Here's what went down at Community Gospel Church this week...
THE SERVICE:
I Am New [Jonathan Eckberg]
Welcome/Announcements
Offering
When I Think About the Lord [James Huey]
Take My Life (Holiness) [Scott Underwood]
Like An Avalanche [Joel Houston/Dylan Thomas]
Take My Life and Let it Be [Francis Havergal/Cesar Malan/H.A. Hendon]
Message
I Am New [Eckberg]
THE TEAM:
Jonathan Eckberg - guitar/vocals
Randy Hepler - bass
Staci Smith - vocals
Larry Ingle - vocals
Dale Gramm - audio
Jeff Hutchens - visual
THE NOTES:
This was week number two of the "Three" series, a study of Colossians 3:1-17. Pastor Jordan preached verses 5-11, discussing the things we are called to put aside and the spiritual disciplines that lead us forward in those areas. We also introduced our new theme song for the series.
THE SONGS:
I Am New - This is a new song that touches on the themes of each of the four weeks of our Colossians study. It's got a simple chorus that people picked up quickly and easily. We did this as the opener because we intended to use it as our closing song and wanted to give folks a chance to hear it once before singing along. So far we've received a good response on it. I'll look forward to hearing what people think.
When I Think About the Lord - We introduced this song to our congregation a few weeks ago and we are now starting to work it into the rotation of songs. NOTE: I am yet to find a version of this song the way we do it. The way Huey does it is very slow and contemplative. The Shane and Shane version is a medium tempo song. I picked this song up from Dave Hunt when I was in Nashville and he did a more rocked out version (in my iTunes search I ran across a recording by Caleb Carruth which is similar to the version I learned from Dave). We actually pick the tempo up even more and make it a song of celebration.
[album - When I Think About the Lord - James Huey]
[album - Pages - Shane & Shane]
[album - Darkness Falls - Caleb Carruth]
Take My Life (Holiness) - This is one of those "old standard" worship choruses. We take it and rework it a little bit. It becomes an uptempo, almost bluesy-style tune. By switching the feel of it up we are able to allow people to connect with the plea of forming, transforming, and conforming of our hearts, minds, and will to that of God. There is a wonderful theme in this song, but the traditional arrangement seems pretty well played out. Again, we don't do anything dramatic with it - we maintain the exact melody and chord structure - we just dress it up in a slightly different package to tie into our people.
[album - Take My Life - Vineyard Voices: The Worship Leader Series]
Like An Avalanche - We've been doing this Hillsong United tune for the past year and it's a song that the congregation has really latched on to. Sometimes you introduce songs that you really think are good and you really think work for where the people are, but they just never work out and people never start singing them. Fortunately, this song caught on well. A lot of our people seem to get into this song pretty deeply.
[album - Aftermath - Hillsong United]
Take My Life and Let it Be - we do this song very true to the traditional chorus. Our intent was to have our piano player lead this one, but she was knocked out with the flu on Sunday morning. So Larry and Staci stepped up and led it. They did a phenomenal job.
I Am New - I took an extra minute or so after the message to teach the song to the congregation and to actually walk them through it just a little bit. I did this so that as we continue to sing it in the coming weeks they will be able to feel the full weight of what we are moving towards and the tie to the messages.
So that was our morning. To see what others around the country are singing please head over to the Sunday setlists at: theworshipcommunity.com.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
Sunday Setlist // 2.12.12
Take a look at what happened at Community Gospel Church this weekend...
THE SERVICE:
Glory to God Forever [Steve Fee]
Welcome // Announcements
Offering
Glory to Your Name [Dave Hunt]
Once Again [Matt Redman]
Our God [Chris Tomlin/Jason Reeves/Matt Redman/Jonas Myrin]
Consuming Fire [Tim Hughes]
Message
Arms that Hold the Universe [Steve Fee]
THE TEAM:
Jonathan Eckberg - guitar/vocals
Beth Stemble - piano
Cyndi Leamon - vocals
Alli Hutchens - vocals
Mike Stemble - audio
Brent Wiseman - visual
THE NOTES:
This week we kicked off a new series that Pastor Jordan Muck is preaching called, "Three". This is a four-week study of Colossians 3:1-17. It should be an exciting study on the heart of our actions as believers. Week one looked at the first three verses and discussed the setting of our hearts on things above, the fixing of our minds on the things above, and the security that is found in Christ.
THE SONGS:
Glory to God Forever - This is a great song. It's very simple and holds a wealth of theological truth to it. I love opening with this one. It has really good energy to it and our people have always grabbed a strong hold of it.
[album: Hope Rising - Fee]
Glory to Your Name - I have talked about this song many times in the past. It is by a phenomenal worship leader named Dave Hunt. He lead at the church I attended when I lived in Nashville, TN. Dave is simply one of the most genuine and humble worship leaders I have ever encountered. This is one of his songs that I love!
