A little hiatus

I'm going to be away from the blog for awhile. I hope to return at some point.

Thanks to all of you who have interacted with me about church music, and particularly about the music at Heritage Baptist Church/Owensboro.

May God assist you in all your labors and efforts in Christ's kingdom!

Because of Mercy,
David Read More......

Enjoy. Laugh.

It's a song about King Eglon -- you remember, the Moabite king?

http://youngglory.blogspot.com/2009/07/new-song-eglon-song.html

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Toward a better hymnody

Check it out -- http://sounddoxology.blogspot.com/2009/10/towards-better-hymnody.html

Sound counsel from 1959!

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Case study -- singing Psalm 25

For Pastor Ted's 6-part series on humility, I thought we should sing a particularly psalm each time -- both to reinforce the major themes of the series, to give voice to our response in prayer, and with hopes that the congregation might learn it.

So we chose Psalm 25. It covers the sober thing prayer is, what to pray for, holy arguments in prayer, and reasons to encourage our praying. We sing it each time before the preached word.


Psalm 25
Meter: 6 7s
Tune: Mt. Zion (I really considered using the tune for "O great God" -- but I knew I wanted that hymn also in this series. Of the other 6 7s tunes we know,, this one seemed best.
Note: the psalm in Hebrew is in acrostic form ("A to Z" as it were). See how the hymn-writer found a way to approximate that in this version
Note: This is more of a paraphrase of Psalm 25. The tension still remains how to sing the entire psalm -- if we keep to a metrical form (rather than free-form chanting) -- and not have it take entirely too long to sing. Churches who sing from published psalters ordinarily do not sing the entire psalm at one time.

Verse 1:
All my soul to God I raise
Be my guardian all my days
Confident in hope I rest
Daily prove your path is best
Ever work in me your will
Faithful to your promise still

Verse 2:
Graciously my sins forgive
Help me by your truth to live
In your footsteps lead me Lord
Joy renewed and hope restored
Knowing every sin forgiven
Learning all the ways of heaven

Verse 3:
Mercies manifold extend
Not as judge but faithful friend
O my Savior hear my prayer
Pluck my feet from every snare
Quiet peace be mine at last
Rest from all my guilty past

Verse 4:
Sheltered safe when troubles fret
Trusting God I triumph yet
Undismayed in him I stand
Victor only by his hand
Worship homage love and praise
All my soul to God I raise

Author: Timothy Dudley-Smith
Copyright: ©1984 Hope Publishing Co.
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Sunday Setlist for 9/27/09

MORNING
Tim Hoak preached on Christ's righteousness from Phil 3:7-9. Really clear, excellent. This was Friend Sunday, so the emphasis was particularly on making the gospel clear. Dave Malone led the music.


Walk in Song
Only Your Mercy (only your grace)

1st Set
O My Soul, Arise and Bless Your Maker
Indescribable
Jesus thank you

b/4 sermon
Power of the Cross
Jesus Thy Blood and Righteousness

EVENING
Pastor Sam continued his exposition of Romans, this time from 3:21-31, on the heart of the heart of the book of Romans -- God's righteouness by the work of Christ.

walk-in
There is a fountain

set
My hope is built
Wonderful cross (Tomlin's chorus, but used a different hymn by Watts, what he calls "Salvation in the Cross")
In christ alone

b/4 sermon
Give me Christ
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Sunday Setlist for 9/20/09

MORNING
PT continued on humility, why it is important.


Walk-in
Look you saints

Set
Your great name we praise (sov grace version of "Immortal, invisible")
Shine, Jesus, shine
How deep the Father's love for us
Surrender all

B/4 sermon
Psalm 25

EVENING
Pastor Sam preached on the ruin of all men, from Romans 3:9-20. David Malone led worship.

Set
Come, Christians, join to sing
Indescribable

2nd set
Let your kingdom come
His forever
There is a Redeemer
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Sunday Setlist for 9/13/09

MORNING
PT continued his series on humility. Its source.


Walk-in
Let us love and sing and wonder

Set
Everlasting God
Hear our praises
Jesus paid it all
O great God

B/4 sermon
Psalm 25

Evening
Due to illness, had a change in preaching. PB preached on heavenly-mindedness from Col 3. Mark Redfern led the worship.

