A Surprising Light

Sunday Setlists for November 6, 2011

2011-11-07T08:51:00.004-06:00

In the morning Pastor Ted finished his series on Samson. At least I think so -- he covered Judges 16, the end of Samson. The musical theme centered on the cross.

Music theme: "Our every hope rests on what Christ has done"

walk-in
Psalm 146 ("Hallelujah, praise Jehovah") -- piano only

set
Lord Most High/Famous One
I'm forever grateful
The wonderful cross (Tomlin)
I come by the blood (the new sovgrace song we've been learning)

sermon hymn
We have not known thee as we ought -- piano only

In the evening we celebrated the Lord's Table. Derek Minton preached well!

Behold the Lamb (getty)
O sacred head (without accompaniment)

at the table
Fairest Lord Jesus
Till he come

Sunday Setlist for October 30, 2011

2011-10-27T10:56:00.010-05:00

This Lord's Day the sermon themes kind of run together. In the evening Pastor Mark preaches from Exodus 3-4: our dependence on God. And PT preaches from Judges 14, on the Israelites and Samson) who should have realized their need of God - that satisfaction can only be found in our Redeemer and not the Philistines. (I found one who titled the chapter, "The Lion, the wench and the wardrobe"!)

MORNING
walk-in
Give to our God / duke street

set
His love can never fail (igrace)
Salvation belongs to our God LW
There is a Redeemer
Jesus, I am resting (igrace)

sermon hymn
I need thee ev'ry hour

PM
Brandon led
I have a shelter from the storm
To the only God
rest of test

Sunday Setlist for October 16, 2011

2011-10-20T11:35:00.005-05:00

Two years has been long enough. Time to return - at least with setlists for now.

October 16, 2011

Pastor Ted continues his series on Samson in the morning worship. Our music theme is something along the lines of "loyalty to our gracious King."

Pastor Mark preaches Exodus 17:1-7 in the evening (water from the rock after the Israelites grumbled against the Lord). Music theme: Jesus.

MORNING

walk-in

Eb/F To the praise of his glorious grace

set

D/Eb Because we believe ("we believe in God the Father")

C Creation sings the Father's song (getty)

C The Lord is jealous to uphold (the new one we've been learning, David Ward)

Bb There is a fountain

sermon hymn

F My Maker and my King (igrace)

EVENING

Blake leads!

G Rock of Ages (new tune)

G Jesus, thank you (the mystery of the cross)

A little hiatus

2009-10-20T10:39:00.002-05:00

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

Enjoy. Laugh.

2009-10-03T22:59:00.001-05:00

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

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

Toward a better hymnody

2009-10-03T22:47:00.001-05:00

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

Sound counsel from 1959!

Case study -- singing Psalm 25

2009-09-29T20:59:00.003-05:00

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.

Sunday Setlist for 9/27/09

2009-09-29T20:56:00.002-05:00

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

Sunday Setlist for 9/20/09

2009-09-29T15:39:00.001-05:00

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

Sunday Setlist for 9/13/09

2009-09-29T15:37:00.002-05:00

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

Sunday Setlist September 6, 2009

2009-09-07T22:44:00.001-05:00

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)

Sunday Setlist August 30, 2009

2009-08-31T18:14:00.002-05:00

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

Accommodating Churches, Accommodating Christians

2009-08-25T20:27:00.004-05:00

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.

Sunday Setlist August 23, 2009

2009-08-25T20:17:00.005-05:00

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

Quo Vadis? part 3

2009-08-20T00:02:00.004-05:00

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

Sunday Setlist August 16, 2009

2009-08-17T14:19:00.004-05:00

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

Adapting

2009-08-16T23:00:00.005-05:00

...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."

Thinking through the message

2009-08-14T18:06:00.006-05:00

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

"In defense of musical diversity"

2009-08-12T11:25:00.003-05:00

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.

Quo Vadis? part 2

2009-08-10T15:10:00.010-05:00

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.

Can we improve screen projection? Part 1

2009-08-03T17:02:00.016-05:00

>> 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.

Sunday setlist August 2, 2009

2009-08-03T12:46:00.003-05:00

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]

Sunday Setlist July 26, 2009

2009-07-27T08:38:00.005-05:00

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

Quo Vadis?

2009-07-23T17:04:00.006-05:00

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.

Sunday setlist July 19, 2009

2009-07-20T13:43:00.002-05:00

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

On vacation for a bit

2009-06-30T10:18:00.003-05:00

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

Sunday Setlist 6/28/09

2009-06-30T10:14:00.002-05:00

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

A Discussion on Worship and Music - in case you missed it

2009-06-22T09:12:00.003-05:00

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

Sunday Setlist 6/21/09

2009-06-22T08:59:00.004-05:00

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)

Best gem -- another one

2009-06-19T13:51:00.003-05:00

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]

Best gem

2009-06-19T10:24:00.004-05:00

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....

A Discussion on Worship and Music

2009-06-19T09:44:00.002-05:00

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.

Psalm singing / ninth of several

2009-06-15T15:06:00.003-05:00

[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.}

Sunday Setlist 6/14/09

2009-06-14T19:55:00.003-05:00

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)

Sunday Setlist 6/7/09

2009-06-08T08:06:00.003-05:00

In the morning PJ preached from Luke 16, lessons to be learned from the recent murder of George Tiller, abortionist

The music had been planned around a different theme, before the sermon was changed. Wonderfully, the songs fit! I'm grateful our pastors feel the liberty to speak, now and then, a Biblical response to current events.

walk-in
Arise, my soul, arise

set
Ps 100/doxology
Let your kingdom come
Because we believe
Jesus, thy blood and righteousness
How sweet and awesome

Before sermon
Come to the waters whoever is thirsty (Boice)

Evening Lord's Table
PK preaching

Walk-in
Psalm 62

Set
There is a fountain
How deep the Father's love
Jesus, thank you

At the table
Behold the Lamb

Sunday setlist 5/31/09

2009-06-01T08:45:00.003-05:00

Morning - Friend Sunday
Pastor Joe preached Matt 21:23-32, on the authority of Jesus. Music theme: Jesus our King & Redeemer

Walk-in
As the deer pants for the water
(fixing the quirky mix of old & new verbs/pronouns in v.1)

Set
Rejoice the Lord is King (lifeway arr.)
We will glorify the King of kings
Psalm 45, "With hearts in love abounding" (tune: AURELIA)

Harriet Auber's version (from her Spirit of the Psalms, London, 1829), rev.
King of saints! Incarnate God! (tune from "O great God"/kauflin)

Joseph Hart, from Gadsby

b/4 sermon
Here is love vast as the ocean (did the Matt Redman version)

Evening
Pastor Sam opened up Romans 1:5-6, the "obedience of faith." Music theme: saving faith (which itself is obedience to the gospel)

Walk-in song
Psalm 62 (My soul finds rest in God alone)

Set
I know whom I have believed
Hark! the voice of love and mercy (tune: BEACH SPRING)
Amazing grace/my chains are gone
Beneath the cross (from hymnal, voices alone)

b/4 sermon
Psalm 51, "God be merciful to me" (Christopher Miner's tune, see indellible grace)

Never Alone

2009-05-29T12:22:00.003-05:00

From "Let All Creation Sing," EMU music. Go here.

[first stanza]
We’re not alone, for Christ is here
Immanuel our God come near
We’re not alone, for to our world
Jesus has come, eternal Word.
And as he speaks, our souls laid bare
Naked, ashamed, sin is made clear
And yet he clothes us in his love
Never alone, Christ is with us, is with us.

Psalm singing / eighth of several

2009-05-26T08:54:00.007-05:00

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

When you sing the psalms you engage a collection of songs that address the full range of human emotions.

Godly anger, heart-wrenching sorrow, dark depression, effulgent joy, honest questioning, and exuberant praise are just a sampling of the emotional range covered by the psalms. Most churches sense the burden of teaching their people how to think. Very few consider their responsibility to teach their people how to feel. Christians do not struggle with feeling. Feeling just happens. But our feelings must be trained by the gospel as much as our minds must. The psalms serve as the classroom of our affections.

[Another thought to Joe Holland's wonderful summary (a PCA church-planting pastor in Virginia). See him here. -- We'll only touch the full range of human emotions when we start singing through the psalter intentionally. It's just too easy, otherwise, to pick out the praise stuff and forego all that lament and sorrow. Even the wisdom/torah psalms (e.g. Ps 1, 119) are seldom sung.]