[album: Shattered - Dave Hunt]
Once Again - This is another older song that I love. It has a tremendous focus on the cross and and the humility, gratitude, and response that simply must flow from the observation of it. I do have to note though, that I always change one word of the song. The bridge goes like this: "Thank you for the cross // Thank you for the cross // Thank you for the cross, my friend". I've never been comfortable with the word friend there. I understand what Matt Redman is trying to communicate, but in my mind (if nowhere else) it seems to diminish the power of the act of sacrifice that took place there. So whenever I have done this song I always change the word "friend" to "king". Some might feel this is unnecessary or "nit-picking", but it's one of those things that I feel a conviction about so I change it.
[album: The Friendship and the Fear - Matt Redman]
Our God - Everybody knows this song. I probably don't need to talk much about it. I would have no problem doing a whole service where we sing just the bridge to this one.
[album: And If Our God is For Us - Chris Tomlin]
Consuming Fire - I felt like this was a great song to end the set with this week since the focus on the message was on the centering of ourselves on things above and not on this earth.
[album: When Silence Falls - Tim Hughes]
The Arms that Hold the Universe - It was a Steve Fee kind of morning. This was our closing song. Jordan talked to me early in the week about doing this one after the message, so I worked it up. We didn't really have time to learn it as a team so I played it solo.
[album: Hope Rising - Fee]
For more information on Community Gospel Church please visit us at:
www.cgccommunity.com
or on facebook at:
http://www.facebook.com/cgccommunity
To see what other brothers and sisters are singing visit the sunday setlist at www.theworshipcommunity.com.
THE SERVICE:
Glory to God Forever [Steve Fee]
Welcome // Announcements
Offering
Glory to Your Name [Dave Hunt]
Once Again [Matt Redman]
Our God [Chris Tomlin/Jason Reeves/Matt Redman/Jonas Myrin]
Consuming Fire [Tim Hughes]
Message
Arms that Hold the Universe [Steve Fee]
THE TEAM:
Jonathan Eckberg - guitar/vocals
Beth Stemble - piano
Cyndi Leamon - vocals
Alli Hutchens - vocals
Mike Stemble - audio
Brent Wiseman - visual
THE NOTES:
This week we kicked off a new series that Pastor Jordan Muck is preaching called, "Three". This is a four-week study of Colossians 3:1-17. It should be an exciting study on the heart of our actions as believers. Week one looked at the first three verses and discussed the setting of our hearts on things above, the fixing of our minds on the things above, and the security that is found in Christ.
THE SONGS:
Glory to God Forever - This is a great song. It's very simple and holds a wealth of theological truth to it. I love opening with this one. It has really good energy to it and our people have always grabbed a strong hold of it.
[album: Hope Rising - Fee]
Glory to Your Name - I have talked about this song many times in the past. It is by a phenomenal worship leader named Dave Hunt. He lead at the church I attended when I lived in Nashville, TN. Dave is simply one of the most genuine and humble worship leaders I have ever encountered. This is one of his songs that I love!
[album: Shattered - Dave Hunt]
Once Again - This is another older song that I love. It has a tremendous focus on the cross and and the humility, gratitude, and response that simply must flow from the observation of it. I do have to note though, that I always change one word of the song. The bridge goes like this: "Thank you for the cross // Thank you for the cross // Thank you for the cross, my friend". I've never been comfortable with the word friend there. I understand what Matt Redman is trying to communicate, but in my mind (if nowhere else) it seems to diminish the power of the act of sacrifice that took place there. So whenever I have done this song I always change the word "friend" to "king". Some might feel this is unnecessary or "nit-picking", but it's one of those things that I feel a conviction about so I change it.
[album: The Friendship and the Fear - Matt Redman]
Our God - Everybody knows this song. I probably don't need to talk much about it. I would have no problem doing a whole service where we sing just the bridge to this one.
[album: And If Our God is For Us - Chris Tomlin]
Consuming Fire - I felt like this was a great song to end the set with this week since the focus on the message was on the centering of ourselves on things above and not on this earth.
[album: When Silence Falls - Tim Hughes]
The Arms that Hold the Universe - It was a Steve Fee kind of morning. This was our closing song. Jordan talked to me early in the week about doing this one after the message, so I worked it up. We didn't really have time to learn it as a team so I played it solo.
[album: Hope Rising - Fee]
For more information on Community Gospel Church please visit us at:
www.cgccommunity.com
or on facebook at:
http://www.facebook.com/cgccommunity
To see what other brothers and sisters are singing visit the sunday setlist at www.theworshipcommunity.com.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Sunday Setlist / 2.5.12
What did Sunday morning look like at Community Gospel Church? Check it out...