Set
A Debtor to Mercy Alone
See, What A Morning
Be Unto Your Name

B/4 sermon
I Boast No More
More Love To Thee
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Sunday Setlist September 6, 2009

MORNING
Pastor Ted began a 6-part series on the theme of humility. This morning, "What is humility?"

walk-in
I know whom I have believed

set
Grace unmeasured
Come thou Fount
O the deep, deep love of Jesus
My soul finds rest (Psalm 62)

b/4
Have thine own way, Lord (tune: Katie Redfern)

EVENING
Pastor Joe prepared us for the Lord's Table, preaching on the final judgment. David Malone led the singing.

Hallelujah, raise oh raise [Ps 113] (tune: Katie Redfern)
Behold the Lamb (Getty)
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Sunday Setlist August 30, 2009

MORNING
Mark Redfern preached 1 Timothy 1:15, on 4 things you must know about the gospel. It was Friend Sunday. The Lord helped our singing!


WALK-IN
The gospel is true

SET
Open the eyes of my heart
Holy, holy, holy
How great is our God / then sings my soul
Man of sorrows (redfern)

B/4 sermon
Were you there?

EVENING
We had a full evening (so not much music). PB preached on the God of the widow and fatherless -- our need to be involved with ladies in our church who are widows or single moms.

WALK-IN
O worship the King

SET
How high and how wide
Nothing but the blood / Balm in Gilead
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Accommodating Churches, Accommodating Christians

Here's another blog post you should read. The blog: The India I Know. The blogger: Jonathan Christman. He does quite a bit of his own reflecting, plus posting a link to a sermon by D. A. Carson and a blog post from Tom Ascol.

Really worth some earnest attention. Read More......

Sunday Setlist August 23, 2009

MORNING
PT preached on "Jesus, the Thief" -- the One who binds the "strong man," then plunders his house (Mat 12). The music theme followed: God is King


WALK-IN
Glorious is the Lord Most High (tune: hendon)
-- Wesley gospel paraphrase of Psalm 47

SET
All hail the pow'r of Jesus name
Salvation belongs to our God
Indescribable (Tomlin)
Jesus, your name (Getty)

B/4 SERMON
I stand in awe of you

AFTER SERMON
A mighty fortress - from hymnal

EVENING
Paul Washer, here for the beginning of the new year at MCTS, preached the gospel.

WALK-IN
O the deep, deep love of Jesus (Kauflin version)

SET
One pure and holy passion
Crown him with many crowns
Here is love

AFTER SERMON
It is well with my soul - from hymnal
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Quo Vadis? part 3

What other changes ought we make to adapt our worship in ways that will more easily be understood in our generation?
If you’ve read the previous posts (Quo Vadis? Part 1 and 2), then you have some context to understand my thoughts. You may also wish to see the discussion on principles of worship that unite us at HBC. We are committed to these.
You may find these modest suggestions. I think they are. Some may wish I’d go further. (And probably some think I’m going too far.) The gospel is always at the heart of our worship. That is, the Word and prayer (which includes our singing) must remain our central concern in our corporate meetings. So we (the church under the direction of our shepherds) make changes to encourage more earnest, more affective worship.
Please know that I love our pastors. I gladly follow their leadership. They have my unwavering support as we think through these questions.
We have a diverse congregation, and it is vitally important that we minister to all who attend HBC. Let us love each other more than we do. I know I need to. Let us love them and learn to defer to their musical tastes (Phil 2:1-4).

Having said that, I do think there is more for us to do. I speak here only for myself...



1. I would hope we continue to be a (new) hymn-loving church. Now when you see the word “hymn,” do not assume that I’m talking about 18th English sacred poetry. Stuart Townend and Bob Kauflin also write hymns. Hymns are sacred songs full of Bible content. They carry theological (both doctrinal and practical) weight. This is where the Sovereign Grace churches are so helpful. One can have a thoroughly contemporary sound and have lots of content, many words, in their singing.

2. I would also hope we would continue to preserve the heritage of hymns that has blessed the protestant church since the Reformation. This is what we mean by “being rooted.” And this is why I strive to bring the “great hymns of the faith” into the 21st century – both text and music.

3. I would hope we can find a way to sing psalms intentionally and regularly – in a manner that is fresh and contemporary (in every best sense of that word).

4. I would like to see an expanded timbre palette – the range of musical sounds we experience. I would love to have a drum set, an electric guitar, etc. available for use. Not. Every. Song. But when appropriate.