Ancient prayer put to song

2009-05-24T20:45:00.002-05:00

From Alcuin, 8th century, comes this prayer. Read about him here.

Eternal light, shine into our hearts. Eternal goodness, deliver us from evil. Eternal power, be our support. Eternal wisdom, scatter the darkness of our ignorance. Eternal pity, have mercy upon us, that with all our heart and mind and soul and strength we may seek your face and be brought by your infinite mercy to your holy presence, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

—Alcuin, 8th cent.

We sang this Christopher Idle hymn setting of this prayer. We used a new tune by Brian Murphy, retrieved from Red Mountain Music.

This is a particularly appropriate hymn before the preaching of God's Word.

Eternal light shine in my heart
Eternal hope lift up my eyes
Eternal power be my support
Eternal wisdom make me wise

Eternal life raise me from death
Eternal brightness help me see
Eternal Spirit give me breath
Eternal Savior come to me —

until by your most costly grace
invited by your holy Word
at last I come before your face
to know you, my eternal God

Sunday setlist May 24, 2009

2009-05-24T20:41:00.002-05:00

AM
PT preaching on proper esteem -- God, not self

walk-in
One pure and holy passion (altrogge)

Set
All creatures of our God (lifeway)
Salvation belongs to our God
Grace unmeasured (Kauflin)
Open the eyes of my heart (Baloche)
The Lord is (Ps 23/Kauflin)

b/4 sermon
Captivated by his beauty (tune: tis so sweet)

PM
PS preaching Romans 1:3-4, on the person/history of Jesus Christ

walk-in
Psalm 62 [townend] -- we finally started singing it!

Set
Give to our God immortal praise
God in the gospel of his Son
Alas and did my Savior bleed (Kauflin)
Embrace the cross [John G. Elliott]

b/4 sermon
Eternal light

Australian site for new songs

2009-05-22T21:31:00.004-05:00

Since we've been 'across the pond,' now we should travel 'down under.' EMU music. This is awonderful site for new songs. They state their purpose: "Emu Music exists to resource churches with new songs of the Word and to train musicians in effective Biblical music ministry." Their music reminds of the reAwakening albums from Christ Community Church in Franklin, TN.

Right now my headphones are on and I'm listening to Emu's newest album, New song in my heart

UK website for new songs

2009-05-21T12:07:00.002-05:00

No, Wildcat fans -- this has nothing to do with UK's basketball hopes for next year. Think 'across the pond.' See if anything works for you.

Songs for Today - Biblical songs for today's church

Psalm singing / seventh of several

2009-05-20T10:28:00.005-05:00

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

When you sing the psalms you guard against heresy.

[John Calvin]

Andrew Fletcher said, "Let me write a country's songs, and I care not who writes its laws." He was on to something. Songs drive information deep into our hearts. However, this power can be used for ill means. As long as the church has existed, songs have been used to inculcate heresy. There is an assumption that if you can sing it then it must be true. How shall we guard against sung-heresy? Sing psalms.

[I would want a bit more nuance to his suggestion. Yes, let us sing psalms -- and hymns (always using the psalter as our touchstone). To guard against heresy is an ever-present call to diligence.]

Congregational song

2009-05-20T10:23:00.002-05:00

Second Baptist Church of Coldwater, Mississippi

Psalm singing / sixth of several

2009-05-18T08:44:00.015-05:00

The third of eight reasons why we should sing the psalms regularly, intentionally and methodically. I'm taking the liberty of quoting directly from Joe Holland (a PCA church-planting pastor in Virginia). See his discussion here.

1. When you sing psalms, you literally sing the Bible.

2. When you sing the psalms you interact with a wealth of theology.

3. When you sing the psalms you are memorizing Scripture.

An important part of Christian maturity is the ability to recall passages of Scripture at need. Educational circles have long advocated the use of music to aid memorization. Music has a way of impressing truth into the mind in ways that reading alone cannot. This is no accident; it is the providential hand of our Creator God. He wants you to memorize his word and has provided a mnemonic for easy memory--the Psalter as Scripture set to music.

Sunday Setlist for May 17, 2009

2009-05-18T08:27:00.002-05:00

Morning
PB continued his sermon on affliction. The Lord used him for good in many lives today.

Walk-in
Brethren, we have met to worship

Set
Praise to the Lord (lifewayworship)
God is in control (T. Paris)
Be unto your Name
Whate'er my God ordains (Joy Malone's tune)
O thou in whose presence

b/4 sermon
Jesus paid it all
(a beautiful lifewayworship arrangment + the tag from Passion -- but an octave lower!; "Oh, praise the One who paid my debt, and raised this life up from the dead")

Evening: PS began a survey of Romans

Walk-in
For all the saints

Set
Your great name we praise (sov grace)
To Christ our King in songs of praise (Dudley-Smith hymn)
Song for the nations
Immortal honors rest on Jesus' head (Wm. Gadsby)

B/4 sermon
Eternal light shine in my heart
(adapting a prayer from Alcuin, 8th cent theologian)

Congregational Song again

2009-05-12T11:28:00.002-05:00

From a Church of Christ in Dothan, Al

Psalm singing / fifth of several

2009-05-12T11:16:00.002-05:00

I'm in the midst of eight reasons why we should sing the psalms regularly, intentionally and methodically. I'm taking the liberty of quoting directly from Joe Holland (a church-planting pastor (PCA) in Virginia). See his discussion here.

1. When you sing psalms, you literally sing the Bible.

2. When you sing the psalms you interact with a wealth of theology.

Martin Luther said of the Psalter, "that it might well be entitled a Little Bible, wherein everything contained in the entire Bible is beautifully and briefly comprehended." The 150 psalms cover the span of theology. To learn the psalms is not just to learn a specific topic of theology. It is to learn about every area of theology. Anthropology, theology proper, a theology of Scripture, Christology, soteriology, eccleisiology, and eschatology are all covered in the Psalter. Take for example Psalm 19 and its two part contemplation of God's revelation in creation and in the Bible. Or consider John Calvin's observation of God's attributes in Psalm 145, "in which the sum of all his powers is so precisely reckoned up that nothing would seem to have been omitted." The psalms provide a thorough exposure to the fullness of theology.

Making songs singable

2009-05-11T13:46:00.002-05:00

Two more blogs from guys who know what they're doing.
Bob Kauflin, in Worship Matters, writes "Finding the right key to sing in." He discusses the importance of listening to the congregation, how tempo affects range, the breadth of range and its tessitura (fancy word for what he calls "repetition"), modulating, etc. Helpful stuff.

Secondly, check out Don Chapman on worshipideas.com, on "Singable songs." This may be something you have to sign up to read -- but there's no fee. And this is a site I go to regularly. He speaks, like Kauflin, of the importance of listening to your congregation and knowing their age and musical experiences.

Future of Church Music

2009-05-11T08:57:00.003-05:00

You should check this out -- Eric Priest, a pastor at Christ the King Pres in Houston. In responding to questions on another blog, he makes sound points about our music, about whom we really worship in our "worship." Read it here.

We must return from a musician-focus to a congregation-focus. That means putting songs in keys people actually can sing, choosing singable songs, supporting the singing above showcasing talent, etc.
Humility required.
Resisting the urge to follow the latest trend found in mega-churches.
Nurturing/teaching congregations to come for corporate (not private) worship.

Best line: As long as we see worship as a production and the congregation as an audience, we'll stay sick.

Sunday Setlist May 10, 2009

2009-05-10T22:02:00.003-05:00

Morning
Pastor Rich preached from Psalm 119 on affliction.
Theme: Consolation in affliction

Walk-in
Hear our praises (Hillsong)

Set
Sing praise to the Father
   tune: To God be the glory
How high and how wide (sov grace)
I know whom I have believed
I will rise

B/4 sermon
O faithful God (sov grace)
Be still, my soul

Evening
Pastor Sam preached on distinguishing true faith from false faith
Theme: Faith

Walk-in
My faith has found a resting place

Set
No condemnation!
   tune: morning has broken
Ashamed of Jesus?
   new tune: from Red Mountain music
You are my hiding place
Cause the blind to see
   by Joy Malone

Psalm-singing / fourth of several

2009-05-09T16:29:00.004-05:00

Why sing psalms regularly?

Church history is a wonderful thing. While I am no professional historian, I think I qualify as an "amateur," a "lover" of church history. And it has much to tell us about psalm-singing -- from the ancient church, through the reformation, and up to our hour.