THE SERVICE:
I Sing the Mighty Power of God (E) [Watts // arr. Jonathan Eckberg)
Welcome/Announcements/Prayer for Students at Kalahari
Offering
Great is the Lord (G) [Chris Brown]
Hallelujah To My King (E) [Paul Baloche//Brenton Brown]
You Never Let Go (G) [Matt Redman//Beth Redman]
The Church (C) [Chris Brown//Matt Brock]
Message - Del
Dismiss
THE TEAM:
Jonathan Eckberg - guitar/vocals
Beth Stemble - piano
Cyndi Leamon - vocals
Jessica Yoder - vocals
Alli Hutchens - vocals
Kevin Schmidt - audio
Vance Czesar - visual
NOTES:
With Pastor Jordan at the Kalahari conference with the Velocity crew we were fortunate enough to have a good friend of CGC bringing us the Word this week. Del Fehsenfeld, of Life Action Ministries, taught on a Jacobs statement from Genesis 28:16 where he states, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it." Just a great message of God's presence and work constantly surrounding us.
I Sing the Mighty Power of God - A few years ago I took the words to this Isaac Watts hymn and updated the melody for it and added a simple "chorus" section. I've recorded this song for a couple of albums, but it never seemed to fit the overall feel -- I'm still hoping to do a record at some point with this song on it. I love the words of this song and praise for the creator God who "formed the creatures with his word//and then pronounced them good". The third verse is a great reminder of how God makes himself known to the whole world through his creation (Rom. 1:20). This is excellent theology which is astounding when you consider that in 1715 Isaac Watts included this song in a hymnbook for children!
Great is the Lord - One of my favorite worship bands out right now is Elevation Worship. All of their stuff is very clean, theologically sound, singable, and purposive. They write for specific sermon series' and events in their church. It serves as a model, in those areas, that we are emulating with our approach at CGC. Part of our reasoning for slowly working toward a more "original music" approach is to have our people singing songs about OUR experiences with the Lord. To praise Him not only for what he does globally, but for what he is doing in our midst. I think this adds a great deal of depth to our times as a congregation. That's an aside that has nothing to do with this song! This is a song that serves as a general call to worship.
[album: Elevation Worship - God With Us]
Hallelujah To My King - Paul Baloche is one of the guys out there that writes a lot of really good theology. This is a tremendous song of the grace and forgiveness of God that is poured out on His children through the name of Jesus Christ. If you're looking for a really powerful song of gratitude for the love of our savior then you should check this song out.
[album: Paul Baloche - Our God Saves]
You Never Let Go - We added this song late in the week and it turned out to be a good choice as it flowed with the message nicely. One of the hardest things for me as a worship leader is to construct worship sets when I don't know the preacher and I don't know the topic. I like to flow from the start of the worship set to the end and have a seamless move into the message. So I feel very fortunate that today's set, and this song in particular, worked with Pastor Del's message.
[album: Matt Redman - Beautiful News]
The Church - This is another Elevation Worship tune. I've always loved it as a call to action. The bridge kicks my but every time: "Fill our hearts with Your compassion // Let our love be active here // Fill our hearts with Your compassion // Let our love be real". Love it.
[album: Elevation Worship - Kingdom Come]
That's it. See you next week!
THE SERVICE:
I Sing the Mighty Power of God (E) [Watts // arr. Jonathan Eckberg)
Welcome/Announcements/Prayer for Students at Kalahari
Offering
Great is the Lord (G) [Chris Brown]
Hallelujah To My King (E) [Paul Baloche//Brenton Brown]
You Never Let Go (G) [Matt Redman//Beth Redman]
The Church (C) [Chris Brown//Matt Brock]
Message - Del
Dismiss
THE TEAM:
Jonathan Eckberg - guitar/vocals
Beth Stemble - piano
Cyndi Leamon - vocals
Jessica Yoder - vocals
Alli Hutchens - vocals
Kevin Schmidt - audio
Vance Czesar - visual
NOTES:
With Pastor Jordan at the Kalahari conference with the Velocity crew we were fortunate enough to have a good friend of CGC bringing us the Word this week. Del Fehsenfeld, of Life Action Ministries, taught on a Jacobs statement from Genesis 28:16 where he states, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it." Just a great message of God's presence and work constantly surrounding us.
I Sing the Mighty Power of God - A few years ago I took the words to this Isaac Watts hymn and updated the melody for it and added a simple "chorus" section. I've recorded this song for a couple of albums, but it never seemed to fit the overall feel -- I'm still hoping to do a record at some point with this song on it. I love the words of this song and praise for the creator God who "formed the creatures with his word//and then pronounced them good". The third verse is a great reminder of how God makes himself known to the whole world through his creation (Rom. 1:20). This is excellent theology which is astounding when you consider that in 1715 Isaac Watts included this song in a hymnbook for children!
Great is the Lord - One of my favorite worship bands out right now is Elevation Worship. All of their stuff is very clean, theologically sound, singable, and purposive. They write for specific sermon series' and events in their church. It serves as a model, in those areas, that we are emulating with our approach at CGC. Part of our reasoning for slowly working toward a more "original music" approach is to have our people singing songs about OUR experiences with the Lord. To praise Him not only for what he does globally, but for what he is doing in our midst. I think this adds a great deal of depth to our times as a congregation. That's an aside that has nothing to do with this song! This is a song that serves as a general call to worship.