5. I want us to continue to learn new songs that bring the gospel to us, that present “the unsearchable riches of Christ” in ever fresh ways.

6. I’d love for us to be more expressive physically. See here for previous discussion.

7. If we’re going to adapt in a sensitive, thoughtful manner – not rushing too quickly nor delaying without cause, then we need to have a time each week for intentional service planning. There the elders can review last week’s services and plan for the coming Lord’s Day.

This will be a difficult process, perhaps. But one we must engage.

Your thoughts?

David

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Sunday Setlist August 16, 2009

MORNING

Michael Emadi preached from Eph 4:32-5:2 on forgiveness. The music theme pointed to the God of hope. Full band for this service.

walk-in

O the deep, deep love of Jesus (Kauflin version)

--since this was new, and we *never* learn new songs in the morning service (!), we played the recording (from Sov Grace), with the words on the screen to follow along. I invited everyone to join in on the 3rd verse. It went very well.

set

Alleluia, alleluia (Christopher Wordsworth)

Blessed be your name

Amazing Grace / my chains are gone

It's been mercy all the way

b/4 sermon

I love you Lord

To the only God (Jude 24)

EVENING

Pastor Sam continued with his exposition of Romans. He preached on the Jews' (and our) inclination toward hypocrisy and self-deception. Our music theme centered on Christ.

We're trying to go simpler in the evening services. Here, just piano, trombone (me) and voices.

w-in

O the deep, deep love of Jesus (again, but live)

set

Glorify your name

Jesus, what a friend for sinners

Stricken, smitten and afflicted

Fairest Lord Jesus

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Adapting

...from Mark Driscoll.

"There have been many adaptations in the church throughout the centuries (Pews in the 13th century; 14th century the organ was introduced in the church; 15th century the printing press; 19th century – electricity and audio microphones, 20th century – loud speakers [differences between George Whitefield and Billy Graham], radio preachers, more screens in churches than theaters, the internet) – on the front end of innovation everyone’s critical at the back end everyone’s using it.

Communication has 4 things – instant, constant, global, and permanent. That’s true for critics and for the proclamation of the gospel.

Every church contextualizes. Where are you in the continuum? If you have pews, you’re on the cutting edge of the 13th century. And so forth for organ, screens, audio, website, etc. Can you do more? Are you doing all that you can? All are contextualizing. The key is to name your year and name the year you would like to be."

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Thinking through the message

"Songs need to be watertight scripturally and culturally they [need to] mean what we think they mean." Matt Redman

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"In defense of musical diversity"

You simply must check this out. From Kevin DeYoung's blog.

Since he argues in a very similar way as I think about our gathered singing -- of course I think it's good! See it here.

So how do we connect this with Steve Hartland's point made in his sermon? (See the Quo Vadis? posts) Or better put, how should HBC process it? We already operate with a very similar kind of eclecticism. I have thoughts (the coming Quo Vadis, part 3) about specific steps HBC should take in moving forward.

I think every church must find the wisest and boldest path it can. It should mean different answers in different congregations.

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Quo Vadis? part 2

Here it comes.

I posted an inquiry last week, Quo Vadis? Where do we go from here? How do we apply Pastor Hartland’s [hereafter PH] message from 1 Corinthians 9. I haven’t forgotten about it. I’ve been listening. Read on...

Note: I’m quite sure PH also embraces other principles from 1 Corinthians that inform how we do public worship. Chapter 14 speaks of doing all we do in an orderly (intentional) way, and so that it builds up the brothers and sisters. Our gatherings, then, are gatherings of saints. Our primary focus is on the church. But unbelievers are assumed present (so in ch. 14). And we ought to assume the same for us. Further, I know he embraces what we call the Regulative Principle for the church – doing what God directs us to do rather than innovating our way through worship. In other words, I don’t think PH has in mind some unwitting adopt-whatever-you-can-imagine kind of approach. Rather, I want to take his words at face value. Given all that we know about public worship from God’s Word, what can we do to adapt to the various peoples in the Owensboro area? (Continue to re-read that last sentence until you really understand the task before us.)

How are we going to apply this adaptive principle to our own church? If one were in a church plant (whether here or anywhere else), it would be far easier to craft a musical ‘center’ in touch with local culture. You could start from scratch without the resistance/friction of ‘how we’ve always done it.’

