These songs are an example of having done the work this week (i.e., putting together the setlists) without feeling any real creative juices flowing. The musicians were fine, of course. But I felt no “aha” moments in the preparation. Trust it was still helpful as we sought to bring the congregation to encounter the greatness of God in Jesus Christ. That’s the good news, of course. Whatever other themes are brought to our singing, we’re always going to sing the gospel – the doings and dying of Christ. This unites God’s people.
By the way, you need this book: Worship Matters: Leading Others to Encounter the Greatness of God by Bob Kauflin
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Crossway Books (March 31, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 158134824X
ISBN-13: 978-1581348248
Morning: Pastor Sam (aka Dr. Waldron) preached Roman 5:1-5, on the multi-faceted blessings of reconciliation.
Opening Song: Marvelous Grace F/G Sometimes it’s good to sing a ‘gospel song’ – much truth in a singable format.
Set
Jesus, what a friend for sinners / tune: hyfrydol Eb/F
Arise, my soul, arise / tune: lenox F We’re going to learn the Indelible Grace tune sometime. But for now we sing the one we know.
Your mercy, my God F This is the indelible grace tune
Salvation belongs to our God F/G The guitar intro sounded something like “wild thing.” Not sure if anyone noticed!
Here is love Eb/E I know this has become one of my favorites. We do it with the Lincoln Brewster bridge.
B/4 the sermon:
God be merciful A Another Indelible Grace. This hymn Pastor Sam requested.
Evening: Pastor Rich (aka Dr. Barcelou) preached a topical sermon on brotherly love.
Opening Song: Amazing Grace/my chains are gone Eb Nice guitar work, Jim!
Set:
For all the saints F With updated words. I often use the Praise! Hymnal (British) for help here. This hymn is lengthy – working through the entirety of church history – from early to modern, the church triumphant and the church militant. We actually sang 8 stanzas – and I still left out quite a few.
The gospel is true F
I boast no more C This is a delightful text by Watts, with refrain from Eric Schumacher, a pastor at Northbrook Baptist Church (Cedar Rapids, IA). Check out his hymns here. We sang this to the music of Twila Paris’ “Lamb of God.” See the text here.
Beneath the cross / Getty Db/Eb
Come to the waters Eb Again, the new song we started last week. I like to run a new song 3-4 weeks in a row until I think we have it. Then once a month until it is safe to enter the main repertoire list.
B/4 the sermon
Blest be the tie / tune: Dennis Eb Did something a bit different – told the story of the hymn, using pictures of John Fawcett, John Gill, Yorkshire and Southwark. I make the slides in powerpoint, then save them as jpeg and import as graphics in MediaShout. We sang this without instruments. And as we say it, we sang the whole “thang.”
This post is a part of Sunday Setlists hosted byFredMcKinnon.com
I definately agree with you every worship leader should read "Worship Matters" by Bob Kaughlin. It is an incredible book that has transformed my perspective on worship.
ReplyDeleteI agree. He says some things that many of us, perhaps, have thought in one way or another -- but never brought it to conclusion. And he says other things I've never heard anywhere else. He has the unique position of being Reformed AND passionate AND thoroughly contemporary. This book unites.
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