[album: Elevation Worship - God With Us]
Hallelujah To My King - Paul Baloche is one of the guys out there that writes a lot of really good theology. This is a tremendous song of the grace and forgiveness of God that is poured out on His children through the name of Jesus Christ. If you're looking for a really powerful song of gratitude for the love of our savior then you should check this song out.
[album: Paul Baloche - Our God Saves]
You Never Let Go - We added this song late in the week and it turned out to be a good choice as it flowed with the message nicely. One of the hardest things for me as a worship leader is to construct worship sets when I don't know the preacher and I don't know the topic. I like to flow from the start of the worship set to the end and have a seamless move into the message. So I feel very fortunate that today's set, and this song in particular, worked with Pastor Del's message.
[album: Matt Redman - Beautiful News]
The Church - This is another Elevation Worship tune. I've always loved it as a call to action. The bridge kicks my but every time: "Fill our hearts with Your compassion // Let our love be active here // Fill our hearts with Your compassion // Let our love be real". Love it.
[album: Elevation Worship - Kingdom Come]
That's it. See you next week!
Monday, January 30, 2012
Sunday Setlist / 1.29.12
Here's a look at the 10:10 service at Community Gospel Church in Bremen, IN:
THE SET:
When I think about the Lord (james huey)
Welcome & Announcements
Offering
Blessed Be Your Name (matt redman/beth redman)
Holy Nation (jordan muck/jonathan eckberg)
Reflection // Meditation
May The Words of My Mouth (tim hughes)
Message
Communion
Dismiss
THE TEAM:
Jonathan Eckberg - vocals/guitar
Beth Stemble - piano
Larry Ingle - vocals
Alli Hutchens - vocals
Kay Smith - vocals
Dale Gramm - audio
Perri Helpler - visual
NOTES:
This was the final week in our 1P29C (that is, 1 Peter 2:9 Christian) series. It was such a great morning of worship and fellowship. We took communion as a family which was phenomenal. Pastor Jordan left the communion table "open" after the service to allow families to bring their children up and teach them what communion is all about. We have an amazing children's ministry, but the downside to that is that we don't have many younger children in the service. So by doing what we did, it allowed parents to decide if their child had accepted Christ and was at an age where he/she could understand and legitimately engage in the sacraments. It was a cool experience to see a few of our families teaching their children about the beauty of communion. I think, in a child's mind, it transforms the act from "snack time" to the deep and meaningful experience that it is supposed to be. Awesome.
Musically, the set list was "older" than a typical week for us. The only song that was written after 2001 is the one we wrote for this series! I could't care less about when a song was written. If it's a good song with solid theology and it fits the movement of the service and the message of the day then I'm game. It doesn't matter to me if it's a 70's praise chorus, a hymn, or an original song - the main point is does it move us where God is leading.
When I Think About the Lord - this is a song I've done for years. I've never really known who wrote it (I had to look it up before I posted this). It's a song I learned from Dave Hunt in my time attending Rolling Hills Community Church in Nashville, TN. I love the simplicity of this song. "When I think about the Lord // It makes me wanna shout // Hallelujah, thank you Jesus // Lord You're worthy of all the glory // and all the honor and all the praise"
Blessed Be Your Name - While this is a song that is greatly overdone among church circles. However, on the occasions that we do break it out I'm reminded as to the reasons WHY it is overdone. It's just a great song. I don't think I even need to comment on this one.
Holy Nation - I mentioned last week that this was a song written specifically for this series. That means that, of course, we had to do it this week. People have really caught on to it and I hope it creates an avenue for people to link back to the messages of this series.
May the Words of My Mouth - This is one of my favorite "personal" worship songs. When I'm sitting at home with my guitar worshipping, chances are that this song will be played. It's a great song about the joy we have in abandoning all this world tells us we need and being fulfilled in committing to follow wherever God leads - and doing so for no other reason that he calls us to do so.
To learn more about Community Gospel Church please visit cgccommunity.com.
THE SET:
When I think about the Lord (james huey)
Welcome & Announcements
Offering
Blessed Be Your Name (matt redman/beth redman)
Holy Nation (jordan muck/jonathan eckberg)
Reflection // Meditation
May The Words of My Mouth (tim hughes)
Message
Communion
Dismiss
THE TEAM:
Jonathan Eckberg - vocals/guitar
Beth Stemble - piano
Larry Ingle - vocals
Alli Hutchens - vocals
Kay Smith - vocals
Dale Gramm - audio
Perri Helpler - visual
NOTES:
This was the final week in our 1P29C (that is, 1 Peter 2:9 Christian) series. It was such a great morning of worship and fellowship. We took communion as a family which was phenomenal. Pastor Jordan left the communion table "open" after the service to allow families to bring their children up and teach them what communion is all about. We have an amazing children's ministry, but the downside to that is that we don't have many younger children in the service. So by doing what we did, it allowed parents to decide if their child had accepted Christ and was at an age where he/she could understand and legitimately engage in the sacraments. It was a cool experience to see a few of our families teaching their children about the beauty of communion. I think, in a child's mind, it transforms the act from "snack time" to the deep and meaningful experience that it is supposed to be. Awesome.
