June 22, 2008

I know, I know, you’re all waiting anxiously for Part Four of the @V21Church Historical Series, but hang tight- it’s Monday, which means the Sunday Review. Today, for all you avid fans of the one and only worship site specifically focused on the Sunday service at @V21Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, we’ll recount the service. It was a week of vacations, soon-to-be-born babies, and weddings, which resulted in a volunteer band instead of The Vintage21ders, who were originally on the schedule. The volunteers were incredible, and one thing I love about the musicians and techs at Vintage21 is their hearts- they step up and serve joyfully, without complaint or a sense of entitlement. It was a beautiful day of praise, and the name of Jesus was sung loud in Downtown Raleigh.

In Christ Alone
Getty/Townend
I don’t know much about these guys, except that the world is divided over whether Stuart Townend has an “s” in the middle of his name. Before you commence with the eye-rolling and guffaws, explain to me why Keith Getty’s website even contains this error. It seems that there is not an “s” in his name, but I’m careful not to jump on board too quickly. Not after choosing the wrong side in the Lennon/McCartsney debate.
Regardless, they wrote a truly amazing song, capturing the complete gospel in 4 stanzas. We opened with this tune, to set the tone of why we gather, and who we are as the church.

“And as he stands in victory, sin’s curse has lost it’s grip on me
For I am his, and he is mine, bought with the precious blood of Christ.”

Heartsong
Words and Music by Holly Dwan and @MattStevensNC
It’s been a while since we’ve done this song, but my prediction is that it will come back strong with the release of “All Things Praise” next month. It’s a great tune with a “Hallelujah” chorus, and a bridge that builds to borderline chaos- I find it hard to hold back when singing that part.

“Worthy Jesus, you are holy
Everlasting, clothed in glory
for your love bears all”

Sermon
This week @PastorTyler preached from John 1:19-29, specifically honing in on John the Baptist. This man, with all of his being, pointed others to the Messiah. We have been given the same call by Christ in John 17:18-

“As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.”

It was a challenging day both for followers of Christ and those who are still seeking and doubting.

Sing Praise To God Who Reigns Above
Words by Johann Schultz, 1675.
Adaptation by @MattStevensNC

This is a fantastic hymn that just rolls along. We sped it up and added a chorus, something I don’t often do. To take someone else’s work and add to it is a bold and sometimes prideful move. In this case, we added a chorus that would help contextualize the hymn to our culture in Raleigh, but labored to ensure it fit with Schultz’s lyrics. The last line we sing in this modern version summed up @PastorTyler’s sermon:

“That men may hear the grateful song
My voice unwearied raises”

Credit goes to God the Spirit for that!

Be Thou My Vision
Dallan Forgaill
This is a beautiful song, unless you’re my grandmother. Minnie Talley heard it sung at my wedding and said “Matthew, why did you choose such an ugly song for the ceremony?” She knew her hymns, as a good South Carolina Presbyterian would, and this one did not meet her standards. This song seemed to make a huge comeback in the past ten years, and we played it several ways early at Vintage21- the Pedro the Lion version, and as a fifties love song. This week it was back to the traditional way, but with an added interlude between verses. The interlude between stanzas of hymn are vital- it allows breathing room from a lot of words, and also helps set the tone for the feel of the song. Growing up, it seemed we’d just sing four stanzas without time to reflect or listen to the Spirit, and an interlude provides that time.

How Great Thou Art
Words by Carl Gustav Boberg
Arrangement by @V21Church
This is a song Elvis Presley stole from Carl Gustav Boberg, well we’re stealin’ it back. This song is usually done slow, and we sped this monkey up. It was hard to sing the low melody- the words and music had me wanting to shout it out!

“When Christ shall come with shouts of acclamation
To take me home, what joy shall fill my heart”

We’ll Praise You
Words and Music by @MattStevensNC

This is based on Psalm 150. As with all the Vintage21 originals, we’ll cover it in a “Behind the Music”, but the gist is that Psalm 150 is an all-out hand-clappin’, foot-stompin’ praise song. David is basically calling out everyone around him to praise God with all that are, all they have, and all they can do. This song is our attempt to do that, and a great closer, complete with gang chorus and a Call and Response.