July 20, 2008

The overall tone of posts here on worship.vintage21.com has been somewhat negative in the past few weeks. Our church has a worship issue, which comes down to pride, and this blog has been a vehicle to work out some of the thoughts we’ve been pondering. Yesterday there was more peace in my heart than there has been in the past few months. As people repent, Jesus is made the center of our lives. That is happening on some level, at least from my standpoint on Sundays. It felt good, and Jesus was praised!

Ten Thousand Charms / Come Ye Sinners
Words by Joseph Hart
Arrangement by @V21Church
This song has made a comeback in the past few years, and we’ve done an arrangement created by one of the bands at Mars Hill Church. For a long time this was a staple hymn at Vintage21, but has started to lose some the energy. Like “My Hope Is Built”, it was on its way out, but yesterday we brought “Come Ye Sinners” back with a powerful new version. It will inevitably draw references to U2 and/or Coldplay, but that will happen every time there is a driving rhythm section (see: Where The Streets Have No Name). The lyrics are great, and I challenged people to really consider the words they were singing. If you really believe it, sing it out. If not, sing it with your questions, doubts, or don’t sing it.

Your Love
Words and Music by @MattStevensNC
Last week, this song was the subject of a “Behind The Music“. It’s not the easiest song to sing, with long pauses in between words and phrases, but the congregation is picking it up. Yesterday they were singing it out, praise God!

Your Love Sermon: John 8:31-38
What a great sermon! The topic was “freedom”, and there’s no way people were able to stay smug, save the blindness that comes from a hardened heart. Jesus calls out the Pharisees as slaves to sin, the same issue we face today. We hold freedom as the ultimate goal in this country, but Christ’s word convicts. No one is free apart from Him.

Jesus Paid It All
Words by Elvina Hall
We do a version made popular a few years ago from a Passion cd. Their version is so energetic, due in part by the crowd yelling that comes in after the first chorus. Maybe I’ll add a guitar pedal, The Hurrah, that emulates an energetic stadium of people. Don’t steal my idea, people, my baby needs a college education. In all seriousness, this is a beautiful song. The entire second set on this Sunday was a worshipful one.

You Made It All
Words and Music by @TaylorRobertsOK
This is an anthem at @V21Church from the first time our people responded to God through “You Made It All”. My friend Thad pointed out that the chorus has great drawn-out notes, and when music sounds like joy, it allows us to sing with joy. Seems intuitive, but it’s been rolling around in my head ever since, and I’m looking forward to writing music with sounds of joy.

Willingly
Words and Music by @MattStevensNC
When a new song is written, it usually takes a few weeks for the jury to return with the verdict. Yesterday this song was sung out, and people are beginning to get comfortable with the melody and direction of the song, so this one is here to stay. That is always comforting after writing a song! Caleb added some great lead guitar in the vein of the great Stephen Malkmus, that really makes the song in my opinion. Hopefully we’ll get a live recording up in a few weeks.