Sometimes I feel like the worship team is in the giant glass bubble on stage, everyone watching, staring at us like monkeys in a cage, I feel very disconnected for some reason…today was one of those days.  Being on-stage with a pair of E2’s in my ears I try to watch the congregation pretty closely…AND read my chord charts, play my keyboard, sing, keep the team together, make sure the slides are moving forward correctly, and keep some level of eye contact with the sound guy…Goodness, how in the world does my brain function in this environment, much less worship in it, ugh!

Some Sundays I find it so easy to melt in the presence of the Lord, the worship seems to flow and move on its own, then other days (like today) it goes ok, but you still feel like something wasn’t quite right…and it really doesn’t help matters when you look out into the audience and see people that you know who understand sound and what it should sound like  cringing from their seat, that is NOT a good sign and a little bit distracting.

The truth is that I don’t really have a clue what we really sound like LIVE from week to week, we record every service, but you know it is not the same as the live sound. It frustrates me very much to feel like something went wrong but not really be able to put my finger on it so I can fix it.  What do you other worship leaders do to help with this problem… feedback??

Sorry… it’s been too long since my last posting

We started a new series for the next 4 weeks – “Live Out Loud”

- 5 minute Countdown

- Big House – Audio Adreneline

-Wake up – Leeland

-Welcome and prayer

-Take me in – Kutless

-How great is our God – Chris Tomlin

Offering – Until the Whole World Hears – Casting Crown

Message – Live out Loud series -  Using the story of Joseph from scripture, the message focused on the seasons of our lives that God uses to prepare us for important works that He has for us. We are often unaware of how a difficult time can prepare us for a great future work that God is leading us to.

Altar time/Benediction – Alabastar Jar – Desperation Band

SUMMARY: With 40 seconds left on the countdown our lights were not working correctly, so I had to run the length of our sanctuary (a former full basketball court), then up lots of stairs into the booth, the problem was bypassed for the service, but we desperately need a new controller! Thankfully, the first song was being led by JT. I managed to make it back to the stage with 2 seconds to spare. The worship went good and the message was great. JC, the drummer, told me later that he had dropped his sticks during a song, but I never noticed.

See more setlists at The Worship Community

• 5 minute countdown – Using videos from Muddy River media
• I am Free – Newsboys
• Oh Holy Night – Barlow Girl – This song was fun and went over well with the congregation
• Welcome
• Advent Candle Lighting
• Born in Bethlehem – Third Day
• Revelation Song – Kari Jobe
• Offering – Flute Solo – Silent Night
• Scripture Reading – Luke 1:68-79
• Video
• Message – “The way of Peace” Pastor spoke about “Peace on Earth”… it is available to us through Christ
• I heard the Bells on Christmas Day – Casting Crowns – Had a lot of compliments on this song,  it was the perfect song for reflection after the message.

The entire service was very sweet, a powerful message and powerful worship, the Lord is good!

We spent all of last week putting up our decorations. We made 2 giant spandex Christmas trees that stretch from the ceiling to the floor (about 25′), they have LED lights shining up through the center. We also built a frame with a Nativity silhouette and we are shining LED lights through the back, the lights change throughout the service so it is an awesome effect. I will try to get pictures up next week.

For more on church services around the world, go to Fred Mckinnon’s website.

I ALMOST FORGOT…We had a great guest Flute Player this week that did a great job, it’s amazing what one new instrument can add to the worship. My favorite song was Revelation Song with the flute, Loved it! Thanks to Stacy Gregory

You are Worthy of My Praise – Jeremy Camp

Friend of God – Israel Houghton

WELCOME

LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE

Where You go I go – Kim Walker

What child is this? – Mercy Me

OFFERING: Born in Bethlehem – Third Day – After doing What child is this? we started this song waaaayy tooo sloooowww, but the team stayed together and the congregation never knew.

Scripture Reading: Matthew 28:19

Video

Message:  As Christians we are called not solely to convert people , but to make disciples. This was our minister, Claire’s “call” message. She had to give her testimony and minister from it as part of the Ordination process.

Consuming Fire – Hillsong United for Altar Time

NOTES: This was Thanksgiving weekend so we were down in numbers, but all went well. We didn’t have practice this week, so we put it together Sunday morning before.

Go Here to see more set lists from all over the World at Fredmckinnon.com

Sometimes I just get in this wierd mind-funk and I don’t always know why.  I know it must be because I get away from my time with the Lord…I pray daily, but I get busy and they are usually my own selfish, quick prayers (Lord, I need this, please fix it!) I have realized that if a gap forms between the Lord and I, then I become very cranky and stressed, Can you relate?  Being in a leadership role in a church, you think I might have it all figured out, but that is so far from the truth,  and I have a revelation for you… most church leaders don’t!  Ha!

This morning  I wanted to take the time to be close to the Lord.  I get so busy “tasking” that my quiet time really suffers, and the result is that I suffer, which makes everything else fall apart, ministry, family, etc…  I really needed to connect back to Him, so I went honestly with repentance asking the Lord to visit me and He came!  I know that when I stray, I begin to lose my joy and peace, the Lord began to show me this morning that even though He is still with me, when I don’t spend the time with Him that I need to, then I begin to walk in the flesh more and more, not walking in the spirit as we are called to, which draws us away from Him, ever so subtly.