I’m taking the liberty, though, of thinking through how it applies specifically to HBC/Owensboro. HBC has a long history. We already have a ‘musical center.’ Our music already has a certain sound/style. The people who make up the HBC congregation already have well-developed expectations what our music sounds like. Like the music or not, they know what they’re going to hear this Lord’s Day. Believe me -- when I stray too far from ‘center,’ I definitely will hear about it!

So what changes should we continue to make? What further direction shall we take? What musical model (if any) should we follow? Should we go the route of RiverCity Church, or the contemporary service at 1st Baptist Church, or what Bellevue Baptist Church does or some other congregation? If, on the other hand, we should keep to a unique path, then how do we adapt? This question is appropriate, I think, not only to our music, but also everything else we do. Is wearing ties, for instance, the right message we want to send? What about hymnals in the pew? A large pulpit? We could go on.

Pastor Hartland said, “Bury my preferences!” Good counsel. In my experience, however, even the most seasoned saints have a hard time escaping their own preferences. So much, you see, interferes with our applying it this adaptive principle thoroughly at HBC. I do not say that we aren’t trying. But there are dispositions (deeply held) that keep us from adapting well to our culture. For instance, I think the human resistance to change is always an issue. None of us likes change – especially in music. We know from music education and the discoveries neuroscience has made that music choices are strongly imprinted by the time one hits high school. It’s not that adults can’t change. But now it becomes difficult. And in my experience, few ever do. By analogy, you might think about learning a foreign language. You can do so as an adult, but with much more difficulty than the 4 year old. And you’ll probably always speak that 2nd language with an accent.

So if you didn’t like orchestra-concert music (i.e., “classical”) when you were 15-18, or weren’t seriously exposed to it at least, you are not likely to enjoy it as an adult. I don’t say it can’t happen. But it would take some effort. You’ll have to intentionally learn how to listen to Brahms (a good thing, I think!). So if your musical tastes were shaped on the anvil of whatever was popular when you were a teen-ager, you certainly will find it strange to hear a group of people singing their way through a blue book with lots of old music in it (i.e., the Trinity Hymnal). You’ll wonder at the strange language they sing in (“thee,” “thou,” “thy”). I’m not saying you can’t learn and adapt. Many have. As a pastor, I used to counsel young Christians this way. “Pay attention to the words. You’ll catch onto the music later.” Yes, I really said that!

On the other hand, if your musical background didn’t enjoy popular music, then you may not appreciate Chris Tomlin either. And if your Christian musical experience has largely consisted of 19th century hymn tunes – for years and years, reinforced with the notion that only this music is really God-centered – can you see how listening to Jars of Clay might not be so edifying?

Personal testimony: That’s who I was! I’m a classically-trained musician. I went to Bob Jones University. Getting the picture? I remember the first time I heard Jars of Clay. I told my daughter, “They should screw the lid back on that jar!” I have a confession to make: I really don’t like most popular music. There – I said it. I don’t listen to it on the radio, I don’t download it through iTunes. You know what my preference is? I really like Dvorak (say it “vor-zhak,” not “duh-vor-zhak”). Mozart makes my day. I find string quartets incredibly fascinating. I love the sound of choirs singing ancient literature.

That’s my deepest preference. It’s what I listen to when I’m alone. But it’s not all I listen to. I’ve had to develop a broad taste, to learn to enjoy many kinds of music. I also get into good, tight jazz. And I’ve even learned to appreciate (even be edified!) by drums and electric guitars and loud music. Is it my music, in that most deeply personal sense? No. But I have learned to understand it, to appreciate it, and, at some level, to enjoy it. I know so many brothers and sisters in Jesus who really connect through a loud, contemporary sound. Because I love them, I can embrace their music style, too.

What are we doing now to adapt? How far have we come?

1. …vigorous efforts to modernize our hymn heritage

I update the language of our hymns whenever possible (to the consternation of some – and I am sorry about that). A few weeks ago we sang “Our God our help in ages past.” I think every stanza was touched at some point. Consider this change:

Time like an ever rolling stream

will bear us all away;

We pass forgotten as a dream

dies with the dawning day.

Now compare it with the original.

Time, like an ever-rolling stream

bears all its sons away;

They fly, forgotten as a dream

dies at the opening day.

