In the third instalment of the series, Sam brings us five pieces of music that have had an impact on his faith and ministry.

The first song I’ve got for you is My Jesus, My Saviour, a great song to begin a time of worship, that encourages us to sing praise loud and clear. This song is significant to me because it was a song I grew up hearing at church, in the early stages of my faith and was the first song I ever accompanied people singing when I was about 14, and set me on the path to leading people in worship.

The second piece of music I’ve chosen is a hymn of praise and thanksgiving, Praise, my soul, the King of heaven. This is one of my favourite hymns, and the thing I love most about it is the way the organ and choir parts express the text and can help you to really feel the meaning of what you’re singing. The words are by Henry Lyte, based on Psalm 103, and I think the words of the third verse are good to remind us of God’s goodness and mercy in difficult times: “In His hands he gently bears us, rescues us from all our foes. Praise Him, praise Him, widely as His mercy flows.”

My third choice is a little different. When I was about sixteen, I sang in a choir for a Roman Catholic service of Vespers. This was the first time I came across plainchant, and I was amazed by this way of worshipping that was completely different to what I was used to. It also sparked my interest in early music, and led me to my degree and area of research. The chant I’ve chosen for this playlist is one of my favourites, Pange lingua. This hymn recalls the Last Supper and Jesus’ sacrifice for us, and has been sung on Maundy Thursday since the Middle Ages. I find the unison singing and steady flowing rhythm of the plainchant to be very meditative and helpful for reflection and prayer, and I hope you do too.

The fourth song I’d like to share with you is This I Believe from Hillsong. I learned this song when I was helping to lead a youth camp at Sizewell a few years ago. It was while leading worship in this song that I felt called to approach playing music as a form of ministry rather than just a functional thing to do to help run a church service. While you listen to it, think about the words of the song – a statement of our faith and what we believe.

My last choice is a modern classic: In Christ Alone by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend. This is a fantastic song, not just because of its powerful message and strong melody, but because of the way it can bring people together. As my selection of music might suggest, I’m involved in communities with very different styles of musical worship. Because the song lends itself equally well to a worship band or a traditional choir with an organ, people from all church backgrounds can feel at home with this song. It’s so versatile that I could put a whole playlist of different versions together, but the one I’ve chosen for this playlist has a contemporary worship leader singing together with a choir and orchestra, which I think demonstrates how the versatility of this song can help the whole church to worship together, united in Christ alone.

I hope that sharing this music is helpful to you in your worship and prayer. If you’d like to share some music that reflects your faith, there’s a link down in the description to contribute to this series. I’m looking forward to hearing about the role music plays in your faith.

God bless.