THE LORD IS ON MY SIDE (PSALM 118)
VERSE 1
The Lord is on my side
The Lord is on my side
Better to trust him; Better to trust him;
Better to trust him; For He is good
VERSE 2
The Lord has heard my cry
The Lord has heard my cry
Better to trust him; Better to trust him;
Better to trust him; He is my help
CHORUS
The Lord is my strength;
The Lord is my song;
He’s become my salvation, O my soul.
VERSE 3
The Lord has set me free
The Lord has set me free
Better to trust him; Better to trust him;
Better to trust him; I will not fear
CHORUS (2x)
TAG:
The Lord is on my side;
The Lord has heard my cry;
The Lord has set me free.
FOR THE BEAUTY OF THE EARTH
Text: F. S. Pierpoint 1864; Music: Karin Simmons
VERSE 1
For the beauty of the earth
For the glory of the skies
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies
CHORUS
Lord of all, Lord of all,
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
Our hymn of grateful praise
VERSE 2
For the wonder of each hour
Of the day and of the night
Hill and vale and tree and flower
Sun and moon and stars of light
VERSE 3
For Thyself, best gift divine
To our race so freely given
For the great, great love of Thine
Peace on earth and joy in heaven
MAY THE HOPE OF CHRIST
May the hope of Christ
Guide our hearts and minds
When the path becomes unsure
May we know his hand
Trusting all that he has planned
He alone is where hope endures
May the peace of Christ
Guard our hearts and minds
While the storms rage all around
May we find our rest
In his faithful promises
He alone is where peace is found.
May the joy of Christ
Give our hearts and minds
Light and life from day to day
May we cast our needs
Where all tears and sadness flee
He alone is where joy will reign
May the love of Christ
Grow our hearts and minds
To embrace all humankind
May we overflow
With the grace that he has shown
He alone is where love abides.
WE WILL RISE
VERSE 1
In destruction there is redemption
Consolation comes through all creation
Blessed are the merciful ones
There’s compassion for the sinner
And the poor in spirit are the givers
Blessed are the gentle ones
PRE-CHORUS
Awake, my soul, awake
No more to rest in darkness
Awake, my soul, awake
Behold the light so wondrous
CHORUS
We will rise, we will rise
We will rise with Him
VERSE 2
All creation awaits the new perfection
And the broken long for promised resurrection
Blessed are the suffering ones
Those who hunger and thirst for justice
They will feast, the least are called beloved
Blessed are the satisfied ones
BRIDGE
Blessed are the poor
Bless’d are those who mourn
Blessed are the meek who keep the peace
Blessed are the righteous ones
Blessed are the pure in heart
Bless’d are the oppressed who bear injustice
KEEP WATCH
(BCP Prayer for Mission Collect)
CHORUS:
Keep watch, keep watch, Oh Lord
Keep watch, keep watch, Oh Lord
VERSE 1
With those who work
Or watch or weep this night
Give your angels charge over those who sleep
VERSE 2
Tend the sick, give the weary rest,
Bless the dying, soothe the suffering.
Pity the afflicted;
Shield the joyous;
All for your love’s sake.
about
When Karin Simmons released her debut project in 2015, she titled it Psalms, Hymns, & Spiritual Songs, Volume 1 with the hope that a volume 2 would follow. And now, seven years later, that dream has become a reality. Since her first album, Karin has grown as a songwriter and a recording artist, finding new musical and vocal stylings that make her volume 2 offering a true reflection of the last seven years of her life.
Says Karin, “Writing for the church is a passion of mine. Getting to know other worship directors around the country who are writing for their congregations has been inspiring and has challenged me to grow in my confidence as a writer! It’s freed me to really explore ways of providing a broad musical vocabulary for the church."
Produced by friend and collaborator Rachel Wilhelm, the project couldn’t help but be influenced by 2020’s pandemic. Crafted as a “day in the life” of our own worship, even songs written before the pandemic seemed to fall into place as a personal daily liturgy at the same time that Karin, her family, her church, and the world began navigating a new normal in daily routines.
Unlike her first project, every song on Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs Volume 2 are original recordings. Highlights include “The Lord Is On My Side” with Phil Keaggy on guitar and “Keep Watch” - an evening prayer from the Book of Common Prayer set to Karin’s original composition. All songs feature paired down, raw arrangements creating a perfect cradle for Karin’s vocal stylings.
While Karin is not new to worship leading – first cutting her teeth leading worship alongside her father at 8 years old – her career has been varied. Whether serving on staff at churches, being a guest musician at retreats, or even being a part of 2005’s inaugural festivities in Washington, DC, ushering others into the presence of God is a gift and passion. And, Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs Volume 2 does that and with a voice that is uniquely Karin Simmons.
credits
released May 20, 2022
Album Credits:
Produced by Rachel Wilhelm
Engineered by Jered McKenna at the McKenna Studio, Taylors SC & Jericho Scroggins at WieRok Studios, Franklin TN
Mixed by Jered McKenna
Mastered by Drew Elliott
Musician Credits:
Rachel Barrentine: piano on track 3
Avery Bright: violin, strings, fiddle on tracks 1 & 3
Phil Keaggy: guitars on track 1
Jered McKenna: drums, bass, background vocals, piano, guitars, B3, and everything else
Karin Simmons: lead vocals, piano
Rachel Wilhelm: background vocals
Keiko Ying: Cellos on tracks 2 & 4
Creative Credits:
Design by Luellyn Latocki Hensley
Hair, makeup, styling & photography by Sheila Davis
Karin Simmons is a worship leader and songwriter in Nashville, TN. Her music is an eclectic a mix of original and
traditional tunes…of psalm settings, hymn arrangements and songs often used in the liturgical worship setting. Karin wants to give the church rich, meaningful and singable songs to express their worship deeply and honestly....more