Not a radical change, to be sure – but enough to make it sound current. Then we added insult to injury by putting in a bridge between stanzas of the hymn. Why mess with the hymns, you ask? Why can’t I just leave well enough alone? Because we’re trying to adapt. You may not like what comes out of the oven, but know that I make these changes in order to preserve this wonderful heritage of great hymns.

2. …new tunes given to old hymns

We’ve learned several this last year. The next song we learn, by the way, will be a new tune to the hymn, “O the deep, deep love of Jesus.” This is where folks like Indelible Grace, Red Mountain Church, RUF, and Caedmon’s Call are so helpful to us. Again, you may prefer “Rock of Ages” set to the 19th century American frontier tune familiar to most of us. I understand and respect that you really like that old tune. In order to adapt, however, I choose a recent tune – and we sang it recently.

3. …learning new hymns, written in our own heart-language

I’m thinking here of James Boice, Timothy Dudley-Smith, Margaret Clarkson, D.A. Carson, and others. Usually these are just the hymns (words); I have to find tunes we already know to fit to them.
I’ll put the Gettys and Stuart Townend in this same category – except that their hymns also come with new tunes! Their songs seem to be cross-generational. They have wide appeal. I am so thankful to the Lord for their ministries. What a blessing Townend’s Psalm 62 has been to us recently!

4. …singing some contemporary Christian music

We sing Sovereign Grace, Redman, Tomlin, Baloche, Michael W. Smith, Hillsong and others. While we also sing some “praise” music from the 80’s, for the most part I try to keep our repertoire current. And while we have a ‘praise band,’ it is acoustic, not electric. The piano plays a prominent role. Hand drums make our percussion section. In other words, while we sing current songs, our sound is different than you’ll hear on a CD. (While I’m out here on this tree limb sawing away, let me say that I would love to have a drum set – whether acoustic or synth. It doesn’t have to be ear-splitting.)

What other changes ought we make? That will come in part 3.

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Can we improve screen projection? Part 1

>> How NOT to do it

(If you're not sure why this slide doesn't succeed, here's a hint: think phrasing.)

This topic occasionally grabs my attention. Is there a better font we could use for our lyrics projection during our Sunday services? Better font size? Different alignment? Is there something else we could do with the screen to make the hymns and songs easier to sing? What distractions need to be removed?

Let me tell you what we do, and some of the why. I'd be interested in any feedback.

I've "been everywhere, man" (to quote Johnny Cash far out of context) on this technical issue. This has been a journey for me, I admit.

I have at least four sources that have helped shaped my present ideas on what makes a 'successful' projection screen.

First, I've read quite a bit on line from those who give their suggestions. There's much good help available, by the way. Some of it may seem obvious, but you never know who might need it that way. So I'm glad it's there.

I also see what other churches do, how they solve the same challenges we face. We all want the words to be clearly legible in the first pew and the last. Again, seeing how others solve their situation helps me think about our own.

Third, I have some experience with Powerpoint. I do know what works there and why (in my work with the Symphony Orchestra). Often (so it seems to me) folks have far too much text on each screen. And the fonts are unreadable (font size far too small, distracting backgrounds, etc.) (Bullets should be outlawed, by the way, except in rare cases.) And how about some pictures/graphics/illustration along the way?

Finally, I have our own Sunday services. What feedback do I receive about the screens? What needs do the A/V folks have for streaming it to our over-flow room, or on-line (for public domain songs)?

Here's what we're doing, and some explanation:

Software: MediaShout 3.5 – far more responsive to sudden changes in singing than Powerpoint can handle. And MediaShout can handle any kind of media far better than ppt. MS and PPT are 2 different programs, with 2 very different kinds of presentations in mind. PPT is the wrong choice for singing, as far as I'm concerned. (MS 4.0 has been released, but I've not yet seen the need for upgrading.)

Aspect: Widescreen (b/c our pulpit covers the bottom of the screen). Anyone who uses the projector can use widescreen safely. That is, nothing will be cut off on the bottom by the pulpit. (BTW, Powerpoint 2007 handles widescreen nicely. Download the widescreen design theme before you start your presentation.) Be sure to set your projector for 16:9 as well.

And, of course, I have the MediaShout display resolution set to 1280 x 768 (widescreen).

Font: Lydian BT bold. It's a narrow serif face (so I can get more words per line!). This is one of the changes I'm thinking through.

Font size: 38 pt (seems to work to the last pew). Perhaps this will change, too.

