The NCS Theme Song

In the years since the New Canaan Society began meeting in 1995 as the “Men’s Friday Group,” various sayings, credos, and mottos have been adopted that reflect our DNA and serve to unite us in brotherhood.

For example, in 2002, NCS adopted the credo “Live Pure, Speak Truth, Right Wrong, Follow the King” (based upon creeds of the Knights of the Roundtable from Idylls of the King by Alfred, Lord Tennyson).

In 2007, the song “Knowing You” by Graham Kendrick was recognized as the unofficial NCS theme song. The song was chosen because of the uniquely relevant message it expresses for marketplace men who spend years climbing the ladder of what the world defines as “success” only to find that their ladder was leaning against the wrong wall.  It is based on Philippians 3:7-11.

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

It was also a favorite of David Bloom, the NCS brother and television journalist who died suddenly of a pulmonary embolism while covering the Iraq War. He was only 39.

“Knowing You” was regularly performed by the worship band—affectionately known as “Foxy and the Hounds” because of worship leader Dan Fox—that played at Friday meetings for over a decade and has been included in the set list of bands playing at NCS retreats.

In 2010, Graham Kendrick performed it at the NCS National Retreat held at the Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia, when he travelled with his band from the U.K. to lead worship along with Paul Baloche. At that Retreat, Graham also introduced a song he had written for the Retreat titled “Mighty Warrior“.

All I once held dear, built my life upon
All this world reveres, and wars to own
All I once thought gain I have counted loss
Spent and worthless now, compared to this

Knowing you, Jesus
Knowing you, there is no greater thing
You’re my all, you’re the best
You’re my joy, my righteousness
And I love you, Lord

Now my heart’s desire is to know you more
To be found in you and known as yours
To possess by faith what I could not earn
All-surpassing gift of righteousness

Oh, to know the power of your risen life
And to know You in Your sufferings
To become like you in your death, my Lord
So with you to live and never die

Graham Kendrick
Copyright © 1993 Make Way Music