Grace, Wondrous Grace

Worship Confessional 07.25.10

Another nice morning at Gloria Dei. This was the second of two weeks without our drummer and again we utilized a two man percussion setup. I've really enjoyed the change. We weren't quite as uptempo as usual and some of the arrangements have been changed but the spiritual feel has been genuine for me.

This was a Sunday with two new faces in the tech booth and there was nothing thankfully to really challenge them. New faces always bring new energy. It was good to have Devany and Kelly on board this morning.

Our message theme was prayer... a good review of the conversations that should be going on, and a great reminder to leave time to listen.

Music Plan
Praise Adonai [Baloche] - Am
Prayer of Focus
You're Worthy of My Praise [Ruiz] - A
Blessed Be The Name [Redman] - A
Grace, Wondrous Grace [Mann] - A
Statement of Faith
Holy Spirit Come [Miner] - D
Message: Luke 11:1-13
Open The Eyes of My Heart [Baloche] - E

Sunday Setlists at The Worship Community.
Pray on,
Eddy

Scales & Finger Exercises: A Spiritual Discipline

I've aways practiced the spiritual disciplines to draw nearer to my God and to be more Christlike. But in the past year my spiritual disciplines of prayer, silence, solitude, meditation and fasting have been extended to include the likes of scales, chords and fingers exercises. Imagine That a book written by Manuel Luz has opened my heart, soul and mind to a new set of spiritual disciplines and a new appreciation for my artistic gifts.

Spiritual disciplines are external behaviors that aid in internal transformation in an individual. The external activities of art - which are transcendent in nature - can be, and should be, a spiritual discipline, one that can aid in internal transformation for the artist who follows Christ... Manuel Luz (Imagine That)

I haven't always approached my musical studies/endeavours with the most disciplined frame of mind. My plans were prone to wander from day to day, hour to hour and sometimes minute to minute. But entering into a spiritual place when I practice, has given me a new strength and focus.

Since art is an expression, then art can - and should - be used as a means for worship, just as our entire lives should be an expression of worship [Romans 12:1]... Manuel Luz (Imagine That)

What a difference there's been in my attitude when it comes to approaching a difficult passage or a challenging new fingering. I now experience a wonderful joy in conquering, and then offering, these trying and demanding notes and rhythms up to God in praise.

The discipline of art can bring us closer to God, and can be, in itself, a spiritual discipline, one that should be encouraged, nurtured, trained and developed... Manuel Luz (Imagine That)

"The discipline of art... is an effort towards wholeness... L'Engle (Walking on Water)

I love the time I set aside to be at one with my instrument and God. It continues everyday to be a new and fresh spiritual journey for me. Together we hear the sweet notes... and the not-so-sweet joyful noise, Together we feel the pocket of rhythm... and the rhythm of discontent. But more importantly, together we grow in fellowship and relationship.

You Could Never Be Praised Enough

This is as yet an unreleased song written by Darrell Evans. He performed this at the All About Worship Retreat this past May and it has blessed me ever since. We offered this up in worship last week 07.18.10

Walking In The Rain

Nothing makes me feel younger then walking in the rain. The little boy inside of me just comes bursting out singing, running, jumping, filled with joy.

It's the same kind of joy that I get when God rains down His peace and joy into my life. The Bible tells us that having Jesus in our heart, and accepting Him as our Lord and Savior, will bring that kind of joy, that kind of calm... that peace and understanding that nothing else can explain or produce. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me... [Psalm 51:12]

May God continue to rain down on me His peace, joy, and comfort for the rest of my days.

Worship Confessional 07.18.10

Some nice changes today. Our drummer and keyboardist were on vacation so rather then replace them we went with a smaller/warmer sound with percussion. I'm looking forward to visiting this setup again next week.

One of our tech team, Larry [PowerPoint operator] left us today. I wasn't informed until after the service which was kind of a drag. I didn't have a chance to recognize his contributions over the past few years. I'll have to take care of that next week.

I heard the live feed from Fred McKinnon's Night of Worship at St. Simon's Community Church on Friday night and was re-introduced to Holy Spirit Come [Kate Miner] and it was on my heart this morning so I used it to bridge the gap between our warm-up song and Prayer of Focus. I thought it worked well in preparing us for worship.

I also had the chance to introduce a new song Surely, You Are God which was written out of the July songwriting challenged at the TheWorshipCommunity.com web site. It was inspired by a verse in today's scripture reading. I love when that happens!