Interestingly, Particular Baptists (those of the 1689 Confession of Faith) were not exclusive psalm-singers (as were Presbyterians). In fact, it would seem that, once they got the urge to sing hymns (at the Lord's Table), psalm-singing fell to the side. Or they sang Watts' psalms (which are more like paraphrases). You'll not find, for instance, a section for the psalter in Wm. Gadsby. Yet some Baptists were glad to sing psalms. See the opening 150 hymns in C. H. Spurgeon's hymnal for Met Tab.

Today psalm-singing among Reformed Baptists is rare. We often rely on the Trinity Hymnal for our musical canon, with psalm portions/settings scattered throughout. But there is little, if any, deliberate focus on the psalms themselves. We are not intentional, regular, or methodical. I would like to challenge that.

So why this excursis about Baptists and psalm-singing? I think we have to make the case that the intentional, regular and methodical (not exclusive) use of the psalter in congregational praise is not the domain of presbyterians only. It is something we have become convinced of reading our Bibles. You know, the part about "singing to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs." And it is a practice, even among Baptists, with precedence.

Many are the lists and discussions about why we should sing psalms. I'm taking the liberty of quoting directly from Joe Holland (a church-planting pastor (PCA) in Virginia). See his discussion here. This is thorough without being long-winded (my disease).

1. When you sing psalms, you literally sing the Bible.

The hymn, "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" is a moving meditation on the cross of Christ. No hymn matches "For all the Saints" in its contemplation on the communion of the saints. But neigher of these hymns are the actual words of the Bible. They are reflections on it. Forgetting for a moment that we are not singing the psalms in Hebrew, we are still singing the very words of God. The versification, themes, and content of the psalms are the inspired Word of God for his church in every age. When you sing a psalm, you sing the Bible.

Rappin' the gospel

2009-05-06T11:22:00.003-05:00

This is good. Really good. Perhaps we need to re-examine our paradigm -- the one that says only our favorite music styles glorify God. Perhaps it's time to run outside and inhale some fresh air.

Psalm singing / third of several

2009-05-06T09:01:00.005-05:00

I've started by listing reasons why I have not seriously pursued intentional and regular psalm-singing here at HBC. We often sing a psalm in our gatherings -- but that's not quite the same thing.

Two reasons so far: (1) Goofy English in many psalters (what I call "psalter syntax") and (2) Expired Hymn Tunes. Today my third (and final) reason.

3. Figuring out how to be reformed and relevant to our generation.

I love John Calvin; I love the puritans; B. B. Warfield was a great help to me in early days in defining a coherent theological position. (That's his likeness on the left.) I do know that being reformed (a theocentric world-view) is the most relevant pou sto, place to stand, that we could have. My point is that the 20th century Reformed church culture -- in fighting battles on many theological fronts -- has been slow generally, I think, to think through how we might engage our culture well. Often (not always), for instance, it is the Reformed community most eager to bash in "contemporary praise" as nothing but ditties and man-centered doggerel.

This has been the largest hindrance (in my own mind, at least) to any serious attempt at making psalm-singing an intentional part of each our gatherings. We've spent several years at HBC trying to work out our understanding of worship, of music styles, and related concerns -- so as to be as indigenous as we can be. We are a confessional (i.e., Reformed) Baptist church trying to find our way in a brave, new world. We want to move cautiously; but we want to move according to all that Scripture commands us (see our Principles of Worship) and according to the best wisdom we can follow. (FWIW, I think the 1689 calls on us to use both. There shouldn't be any conflict.)

While we have a ways to go, I think we're fairly clear on our direction. We are a hymn-loving church that embraces an eclectic mix of different kinds of music in public worship. We sing German chorales and Chris Tomlin. Again, we work hard to be "rooted and relevant." And our own musical style might be best described as "eclectic (or if you prefer, blended) piano-driven."

Thing is, I haven't found regular psalm-singing anywhere (yet) in the contemporary praise world. Churches sing songs based on the psalms (see Psalms from sovereign grace -- a wonderful set of songs for the church). And occasionally entire psalms are set to music (see Stuart Townend/Aaron Keyes setting of Ps 62). So there are hints of how it might look. But I haven't yet found the church that wants to sing psalms regularly, in some kind of contemporary manner. (BTW, if you can connect me to one, please do!)

I think it’s time to figure it out (while not losing anything else we do).

Next time: Eight reasons why Christ’s gathered congregation should sing psalms intentionally, regularly, and methodically.

Congregational singing -- more of it

2009-05-05T22:35:00.004-05:00

This kinda combines two great loves of mine - congregational song and a brass band. Here we have both. The congregation sings "Crown Him" at a festival by Regent Hall Band at Bristol Easton Salvation Army November 2008. Guess they like it quick.

Must....learn...!!!

2009-05-05T11:10:00.009-05:00

Katie Redfern encourages us to learn this song from Aaron Keyes & Stuart Townend. So what are we waiting for? Find the text under "read more."

Psalm 62

Verse 1
My soul finds rest in God alone
My rock and my salvation
A fortress strong against my foes
And I will not be shaken
Though lips may bless and hearts may curse
And lies like arrows pierce me
I'll fix my heart on righteousness
I'll look to Him who hears me

Chorus
(And) O praise Him hallelujah
My Delight and my Reward
Everlasting never failing
My Redeemer my God
(REPEAT)

Verse 2
Find rest my soul in God alone
Amid the world's temptations
When evil seeks to take a hold
I'll cling to my salvation
Though riches come and riches go
Don't set your heart upon them
The fields of hope in which I sow
Are harvested in heaven

Chorus
(And) O praise Him hallelujah
My Delight and my Reward
Everlasting never failing
My Redeemer my God
(REPEAT)

Verse 3
I'll set my gaze on God alone
And trust in Him completely
With ev'ry day pour out my soul
And He will prove His mercy
Though life is but a fleeting breath
A sigh too deep to measure
My King has crushed the curse of death
And I am His forever

Chorus
(And) O praise Him hallelujah
My Delight and my Reward
Everlasting never failing
My Redeemer my God
(REPEAT)

(BRIDGE)
O praise Him O praise Him
Hallelujah hallelujah
O praise Him O praise Him
Hallelujah Hallelujah
O praise Him O praise Him
Hallelujah hallelujah

Chorus 1
(And) O praise Him hallelujah
My Delight and my Reward
Everlasting never failing
My Redeemer my God
(REPEAT)

CCLI Song No. 5040902
© 2007 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
Aaron Keyes | Stuart Townend

Principles for worship at HBC #13

2009-05-05T09:08:00.001-05:00

12. We will ever depend on, expect, and respond to the Holy Spirit’s working in our midst.

Our services should manifest planning and spontaneity, form and freedom. By this we shall continue to reform, continue to grow and continue to seek after God for fresh mercies every time we gather. (Ps. 40:3; 98:1; 149:1)

Precious communion hymn

2009-05-05T08:22:00.005-05:00

Christ for us. From Horatius Bonar, in a collection he entitled, "Communion Hymns" (1881). I set it to the tune for "before the throne." So I take eight original stanzas and make them four, repeating the last line. You may find a different tune. Here it is as Bonar penned it. I've also added an historical note after the hymn.

Precious words. Even more precious the Savior who so freely gave himself for us.

Christ for us

On merit not my own I stand
on doings which I have not done
merit beyond what I can claim
doings more perfect than my own

Upon a life I have not lived
upon a death I did not die
another's life, another's death
I stake my whole eternity

Not on the tears which I have shed;
not on the sorrows I have known,
another's tears, another's griefs,
on them I rest, on them alone

Jesus, O Son of God, I build
on what your cross has done for me;
there both my death and life I read
my guilt, my pardon there I see

Lord, I believe; oh deal with me
as one who has your word believed;
I take the gift, Lord look on me
as one who has your gift received

I taste the love the gift contains
I clasp the pardon which it brings
and pass up to the living source
above, whence all this fullness springs

Here at your feast I grasp the pledge
which life eternal to me seals,
here in the bread and wine I read
the grace and peace your death reveals

O fullness of the eternal grace
O wonders past all wondering!
Here in the hall of love and song
we sing the praises of our King

Horatius Bonar, 1881 Communion Hymns

Bonar's son, H. N. Bonar, wrote a book, Hymns by Horatius Bonar (1904), in which he includes this note:

"[In 1881] a little collection of thirty Communion Hymns was issued a few of which had already appeared in previous volumes Most of these hymns were known to my father's own congregation already It was his custom at the close of every Communion service to read aloud some hymn or poem bearing on the subject which had been the theme of the sermon and table addresses This was often selected from some old hymn book sometimes it was a translation from the German but many a time it was specially written by himself for the occasion In this little collection appears that perfect exposition of the author's standpoint before God: ON MERIT NOT MY OWN I STAND"

Setlist for Sunday, May 3, 2009

2009-05-05T08:10:00.002-05:00

Morning
Pastor Ted preached on how to deal with those who curse and revile. The music theme followed a more general path of hope in God.

