Were You A Prisoner of The Holidays?

Okay, so over the past few weeks... how many times did you find yourself doing or saying what you said you wouldn't? How many times did you find yourself buying or spending what you said you wouldn't? How many times did you find yourself eating or drinking what you said you wouldn't?                                                         The holidays have a way of wearing us down. Wearing us down and then attacking at our weakest moment. Attacking in ways that we find hard to resist. And before you know it all our wishes for a different kind of season are just that... wishes.

It's not too late to get back on track. To right the path. To make a difference. To be the light in a sometimes very dark world.

We are loved by a very forgiving God. One that wants us to do good, to be love, and to succeed. So lets be honest, lets be accountable.Were you a prisoner of the holidays?

Christmas Eve Recap: 12.24.11... "O Baby"

I prepared and participated in three of our six services this past week. All were blessed in their own unique way.

On Wednesday night, December 21st, we celebrated an unplugged Christmas service in our Chapel. Because of the early date we opened our time together with an Advent feel and led up to the Christmas story. It was quaint and warm with a real homey, spiritual sense.

Saturday night at 5pm we had our family service which included participation by all the young children. It's always a celebratory experience and this year was no different.

Our Christmas Praise service was at 7pm and had a few wrinkles as usual in trying to keep it fresh and vibrant. Along with a couple of new arrangements we changed our template from years past and the response was very positive.

Music Plan
He's Coming [Mann]
O Rejoice [Fields]
Welcome & Centering
Litany
O Come All Ye Faithful [Hymn]
Reading: Isaiah 9:2,6
O Little Town of Bethlehem / Mary Had A Baby [Hymn]
Away In A Manger [Hymn]
Reading: Come To Bethlehem
Angels We Have Heard On High [Hymn]
Message: "O Baby"
Offering [Baloche]
Silent Night [Hymn]
Joy To The World [Hymn]

Sunday Setlists at theworshipcommunity.com
Pray on,
Eddy

He's Coming

We were blessed to return to the Souled Out Coffeehouse this past Friday night. My relationship with them has grown over the past ten years. We've seen three different venues, and a few different faces, but the core group of providers and the family of supporters always remains.

I don't think I've ever had the same lineup twice when I've visited here. This past Friday I brought The Quartet. A new formation that features Andrew Barber, Gary Burger and Billy Mettinger on acoustic guitars, upright bass and cajon. It's been a very inspiring season so far.

He's Coming was written as a monthly songwriting challenge at theworshipcommunity.com in August of 2010. I introduced it at Advent last year and it was really well received at my home church. Since then it's also been a strong song when I've led worship at visiting churches, conferences and in concert.

I''d love to hear any feedback on how the song has touched you.

Pray on,
Eddy

Worship Recap 12.18.11... "God Waits"

How favorable is it that our God in His wisdom sees fit to be patient with us. How blessed we are that He has the strength to continue to watch us struggle to get it. How fortunate we are that our our God waits.

We celebrated the fourth week of Advent with the foretelling of the birth of Jesus from Luke 1:26-38. I love the angel's response to Mary that she's highly favorable to God. How cool to be told by an angel that you are regraded or treated with preference by God.

To lead into the message we sang Gabriel's Message. We used a wonderful arrangement from Sting's If On a Winter's Night CD.

Remember, if you're growing tired of the Christmas season, you're not doing Advent right.

Music Plan
Joyful Joyful [Ingram, Brown]
Prayer of Focus
Angels We Have Heard On High [Hymn]
He's Coming [Mann]
Statement of Faith
Gabriel's Message [Sabin]
Message
May God's Peace [Walker]

Sunday Setlists at theworshipcommunity.com
Pray on,
Eddy

Review: Something Beautiful & New

Eddy Mann’s Something Beautiful & New is a worship album with a purpose. Yes, Mann spends much time praising and worshiping his God. He also knows, though, that if The Almighty is to work effectively through His people, the chosen ones need to get along together.


The second song on this breezy pop album is "All Are Welcome." This song is almost like the opening announcements at a church service, where the speaker welcomes one and all to worship.


Read more...

Worship Recap 12.11.11... "Restore Us, O God"

I woke this morning with a food hangover and a little short on sleep... it was nobody's fault but might own. So after taking ownership of my failures, I asked and received a spiritual helping hand and proceeded to have an energetic and up-lifting time of worship.
We celebrated the third week of Advent (Joy) with the help of Psalm 126. Restoration is an ongoing project within me. Both spiritually and creatively I continuously need to take account of where I am, and where I'm going. Regretfully I often fall short of seeing all the blessings in my life, so as this season continues I'll be working to become ever aware of all joy that surrounds me.

I mentioned this last week but it bears repeating A Baby Will Come [Bill Wolf] has been a wonderful addition to our advent season.

Remember if you're growing tired of the Chrismas season, you're not doing Advent right.

Music Plan
O Come, O Come Emmanuel [Hymn]
Prayer of Focus
Pouring It Out For You [Anderson, Lee]
Joyful, Joyful [Ingram, Brown]
Statement of Faith
God Has Smiled On Me [Traditional]
Message
A Baby Will Come [Wolf]

Sunday Setlists at theworshipcommunity.com
Pray on,
Eddy

Worship Recap 12.04.11... "Expect the Unexpected"

Expect the unexpected... imagine an excited high school junior arriving at church for rehearsal at 7:45am to lead worship. Our message this morning was on expecting the unexpected through this Advent and Christmas season. Funny how my day started with the perfect example.

This week we continued to use a combination of traditional and new seasonal songs. A Baby Will Come written by Bill Wolf was a new song that was wonderfully received. I only used the first three verses which were perfect for the season of advent and finished with the chorus from  He's Coming a very popular song I introduced last year. It was a great way to end our time of worship.

Music Plan
O Come, O Come Emmanuel [Hymn]
Prayer of Focus / Advent Candle
Because of Your Love [Baloche, Brown]
Let Us Adore [Morgan]
Communion
How He Loves [McMillan]
May God's Peace [Walker]
Message
A Baby Will Come [Wolf]

Sunday Setlists at theworshipcommunity.com
Pray on,
Eddy