# of lines per slide: Again, because of the angle of the pulpit, screen, and pews, the bottom half of the screen is unusable. The folks in back would never be able to sing much! So only usually 4 lines of text per 'slide.' Sometimes 5 to finish a thought. NEVER 6.

[you see, it would be better if the lines break naturally at thought breaks: "...faith/and...truth/we'll..."]

Line breaks: Again, I've been all over this one. At HBC we often sing 'dense' songs – lots of words. While some of our songs have repetition – on the whole, we move through quite a bit of text in a set. So I'd prefer slides full of words. As well, because I'm wanting worshipers to think through the often lengthy ideas found in hymns, I've felt the need to put many words on slide. The result of this well-intentioned effort? I've too often broken up poetic lines at awkward places (see below).

But this is something I'm increasingly uncomfortable with. I definitely want to change this. While we might wish for more words per slide (good), it can lead to awkward line breaks (bad). Weird line breaks, in fact. You'll remember that the apostle admonishes us to "sing with understanding." I need to find a better path.

Really weird line breaks! And far too much text.

Alignment: Left. It was center for a long time – but then in some reading I was doing (neuroscience study of music) it was suggested that the brain is able to process left aligned text far more quickly than centered text. So I switched.

Background: Black with a blue line near the bottom third of the screen (see picture). I've tried full-screen backgrounds -- but the colors don't come through well (b/c of our lighting situation). They look washed-out. And the moving backgrounds mess up the cameras (so they can't focus).

In part 2 I'll talk about these new directions I'd like to explore.

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Sunday setlist August 2, 2009

MORNING
Pastor Ted preached from 2 Cor 3-4 on how it is we become the "light of the world."


As a closing thought, he mentioned Kendrick's song, "Shine Jesus shine" as a treatment of this passage, and our earnest prayer. The songs follow a more general theme (trust). While any good that happens must/shall come from the Lord, we also want to do our best. And I think the 'band' sounded good. The sound is improving. Good bass. Way to go, Dave!

walk-in
A mighty fortress (lifeway)

set
Psalm 146 "Hallelujah, praise Jehovah..."
Lord Most High / Famous One
He is exalted
Psalm 62 "My soul finds rest in God alone..." [Townend]

b/4 sermon
Nearer, still nearer

EVENING
Pastor Joe preached. I wasn't able to attend the service, but this is what I think was sung.

O dearest Jesus [see Trinity Hymnal]
Rock of ages (new tune)
Christ for us (tune: b/4 "the throne of God") [H. Bonar]

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Sunday Setlist July 26, 2009

MORNING
Mark Redfern opened Matthew 5:13-16, on our being salt and light. So the music theme follows. It's Friend Sunday as well.

walk-in
Here I am to worship

set
We come, O Christ (tune: darwall) / Margaret Clarkson
Let your kingdom come
I'm forever grateful
O church, arise

b/4 sermon
Let there be light (tune: duke street) / John Piper

EVENING
We had an extra time of prayer for several (incl two of our pastors leaving for Columbia), so the music was shortened. Pastor Sam opened Romans 2:12-15, the law as basis for judgment.

walk-in
Glorious and mighty (Ps 96)

set
No condemnation (tune: morning has broken)
Alas! and did my Savior bleed / Bob Kauflin version
Always forgiven

b/4
The law of God is good and wise (tune: murphy)

find the tune from Red Mountain Music here

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Quo Vadis?

That is, "where do we go from here?"

Steve Hartland, one of the pastors of Trinity RB in Baltimore, preached at our church this past Lord's Day evening. Here's the link for the entire sermon, if you'd like. The sermon opens up 1 Corinthians 9, on our need to adapt the gospel to various kinds of people, so that we might "win, win, win, win, win, save some, more" (Paul's words).

This is the last 8 minutes, where he makes application to our music.



I'd really like your response to this. If you feel more comfortable doing so, respond anonymously. In turn, I'll post some of my reflections.

