February 8, 2009

We’re several weeks into three morning services and starting to get the hang of the flow. I don’t like the limitations of time, but it is nice to gain greater purpose to each component of the service, and time constraints force you to examine everything. Trim the fat, that is.
The band I lead, as-yet-to-be-named, had a few changes yesterday. We added the ever-talented Scott Andrews on keys, and our bassist Jerry and his wife Andrea, who sings in the band as well, are taking some time off after the birth of their first child, a healthy, beautiful baby boy. Filling in for Jerry this month is Jeff Crawford, who plays bass in several bands including Roman Candle, Max Indian, as well as singing and playing as a self-titled artist. The band played beautifully, and we had a great time in between services.

Willingly
Words and Music by Matt Stevens
From my perspective, I observe the response of people. The song “Willingly” has been a test for this over the past six months, as it’s not a “typical” worship song where church hoppers could just jump right in. For the first time yesterday people were really singing it out with comfort and familiarity. I could hear them, and they weren’t looking at me as much for cues in that song. Overall, the whole day had a good response from each congregation singing with comfort and in praise.
This shows that people are returning to church, and faithfully attending. I’ve wondered if we have closer to 1,000 or 1,200, or if it’s actually 4,000 coming through the doors over a few months because of what they’ve heard or from church-hopping, but not actually sticking as attenders. Yesterday was a good indication of the latter, and I know the work done by each ministry is towards helping people get plugged in.

Sermon: Luke 10:1-12

And Can It Be That I Should Gain
Words by Charles Wesley
Music by Thomas Campbell
My hope was to get away from the early nineties college ministry feel of this beautiful hymn. While this may seem overly critical, my experience has been that oftentimes someone with an acoustic just strums out the old hymn chords, and the result lacks groove and soul. This hymn is deep, so we sought something that reflected the lyrical depth in the music. Steven Suits, the lead guitarist, came up with a great riff that we based this new arrangement on, and it felt great.

No Eye Has Seen
Words and Music by Holly Dwan
This is another tune people are getting used to, and yesterday was a beautiful thing. I love love love this song, and it’s a beautiful thing to sing the lyrics after a sermon in which we’re challenged to put the entirety of our faith in Christ alone.
“The child of God always has a Father,
always has a way to carry on
full of hope and full of song.”

By Thy Mercy (Jesus, Lord of Life and Glory)
Words by James Cummins, 1839
Music by Greg Thompson, 2004
Addtl. Music and Lyrics by Vintage21 Church, 2008
Again, the way the Holy Spirit uses song lyrics to reinforce scripture and a sermon that was just preached is amazing to me. To end the day singing the lyrics in response to a call away from the temptation to look out for ourselves alone was inspiring.

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

Band
Jeff Tyndall – sound
Steven Suits – lead guitar
Jeff Crawford – bass
Daniel Deese – drums
Matt Stevens- vocals, rhythm guitar

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