Musically, the set list was "older" than a typical week for us. The only song that was written after 2001 is the one we wrote for this series! I could't care less about when a song was written. If it's a good song with solid theology and it fits the movement of the service and the message of the day then I'm game. It doesn't matter to me if it's a 70's praise chorus, a hymn, or an original song - the main point is does it move us where God is leading.
When I Think About the Lord - this is a song I've done for years. I've never really known who wrote it (I had to look it up before I posted this). It's a song I learned from Dave Hunt in my time attending Rolling Hills Community Church in Nashville, TN. I love the simplicity of this song. "When I think about the Lord // It makes me wanna shout // Hallelujah, thank you Jesus // Lord You're worthy of all the glory // and all the honor and all the praise"
Blessed Be Your Name - While this is a song that is greatly overdone among church circles. However, on the occasions that we do break it out I'm reminded as to the reasons WHY it is overdone. It's just a great song. I don't think I even need to comment on this one.
Holy Nation - I mentioned last week that this was a song written specifically for this series. That means that, of course, we had to do it this week. People have really caught on to it and I hope it creates an avenue for people to link back to the messages of this series.
May the Words of My Mouth - This is one of my favorite "personal" worship songs. When I'm sitting at home with my guitar worshipping, chances are that this song will be played. It's a great song about the joy we have in abandoning all this world tells us we need and being fulfilled in committing to follow wherever God leads - and doing so for no other reason that he calls us to do so.
To learn more about Community Gospel Church please visit cgccommunity.com.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Sunday Setlist / 1.22.12
Holy Cow!
Welcome back to me, I guess, huh? It's been a crazy last 12 months. In that span I: started a new job at CGC, started into seminary on a full-time basis, got engaged, got married, and a bunch of other stuff happened. All that is simply my way of saying that I've had a lot on my plate and, therefore, have not blogged at all.
But I'm back!
So, without further ado, here's what went down at CGC on January 22, 2012
WORSHIP LEADERS:
Jonathan Eckberg - guitar/vocals
Beth Stemble - piano
Larry Ingle - vocals
Alli Hutchens - vocals
Kay Smith - vocals
SETLIST:
Everything Glorious (david crowder)
Welcome
Offering
Marvelous Light (charlie hall)
Heirs (jordan muck/jonathan eckberg)
Holy Nation (muck/eckberg)
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
Message
Let us Shine (eckberg)
NOTES:
We are currently operating without a drummer. A year ago we had two drummers in the church and due to different circumstances we are currently drummerless. While I would prefer to have a full band behind us, it has been a nice change to dial everything back and approach the sets from a fresh perspective. However, if you are a drummer in the South Bend area looking for a church to plug into then I've got a spot for ya! :)
We are in the 3rd week of our "1P29C" series. This is a four week study of 1 Peter 2:9. The past two weeks our focus has been on the believer as the "Chosen People" and the "Royal Priesthood". This week we stepped into the believer as the "Holy Nation".
Everything Glorious - One of my favorite Crowder worship tunes. Just a good recognition of the greatness of God and the fact that he makes everything glorious and we are his... so what does that make us? (hint: transitive property states that if A = B, and B = C, then A = C). David Crowder is crazy smart. He's the only worship leader I know that incorporates mathematic equations into his songs.
Marvelous Light - Much of the message for this week focused on the imagery of light. So this standard was kind of a no-brainer. It's a great upbeat kick-off to the set.
Heirs - this is a song that Pastor Jordan and I wrote a couple years ago that was released on our Until We're Kings album, "Heirs", last October.
Holy Nation - I wrote this song for this series. Each line of the verse corresponds to a sermon topic from one of the weeks. We've been singing it for the past few weeks and are using it as a theme song, of sorts for the entire series.
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross - one of my favorite hymns.
Let Us Shine - Pastor Jordan closed the service with a quote from D.L. Moody that says, "Lighthouses blow no horns, they just shine." We are called to be the light of the world and to reflect the glory of Christ to those around us. As I was searching for a suitable closing song to encompass the message I couldn't come up with anything that fit as well as I wanted. So I decided it would be easier just to write a song. I used a number of points from the sermon and it turned out really well.
Welcome back to me, I guess, huh? It's been a crazy last 12 months. In that span I: started a new job at CGC, started into seminary on a full-time basis, got engaged, got married, and a bunch of other stuff happened. All that is simply my way of saying that I've had a lot on my plate and, therefore, have not blogged at all.
But I'm back!