Walk-in song
Psalm 96

Set
Come, Christians, join to sing
Blessed be your name
Glorious & mighty
Wonderful, merciful
His forever (Jesus, Friend of sinners)

b/4 sermon
It is well with my soul

Evening
Our monthly Lord's Table. Pastor Joe preached from Luke 7 on being forgiven much, loving much.

Walk-in song
I will rise (Tomlin)

Set
I know whom I have believed
Christ for us (H. Bonar)
new to us; set to the tune "before the throne"
Behold the Lamb (Getty)

at the table
Depth of mercy (Kauflin version)
Only your mercy
There is none like you
The gospel song

Just think about it, okay?

2009-04-29T08:22:00.003-05:00

"Likewise, churches, if you insist on operating like it's 1963, you might not be too long for this world. If you're just now considering using contemporary music in your worship, you're 20 years behind. If your church is full of politics that strangle your ministry, you just might be put "out of business" by churches who are more concerned with seeing people reached for Christ."

Read "The Next Big Thing" by Don Chapman.

While I remain unconvinced about the multiple-site church idea (whatever happened to planting indigenous churches?), perhaps I've just never been in a situation where it would make sense. At least read this and think about our music in Reformed Baptist churches. Could it be that our adherance to the Trinity Hymnal actually hinders our growth? Could it be that we could affirm the regulative principle of worship, maintain at atmosphere of gladness and gravity, while using contemporary music styles and instrumentation?

More congregational song

2009-04-27T14:17:00.003-05:00

From Covenant Life, Gaithersburg, MD

More congregational song

2009-04-27T14:08:00.001-05:00

Harvest Bible Chapel, Elgin, IL

Principles for worship at HBC#12

2009-04-27T13:57:00.002-05:00

11. We fuse historic and contemporary hymnody.

No church or service can be all things to all people – but we do not value stylistic narrowness. We believe there are affections owing to God that different tunes and different texts and different genres may awaken better than others. We will strive to be who we are without exalting our own tastes as the standard of excellence or power. We will see God's guidance in each worship setting to be both indigenous and stretching.

Sitting in my car in a parking lot in NE Philly

2009-04-27T10:12:00.005-05:00

The Lord used this song in my own life at the most difficult time I've known. And it was a calamity of my own making. There was no one else even partly responsible. My world had crashed around me.

It's not that the difficulty went away when I heard this song. Not at all - actually things became much, much darker in my soul for a very long time. But here was hope. I held onto what this song had to say with the grip only the desperate understand.

We all have those songs, I suppose, that not only speak a good word now, but also bring back many memories - painful, sweet. God is good. From Sovereign Grace here.

from Ch. Wesley

2009-04-27T09:34:00.005-05:00

Sometimes I find a good hymn -- but don't know what to do with it -- what tune (that we know) best fits? Sometimes that means I have to rearrange the hymn slightly. That's the case with this hymn.

Charles Wesley wrote this for Advent, "Jesus comes." Advent suggests much more than a baby in a manger, of course. It speaks to the eternal purposes of redemption. Since the hymn seemed appropriate to the preaching yesterday, we sang it.

The United Methodist hymnal suggests the tune SAVANNAH (7.7.7.7.). Commenting on the tune, one web site notes, "SAVANNAH is reputed to be of Moravian origin. John Wesley first heard and learned it from the Moravians either en route to or during his time in Georgia where he was a missionary priest overseeing the Anglican work in Savannah. The tune appeared in his 1742 collection, Foundery Collection, with the name 'Herrnhuth Tune.'" You can find it here.

We didn't use SAVANNAH.

I chose DIX (6 7's) instead ("for the beauty of the earth"). That meant I had to add something. I repeated the 3rd line of each verse, and added an "alleluia, amen."

We also used the lifewayworship.com arrangement for this tune. It has a bouncy, carribean flavor to it!

Jesus comes with all his grace,

comes to save a fallen race
object of our glorious hope,

Jesus comes to lift us up

Object of our glorious hope, Alleluia, Amen!

Let the living stones cry out,

let the seed of Abram shout
praise we all our lowly King,

give him thanks, rejoice and sing

Praise we all our lowly King, Alleluia, Amen!

He has our salvation wrought,

he our captive souls has bought
he has reconciled to God,

he has washed us in his blood

He has reconciled to God, Alleluia, Amen!

We are now his lawful right,

walk as children of the light
we shall soon obtain the grace,

pure in heart, to see his face

We shall soon obtain the grace, Alleluia, Amen!

We shall gain our calling's prize,

after God we all shall rise
filled with joy and love and peace,

perfect then in holiness

Filled with joy and love and peace, Alleluia, Amen!

Sunday setlist for April 26, 2009

2009-04-27T09:11:00.003-05:00

It was Friend Sunday -- Mark Redfern preached Matthew 5:8, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." He made it easy for my preparation, giving me solid ideas for what he wanted the singing to accomplish. Thanks, Mark!

By the way -- I'm so thankful for the music team we have here at HBC. Every week they give themselves to the Lord and to his people in hours of practice. (This week 4 hours rehearsal!)

Morning
Walk-in song
Your grace is enough

Set
Everlasting God
Jesus comes with all his grace (tune: DIX)
I'll post this separately
Psalm 24 (tune: DUNDEE)
Another one from the Evangelical Psalter. See here.
O Great God / sov grace

b4 the sermon
The sands of time

After the sermon
O Great God

In the evening Pastor Joe continued his exposition of John 17. Vv.13-15 speak of Christ's purposes in keeping us here. Themes of joy, opposition, perseverance marked our music. It was good to have Joy Malone back on the piano!

Walk-in
I will rise / Tomlin

Set
Fight the good fight (tune: DUKE ST.)
I use an updated text.
A debtor to mercy alone
See here.
I know whom I have believed
See here.
It's been mercy all the way

b4 sermon
I'm forever grateful / sov grace

Congregational song

2009-04-20T10:07:00.005-05:00

Perhaps a series on different kinds of congregational song world-wide. Let's start with the Morriston Tabernacle Swansea (Wales). The Welsh sure know how to sing!

Principles for worship at HBC #11

2009-04-20T09:30:00.001-05:00

10. The congregation’s voice drives our music.

While we seek greater and more varied instrumental accompaniment, it should always take the servant’s place to help our singing.

One more hymn today

2009-04-20T08:56:00.002-05:00

Is this a setting of Psalm 22? Not strictly so -- but it does follow the broad outline of the psalm in a gospel paraphrase. I found this text in Met Tab's 1991 hymnal, Psalms & Hymns of Reformed Worship.

I had some difficulty in finding a tune (L.M.) that would take in the widely different emotional states of the opening and closing of this hymn. Perhaps one should think of using two tunes within the same hymn? Now there's a new thought. We only used one tune last night -- what we know as "the river is wide." I called the hymn ...

A gospel account of Psalm 22

Such grief was yours, such deep distress,
such pain, O Christ, intense and real,
subject to all the pangs of death
and such forsakenness to feel

The powers of darkness hem you round,
malice with rage and hatred roar,
and human nature melts like wax
as life and strength to death outpour

No sorrows more, no greater hurt
no more humiliation sore,
no greater judgment, heavier stroke
has ever been, nor evermore

For you have borne a host of hells
to raise our souls to life above
that we may glorify your name
and feed upon your glorious love

Such sorrows never shall be mine!
My Lord has borne them all away
O may this heart to all declare
your lovingkindness every day

from the Evangelical Psalter

Hymn to look at

2009-04-20T08:46:00.003-05:00

Fred G. Zaspel (pastor at Word of Life Baptist Church, Pottsville, PA) wrote this hymn. See him here. He wrote it with the tune in mind that we know as "Morning has broken." It's an old Scottish/Gaelic tune.

No condemnation now in Christ Jesus!
Great consolation -- Jesus has died!
Our sin laid on him, full pardon gives us
Looking by faith dim we're justified!

