Worship & Adore: A Christmas Offering

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 22, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B002K0WBLY
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #192,198 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Offering (Christmas Version) -Kari Jobe, Glenn Packiam, Christy Johnson, Lincoln Brewster, Kathryn Scott, Vicky Beeching, Joel Auge, Don Poythress, Paul Baloche, and Jared Anderson

2. Adore Him -Kari Jobe

3. Glory To God -Lincoln Brewster

4. He Is Wonderful -Kathryn Scott

5. The Beautiful Body And Blood -Glenn Packiam

6. He Made A Way In A Manger -Vicky Beeching

7. Joseph -Don Poythress

8. Messiah's Song -Jare Anderson

9. Gloria (Mary's Song) -Christy Johnson

10. Holy Is The Child -Joel Auge

11. We Adore You -Paul Baloche

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Eminently Christ-focused, November 23, 2009

By 

Jennifer Bogart "@ Quiverfullfamily.com" (Alberta, Canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Worship & Adore: A Christmas Offering (Audio CD)

It's that time of year again; soon radio stations and shopping centers will be broadcasting inane, nonsensical, and at times down-right deceptive tunes as hymns of praise to the holiday season. As a Christian family who dearly loves Jesus and believes in his birth as a baby to a virgin in Bethlehem, this is an awkward time of year for us as believers who don't celebrate Christmas. I won't be going into that here - it's a long convoluted story that's outside the scope of this review, but keep that fact in mind as you read on.

When Worship and Adore: A Christmas Offering arrived in the mail, I groaned internally. Sadly many Christian compilations of holiday music are little better than secular paeans to the god of consumerism, and I was afraid to see what I might find included in this collection. After scanning down the list of tracks I noted straight-away that this collection of eleven offerings of praise are free of Santa songs, free of Christmas trees, and free of - well, everything except worshiping the Son of God. Being so far reassured, I dug in.

Unlike most holiday-focused albums, Worship and Adore represents not the work of a single artist or group, but is a collaborative effort from the praise and worship musicians represented by Integrity Music. The opening track "Offering (Christmas Version)" pulls together the entire ensemble in a Christmas version of Paul baloche's well-known "Offering". Kari Jobe, Glenn Packiam, Christy Johnson, Lincoln Brewseter, Kathryn Scott, Vicky Beeching, Joel Auge, Don Poythress, Paul Baloche, and Jared Anderson combine their talents on the first track, before they each contribute a track where they are prominently featured.

Offering up a collection that mixes reworked traditional songs with fresh, new reflections upon the incarnation, the feel of the album is heavily weighted towards introspective, thoughtful songs of worship. Lincoln Brewster's "Glory to God" is one of the few exceptions, an upbeat number that captures the exultation of the heavenly host upon Jesus' birth.

Kari Jobe sings "Adore Him" a re-working of the traditional "Come Let Us Adore Him" that is a subdued, bittersweet, and haunting song that will go with you throughout the day. Glen Packiam's performance of "The Beautiful Body and Blood" which looks forward from Jesus as a baby to the fulfillment of His purpose on earth made me sit up and take interest. Though I've heard Packiam's work on Counting on God with Ross Parsley and the Desperation Band, this solo offering with its laid-back musical accompaniment really highlight the quality of his voice.

Likewise, Jared Anderson can count me as a new fan of his solo work after being captivated by his "Messiah's Song" featuring subtle, rich harmonies, and a tender, understated melody that somehow kindles an intense desire for the Savior; this is easily my favorite track on the disc.

The delight of this compilation is the opportunity to discover previously unknown artists. Paul Baloche - though well-known - is a new voice for me. His heart-felt and authentic expressions of praise in the closing "We Adore You" is so warm and straight-forward that it's impossible not to be moved.

While many Christmas albums are rather shoddy efforts that are quickly tossed together, a great deal of care shines through on this disc. The majority of the music has been newly written this year, helping Worship and Adore delve into fresh new territory while avoiding any appearance of being derivative, or merely repackaged.

It would truly be a shame if Worship and Adore is shelved after the holiday season due to the word `Christmas' in its title and liner art consistently associated with the month of December. Songs that encourage believers to reflect upon Jesus' birth, to worship Him, to adore Him, are appropriate all year round. It's into this precious place of thoughtful worship that Integrity's artists lead us into - one that I hope to revisit frequently.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Christmas worship music! I love it!!!, December 6, 2009

By 

Sandy Kay (Twin Cities, Minnesota USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Worship & Adore: A Christmas Offering (Audio CD)

Unlike the previous reviewer, I celebrate Christmas both as the sacred holiday celebrating the birth of Christ and the primarily secular holiday it is for many people. I also love Christmas and holiday music in a wide variety of styles and content and listen to it from the day after Thanksgiving until New Years Day (at least).

This CD is different from anything else I have in my collection, even the ones produced by other contemporary Christian music performers. The difference is that this CD has none of the traditional Christmas songs on it -- it is worship music that is centered on the Christmas season. This music is beautiful and helps me stop and remember the real reason we celebrate Christmas.

A couple of the songs are a couple years older and more familiar. The first song is a Christmas version of Paul Baloche's song "Offering" with a beautiful verse about the angels singing to the shepherds and the wise men travelling to follow the star and the last one is Paul Baloche's "We Adore you." In between are new songs that are certain to become classic Christmas worship songs.

Who should buy this CD? Every music worship leader who does a contemporary service at his/her church should learn these songs and teach them to the congregation. I intend to email a link to my own worship leader and ask that we start singing them. And every Christian family that enjoys contemporary Christian music (even if you are not familiar with the featured musicians Paul Baloche, Kari Jobe, Lincon Brewster, Glenn Packiam, Christy Johnson, Vicky Beeching, Joel Auge, Don Poythress and Jared Anderson) would find listening to this CD a wonderful blessing throughout the Christmas season and beyond. Because these songs are not the usual Christmas songs, you could play many of them all year long.

Listen to the sample previews and you will know what a lovely CD this is!