So, without further ado, here's what went down at CGC on January 22, 2012
WORSHIP LEADERS:
Jonathan Eckberg - guitar/vocals
Beth Stemble - piano
Larry Ingle - vocals
Alli Hutchens - vocals
Kay Smith - vocals
SETLIST:
Everything Glorious (david crowder)
Welcome
Offering
Marvelous Light (charlie hall)
Heirs (jordan muck/jonathan eckberg)
Holy Nation (muck/eckberg)
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
Message
Let us Shine (eckberg)
NOTES:
We are currently operating without a drummer. A year ago we had two drummers in the church and due to different circumstances we are currently drummerless. While I would prefer to have a full band behind us, it has been a nice change to dial everything back and approach the sets from a fresh perspective. However, if you are a drummer in the South Bend area looking for a church to plug into then I've got a spot for ya! :)
We are in the 3rd week of our "1P29C" series. This is a four week study of 1 Peter 2:9. The past two weeks our focus has been on the believer as the "Chosen People" and the "Royal Priesthood". This week we stepped into the believer as the "Holy Nation".
Everything Glorious - One of my favorite Crowder worship tunes. Just a good recognition of the greatness of God and the fact that he makes everything glorious and we are his... so what does that make us? (hint: transitive property states that if A = B, and B = C, then A = C). David Crowder is crazy smart. He's the only worship leader I know that incorporates mathematic equations into his songs.
Marvelous Light - Much of the message for this week focused on the imagery of light. So this standard was kind of a no-brainer. It's a great upbeat kick-off to the set.
Heirs - this is a song that Pastor Jordan and I wrote a couple years ago that was released on our Until We're Kings album, "Heirs", last October.
Holy Nation - I wrote this song for this series. Each line of the verse corresponds to a sermon topic from one of the weeks. We've been singing it for the past few weeks and are using it as a theme song, of sorts for the entire series.
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross - one of my favorite hymns.
Let Us Shine - Pastor Jordan closed the service with a quote from D.L. Moody that says, "Lighthouses blow no horns, they just shine." We are called to be the light of the world and to reflect the glory of Christ to those around us. As I was searching for a suitable closing song to encompass the message I couldn't come up with anything that fit as well as I wanted. So I decided it would be easier just to write a song. I used a number of points from the sermon and it turned out really well.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Every New Beginning Comes from Some Other Beginning's End... (Part 2)
During the summer my friend, Jordan, accepted a job at Community Gospel Church in Bremen, IN. I was extremely excited for Jordan and his family as they were moving on to a wonderful church and a position that we had discussed would be a great training ground for him as he continues to prepare for wherever GOD will take him in his ministry. At the same time, I was saddened to see my friends move 300 miles away. Jordan and I had been through a great deal during our friendship and he and his wife, Bethany, had truly become my family away from home.
I then entered this past fall with many questions in my mind. I had seen a number of doors that seemed to open in front of me only to be slammed shut. I had spent the past year struggling with this feeling that GOD was preparing for something and leading me in a particular direction that I had no clue about.
I then entered this past fall with many questions in my mind. I had seen a number of doors that seemed to open in front of me only to be slammed shut. I had spent the past year struggling with this feeling that GOD was preparing for something and leading me in a particular direction that I had no clue about.
I kept thinking back to what Abraham must have felt like when GOD called him out of .... and told him to go to "the land that I have prepared for you." (Genesis 12:1) Abraham didn't know where that land was. He didn't know how long the journey was. All he knew was that GOD called him to leave a place where he had amassed significant wealth and was living prosperously to go on a journey that could bankrupt and kill him. Sounds like a fantastic idea (re-read that last sentence with a mouth full of sarcasm).
I had to constantly remind myself that although GOD was preparing me for something that I was still unsure of He still had not required as much of me as he required of Abraham. I still had my job, and a job that I enjoyed at that. I still had my house. I was still able to serve my local church family as their worship leader. I believe now that He was just waiting until I was ready (as ready as I could be) to take on the task that he was setting aside for me. As I can attest now, He was working out His plan.
So throughout the fall I continued to fulfill my duties at Greenville College and, as always, I really did enjoy my time there. I love the students and the chance to see kids grow spiritually and improve athletically. As I've said many times before, I feel that that was an excellent training ground for the ministry. However, I was at a point where I felt that it was time for me to move on.
In October I made a weekend trip to Bremen to do a concert with Jordan at Community Gospel Church for the release of the worship EP by our band, Until We're Kings. That weekend I had an opportunity to speak with the church staff and some leadership about the possibility of coming on board at some point as their worship leader.
I was, of course, very interested in the possibility. As we spoke more I felt like CGC was the place that GOD had been preparing me for and I could not escape the that this was where I was supposed to be.
We continued the discussion of how my coming aboard CGC as the Director of Worship we were looking at time lines and pay scale and all that other stuff, trying to figure out what was going to be the best for the church, the congregation, the staff, and me. The one thing we all felt certain about was that this was the direction GOD had prepared us all for.