With judgment sure must God recompense us?
He perfectly just, what is our plea?
This: "Christ is for us! Who is against us?"
His blood shed for us, pardons, sets free!

In him and through him -- Christ our Defender!
Praises all due him, what mystery!
God in Christ dying as the offender!
His blood supplying our pardon free

Christ the great surety to those believing;
He all the pur'ty God can demand
Righteousness given -- conscience relieving!
by blood forgiven, in Christ we stand!

To Christ all blessing, praise without measure!
In him we're resting, his peace made known
His all the labors -- ours all the pleasure!
God's gracious favors through Christ our own

When there before him -- then, in full glory --
we sing our new hymn new praises give
'Twill be this old song of Christ our glory;
Through ages told long: "In Christ we live!"

© 1995 Fred G. Zaspel

Setlist for Lord's Day -- April 19, 2009

2009-04-20T08:29:00.002-05:00

Pastor Ted preached in our gathered morning worship, from Revelation 5, on the achievements of the Lion/Lamb.

Walk-in song
See what a morning (Getty)

Set
Lord Most High/Famous One
All hail the pow'r of Jesus' name
He is exalted
Jesus, your name (Getty)
Glorify your name

Before sermon
Agnus Dei / Michael W. Smith
After sermon
He is exalted

Jonathan preached in our gathered late afternoon worship (we now start at 5!) from Roman 3:21-26, on rediscovering the wonder of the gospel (Christ becoming our sin, being forsaken by God, bearing the full wrath of God against our sin).

Walk-in song
I will rise / Tomlin

Set
O for a thousand tongues to sing
Here at your cross (really, "The Wonderful Cross"/Tomlin with a different hymn)
No condemnation! (tune: morning has broken)
Psalm 22 paraphrase (tune: the river is wide)
I'll post these last two hymns.

After sermon
Man of sorrows

Psalm singing / second of several

2009-04-16T09:45:00.004-05:00

... reasons for not having pursued regular psalm-singing here at HBC.

2. Expired tunes
I can almost hear the howls! Look -- I have spent enough years as a Reformed Baptist and in the PCA to love most every tune found in the Trinity Hymnal. But that doesn't mean I think they all work well in a contemporary setting. I think, rather, that many (most?) sound and feel really old. Out of touch. Their musical language is dusty. I’m not saying that we can’t learn old tunes. I am saying that I don’t think that’s the best choice to make.

[Excursus begins . . .
I just put on my education-director-for-the-symphony hat. Every piece of music written (whether a symphony or a humble hymn tune) comes in the musical vocabulary (melodic theory, harmonic development, formal structures, etc) of its day. Stuff written in 1810 sounds much different from that written in 1910. Only a few pieces of any generation ever escape their own time and become true classics. Only a few. Most so-called “classical” music lies in dusty obscurity – and rightly so. But it’s the few that thrill us! They speak to us across centuries – and still have something for us to listen to in the 21st century. So we program the best from Beethoven, Mozart, Vivaldi, Dvorak, etc. Why? Because everything written in 1780 was wonderful? No, of course not. But once in a while a piece rose to the top.
Hymn tunes are no different. They didn’t come from a divine pen. No angelic help. They sound like the time & place they came from. I have a tune book for a New England hymnal (ca. 1810). Trust me – most of the tunes in that book should remain forgotten. We don’t want them! They aren’t good because they’re old. That’s goofy thinking. Let’s quit this idea that “old tunes are better than new tunes.” Many of the tunes in Trinity Hymnal come from Victorian England. They really sound their age! They aren’t better because they’re old, or because they come on the pages of a blue book!
My ideal church setting: many/most of the tunes we sing would be less than 50 years old; a few tunes (the classics) from earlier times would also be included.
. . . Excursis ends]

Further, in my experience (back east) we tended to use a few tunes repeatedly for several psalms. There's simply no way, however, that LEOMINSTER, for example, can adequately handle all the psalms we gave to it! Tunes speak their own truth; words speak in propositional language, but music speaks in emotional/affective language. So tunes speak to us with an emotional message, one that needs to fit the words. The better the fit, the more the song embraces us.
The psalms are so varied in their heart, passion, doctrine -- that we need all kinds of tunes for them. Read Psalm 56. Perhaps that should have some kind of blues tune?

Next time: Figuring out our worship

Psalm singing / first of several

2009-04-13T21:01:00.006-05:00

For many years I've been convinced of the need for the gathered church to sing the psalms. In another church (reformed baptist) and time we used the Trinity Psalter with great joy. I love singing the psalms. I want to get serious, again, about singing psalms -- at HBC. How can we incorporate them into our gathered worship?

My reasons for not having pursued psalm-singing more aggressively here in O'boro are several.

1. Goofy English

The psalters I'm familiar with (including Trinity) are full of what I call "psalter-syntax." They torture natural word-order so as to get the meter and rhyme sequence correct. Classic example: "The Lord's my shepherd, I'll not want. / He makes me down to lie / In pastures green: he leadeth me / the quiet waters by." Though this looks correct on paper, it comes out much differently, at least when sung with CRIMOND (the usual tune for Psalm 23). If a congre-gation is accustomed to it, you can deal with it. We did -- taking time to explain the psalms we sang,
It seems that the more 'complete' a psalm-setting intends to be, the greater tendency toward psalter-syntax. Better English settings, on the other hand, tend to be more paraphrastic.
Further, many psalm-settings are full of "thee/thou" language -- verb forms long absent from normal conversation. But we're going the other direction at HBC, trying to update older hymns whenever it won't harm the sweet sound a song has. I want Newton, Watts and Toplady to sound accessible to modern ears. So I sure don't want to add more old-sounding language when I don't need to.
HBC has no history of psalm-singing, except as an occasional selection from the hymnal. But that's not the same as intentional psalm-singing. So I will need to find better/contemporary metrical settings for the psalms.
[And yes, I know all about psalm-chanting -- everything from Anglican to Gelineau. And no, we're not going even think about trying that here. I'm not sure too many places ought to. If your'e not sure what I'm talking about, that's okay. Chanting our way through the psalter clearly doesn't fit our stated desire to be "rooted and relevant."]

Tomorrow, Expired Tunes...

A good reminder

2009-04-13T11:57:00.003-05:00

Dr. Bob Gonzalez put up a good reminder on Saturday -- a song that Steve Green made well-known, "God and God Alone." See his blog for a Netherlands choir singing. Here is Steve Green himself. Praise God!

Sunday setlist for 4/12/09

2009-04-13T11:30:00.005-05:00

PB preached the resurrection of Christ. We started early, so the choir could sing also.

Walk-in songs
D/Eb Were you there?
Bb/C Christ the Lord is ris'n today

Set
F/G Alleluia, alleluia (tune: ode to joy)
C/D Crown him with many crowns
F The gospel is true
[Heidelberg catechism Q. 45]
C There is a redeemer

Before sermon
Choir: See what a morning
E/F There is a higher throne (Getty)

After sermon

Christ the Lord is ris'n today

In the evening the choir sang a collection of Getty hymns, accompanied by a readers' theatre re-telling of the gospel narrative. Pastor Joe preached Isaiah 53. We sang one congregational hymn.

F Blessing and honor (from H. Bonar)

Principles for worship at HBC #10

2009-04-06T18:28:00.002-05:00

9. We strive for undistracting excellence.

We will try to sing and play and pray and preach in such a way that people's attention will not be diverted from the substance by shoddy ministry nor by excessive finesse, elegance, or refinement. Natural, orderly and undistracting excellence will let the truth and beauty of God shine through.

Another communion hymn

2009-04-06T18:16:00.008-05:00

What a delight it is to find good hymns for the Lord's Table -- not just hymns about the atonement, but about this sacred and happy feast -- this sacrament of covenant re-stipulation (there's a word you don't see too often!). We used NETTLETON. The words have been updated. It sang well. Give it a look.

Abba, Father, We Approach You
"Abba Father" we approach you

in our Savior's precious name

We your children here assembled

now your promised blessing claim
From our sins his blood has washed us,

now through him our souls draw nigh;
and your Spirit too has taught us

"Abba Father" thus to cry

Once as prodigals we wandered

in our folly far from you,
but your grace and mercy reaching

has redeemed us through and through
You have welcomed us as children,

kissed us with a Father's love
spread the festive board and called us

soon to dwell with you above

Clothed in garments of salvation

at this feast we take our place
we rejoice with you rejoicing

in the riches of your grace
"Come and dine," we hear you saying

as we view this table spread
"I have found my once lost children;

Now they live who once were dead!"

