This Sunday we premiered Zac Hick’s setting of Psalm 100, “All People That on Earth Do Dwell.” It was the winner of the 2010 COS Psalm Song Contest, and an exciting conclusion to the difficult winnowing of submissions.

Frankly, I was a little worried, because–even though I love the song–Zac’s style falls outside of our usual groove. The nagging question was whether a piano-based church could embrace a guitar/band-based song.

I tried to make the song feel at home at COS by writing a piano arrangement and weaving the verses into the fabric of the opening liturgy. That seemed to help, as did the pre-service rehearsal. But in the end the song carried itself. The congregation clearly liked the song, responding by adding their enthusiastic voice.

Take  listen to Zac Hick’s “All People that on Earth Do Dwell (Psalm 100).