“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”  Galatians 5:16

“Lusts of the Flesh” sounds so bad!    And when we read this, we automatically think the worst of sins: adultery, stealing, murder, etc…but fulfilling the flesh includes everything we do that goes against what the Word and the Holy Spirit are telling us to do.  For someone who has physical ailments  it may be eating junk food, it could be sleeping in and being late for your job,  or being hateful to your spouse or children, anything that goes against what God is leading you to do.

I want to point out is that this does NOT include our salvation, it is about our everyday walk with the Lord after conversion.”There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:1

When we give our lives over to the Lord, we begin a walk where Spirit and flesh compete, we must practice living out of our Spirit. The more we overcome, the easier it gets to follow the leading of the Lord… walking in the Spirit.

How do we practice? Pray, Read the Word, Fast. When I have struggled with something, fasting has been one of the greatest gifts to help me overcome something in my life, it is the ultimate way to squash the flesh and strengthen the spirit. It does not have to be food, but anything that you know takes time away from the Lord, TV, sweets, computer… you know what it is. (One time I fasted Sunday dresses! I wore the same outfit to church every Sunday for a month, but that’s another post)

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.” Romans 8:5

When that still, small voice of the Lord whispers to you, LISTEN, follow His direction in the little things and His voice will become louder for you.  When He says, “Hey, put that grocery cart in the cart corral,” or “Go and tell your son that you are sorry you yelled at him,” or even “Get off the computer and go to bed, it’s midnight,” LISTEN to Him and obey, because when a life-altering decision is before you, then you will very clearly hear Him say, “This is the way, walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:21)

Our service order…

Forever (Chris Tomlin):  John led in with a 15-second drum solo, very cool

Enough (Barlow Girl)

Welcome and prayer

Bless the Lord (Jeff Deyo) – Back-up singer, Johnny shared lead on this one

Our great God (Todd Agnew)

Offering – Kids choir sang 3 songs

Scripture Reading: Luke 17:11-19

Message:  “Roll out the red carpet”  About being thankful, how blessed we are. Hollywood is good at showing appreciation to each other through their many awards shows, we need to do the same for Christ in our lives.

Altar/Reflection worship time: How great is our God (Chris Tomlin)

NOTES: I led on every song, except for Bless the Lord, Johnny led on half of it.  We had a few musicians out this week, but all went well. Our head Sound Tech had H1N1 last week, but he made it in Sunday to run sound…Prayer works, I was very Thankful to see him!

Visit Fred McKinnon’s blog to see other set lists from around the world!

Oh how much we need the Lord, (is that a song? …hhhmmm)      Last week we took a visit to the nearest shelter to interview a few people about the circumstances they are in and to find out what we, as a church can do for them.

The sermon for this past Sunday was about being a witness, how the church is asleep on the job, and that we can do a better job of fulfilling our calling to go out and preach the good news of the Christ. The plan was to go to the Mission and interview a few people for 30-45 minutes about their needs and make a video to emphasize the message. Of course God’s plan is always greater than our own, we ended up being there for just over 2 hours and had the opportunity to minister in-depth with a couple of those we talked with.

There are several things that I brought from this encounter that I want to share:

- These people had so many questions for us, it amazed me how little they really knew about Christianity and the Bible.  We were pretty shocked at some of the things that were asked about basic biblical principles. We assume in our culture that people know about Christ, but the truth is they don’t and what little they do know about the true God is warped and distorted by bad church experiences, new age philosophy, and false teaching. There are so many lies and deception in our world floating around out there, but the truth of God’s word is simple and powerful, we must wave it over our heads like a sword going into battle, because that’s what it is!

- What we think some people need and what they truly need are worlds apart.  A few basics like unconditional love and acceptance are always true, but as far as physical needs and ministry, every person is different and we cannot group people together and assume anything…Our tendency is to try and help people to achieve what we think is important without really trying to get to know someone and finding out what their needs are.

-Many of us have a mindset to get people to our church or to the altar as quickly as possible, which does have it’s place, but if a person does not have an encounter with God, they are weak and find it very difficult to move forward in their walk with the Lord. If we truly reach out to them in love and concern for them without an agenda, then that allows God to do the work in their life that is needed…when we move, then He can move. When Christ healed the blind man (among others) He went straight to meeting his immediate need and from there the door to ministry was open,  the man’s life was changed and his heart was moved.

I have been involved with prison ministries and mission work for several years.  The most effective ministry I have ever seen is not preaching or singing or standing on a stage in front of a group (that is the church and Christianity that many of those who are lost have seen many times over) but it is one on one love and compassion, not judging, but extending grace to those who need it just as we have been extended grace from Christ himself.

We need the leadership of Jesus to truly know what the needs of those around us are, our own reasoning and tradition won’t bring change, but Jesus can if we put on Christ and look to Him for guidance and direction.  I heard one of my favorite ministers say one time that the enemy has a plan and strategy for destruction, so we as Christians must also know God’s strategy and plan for life and put it into action.

“This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. 13 Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see… clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ…” Romans 13:11-14

This is a video we did for this past Sunday service showing what it would be like if only one person did all of the work in the church. It stars out Associate Pastor, Stephen D.

I have not done a very good job of keeping up with our weekly set-list, here is a list of some songs we have done over the last few weeks…

Friend of God

Alabaster Jar-Christ for the Nations

Hold me now-Jennifer Knapp

Our great God – Todd Agnew

Look what You’ve done for me – Tree 63

Let it rise – Casting Crowns

Sing to the King

Sweet Holy Spirit – Newworldson

Still Listening – Third Day

Consuming Fire (fan into flame, a passion for Your name…)

Amazing Grace, my chains