The major hang up for me in moving was my house in Greenville. As anyone who has recently tried to sell a house can atest, the current real estate market is not great for getting rid of a home and in looking at coming to Bremen I did not have a choice, my house HAD to sell before I could move. With this in mind I was preparing to stay at Greenville for another semester and hopefully be out to CGC my June or July.
As with most of my other plans in life, GOD laughed. The first person to walk through my house bought it. Unreal. In this market, at this time, there was only one explanation for that... the hand of GOD Almighty.
With the house sold I accepted the position at CGC, quit my job at Greenville (that was very difficult as, again, I really did enjoy my time there and loved working with all the athletes I had the privilege of coaching), and set up for a move to Indiana.
Now I am the Director of Worship at Community Gospel Church as well as a full-time Seminary student at Grace Theological Seminary in Winona Lake, IN. It's been a crazy journey these past few years, but looking back it's always interesting to see how GOD used each situation I encountered to set up the next one, which set up the next one. I am constantly amazed by GOD's providence and protection. I cannot wait to see what he has in store as this new phase of life begins!
In October I made a weekend trip to Bremen to do a concert with Jordan at Community Gospel Church for the release of the worship EP by our band, Until We're Kings. That weekend I had an opportunity to speak with the church staff and some leadership about the possibility of coming on board at some point as their worship leader.
I was, of course, very interested in the possibility. As we spoke more I felt like CGC was the place that GOD had been preparing me for and I could not escape the that this was where I was supposed to be.
We continued the discussion of how my coming aboard CGC as the Director of Worship we were looking at time lines and pay scale and all that other stuff, trying to figure out what was going to be the best for the church, the congregation, the staff, and me. The one thing we all felt certain about was that this was the direction GOD had prepared us all for.
The major hang up for me in moving was my house in Greenville. As anyone who has recently tried to sell a house can atest, the current real estate market is not great for getting rid of a home and in looking at coming to Bremen I did not have a choice, my house HAD to sell before I could move. With this in mind I was preparing to stay at Greenville for another semester and hopefully be out to CGC my June or July.
As with most of my other plans in life, GOD laughed. The first person to walk through my house bought it. Unreal. In this market, at this time, there was only one explanation for that... the hand of GOD Almighty.
With the house sold I accepted the position at CGC, quit my job at Greenville (that was very difficult as, again, I really did enjoy my time there and loved working with all the athletes I had the privilege of coaching), and set up for a move to Indiana.
Now I am the Director of Worship at Community Gospel Church as well as a full-time Seminary student at Grace Theological Seminary in Winona Lake, IN. It's been a crazy journey these past few years, but looking back it's always interesting to see how GOD used each situation I encountered to set up the next one, which set up the next one. I am constantly amazed by GOD's providence and protection. I cannot wait to see what he has in store as this new phase of life begins!
Monday, February 7, 2011
Sunday Setlist / 2.6.11
Sunday, February 6, 2011 at Community Gospel Church in Bremen, Indiana:
THE SERVICE
Hallelujah (Your Love is Amazing) [Brenton Brown/Brian Doerkson] (G)
Welcome & Announcements
Offering
Your Grace is Enough [Chris Tomlin] (F)
The Ninety and Nine [E.C. Clephane/Ira D. Sankey] (F)
Come Ye Sinners [Owens/Johnson/Hamilton/Seay] (C)
Mighty to Save [Ben Fielding/Reuben Morgan] (G)
Message
Come Ye Sinners (C)
Dismiss
THE BAND
Jonathan David Eckberg - guitar/vocals
Cyndi Leamon - vocals
Sean Norris - drums
Jordan Muck - bass
Dale Graham - audio
Vance Csaszar - video
NOTES
Our team was rather slight this week. Due to some traveling and some sicknesses and various issues we seemed to have everybody bow out this week. This was compounded by the fact that the snowstorm forced us to cancel practice on Wednesday night and move it to Saturday afternoon. With the switch of practice times I knew that we would be a little short on rehearsal, so I didn't mind having a "skeleton team" this week. It's always simpler, and therefore, easier to adjust on the fly, with fewer people. That being said, we did have a great week. Pastor Mike Fanning continued to kill it from the pulpit with the second part of our "Finding Your Place at the Table" series (examining the parable of the Prodigal Son).
THE SONGS
Hallalujah (Your Love is Amazing) - This is an older song, but a good one. With the three-piece instrumentation it was a great song to rock through. It's very simple and an excellent song of praise and adoration for the love of our Father.
Your Grace is Enough - One of my favorite songs. Such a wonderful declaration of Paul's prayer in 2 Corinthians 12. I chose this as our opener in light of last weeks message of the Prodigal Son. The point was that both the older and younger brother loved the things the father had to offer more than they loved the father himself and that's where they fell into sin. I think it's important to remember as we continue to study this parable that GOD is enough for us. We become heirs to His kingdom, but that inheritance is secondary to receiving the grace of GOD. He is all we need. Our version of this song runs pretty much straight off of the Chris Tomlin version.
