Pilgrim, Press On
Pilgrim, Press On is an album borne from the drawing near of the Lord in the midst of stage 4 cancer and walking with an abiding trust in the midst of doubt and fear. In the cold and bitter seasons, He roots us deeper still.
01 Manna
Manna is based in the Anglican Prayer of Humble Access, and around the story of the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15, whose faith was commended by Jesus.
03 Where Are You?
This is the first song Chelsea wrote, after a deep diving study into the Covenants of Scripture, wherein we see God continually bind himself, even unto death, to his unfaithful and broken bride. It explores the story of Adam and Eve, and God's gentle pursuit of the hiding and shame-filled soul.
"Batter my heart" of course, refers to the great sonnet by John Donne, one of Chelsea's favorite poets.
05 Mercy in the Dust
Mercy in the Dust was written at the start of the church season of Lent. Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, wherein we remember that we were formed from the dust and to dust we shall return. Our Lord Jesus, wandered through the dusty desert, tempted and tried. Heaven meets earth in the dust and ashes, that we might dwell in glory on high. This idea has always been one that drew Chelsea into the heart of the proclamation "from my stricken heart with tears, two wonders I confess: the wonder of redeeming love and my unworthiness." This was first penned by Elizabeth Cecilia Clephane, in the hymn "Beneath the Cross of Jesus".
07 Unbind the Brokenhearted
This song comes from the heart of Psalm 88, a cry to the Lord so deep, so dark, so brokenhearted, that it can only ask the question: Can the dead rise and praise? Do you work wonders for the dead? Is your steadfast love declared in the grave? The Canaanite woman in Matthew 15 is in a place of desperate faith for her daughter, who is gripped by demons. Yet, her faith that even the crumbs from the Lord's table is a feast for a starved soul, leads the Lord to declare the greatness of her faith and he heals her daughter. In fact, this Lord of our Salvation entered the darkness of the grave. He entered the darkest depths of Sheol, and he rose from the grave in Glory and Grace and he unbinds the brokenhearted, casts the shackles from the dead, He grants deliverance and pardon, and HE WILL reign for ages without end!
09 Christ is Keeping Me
Christ is Keeping Me was written in March, near the Feast of St. Patrick, whose famous prayer has inspired many Christians throughout the ages. The gospel reading for that Sunday was John 9:1-12, the man born blind. In writing this song, Chelsea explored the work of Christ to pursue us, to give us sight, to surround us as a shepherd.
11 Hither Come
This is a brief folk song, based around the season of Lent and the hymn, "Come, Said Jesus' Sacred Voice". It is an bidding to follow the path that Jesus walked, leading through the barren lands, to the cross, and ultimately to our eternal home. It is an invitation to embark on the pilgrim journey to a better country.
02 Pilgrim, Press On
Pilgrim, Press On was written in September of 2023, and when it was written, Chelsea doubted the purpose of it, and why it was the song placed on her heart. One month later her husband, Jason, collapsed due to tremendous blood loss and was rushed to the hospital where he was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. In the weeks that followed, through 3 near death experiences and 18 units of blood, this song became the deep cry of her heart, and the prompting of the Lord in the midst of great sorrow.
04 Consider
The phrase, "consider it joy" found in James, and echoed in various forms throughout the Pauline letters, explores the inextricable connection between suffering and joy. Life is borne from the death of Christ, and joy comes in the morning through the dark of night.
06 Rooted
The first portion of Rooted was written in the spring around the Sunday known in the church as "Rogation Sunday". It explores the theme of the Lord as a tender gardener, the true vine, and the shoot of Jesse. Later, after Jason's diagnosis, as Rogation Sunday came around again in the calendar, Chelsea reflected on this season, full of paradox: The bitter cold season afforded her a deeper understanding the beauty of being rooted in the heart of Christ.
08 Turn Upright
Turn Upright is an exploration of the phrase by G.K. Chesterton, "and the whole world turned over and came upright". As the risen Lord Jesus walked on the road to Emmaeus with his grieving disciples, who traveled unaware of who he was. Along this road, he unveiled the scriptures and how they all find their fulfillment in Himself. Yet, it was in the breaking of bread around the table, that there eyes were opened and they recognized their Lord. In the word and broken bread, our world is turned turned over and comes upright. This idea is echoed in Anglican Evening Collect, "Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and awaken hope, that we may know you as you are revealed in Scripture and the breaking of bread. Grant this for the sake of your love."
This song also echoes the prayer, "Phos Hilaron (O Gracious Light)". "When we see him as He is, we will praise Him as we ought" and our world is turned upright.
10 Plead for Me (Ascension Song)
The significance of the ascension of our Lord Jesus is often overlooked. Yet, in the ascension we have the promise that He goes to prepare a place for us. Because Jesus entered into the throne room of heaven as our great high priest, offering his own blood as the perfect sacrifice for our sins, we who are bound to him, are too brought into the very presence of heaven. We are lifted from the miry ground of earth and brought into the presence of the Holy One, who we can call Father. So, we press on to that eternal home.
12 Begone Unbelief
in her first reading of the Hymn by John Newton, Chelsea was struck by its profundity, its determination, and its desperate trust in the Lord. She wrote this song as a prayerful response to her own doubt, fear, and desperate need for Jesus.