New Songs for Worship

• All the Way My Savior Leads Me
  Click here to see the lead sheet
  Audio file
• The Power of the Cross
  Click here to hear a sample and to see the lyrics.
  The story behind the song
• Everlasting God
  Composer Benton Brown discusses and performs the song
• Clothe Yourselves with Humility
  print music
  
• Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder
  
• May the Mind of Christ, My Savior
  
• God Be Merciful to Me
• I BELIEVE, HELP MY UNBELIEF
  The Apostles’ Creed, ca. 2nd cent., 6th cent.; Versified: anon.
  Tune and refrain: Anthony D. Moore (2007)
  

For some time now I have wanted to write a tune for the versified Apostles’ Creed text (Trinity Hymnal — No. 742) which we regularly use in worship. As we confess and sing the central tenets of the Christian faith I am mindful of the tensions and conflict between my belief and my actions. My heart cries out with the father in Mark 9, “I believe; help my unbelief!” This father had brought his demon possessed son to the disciples to be healed. When they had no success an argument ensued and the crowd ran up to Jesus. After answering Jesus’ questions, the boy’s father said to Jesus, “But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.'” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

My setting of the creed text includes two added refrains which begin with “I believe, help my unbelief.” The first refrain is drawn loosely from Matthew 11:28-30 as the response to the invitation of Jesus: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

The second refrain comes from the 12th chapter of Matthew where Jesus heals the man with a withered hand. Spiritually, all of us have withered hands, unable to do good apart from the healing of the Lord. Thankfully, the Lord is at work preparing good deeds for us and our beliefs and actions are perfected in Christ. As we continue through Matthew and into Jesus’ parables, let’s pray that what the Lord said of the disciples will be true of us as well: “But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear” (Matthew 13:16).
-Anthony

• MUSIC
  
• AUDIO
  

I believe in God the Father, Maker of all heav’n and earth;
And in Jesus Christ, our Savior, God’s own Son, of matchless worth;
By the Spirit was conceiv-ed, of the virgin Mary born,
He in whom I have believ-ed: God Almighty, Three in One.

Suffered under Pontius Pilate, crucified for me He died;
laid within the grave so silent, gates of hell He opened wide;
For the stone-sealed tomb was empty; on the third day He arose;
Into heaven made His entry, mighty conqu’ror of His foes.

I believe, Lord help my unbelief.
I believe, Lord heal and make me whole.
I will go to You and learn from You
and find rest for my soul.
I believe.

At God’s right hand He is seated till His coming as He said;
Final judgment will be meted to the living and the dead;
I confess the Holy Spirit who was sent through Christ the Son
To apply salvation’s merit—God the Spirit, Three in One.

I believe the church of Jesus, universal e’er remains;
We are one through all the ages, in communion of the saints.
I believe sins are forgiven that our bodies will be raised
To eternal life in heaven: ever let His name be praised.

I believe, Lord help my unbelief.
I believe, Lord heal my withered hands.
Give me eyes to see and ears to hear
and a heart that understands
what I believe, what I believe.
I believe.