Hymns & Songs

Kathryn Cheng is an Assistant Program Executive at Methodist School of Music, Worship and Music Department. She arranges music for MSM and mixes virtual choir performances by MFC

GOD OF THIS CITY

National Day reminds everyone that strength and unity as a country is important, especially now, as the world undertakes its second year of living under COVID-19. Some countries have become more divided under the strains of managing the pandemic, while others have become more united.

“God of this City”, performed by Chris Tomlin, describes the love of God on a large scale. The driving message of the song is that God’s love is not meant to be solely an introspective experience, but one that extends over the community. Though the words are simple, they shine a light of hope, reminding us that regardless of our present trials, something better and greater is coming.

This brings to mind Romans 13:1: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.”

While our earthly leaders may come from backgrounds and faiths different from our own, they have been placed in positions of power to carry out God’s plan. What we can do is to pray that they will be guided by wisdom. So, as we all play different roles in the body of Christ, we should be reminded to be good neighbours to all in our community.

In an interview with Aaron Boyd, who recorded the original version of the song, he said that he intended for the song to question what the Church is doing on a global scale to combat big issues such as climate change, poverty, human trafficking and so on. He further stated that we should all be the ones to pioneer change; we ought to have the attitude of serving the world with a Christ-like love.

There are big issues indeed to be combatted globally. And locally, we have to grapple social and community issues brought about by COVID-19; indeed, greater things have yet to come if we all exercise our role to be partners with God in bringing light, hope and peace to this city.

The Methodist School of Music (MSM) equips and edifies both the individual and the church through music and the performing arts. Find out more at msmusic.edu.sg.

GOD OF THIS CITY

You’re the God of this city You’re the King of these people You’re the Lord of this nation

You are

You’re the light in this darkness You’re the hope to the hopeless You’re the peace to the restless You are

There is no one like our God

There is no one like our God

For greater things have yet to come

And greater things are still to be done in this city

Greater things have yet to come And greater things are still to be done in this city.

Words: Bluetree, Richard Bleakley, Aaron Boyd, Peter Comfort, Ian Jordan, Peter Kernoghan, Andrew McCann

Performed by: Chris Tomlin (2008)

Copyright © 2008 Thankyou Music