Chris Tomlin Emmanuel Christmas Songs Of Worship
International music minister and worship leader dishes out a brand new album tagged Emmanuel: Christmas Songs Of Worship.
“There’s some great Christmas music out there, but I’ve tried to focus on the worship aspect of these particular songs,” explains the father of three. “I wanted to take some of the great songs of the Christmas season such as “Oh Come, All Ye Faithful” and “O Holy Night” and “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” and really capture them, in a live setting, in a spirit of worship.” Certainly, his worship aspect becomes even more important during an ongoing pandemic.
“There’s a togetherness about Christmas that’s so special that has been taken away from so many of us over the last year or so,” says Tomlin, who released Chris Tomlin & Friends EP last summer that included songs with Florida Georgia Line, Thomas Rhett and Lady A. “I think that this is how you will feel with this record — you will feel togetherness.” The album also has Tomlin coming together with a slew of music greats, including the legendary CeCe Winans on a stunning rendition of “O Holy Night.”
“It’s a singer’s song, you know?” says Tomlin, who also collaborates on the album with We the Kingdom, Matt Redman, and The Voice’s favorite Blessing Offor. “So, we asked CeCe if she would do it, and let me tell you when she walked in the room and did, we all just sort of stood there for a while. It was that powerful.”
And it’s this sort of power that Tomlin says he hopes can cut through all the pain still floating around in the world at the moment.
“The incredible thing about music is that it brings people together and lifts people’s spirits,” concludes Tomlin. “When music connects with people, it can also renew their spirit.”
Adding to that “wonderful chaos” is the news that Tomlin will celebrate the holiday season with a brand-new Christmas album. Produced by Ed Cash, Emmanuel: Christmas Songs of Worship is set for release on Sept. 24, and will feature 11 songs, kicking off with the stirring title track “Emmanuel God with Us.”
“If ever we needed to know that God is with us, it is now,” explains Tomlin, referring to the literal and spiritual meaning of the word ‘Emmanuel.” “I love the reminder that one word changed the history of the world.”
