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Everyone loves to receive an invitation. It makes you feel welcome. It makes you feel loved. It obligates you to buy a present, but it also makes you feel special. In the Bible, going to Heaven is often illustrated as attending a party. And somehow, we're all invited to be the guest of honor. Many people manage to turn down the invitation, for various reasons, but it's the most meaningful invitation any of us will ever receive. Worship leader and singer songwriter Meredith Andrews debuts with an album that reminds us that this invitation to revel in the presence of God is something that none of us should pass up.

Though the album begins with "You Invite Me In," a cheerful, piano-based pop tune that serves as something of an invocation to the album, radio listeners have already been served up with a more-than-healthy dose of the lead single, "You're Not Alone," which appears twice later. Both songs reflect the style one can expect from the rest of the album. Soft spoken melodies, fairly simple arrangements and vulnerable vocals mark the experience of listening to this album. Fans of Jon McLaughlin, Scott Krippayne, and other piano-driven singer songwriters will feel right at home here as songs like "Treasure", "Deeper" and "Show Me What It Means" offer listeners a relaxing and enjoyable listen.

Because she's a worship leader, listeners may expect a corporate focus to the album. One might expect repetitive lyrics that speak in broad terms and shallowly address the expressions of a large group. And there are a few songs to that effect on the album, namely "New Song We Sing" and "Who Is Like You." However, Andrews also writes effectively from a personal perspective on songs like "You Invite Me In" and "Show Me What It Means." Overall, the album shows a good balance, tipping moreso to the individual than to the congregation as a whole.

The Invitation is packaged nicely with cover art that has a vintage styling to it and a liner booklet that includes all the lyrics, which is always a plus. Also, despite her website being perpetually redesigned and awaiting an official launch, the splash page in its place connects visitors to a detailed MySpace page and blog, while providing contact info, a music video, streaming audio and more. The album is also a part of the Word Records Love it or Return it program, which is an interesting initiative in and of itself.

For her first time out, Meredith Andrews seems to have quickly hit her stride. Listeners are very clear on who she is as an artist and an individual after one time through the album. Andrews expresses her heart with great talent and an honesty that is certain to strike a chord with listeners. The Invitation proves to be a debut worthy of attention and Andrews appears to have a bright career ahead of her.

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