| KINGSTON LAKE MISSIONARY BAPTIST ASSOCIATION |
Music Auxiliary Sister Lessie Gore President |
Gospel Music Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as (in terms of the varying music styles) to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music. Like other forms of Christian music the creation, performance, significance, and even the definition of gospel music varies according to culture and social context. Gospel music is composed and performed for many purposes, including aesthetic pleasure, religious or ceremonial purposes, and as an entertainment product for the marketplace. However, a common theme of most gospel music is praise, worship or thanks to God, Christ, or the Holy Spirit. The lyrics before 1865 In the early nineteenth century, African Americans were involved in the “Second Awakening”. They met in camp meetings and sang without any hymnbook. Spontaneous songs were composed on the spot. They were called “spiritual songs” and the term “sperichil” (spiritual) appeared for the first time in the book “Slave Songs of The United States” (by Allen, Ware, Garrison, 1867). As negro spirituals are Christian songs, most of them concern what the Bible says and how to live with the Spirit of God. For example, the “dark days of bondage” were enlightened by the hope and faith that God will not leave slaves alone. By the way, African Americans used to sing outside of churches. During slavery and afterwards, slaves and workers who were working at fields or elsewhere outdoors, were allowed to sing “work songs”. This was the case, when they had to coordinate their efforts for hauling a fallen tree or any heavy load. Even prisoners used to sing “chain gang” songs when they worked on the road or on some construction project. But some “drivers” also allowed slaves to sing “quiet” songs, if they were not apparently against slaveholders. Such songs could be sung either by only one soloist or by several slaves. They were used for expressing personal feeling and for cheering one another. So, even at work, slaves could sing “secret messages”. This was the case of negro spirituals, which were sung at church, in meetings, at work and at home. The meaning of these songs was most often covert. Therefore, only Christian slaves understood them, and even when ordinary words were used, they reflected personal relationship between the slave singer and God. |
Order My Steps Order my steps in Your word, dear Lord Lead me, guide me everyday Send your anointing Father, I pray Order my steps in Your word Please order my steps in Your word (Repeat Chorus) Humbly I ask Thee, teach me Your will While You are working help me be still Though Satan is busy, God is real Order my steps in Yor word Please order my steps in Your word Bridle my tongue, let my words edify Let the words of my mouth be acceptable in Thy sight Take charge of my thoughts both day and night Order my steps in Your Word Please order my steps in Your word Bridge I Want to walk worthy, my calling to fulfill Please order my steps, Lord And I'll do Your blessed will The world is ever changing But You are still the same Please order my steps, Lord I'll praise Your name Order my steps- In Your Word Order my tongue- In Your Word Guide my feet- In Your Word Wash my heart- In Your Word Show me how to walk- In Your Word Show me how to talk- In Your Word When I need a brand new song to sing Show me how to let Your praises ring In Your Word, in Your Word Please order my steps in Your Word (2xs) (Repeat Ch |
| LET THE WORD OF CHRIST DWELL IN YOU RICHLY IN ALL WISDOM; TEACHING AND ADMONISHING ONE ANOTHER IN PSALMS AND HYMNS AND SPIRITUAL SONGS, SINGING WITH GRACE IN YOUR HEARTS TO THE LORD. Colossians 3:16 |