"Abba Father" all adore you,

joy resounds in heav'n above
while in us they learn the wonders

of your wisdom, grace and love
Soon before your throne assembled

all your children will proclaim
"Glory everlasting glory

be to God and to the Lamb!"

James G. Deck, 1841, Hymns for the Poor of the Flock / Public Domain

Hymn on 2 Corinthians 5

2009-04-06T18:02:00.005-05:00

As the preaching was developing out of 2 Cor 5, I went looking for suitable hymns. From the Hymnary web site I found this hymn. It's good!

For The Glories Of God's Grace
It's a 7.7.7.7. meter -- and needs something uplifting, I think. MONKLAND would work (if the congregation knows it already). I chose HENDON since we know it well. (Note: HENDON requires the last line to be repeated.)

For the glories of God's grace
let us bring unceasing praise
From our fallen sinful ways
we are reconciled to God
we are reconciled to God

Strangers once to what is good
bound in Satan's servitude
Purchased by our Savior's blood
we are reconciled to God
we are reconciled to God

Christ the Lord unstained and pure
took our sin, made us secure
named us his ambassadors
We are reconciled to God
We are reconciled to God

Sinless and immortal, he
paid our debt on Calvary
Raised from slaves to royalty
we are reconciled to God
we are reconciled to God

God's good news of love we bring
to the lost and wandering
Come believe rejoice and sing
We are reconciled to God!
We are reconciled to God!

Author: John Antes | John Wilkes | Marie J. Post
Copyright: ©1987 CRC Publications

Sunday Setlist 4/5/09

2009-04-06T14:35:00.002-05:00

Pastor Rich preached 2 Cor 5:15, and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. The music theme followed these great themes of reconciliation by a great Savior.

WALK-IN SONG
In Christ alone
SET
Let us love and sing and wonder
Because we believe
For the glories of God's grace (from 2 Cor 5) -- I'll post this separately
Amazing grace/my chains are gone
B/4 SERMON
Fairest Lord Jesus
SERMON RESPONSE
I love to tell the story

Planned but not sung (time constraints)
Embrace the cross (John G. Elliot)

In the evening we celebrated the Lord's Table. Much singing at the table tonight! PB led us well.

SET
Man of sorrows (Katie Redfern's tune)
Lamb of God (Paris)
Jesus, thy blood and righteousness

AT THE TABLE
O dearest Jesus
Here O my Lord (from a hand-out we sang all the stanzas Bonar wrote)
Look, ye saints
Awake, my soul, in joyful lays
Abba, Father, we approach you (I'll post this separately also)

Principles for Worship at HBC #9

2009-03-31T13:22:00.000-05:00

8. We desire each other’s good.

We expect and hope and pray (according to 1 Cor. 12:7) that our dependence and response to God’s Spirit is good for each other – to build up (edify) the saints and seek the conversion of the lost. A spirit of love for each other is not incompatible with, but necessary to, authentic worship.

Sunday setlist March 29, 2009

2009-03-31T13:02:00.003-05:00

3/29/09 This was Friend Sunday -- so the service is focused on being clear to the unchurched. Sam Emadi preached Isa 53 on substitutionary atonement. So the musical theme was the cross.

Walk-in song
Lift high the cross) / C

Set:
O Jesus we adore you / Bb - tune: ST. THEODULPH
Lord, I lift your name on high / F

PT is right -- that key is too low!
The wonderful cross (tomlin) / C
Cross medley: old rugged cross / beneath the cross /
Jesus keep me near the cross

before sermon
Alas, and did my Savior bleed (sov grace) / F

In the evening Pastor Joe continued with his series in John 17. This time, v.12 -- on true sheep vs. Judas, on preserving power and grace

Walk in songs (two new songs!)
See what a morning -- Getty/Townend
I will rise -- Tomlin (from Hello Love)

Set
Shout to the Lord / Bb
Jesus what a friend / Eb-E/F
Knowing you / C
All the way my Savior leads me / F

Before sermon
Speak, O Lord / Bb

Just because

2009-03-25T08:01:00.005-05:00

Bach rarely made mistakes. He didn't here, either. For Easter Sunday he wrote this cantata (BWV4) based on Luther's hymn, Christ Jesus lay in death's strong bands. The tune is Latin, 12th cent. Here is the final stanza, "We eat and live well" (upon Christ by faith, that is). Check out the text under 'read more.'

Ton Koopman, Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra

Then let us feast this Easter Day
on Christ, the Bread of heaven;
The Word of Grace has purged away
the old and evil leaven.
Christ alone our souls will feed,
he is our meat and drink indeed;
Faith lives upon no other. Alleluia!

Go here for more info about the cantata.

Principles for worship at HBC #8

2009-03-24T17:32:00.003-05:00

7. We insist on sincere authenticity.

We utterly renounce all sham, deceit, hypocrisy, pretense, affectation, and posturing. We do not pursue the atmosphere of artistic or oratorical performance, but the atmosphere of a radically personal encounter with God and truth.

Divine Protection

2009-03-23T08:46:00.006-05:00

A wonderful hymn from Toplady. See it in Gadsby #345, though he leaves off the middle stanza. This is an updated version as found in Praise! hymnal. We sing it to CONTRAST - the tune for John Newton's "How tedious and tastless the hours." See the 1956 Baptist Hymnal. We also use this tune for another Toplady, "A debtor to mercy alone."

Divine Protection
A sovereign protector I have

unseen yet forever at hand
unchangeably faithful to save

almighty to rule and command
He smiles and my comforts abound

his grace as the dew shall descend
and walls of salvation surround

the soul he delights to defend

Inspirer and hearer of prayer

both leading and guarding your sheep
I place in your covenant care

my life, both awake and asleep
If you are my shield and my sun

the night is no darkness to me
for, fast as my moments roll on

so nearer to you I shall be

Creator and ground of my hope

to your name alone I shall bow
a new 'Ebenezer' set up

to show 'God has helped us till now'
I think on the years that are past

when all my defense you have proved
nor will you relinquish at last

a sinner so blessed and so loved

The Christian's Hope

2009-03-23T08:29:00.010-05:00

You can find this in Gadsby, #245. It comes from The Gospel Magazine, 1799. Red Mountain Church has a tune for it. I took a couple lines from the last stanza and made it the chorus. We sing it to the tune, THE SOLID ROCK....

The Christian’s hope
We travel through a barren land

with dangers thick on ev'ry hand

But Jesus guides us through the vale

the Christian's hope can never fail

We trust upon the sacred word, the oath and promise of our Lord, the oath and promise of our Lord

Huge sorrows meet us as we go

and devils aim our overthrow
but vile infernals can't prevail

the Christian's hope shall never fail

Sometimes we're tempted to despair

but Jesus makes us then his care
though numerous foes our souls assail

the Christian's hope shall never fail

Unknown, The Gospel Magazine, 1799 / Public Domain

Sunday setlist for March 22, 2009

2009-03-23T08:12:00.003-05:00

The theme this morning was the mighty preserving power of God. PT preached Jude 24-25...

Walk-in song

To the praise of his glorious grace

Set

A mighty fortress

The Christian's hope (tune: solid rock)

I'll post it

Divine protection (Toplady) (tune: contrast)

I'll post this hymn, too

Power of the cross (Getty)

Mercies anew (sov grace)

Before sermon

'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus

The evening music & preaching were somewhat shortened, so we could have our quarterly "family meeting" -- updates from the elders about church life. PB preached Matthew 5:5, on being meek; Mark Redfern led the music.

Always forgiven (sov grace)

Psalm 51: God be merciful to me (indelible grace)

To the only God (Tomlin)

Sunday setlist for 3/15/09

2009-03-16T16:29:00.002-05:00

Jonathan Christman preached on the church -- our making a serious commitment to it, from Ephesians 5. The music theme followed...

Walk-in song
Rise up, o men of God / tune: festal song

Set
The church's one foundation
Let your kingdom come
O church, arise
We are the body of Christ

B/4 sermon
I stand in awe
Surrender all

After sermon
We are the body (again)

PB preached in the evening on being others-oriented. David Malone led the singing tonight.

Jesus thank you
Depth of mercy
Gospel song
Before the throne
How firm a foundation

How do we grow in physical expressiveness in worship?

