October 12, 2008

We were blessed this week to have Thad Cockrell join us. It was great to have a guest musician, and for anyone reading this involved in a worship band, I recommend bringing in occasional guests. We had new harmonies, a new feel to songs, and even another set of hands to play tambourine on songs! Thad is a good friend, a humble brother in Christ, and an extremely gifted songwriter and singer. If you’ve not done so, check out his myspace, especially the new e.p. “To Be Loved”.

Be Thou My Vision
Words by Dallan Forgaill
Arrangement by Thad Cockrell

Thad sang this song as a Call to Worship. People come to a service with a lot on their mind, and the value of beginning with scripture or a song as a call to worship is that it gives the congregation a chance to stop and listen. Every song should sung as a response, so let’s give them something to respond to!

Willingly
Words and Music by Matt Stevens

Slowly but surely, the congregation is learning this new song. Over the past two months, we’ve sung this song three times in an attempt to add it as a part of the Vintage21 library of songs. It takes so much time, when you consider the learning curve, the time in between songs, the musical aptitude of a general congregation, etc. A live recording is being mixed tomorrow, so hopefull we’ll have something posted by the end of the week.

When You Are Not Enough
Words and Music by Thad Cockrell and Matt Stevens

The songwriting sessions between Thad and myself have been refreshing. It’s less about writing a song than about listening to God, asking Him for truth, and then attempting to write that. A common problem is that songs can be too written, and that comes across. Thad recently wrote in an email “Ultimately they are going to be the songs that we need to hear in our hearts.” We have both been in a place of struggling with being content in Christ. The paradox, of course, is that when we seek anything other than Christ for fulfillment, it leaves us in an empty and desperate place. This song is about that, and asking God to break our hearts that don’t seek him.
It’s not an easy thing to ask God to break your heart. However, if our heart is in love with anything other than God then it needs to be broken.

“When you are not enough
I seek the pleasures of this world
When you are not enough
My hope is lost
When you are not enough
Joy cannot be found
When you are not enough
Please Lord break my heart”

Sermon: Ecclesiastes 5:1-7
How do we approach the throne of God? With awe and reverence, humility and thanks? More often, it’s with an agenda, with irreverence or a prideful casualness that seeks to place us on equal footing with God. This was an amazing sermon.

Before The Throne Of God Above
Words by Charitie Bancroft, 1863
Music by Vikki Cook
Arrangement by Sojourn Church, Louisville KY.

This song was great following the sermon about how we approach God. Upon conviction of our pride that we take to God, we get to sing “I have a strong and perfect plea”. How is it, God? How is it that you love us so?

When You Are Not Enough
(We sing new songs twice)

My Hope Is Built
Words by Edward Mote, 1834
Music: William B. Bradbury, 1863
Arrangement by Matt Stevens

“On Christ, the Solid Rock, I stand. All other ground is sinking sand.”

This is a joy to sing, which is why I dig this arrangement, which seeks to convey the joy and energy we can sing this with. Too often we sing with sadness about sinking sand, when the focus of our gathering is on the Solid Rock.

Today’s Sunday Review is posted in collaboration with other church music ministries at Sunday Setlists.

Band for today

Holly Dwan- backing vocals (am)
Andrea Lawrence- backing vocals (pm)
Colin Dwan- keys (am)
Heather Pond- keys (pm)
Caleb Smith- lead guitar
Thad Cockrell- vocals, acoustic
Joshua Snyder – drums
John Bass – Bass
Matt Stevens- vocals, electric