October 19, 2008

Yesterday was the first day in probably four years that we had 3 new players on stage at once. They did a fantastic job, though, and I praise God for the humble and talented people he continually brings to @V21Church.
As I wrote several weeks back, my wife is very sick in this first trimester of her second pregnancy. Saturday night was particularly difficult, as she was up all night vomiting. I got little sleep and woke up sick, making Sunday rough, but I find that during those times the Spirit steps in and leads me. I’m thankful for that! Please pray for my wife, Christin, as this is indescribably hard for her.

Glory To God
Words and Music by @MattStevensNC

This is a song about praising God for our all-sufficient Savior, Jesus Christ. It’s one we’ve been singing a few years, but the new wave of people that have started coming in the past month or two have begun to catch on as well.

You Made It All
Words and Music by @TaylorRobertsOK

This is another @V21Church original from the “All Things Praise” album. We played this song as we took up a church planting offering, which seemed appropriate as we sang lines like the following:

“You gave it all
Every gift I bring
I will be amazed when I see your face and I sing
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Praise the Lord!”

Sermon: Ecclesiastes 5:8-9
@PastorTyler Jones spoke about politics this week. Not on who to vote for (how can a pastor support a candidate from the pulpit?!?) but that more importantly, we are to serve Jesus Christ. It wasn’t an anti-politics message, but he aptly pointed out that God is in heaven. I’m not doing this justice, so listen to the sermon!

By Thy Mercy (Jesus, Lord of Life and Glory)
Words by James Cummins, 1839
Music by Greg Thompson, 2004
Addtl. Music and Lyrics by @V21Church, 2008

It never ceases to amaze me- God truly cares what we sing and say about him, and leads us in our planning of song sets. This song particularly seemed to perfectly flow as a response to the sermon about God’s control over all, and that our joy and hope is not in a person or platform but the Gospel.

“When the world around is smiling
In a time of wealth and ease
Earthly joys our hearts beguiling
In a day of health and peace”

You Know My Way
Words and Music by John Pelphrey and @MattStevensNC

Again, along the theme of where our hope truly lies- in ourself, a candidate or Christ - this song is an important one. We are completely reliant upon God for every blessing, including simply existing. And what a thought- that the God of the Universe loves us enough to know us.

Jesus Paid It All
Words by Elvina Hall, 1865
Arrangement by Kristian Stanfill

This is one of the songs that seems like we sing it too much. Yet, when we sing it, there is a resonance, a feeling of God’s Spirit moving among us, and it simply feels like praise. And so we will sing it, and sing it, and sing it again. However God leads us to praise Him- let’s do that.

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

Band For Today
Holly Dwan – backing vocals
Heather Pond – backing vocals
Elizabeth King – keys
Chris Boyette – lead guitar
J.M. Huret – drums
Eric Embury – bass
@MattStevensNC – vocals, rhythm