Jon Cairns

Worthy Are You Lord

Written at the Resound Worship Songwriting Retreat 2024. My aim with this song was to attempt to describe the might, power and majesty of God without making it about our experience or perception of Him. So often our songs define His value through what we see of Him, or how we have experienced Him. He's worthy of praise simply because He's worthy of praise.

God of Love

Jon Cairns

I'm part of a worship songwriting group, the Resound 12 Song Challenge, which encourages writers to create a worship song each month. This song came out of a challenge from June of 2023, whose theme was to write a song around the theme of "refugees". It starts as a kind of lament, acknowledging the terrible situation that many refugees and asylum seekers have come from and are going through, but progresses to fix our eyes on God as the one who protects, delivers and loves us.

Compassion Father Justice Refuge Contemporary English Personal Reflectional Confusion Despair Intercession Prayer Refugee Sadness Warfare

We Crown You

Jon Cairns

I think it's such a powerful thing to declare Jesus as king - we join with all of heaven when we do so. This song is about turning from our sin and idols, and placing the crown on Jesus' head. It works well as a response song, and fits particularly well during communion.

Atonement Blood Communion Forgiveness Contemporary English Congregational Rock Invitational Confessional Declarational

Praise Awaits You

Jon Cairns

I'm part of a worship songwriting group, the Resound 12 Song Challenge, which encourages songwriters to write a song each month. This came out of a challenge from March of 2023, whose theme was to write a song based on one of the more unusual Psalms. Psalm 65 jumped out to me, and this was the result. It's a simple song of declaration and an invitation to worship, so it works well as an opening song in a worship set.

Psalms 65 Power Praise Psalms Thanksgiving Worship Zion Contemporary English Congregational Rock Declarational

Jesus, You Are

Jon Cairns

I love fast songs that have substance, so that was my aim in writing this song. It speaks about the different aspects of Jesus, from creation of the world to dying on a cross, from his unknowableness to his intimate love for us. Works well as a song to wake a congregation :)

Creation Cross His Name Holiness Jesus Victory Contemporary Rock English Congregational Declarational

Glory

Jon Cairns

This song is a declaration of the otherness of God. It speaks of his awesomeness, using the last two verses of Jude. It also talks about our standing before Him, how he has forgiven us and brought us into adoption, and how he has given us a future hope. I often use it as one of the first couple of songs when leading a congregation in worship because it helps us to fix our eyes on God and put Him in His rightful, authoritative, place.

Jude 1:24-25 Adoption Glory Majesty Power Victory Contemporary Rock English Congregational

Jon Cairns

Chester-le-Street, UK

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