2009-03-12T12:15:00.002-05:00

This is a 5-part series from Bob Kauflin's blog, worshipmatters.
May the Lord help us who haven't known such freedom to begin to honor God this way. I could always make arguments from nature -- about the inevitable and unavoidable link between making music and physical expression -- but I'd rather our convictions be stuck, first of all, to our Bible. Begin reading here and profit.

What would "selfless abandonment" look like in our worship?

2009-03-11T15:05:00.007-05:00

Some give and take on a recent post.

Me:
.... May the Lord give us increasing measures of joy and selfless abandonment to him in the midst of our corporate praise!

Anonymous:
Can you define "selfless abandonment?" I thought we were getting better at it and now it seems like our expressions may be a bit reigned in. If we can get excited about sports contests and show our enthusiasm in certain ways, why not in the much more important act of worship?

I agree.

When I speak of "selfless abandonment" in worship, I'm thinking, in part, of Charles Wesley's phrase, "lost in wonder, love and praise," in the hymn, "Love divine." He urges us to think deeply how we'll worship the Lamb when glorified. Can you imagine -- utter freedom in worship -- body (at least in the new earth) and soul, without any remaining/ corrupting sin, without any self-conscious reservations?

I'm also thinking of Joseph Addison's earlier hymn where he confesses, "When all Thy mercies, O my God / My rising soul surveys / Transported with the view, I’m lost / In wonder, love and praise." He dares to say this marks our worship here and now!

I don't mean by "selfless abandonment" some kind of unholy loss of self-control, some sort of nervous meltdown. I'm not urging some kind of old-fashioned Shakers meeting just to prove we're free in worship! No, I do mean, however, that we should be so wholly fixed on Christ, that we move beyond fear of what others may think of us while I sing. I mean that our bodies should also be involved in the acts of worship -- singing, shouting, raising of hands, hand-clapping, dancing (however that would look!), etc. Not all at once, of course, and not on every song. The psalter itself presents to us a full complex of human emotions and response. Not always celebration, not always grief, etc. And always we have 1 Cor 14 in mind (doing things decently, to build others up). But I mean that I long to see the kinds of physical expression we find in the psalter marking our public worship!

I have often wondered, by the way, if my being self-conscious isn't a fundamental disposition resulting from pride inherited from Adam. In other words, perhaps we should repent of our self-consciousness in worship? I'm quite convinced that New Covenant worship should know something of "selfless abandonment," by faith, now.

Our elders are convinced (and I completely agree) that we must labor to bring the entire congregation along in our worship. It's not okay to leave a few sheep straggling behind, without having exercised much patience, much love, much listening and instruction. This blog is part of that effort. (I have no idea if it's helping -- I sincerely hope so.) Not everyone is comfortable with clapping, with singing cherished hymns in a contemporary fashion, etc. I mean to diss no one in saying so. I'm sure some hold earnest opinions that differ from my own (imagine that)!

In time our shepherds will teach more on these things. They continue to labor "behind the scenes" to help all of us learn how to love each other more sincerely -- especially at times when it may come in a musical style I don't care for. For what it's worth -- not everyone is crazy about the old hymns I teach, either. This business of loving others is a responsibility we all share.

I don't know, of course, how far HBC will move in physical expression in worship. I am committed, however, to be all the help I can be -- and not irritate anyone because I lack sympathy for his/her point of view.

Thanks for your question.

Principles for worship at HBC #7

2009-03-09T15:13:00.002-05:00

6. Earnestness and intensity will mark our meetings.

We will try to avoid being trite, flippant, superficial, or frivolous, but instead will aim to set an example of reverence and passion and wonder and broken-hearted joy.

"Hear Our Praises" and Hillsong

2009-03-09T13:43:00.004-05:00

Frankly, we don't sing much Hillsong -- I love the feel of the songs, but sometimes the words leave me unsure what they mean. It's like the focus is a bit blurry. Sometimes they feel all about me, and not enough about the Lord. That's prob'ly an affliction for us reformed types -- over analyzing every song. Oh well -- to TRUTH, to CLARITY, to LIFTING UP THE CROSS. That doesn't mean, however, that they're aren't some good Hillsong songs. And I'll keep looking for more. This one is good. Start using it.

from Lifewayworship

A gem recover'd from the vault

2009-03-09T13:37:00.005-05:00

O Thou In Whose Presence. A beautiful hymn on Jesus, our Shepherd. It seems Joseph Swain (1761-1796) wrote his 11-stanza hymn as part of a larger work: Redemption: A Poem in Five Volumes.

from 49 Hidden Treasures from the African American Heritage Hymnal by James Abbington 2005 GIA Publications, Inc.

We sang 5 stanzas to the tune DAVIS, an early 19th cent. American tune. It'd be interesting to hear what tune 18th cent. English Baptists used. Swain was converted as a young man, than baptised by John Rippon. Later he became a pastor of a Baptist congregation at East Street, Walworth.

This hymn is not to be found in Gadsby or Spurgeon, in Trinity Hymnal (blue or red), in Met Tab's new hymnal (from Peter Masters) or in Praise!. I did find it in a copy I have of Southern Harmony (1854), which uses DAVIS, although in a more angular form than we now know.

O Thou In Whose Presence
O Thou in whose presence my soul takes delight,
On whom in affliction I call,
My comfort by day, and my song in the night,
My hope, my salvation, my all.

Where dost Thou, dear Shepherd, resort with Thy sheep,
To feed on the pastures of love?
Say, why in the valley of death should I weep,
Or alone in the wilderness rove?

O, why should I wander an alien from Thee,
And cry in the desert for bread?
Thy foes will rejoice when my sorrows they see,
And smile at the tears I have shed.

Ye daughters of Zion declare, have ye seen
The Star that on Israel shone?
Say, if in your tents my Belovèd has been,
And where, with His flocks, He is gone.

This is my Belovèd; His form is divine;
His vestments shed odors around:
The locks of His head are as grapes on the vine,
When autumn with plenty is crowned.

The roses of Sharon, the lilies that grow
In vales, on the banks of the streams:
On His cheeks, all the beauties of excellence glow,
And His eyes are as quivers of beams.

His voice, as the sound of the dulcimer sweet,
Is heard through the shadows of death;
The cedars of Lebanon bow at His feet,
The air is perfumed with His breath.

His lips as a fountain of righteousness flow,
That waters the garden of grace,
From which their salvation the Gentiles shall know,
And bask in the smiles of His face.

Love sits on His eye-lids, and scatters delight
Through all the bright mansions on high;
Their faces the cherubim veil in His sight,
And tremble with fullness of joy.

He looks, and ten thousands of angels rejoice,
And myriads wait for His word;
He speaks, and eternity, filled with His voice,
Re-echoes the praise of her Lord.

Dear Shepherd, I hear and will follow Thy call;
I know the sweet sound of Thy voice.
Restore and defend me, for Thou art my All,
And in Thee I will ever rejoice.

Setlist for March 8, 2009

2009-03-09T09:06:00.002-05:00

Morning Worship
PT preached from Acts 2 on the nature and activity of a healthy church.
Musical theme: Jesus our Shepherd

Walk in song
Hear our Praises
Set
The solid Rock
O my soul
You are holy (Prince of Peace)
I love you Lord
The Lord is (Ps 23)
Before the sermon
O thou in whose presence

In the evening we focused on a new ministry at HBC: Mentor Kids (a pilot program from Mentor Kids Kentucky). Musical theme: Father's love

Set
Your great name we praise (kauflin)
How deep the Father's love for us
Give thanks
His forever (sov grace)
Jesus name above all names
Before the sermon
Here is love, vast as the ocean

On our face before God

2009-03-03T13:10:00.001-06:00

Part 3 to the previous post, on removing distractions in worship. This time, an extended quote.

"It's so important to me that my church family meet with God and worship Him. I work all week to help enable that....

It's terrifying to face a congregation who probably has not thought much about worship yet and know it's your job to help them experience God. I am humbled every single week. If I could, I would lead worship laying on my face because I am so amazed that for some reason I am leading the church to worship Almighty God. That is holy ground to me. Worship leaders have everything they do become for public consumption and comparison and that is so very hard - and many times heartbreaking. (If I had read most of these comments as a younger worship leader I would have been tempted to quit - I could never ever live up to your expectations of me) The bottom line for me is that I want to worship together. I will make mistakes. I will pick songs that annoy you. I will talk too long sometime (did you listen? perhaps God was speaking to you?). I will not look cool and yes, over and over again no matter how hard I try, I will forget the words. I'll be leading the band, paying attention to sound, seeing people in the congregation reading their bulletins and making faces, try to stay worshipful, remember the words, and I will lose my train of thought. I will desperately want you to worship with me, not judge me or even "conmsume" in the worship service, not just watch. Whether we sing a hymn, or the newest worship song, I will want us to encounter God together.

