Sunday Setlists for November 6, 2011

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


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Sunday Setlist for October 30, 2011

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 Read More......

Sunday Setlist for October 16, 2011

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)

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A little hiatus

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

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

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

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

Enjoy. Laugh.

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

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

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Toward a better hymnody

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

Sound counsel from 1959!

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Case study -- singing Psalm 25

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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


Walk in Song
Only Your Mercy (only your grace)

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

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

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

walk-in
There is a fountain

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

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

MORNING
PT continued on humility, why it is important.


Walk-in
Look you saints

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

B/4 sermon
Psalm 25

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

Set
Come, Christians, join to sing
Indescribable

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

MORNING
PT continued his series on humility. Its source.


Walk-in
Let us love and sing and wonder

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

B/4 sermon
Psalm 25

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

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

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

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

walk-in
I know whom I have believed

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

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

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

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

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


WALK-IN
The gospel is true

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

B/4 sermon
Were you there?

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

WALK-IN
O worship the King

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

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

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

Sunday Setlist August 23, 2009

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


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

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

B/4 SERMON
I stand in awe of you

AFTER SERMON
A mighty fortress - from hymnal

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

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

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

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

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

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



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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Your thoughts?

David

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Sunday Setlist August 16, 2009

MORNING

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

walk-in

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

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

set

Alleluia, alleluia (Christopher Wordsworth)

Blessed be your name

Amazing Grace / my chains are gone

It's been mercy all the way

b/4 sermon

I love you Lord

To the only God (Jude 24)

EVENING

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

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

w-in

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

set

Glorify your name

Jesus, what a friend for sinners

Stricken, smitten and afflicted

Fairest Lord Jesus

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Adapting

...from Mark Driscoll.

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

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

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

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Thinking through the message

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

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"In defense of musical diversity"

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

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

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

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

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Quo Vadis? part 2

Here it comes.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1. …vigorous efforts to modernize our hymn heritage

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

Time like an ever rolling stream

will bear us all away;

We pass forgotten as a dream

dies with the dawning day.

Now compare it with the original.

Time, like an ever-rolling stream

bears all its sons away;

They fly, forgotten as a dream

dies at the opening day.

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

2. …new tunes given to old hymns

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

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

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

4. …singing some contemporary Christian music

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

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

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