The Ninety and Nine - Jordan and Sean kept saying we needed a pint of Guinness in our hands as we played this song! It has distinctively Irish feel to it. And we go straight through it. I didn't figure that many people in the congregation would know this song right off the bat. However, as is the case with most hymns, the people picked up on it by the second or third verse. I chose to put this into the set despite the "known" factor because the sermon today was focusing on the people around Jesus during Luke 15 and the other two parables in the chapter (The Lost Sheep and The Lost Coin). It's a hymn that walks through the Lost Sheep parable so I felt that it really set the mood and got our people thinking along those lines early in the day.
Come Ye Sinners - As this weeks sermon focused on the other parables of Luke 15, it also looked at the people around Jesus. As the chapter opens He is eating with the tax collectors and "sinners". These are the people christ came to save. This is us. The whole point of this song is that we as sinners are called to bring ourselves to Christ. We don't try to clean ourselves up first, we simply come to Christ as the sinners we all are.
Mighty to Save - We tweak the arrangement of this song a little bit just to shorten it up and make it a little more succinct. But musically it's a very standard arrangement. We closed our set with this song because as we move from our recognition of our true nature and our need for a savior (Come Ye Sinners) we must have the next step. That next step is the knowledge that our GOD is the only means of salvation and he is so much greater than our sins and our old nature.
To see what other congregations are singing please check out the Sunday Setlists at www.theworshipcommunity.com.
THE SERVICE
Hallelujah (Your Love is Amazing) [Brenton Brown/Brian Doerkson] (G)
Welcome & Announcements
Offering
Your Grace is Enough [Chris Tomlin] (F)
The Ninety and Nine [E.C. Clephane/Ira D. Sankey] (F)
Come Ye Sinners [Owens/Johnson/Hamilton/Seay] (C)
Mighty to Save [Ben Fielding/Reuben Morgan] (G)
Message
Come Ye Sinners (C)
Dismiss
THE BAND
Jonathan David Eckberg - guitar/vocals
Cyndi Leamon - vocals
Sean Norris - drums
Jordan Muck - bass
Dale Graham - audio
Vance Csaszar - video
NOTES
Our team was rather slight this week. Due to some traveling and some sicknesses and various issues we seemed to have everybody bow out this week. This was compounded by the fact that the snowstorm forced us to cancel practice on Wednesday night and move it to Saturday afternoon. With the switch of practice times I knew that we would be a little short on rehearsal, so I didn't mind having a "skeleton team" this week. It's always simpler, and therefore, easier to adjust on the fly, with fewer people. That being said, we did have a great week. Pastor Mike Fanning continued to kill it from the pulpit with the second part of our "Finding Your Place at the Table" series (examining the parable of the Prodigal Son).
THE SONGS
Hallalujah (Your Love is Amazing) - This is an older song, but a good one. With the three-piece instrumentation it was a great song to rock through. It's very simple and an excellent song of praise and adoration for the love of our Father.
Your Grace is Enough - One of my favorite songs. Such a wonderful declaration of Paul's prayer in 2 Corinthians 12. I chose this as our opener in light of last weeks message of the Prodigal Son. The point was that both the older and younger brother loved the things the father had to offer more than they loved the father himself and that's where they fell into sin. I think it's important to remember as we continue to study this parable that GOD is enough for us. We become heirs to His kingdom, but that inheritance is secondary to receiving the grace of GOD. He is all we need. Our version of this song runs pretty much straight off of the Chris Tomlin version.
The Ninety and Nine - Jordan and Sean kept saying we needed a pint of Guinness in our hands as we played this song! It has distinctively Irish feel to it. And we go straight through it. I didn't figure that many people in the congregation would know this song right off the bat. However, as is the case with most hymns, the people picked up on it by the second or third verse. I chose to put this into the set despite the "known" factor because the sermon today was focusing on the people around Jesus during Luke 15 and the other two parables in the chapter (The Lost Sheep and The Lost Coin). It's a hymn that walks through the Lost Sheep parable so I felt that it really set the mood and got our people thinking along those lines early in the day.
Come Ye Sinners - As this weeks sermon focused on the other parables of Luke 15, it also looked at the people around Jesus. As the chapter opens He is eating with the tax collectors and "sinners". These are the people christ came to save. This is us. The whole point of this song is that we as sinners are called to bring ourselves to Christ. We don't try to clean ourselves up first, we simply come to Christ as the sinners we all are.
Mighty to Save - We tweak the arrangement of this song a little bit just to shorten it up and make it a little more succinct. But musically it's a very standard arrangement. We closed our set with this song because as we move from our recognition of our true nature and our need for a savior (Come Ye Sinners) we must have the next step. That next step is the knowledge that our GOD is the only means of salvation and he is so much greater than our sins and our old nature.
To see what other congregations are singing please check out the Sunday Setlists at www.theworshipcommunity.com.
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