Music Plan
Today Is The Day [Brewster & Baloche] - C
Holy Spirit Come [Miner] - C
Prayer of Focus
Praise [Brown & Baloche] - C
Taste And See [Leeland] - C
Hope of the World [Mann] - G
6 Marks of Discipleship
Surely, You Are God [Mann] - G
Message: [Colossians 1:15-23] "Growing Up"
You Could Never Be Praised Enough [Evans] - B

This is part of the Sunday Setlist Blog Carnival at The Worship Community
Pray on,
Eddy

Surely, You Are God

"Surely, You Are God" is my contribution to the Worship Community's songwriting challenge for July, 2010. Inspired by Colossians 1:16

Worship Confessional 07.11.10

Creation, I love singing about creation. Today our focus was not only on the beauty, but also the lessons that can be learned from creation. This gave me the chance to bring back some songs we haven't sung in quite a while. The older songs usually bring with them a natural energy and that was evident this morning.

We were a little hesitant out of the gate, I'm not sure what the tech hold up was, but once we got started it was a sweet service...

In The Sanctuary [Kurt Carr] - Am  This has been a great warm-up song for us for a long time. Great energy and we've found an arrangement that fits our church well.
To Worship You I Live [Israel Houghton] - G I introduced this song this morning and received a great response. We just sang the chorus as a lead-in to worship.

Prayer of Focus

All The Earth Will Sing Your Praises [Paul Baloche] - D I lowered the key this week for transition purposes.
Indescribable [Chris Tomlin] - G This was one of those older songs I spoke of... I really enjoyed the triplet feel, nice moment here.
God of Wonders [Marc Byrd] - G Another oldie and another strong spiritual moment, not to mention a fun song to sing.

Statement of Faith

Holy Is The Lord [Chris Tomlin] - D One of our young female singers, Jess, sang this and delivered a nice version.

Message: Mark 4: 26-30

Let Everything That Has Breath [Matt Redman] - E Yet another older song that I arranged really up tempo and found well accepted. Toward the end of this song we moved into the hymn For The Beauty of The Earth and closed reprising the former.

Be blessed this week and take the time to appreciate what God's created around you.

This is part of the Sunday Setlist Blog Carnival at The Worship Community

Pray on,
Eddy

Please Excuse the Interruption!

Twice in the past three Saturday's God has interrupted me. Heartsong [our Saturday night service] is held in a small stone chapel which offers a very personal worship experience. It's attended mostly be regulars but we do get visitors most weeks.

Two weeks ago as I approached the congregation I was moved to play a song that wasn't in the music plan. God just interrupted my thought process and laid another song on my heart. It worked beautifully, and afterwards I was approached by a woman who said it was just what she needed to hear, that the words were something that would help carry her through the week to come. I thanked her for sharing her thoughts and then God for allowing me to know how she was blessed.

This morning as I walked in the rain praying over the music plan, I was once again interrupted. I felt God putting a different song on my heart. I started the service with the new song and shared about the interaction I had experienced this morning. The response was awesome, this was a song we had never sung before but you would never have known it.

We normally consider interruptions as an annoyance but my thinking is gradually being reshaped as God continues to refine me.

Worship Confessional 07.04.10

A great seemless service this morning and a wonderful family feeling between our tech team and praise team. We continue weekly to strive to be of one voice and mind ready to serve God.
For some reason I was more aware of our freedom this July 4th then in the past. Maybe having it fall on a Sunday, I'm not sure. I made mention of our country's first freedom [the freedom to worship] in a breakdown section of  A New Hallelujah and took us through a few chorus' of I Am Free before returning to the Hallelujah chorus and tag.

We introduced an acoustic drum set into our service today abandoning the electronic set and had no major issues... mainly because  we are blessed to have an experienced and very gifted drummer who was adjusting to the new dynanics all morning. Thanks Mike!

Our message was focused on the Little Things inspired by the Naaman story from 2 Kings 5:1-17. Today there were quite a few little things that didn't divide us but held us together.

Music Plan
A New Hallelujah [Smith, Baloche] - G
Call to Worship
Standing Here Before You [Mann] - A
Days of Elijah [Marks] - A
Statement of Faith
Communion - Remembrance [Redman] - D
See [Mann] - C
Message
Glorified [Anderson] - D

This is part of the Sunday Setlist Blog Carnival at The Worship Community

Pray on,
Eddy