July 13, 2008

Yesterday was humbling. Before the sermon, @PastorTyler led a “family meeting”, essentially calling out the church for our unfaithfulness in giving. This isn’t a money issue as much as a heart issue. Ironically, the past week’s posts on worship.vintage21.com have dealt with the lack of worship in our church. This week we’ll look at how our worship in the Sunday service is tied to the remainder of our weeks and lives. Please pray that hearts would be humbled, and we would repent as a church.

My Hope Is Built
Words by Edward Mote
Arrangement by @MattStevensNC
The new arrangement was introduced last month, and seems to reflect the steadfast joy contained in this song. So often the music of hymns gets tied to their meaning, even though it was a reflection of popular or appropriate music of the day. In the case of My Hope Is Built, the music associated wasn’t added until 29 years after the lyrics were written. Think about how music has changed in the last 29 years! That is an entire post in itself, but it should be said that the new arrangement has revived these beautiful and important lyrics.
We attempted a new method of introducing a song. Usually, new songs are introduced in the first set and repeated in the second set. The new song for this service was “When I Survey The Wondrous Cross”,by Isaac Watts, hardly a new song for many who grew up in church. A church background should never be assumed, but since it is widely familiar, we went for a middle-ground approach. After each chorus of “My Hope Is Built”, we played the melody of the stanza of “When I Survey”. After the third chorus, we sang the first verse of “When I Survey”before returning to “My Hope Is Built”. Combining songs is great, it allows themes, thoughts, and associations to collide, thus enlarging our view of God.

Jesus, Risen Lord
Music by Matt X.
Words by @MattStevensNC
From September 2007 – May 2008 we studied 1 Corinthians as a church. The 15th chapter is an amazing piece on the resurrection. Paul makes a strong point in verses 17 and 19:

“And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.”
“If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.”

This really is the essence of following Christ. If he is just another dead prophet, we’re wasting our time and there is no life through him. If he did raise from the dead, Jesus truly is the Son of God, and our entire lives are to be lived in this light.

This song is based on this passage, and a topic such as the Resurrected Lord needs to be epic. Matt X, an amazing musician and composer, had shared this music a few years ago, which fit perfectly. Two Minute Warning, the band from yesterday, really nailed it, and I’m pretty sure this passionate song is part of the reason sleep came so quickly last night, and why my throat is wiped out today.

Sermon: John 8:1-10
God is good. On a day with a family meeting, where people inevitably tie human guilt to the conviction of the Spirit, we study a passage on the amazing love and mercy of Christ. This passage was scheduled months back, and it would seem God knew where we would be as a church.

No Eye Has Seen
Words and Music: Holly Dwan
Based on 1 Corinthians 2, this song is beautiful, and in my opinion one of the best songs ever written at @V21Church. Holly outdid herself with this one, and Two Minute Warning really fell into a groove yesterday. On the tail end of the family meeting and sermon, it was great to sing

“You call my name, I hear you whisper sweetly,
Leave your bonds and slavery far behind.
I am God, and you are Mine.”

Sing Praise To God Who Reigns Above
Words by Johann Schultz, 1675.
Arrangement/Additional Lyrics by @MattStevensNC
Another great hymn, and the congregation of @V21Church is starting to become familiar with this arrangement. Next time, I hope we yell out with all our hearts-

“ToGod be the glory and all praise
To God, who is holy, our voices raise”

When I Survey The Wondrous Cross
Words: Isaac Watts, 1707
Music: Lowell Mason, 1824
It is said that Charles Wesley, himself an author of hundreds of beautiful hymns, said he’d give them all up to have written this song. In light of the day, my favorite lyrics were

“All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood.”

Glory to God
Words and Music: @MattStevensNC
We closed with this one, a song our congregation knows and sings out. It always reminds me that worshiping God is a privilege, and He alone is worthy.

“Glory to God, the one who saves!
The God of redemption, who takes away our shame!”