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Sunday setlist July 19, 2009

MORNING
Pastor Joe preached Matthew 22:1-14. The music theme focused on God's character. The other pastors and many of our people were gone to Newburgh (daughter church) for the ordination of their pastor (Eddie Goodwin).

walk-in song
Mighty God, while angels bless you (tune:ode to joy) [God is mighty]

set
Our God our help [God is everlasting]
Your mercy, my God (music: McCracken) [God is merciful]
Indulgent God, how kind [God is indulgent/i.e., pardoning]
Before the throne of God (music: Cook) [God is justifying]

b/4 sermon
Come ye sinners, poor & needy [God is embracing]

EVENING
No musical theme; service truncated to accomodate a church business meeting. Pastor Steve Hartland (Trinity in Baltimore) opened up 1 Corinthians 9 on doing (and how to do) more to win/save others to Christ.

walk-in
Praise be to Christ (Dudley-Smith's setting of Col. 1:15-20)

Set
The power of the cross
I will rise (Tomlin)
Give me Jesus
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On vacation for a bit

My family and I will be on vacation for a bit. I'll be back in 2 weeks. I'll post the services then. I read Psalm 150 this morning -- seems like a fitting way to begin a hiatus: "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!"
Because of Mercy,
David Read More......

Sunday Setlist 6/28/09

MORNING
Sam Emadi preached Luke 18, the parable of two men praying. This was "Friend Sunday," and the gospel was preached clearly.


Walk-in
Psalm 62

Set
Crown him with many crowns
O my soul
Beneath the cross/getty
O Lord, you're beautiful

B/4 sermon
Knowing you, Jesus

EVENING
Pastor Joe preached John 17:20, Jesus's confidence and care for his church; Since we had a 'family meeting' scheduled (where the elders talk about church business/life), the other elements were truncated.

Walk-in
Praise be to Christ

Set
Glorious things of thee
God's purpose stands (tune: solid rock)
We are the body of Christ
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A Discussion on Worship and Music - in case you missed it

Go here. An 8-part video discussion among Harold Best, Chip Stam (SBTS) and Mike Cosper (Sojourn Church/Louisville) about our corporate singing! Read More......

Sunday Setlist 6/21/09

MORNING
PT preached on Paul's instruction to fathers (Eph 6, Col 3). Music theme: God our Father


WALK-IN
God himself is with us (with some Valley of Vision in there as well)

SET
Great is the Lord (Michael W. Smith)
Praise my soul, the King of heaven (ps 103)
Great is thy faithfulness
You are holy (prince of peace)
How deep the Father's love for us

B/4 SERMON
Always forgiven (sov grace)

EVENING
"The righteousness of God revealed in the gospel"
Romans 1:17/ PS preaching
Music theme: Our Redeemer's righteousness

WALK-IN SONG
Praise be to Christ (a setting of Col. 1:15f) (tune: ye banks & braes)

SET
I know whom I have believed (the new tune we've learned)
I will sing of my Redeemer (tune: hyfrydol)
I boast no more (tune: Lamb of God/T. Paris)
I will glory in my Redeemer (sov grace)

B/4 SERMON
The wonderful cross (Tomlin)
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Best gem -- another one

Consider this wisdom from Harold Best (see below).

"The best way to appreciate a kind of music you're not familiar with is to get the know the people that make it. Music doesn't drive my opinion of others. Getting to know others drives my opinion of their music." [from video series, #3] Read More......

Best gem

Justin Taylor writes this on his blog at Between Two Worlds.

"A mature Christian is easily edified."

Chip Stam cited those words by Harold Best in the first video I linked to earlier. Those words have been rolling around in my heart and mind for the past couple of days.

Easily edified.

Isn't that a wonderful goal--a sign of good mental health and genuine obedience of faith?

Read the rest here.... Read More......

A Discussion on Worship and Music

My friend, Mike Cunningham (music worship leader at Cornerstone Fellowship/Newburgh) sent me the link from the blog, "Between Two Worlds." It's an eight-part video series from Sojourn Church (and here) in Louisville. I'm posting it here, as well. May these three men help us all think more graciously and clearly.

In the videos below Pastor Mike Cosper talks with Dr. Harold Best and Dr. Carl ("Chip") Stam about worship practices, theology, and music.

(Cosper is the pastor of Worship Arts and the 930 Art Center at Sojourn Church in Louisville. Stam is associate professor in the School of Church Music and Worship at Southern, the founding director of the Institute for Christian Worship, and minister of worship at Louisville's Clifton Baptist Church. Best is Dean Emeritus of the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music, and the author of Unceasing Worship: Biblical Perspectives on Worship and the Arts and Music Through The Eyes of Faith.)

Session One

Cosper, Best and Stam - session three on worship from Sojourn/The 930 Art Center on Vimeo.