When we come to worship we all share in a mutual responsibility. Do you know what I've observed after standing on the stage leading others for more than 22 years? We have the best worship when the church worships. Period. Perfection, new songs, great worship leader - all of these are extras. When we are focused passionately on God, we have great worship. One guitar or a full band, this is the recipe.

I know there are skills needed to lead more effectively. I work on that continually. PRAY for your worship leader!

Blending old and new music

2009-03-03T08:48:00.003-06:00

We are a confessional, 2nd LBC (1689), reformed baptist church. One can safely assume we love to sing old hymns. Toplady, Kent, Watts, Gadsby, Cowper, Bonar, etc. We love to sing new hymns, too. Carson, Kauflin, Dudley-Smith, Clarkson, Getty, Townend, Kendrick, Boice, etc. And we love to sing the psalms (usually newer settings). This is who we are. We are happy being this way!

We also want our music to be consciously missional -- as we are able, to sing in the musical vernacular of our culture. I don't want folks having to walk through a musical time-machine when they come to our services. So we also love to sing 'contemporary' worship songs (long list here)...

You might call our music style "blended piano-driven" -- piano, synth, acoustic guitar & bass, djembe, violin and other inst. sometimes. It wouldn't be accurate to call what we do "guitar-driven pop style." We're much more acoustic than that. (Though I wouldn't mind....)

I'm not talking here about singing hymns (anything old & from the blue book) vs. choruses (new stuff). That's an inaccurate distinction anyway (many of our hymns are new, and most contemporary worship songs today can't be called "choruses."). No, I'm talking about the sound of our music. How do we blend old and new styles in the same set or service?

Part of the answer is just old-fashioned work. It takes time to be sure the flow continues through the set without interruption. We can and do sing hymns (old and new) in an older manner -- one has to be careful where to place them in the set, to be careful the style contrasts aren't too sudden from one song to the next. [Tech-speak: by "older manner" I mean songs having frequent and complex chord changes, piano leading with melody, no/almost no guitar, little percussion.]

The flow between songs is critical to removing distractions in worship. We just can't bump from one good song to the next w/o thinking through key and tempo changes, style contrasts, instrumentation, etc. I am convinced that we need to give as much attention to transitions as we do the songs themselves.

But another part of the answer is something we've begun doing this year -- downloading hymns settings arranged in a 'contemporary' style. Hymns with a new hair-do! Singing 'classic' hymns in a way that sounds current. I've been getting our songs (1 or 2 per week) from lifewayworship.com -- the Southern Baptist development of their new hymnal. There are other sources,too (see Don Chapman at hymncharts.com).

So this last Sunday, when we sang "Holy, holy, holy," it fit right into the set. It was a classic hymn in a contemporary setting -- we got into it easily from "The gospel is true" and went from it easily into "How great is our God." Isn't downloading songs expensive? On average, I'm spending about $7 per lifewayworship arrangement, I think I can justify the expense.

Why download music:
1. We're blending our hymn heritage (old & new) into a more contemporary style. Our musicians and I need help in learning how to play hymns in a contemporary sound.
2. Our instruments (synth, guitars, percussion, violin, others) can't play from a hymnal (designed for voices, piano, organ).
3. I want our rich hymn history arranged for our music team -- a both/and approach (so we can do both 'traditional' and 'contemporary' versions). This isn't about never singing again in an older style -- it is a matter of now having a choice.
4. The music we download we own. These are one-time purchases!
5. These are internet downloads -- so we save enormously from purchasing pre-printed music arrangement books.
6. Many favorable comments so far.
7. Couldn't I arrange these songs myself? I suppose -- if I had the time. But I don't. I work without pay. And it's hard to increase the 15+ hours I already spend outside of our services. Full disclosure: downloading these arrangements does make it easier for me.

I'd be interested in your thoughts!

"I know whom I have believed"

2009-03-02T07:41:00.004-06:00

A new song for us. It takes a gospel song and puts a new tune to it. From Christ Community Church (Franklin, TN), on Re:awakening, vol. 1. See the album here.

Setlist for March 1, 2009

2009-03-02T07:09:00.005-06:00

Morning Worship
Pastor Ted preached on how we should respond to puzzles, the seeming paradox, as we find them in God's Word -- e.g., the problem of evil, divine sovereignty & human responsibility, etc. It was really good -- (1) what happens when we find them in God's Word, (2) what we should remember, (3) what we should never do, and (4) what we must always do (fall down and worship). Really good. The musical theme focused on the triune God of grace.

Walk-in song
Grace unmeasured (sovereign grace)

Set
And can it be
The gospel is true
Holy, holy, holy
How great is our God
My lips will praise you

B/4 the sermon
O great God (sovereign grace)

The Lord's Table
Pastor Joe preached Isaiah 53:1-6 on 4 words: despised, rejected, esteemed, desire.

Walk-in song
I know whom I have believed (new, from Christ Community Church -- I'll post it separately)

Set
I boast no more (I posted about this hymn here)
I will glory in my Redeemer (sovereign grace)
Alas, and did my Savior bleed (kauflin setting)

At the table
Not what my hands have done
Give me Jesus

On removing distractions...

2009-02-28T10:46:00.006-06:00

This is part 2 to the previous post, about things "worship leaders" do that distract/annoy people.

I want to focus tightly on admonition for the music guy himself, the one leading the singing. This isn't about one's own heart-preparation, pastoral perspective, etc.
I'm just looking here how we can remove distractions we don't need to have. Besides some stuff in that blog that I can't ever imagine happening in a reformed church (prob'ly because I don't get out much), these pitfalls should be noted and avoided. (Again, at HBC our 'band' faces forward -- so some of the distracting things mentioned don't happen here.)

Speaking
-- too often and too much, breaking the flow of the set
-- speaking the next line of the song as we're about to sing it (even though they can see it on the screen)
-- inauthentic speech (using title of next song as comment/intro, talking that doesn't seem truly driven by the moment, scripted-sounding prayer)

Preparation
-- doesn't know the songs well
-- typos on the screen
-- starting the service late!
-- opening the service with low energy
-- poorly rehearsed key changes

Deportment
-- talks to cong as if we're at a high school pep rally or rock concert
-- telling people what to do ("everyone raise your hands") This one is really a matter of understanding the church's culture. In our fellowship they want almost no such direction ever.

Musicianship
-- repetition without purpose
-- poor transitions, no flow between songs
-- mumbled singing/poor diction
-- poor use of mics during singing

Character
-- lives one way, but turns on the "godly" on Sunday morning

"I hate it when my worship leader..."

2009-02-28T09:35:00.006-06:00

Read this with discernment, but there are good lessons for us to learn and mistakes to avoid. See here.

Need help fixing words to a song

2009-02-26T12:07:00.003-06:00

Need help fixing some words to a song:
   Several months ago when we sang this song, our elders requested that we fix the words to v.1 of The Gospel is True. Can you help me out here? Comment on why we should keep the words as they are, or suggest an improvement. I'm drawing a blank....

UPDATE: Mark Redfern suggests:
"We have a God who's forgiven us, and paid for all our sin"

   The words below in bold do seem ambiguous. On the cross we were not actually forgiven. (It's the same kind of mistake made in some old gospel songs.) Forgiveness is a part of our own personal salvation experience -- God's sovereign grace to bring us to faith (the ordo salutis). Better to say, on the cross our forgiveness was secured (i.e., particular atonement). To borrow from John Murray, on the cross all that was needed to secure our forgiveness was accomplished. In our own personal history, then, the Holy Spirit applies the merits of Christ's atonement to us -- i.e. justification (both forgiveness from our sins and the application (imputation) of Christ's righteousness).

   So what does it mean (below) that God forgave us "while we were yet in sin"?

Verse 1:
We have a hope that is living / and love that never will end
We have a God who's forgiven us / while we were yet in sin
Chorus 1:
Thank you Jesus / O how we worship you
Thank you Jesus / Hallelujah the gospel is true

The Gospel Is True / David Hampton | Scott Wesley Brown / Copyright:
©1997 SongWard Music / CCLI: 2119795