still to be done in this city."  Not a Chris Tomlin original, but it seems that when Chris give his touch to a song like this, it just soars.  This is a song for our new generation to sing.

Here is a song that seems to be making a comeback.  Originally recorded by Chris Tomlin on his album, Arriving, this song is now filling the radio waves by the original song writer, Matt Maher.  Settling in to the Top Five at PraiseCharts, Matt's song is showing its true colors of theological depth and solid contemporary groove.  Matt just released his own album, Empty and Beautiful, with this song leading the way.  The PraiseCharts arrangement still reflects the original recording from Chris Tomlin.

From Cinderella to Praise You In This Storm - so goes the pathway in our Song Of The Week. Even before the Maria Chapman tragedy, Cinderella was on the rise, already featured as the previous Song Of The Week.  Praise You In This Storm turned out as one of the most requested songs in our recent survey.  The truth is, we all have dreams, and we all share in the depths of pain. 

Clearly, this is a stand out song for many in Steven's latest album, This Moment. Perhaps not a typical "worship song," but most definitely a song about the "worship life".  There is no surprise this song has crept into our Top 25 list, and with Father's Day coming soon, it is sure to rise.  If you have any "worship life" stories about this song, we'd love to hear your feedback.

Tommy Walker is no stranger to song writing and worship leading.  I met him at GMA in Nashville a few weeks ago at the top of the hotel elevator.  He gave me a firm little nudge, wondering why his album hadn't shown up on PraiseCharts yet.  We love Tommy Walker and I know that thousands of our worship leaders love his music.  This album, I Have A Hope, kind of represents a new beginning for Tommy, back in the fold with Maranatha Music.  I've heard lots of rumors that this is his best album ever - and that says a lot, considering the giant songs he has written in the past.

Shout To The Lord was probably the first song to really inspire the development of PraiseCharts.  I remember back in 1997 when I was developing my little church orchestra, using the Songs For Praise And Worship Series put out by Word Music.  I had the big conductor's binder and all!  That first collection stopped just short of "Shout To The Lord" and the wave of new contemporary worship that was about to unload on the church in the 21st century.

Michael Neale is the now worship leader at The People's Church in Franklin, TN. This weeks feature song comes from Michael's most recent album, No Greater Audience. The song, I Am Yours, is another contemporary remake of the classic hymn, Take My Life And Let It Be. It is actually amazing to think of how many of these contemporary hymn make-overs are capturing the heart of worship in churches all around the world.  It seems like the best arrangements are those that don't try to destroy the original hymn, but rather to just add something fresh to it -- often as a bridge.