Merry Christmas, help yourself to a FREE DOWNLOAD!

Check out my CD Freedom website for a free download of “Glory Glory” from my first CD, “Only One”. The mp3 will be free for the entire month of December, so make sure to share the link with any friends or family who have not yet heard my music.

Currently, “Guardian Grace” is out of stock on the website, but I just shipped a bunch to restock last week, so check back in a few days. If you live in St Louis or Chattanooga, there are plenty available for Christmas shopping from me directly or from my family in Tennessee. If you are desperate for a CD to ship asap, just send me an email, and I will get one in the mail.

Added Nov 30 3:09pm – Guardian Grace is back in stock on the CD Freedom site!

Fun “Guardian Grace” Promo Slide

pic by Erik Hersman. I did the edits with picnik.com

Guardian Grace LIVE! March 19 @ Chesterfield Pres

Ryan McMillen and Co over at Chesterfield Presbyterian have invited me to perform at their church on Friday March 19 at 7pm.  We are talking about an 9 piece band including the baddest horn section in whole the PCA, can you dig it?

Please mark your calendars and share this info with your friends and fam in the STL area.

My Refuge

This song was written to encapsulate a big part of the vision of New City Fellowship which reflects that commitment of God’s Kingdom to be a refuge for the fatherless, the alien, and the widow. The gospel of Jesus Christ is more than personal salvation, it’s a gospel about the restoration of the whole creation and a new world order of justice and mercy. Stylistically, I took this song in a soul/gospel/rock feel that is a kind of Staple Singers sitting in with the Beatles. Enjoy!

My Refuge

Chorus:
You’re my refuge
My refuge O Lord
You’re my refuge
In the midst of the storm
Though the mountains my fall
and the earth give way
You’ll still be my refuge
at the end of the day

Aliens and strangers
from across the lands
are here on our doorstep
living the best they can
Famine and warfare
corruption and greed
have made these people homeless
brothers and sisters in need
Lord you were my shelter
when I was a stranger too
now when I see injustice
I want to be a refuge like you

To Chorus

In the heart of the city
a young man is there
abandoned by his father
but nobody seems to care
everyday is a battle
a struggle to stay alive
he can’t trust nobody
if he wants to survive
Lord you were my Father
when I was an orphan too
now when I see injustice
I want to be a refuge like you

To Chorus

Lord you were arrested
and falsely accused
abandoned by your best friends
tortured and abused
willingly you suffered
and were killed on a tree
you endured this injustice
to save sinners like me
Lord you were my ransom
when I deserved to suffer too
you gave me your compassion
So I could be a refuge like you.

To Chorus

“My Refuge”
Words and Music by Kirk Ward
© 2008 Kirk Ward Music

Pics from the CD release party

Pics by Neil Das from the Dassler Effect. Click here to check out the full gallery.

Guardian Grace now available for purchase online!

I just received word that both my CDs are now available for purchase on Nimbit and CDFreedom as well as my profile pages on facebook and myspace. These services ship directly to you and can also accept credit cards.

CD Release Party Poster

Poster designed by Paul Heirendt, CD artwork by Ken Zarecki, Photo by Ed Crim

CD Release Party Planning

According to the UPS tracking site, my CDs should be arriving today. So it looks like we are going to be all set for next Friday’s party. December is an awful time to plan any kind of party.  Every one is already double booked with various family, church, and work related parties and stuff. Despite all that, I’ve received a lot of good feedback from folks who plan on coming. It should be a fun party whether you like music or not.

I just had lunch with my friend, Paul Heirendt, to talk about sound and tech support. Paul is one of those people who makes you feel safe knowing that they are around. Thanks, Paul!

There will be two sets of music, one with a full band and one just me and the acoustic. We hope to have text so that everyone can sing a long. The most of songs on the CD are intended for corporate worship, so I believe they are best performed as such. Please come anticipating that you will sing along.

DATE AND TIME CHANGE for Guardian Grace CD Release Party

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Guardian Grace CD Release Party has been changed to FRIDAY, December 11. The start time has also changed to 6:30pm. The location is still New City Fellowship in University City (in the cafeteria).

I apologize for any inconvenience that this has caused.

Pumpkin Bread and Tears at the Pre Releaese

Greg Bagby, James Ward, and Kirk Ward; pic by Erik Hersman

This past Monday, we had the “pre-release” party for my new CD, Guardian Grace. It was a pre-release, because the recording is completed, but it is still being manufactured by discmakers. (It’s supposed to ship this Wednesday.) We set up in “Rudy’s Room”, a little coffee bar in the fellowship wing of New City Fellowship in Chattanooga.

My mom made some delicious pumpkin bread that was inhaled by everyone there. You can tell that I am a serious pro because I made sure that my mom was there with homemade baked goodies. Seriously, I love it that my “fans” are people that I am relationally connected to and that are part of my community of Jesus-worshipers. However, it did make it a little hard to sing some of my songs without getting pretty weapy. When I looked out on the faces of friends and family who I know have gone through serious illness, trial, and loss and yet still hold to God’s unchanging hand, I could barely get the words out. Some of the songs on  Guardian Grace are the most emotionally vulnerable and transparent writing that I’ve ever done. I was affirmed after the show that these songs are valuable gifts to share with people who need to sing about their trials, the glory of God, and the power of the gospel.

Thank you, everyone who came and ordered a CD early.

Here’s a Facebook album of more pics that my bro-in-law Erik shot.