Sojourn Worship & Arts Pastor Mike Cosper interviews Dr. Harold Best ("Unceasing Worship," "Music Through The Eyes of Faith") and Professor Chip Stam (Director, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary's Institute of Christian Worship) about issues pertaining to Christian worship practices and theology, and the modern worship movement.



Session Two

Cosper, Best and Stam -- session two from Sojourn/The 930 Art Center on Vimeo.

Dr, Harold Best ("Unceasing Worship"), Professor Chip Stam (SBTS) and Sojourn Pastor Mike Cosper continue their discussion of worship and church music.

Session Three

Cosper, Best and Stam - session three on worship from Sojourn/The 930 Art Center on Vimeo.

Session Four

Cosper, Best and Stam - Session Four from Sojourn/The 930 Art Center on Vimeo.

Session Five

Cosper, Best and Stam - Episode Five from Sojourn/The 930 Art Center on Vimeo.

Session Six

Cosper, Best and Stam -- episode six from Sojourn/The 930 Art Center on Vimeo.

Session Seven

Cosper, Best, Stam: Episode Seven from Sojourn/The 930 Art Center on Vimeo.

Session Eight

Cosper, Stam and Best - session eight from Sojourn/The 930 Art Center on Vimeo.

Read More......

Psalm singing / ninth of several

[Spurgeon -- whose hymnal began with a rich and complete psalter]

The fifth of eight reasons why we should sing the psalms regularly, intentionally and methodically.

When you sing the psalms you praise the person and work of Jesus Christ.


I'm taking the liberty of quoting directly from Joe Holland (a PCA church-planting pastor in Virginia). See his discussion here.

One of the most ignorant statements a Christian can make against psalm singing is, "I don't sing psalms because they aren't about Jesus." Too many evangelicals--having unwittingly drunk deep of the Marcionite heresy--have ceased to see the Old Testament, and especially the psalms, as a masterpiece of redemptive history telling in types, shadows, and rituals the person and work of Jesus Christ. When the earliest Christians wanted to sing praise to God for the redemption wrought by Jesus' atoning death they turned to the psalms. It is sheer biblical ignorance and chronological snobbery to assume we can write better songs about Jesus than are provided in the psalms through the lens of the New Testament. To sing the psalms is to sing of the person and work of Christ.

[An added clarification or two to Holland's fine words: We use the psalms, not only to sing of Christ in the promise of redemptive history -- but we also take the psalms as a touchstone to inform us how to sing of Christ now, in the new covenant, now in the time of "better promises" (acc. to Hebrews). In other words, we should also sing hymns now that speak overtly of Christ, his person and work. And so -- to stir a nest, perhaps -- I believe it is appropriate for us to sing the psalms in New Testament paraphrase.

Consider Isaac Watts' treatment of Psalm 72. The psalm speaks, of course, of the coming king. Watts merely makes this Christological grasp explicit. Yesterday we sang "Jesus shall reign," and I titled it, "Psalm 72."

So we sing the psalms because they are, in this sense, "trans-covenantal," songs appropriate to the people of God under old and new covenants. And we also sing hymns (human-composed praise), under the pattern given us by the psalter, in the light of our New Testament. I remember Vern Poythress arguing somewhere from Hebrews 2:12 of the legitimacy of singing overtly New Covenant hymns -- that the text suggests our Lord himself now sings in the fulfillment language of the New Testament. We now sings psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with our Brother.

I'm not sure what Pastor Holland's position is, but to be clear: While I do want us to recover regular psalm-singing, I am not arguing for exclusive psalmody.}
Read More......

Sunday Setlist 6/14/09

MORNING
PB preaching Col 1:28-29, on the nature of apostolic preaching
Music theme: praise to God

WALK-IN
Here I am to worship

SET
Jesus shall reign (Ps 72)
How great is our God/Then sings my soul
O church arise (Getty)
You are my all in all

B/4 SERMON
Ancient words

EVENING
PJ preaching John 17:16-19
Music themes: God's Word, consecration

WALK-IN
Praise be to Christ - a setting of Colossians 1:15-20 by Timothy Dudley-Smith, set to tune: Ye Banks and Braes

SET
The worthy lamb ("Revelation 5") -- PT's hymn; music by Joy Malone
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
Holy Bible, book divine
Psalm 62 - Keyes/Townend

B/4 SERMON
Surrender (sov grace)
Read More......