Music for Sunday 2 March

Here are the songs for this coming Sunday @ BBC:

To God Be the Glory
Here I Am to Worship
Glory to His Name
-worship in giving-
Hallelujah! What a Savior
Lamb of God
Near the Cross
Communion
Jesus We Just Want to Thank You*
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus*
*sung during passing of elements
Response: Take My Life, and Let it Be Consecrated

After missing this past Sunday due to illness, I look forward to joining everyone again in worship this upcoming Sunday.

Music for Sunday 24 February

Here are the songs for the morning service on 24 February:

Great & Mighty
What a Mighty God We Serve
-baptism-
The Greatest Thing
It Is Glory Just to Walk with Him
-offering-
In Christ Alone (My Hope is Found)
Satisfied
It Is Well with My Soul
-message from Pastor Steve-
Response: In the Lord Alone

The recent weather pattern has messed with me again (just in time for choir practice); I hope to be ready to participate by this coming Sunday.

Worship Band "Rehearsal"

No, not really. This picture was taken last night at the home of our friends Jerry & Jennifer Onstott. Jerry has, among others, the video game Guitar Hero. Pictured above: at left, Shawn Russell. At right, yours truly.
It was a fun evening. I must say, though, a worship band could use a couple of guitars, a bass, a keyboard, drum set, et al. Have a great day of worship!

Music for Sunday: 17 February

These are the songs we will sing to God's glory in the AM service on 17 February:

Come, Now is the Time to Worship*
We Bow Down
He Ransomed Me
In the Lord Alone
-offering-
We're Marching to Zion
Dwelling in Beulah Land
O To Be Like Thee
-Pastor Steve's message is from Philippians 4:8-9
Response: Let the Beauty of Jesus Be Seen in Me

*This will be the first time singing this song at BBC. The morning service is not the ideal time to introduce new music; the song, however, is a good example of the best of new music being used in churches today. We will offer it for God's glory.

Thank you for your hard work and dedication.

Psalm 26

From the New King James Version (courtesy of Our Daily Bread):

-Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity. I have also trusted in the LORD; I shall not slip.
-Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my mind and my heart.
-For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, and I have walked in Your truth.
-I have not sat with idolatrous mortals, nor will I go in with hypocrites.
-I have hated the assembly of evildoers, and will not sit with the wicked.
-I will wash my hands in innocence; so I will go about Your altar, O LORD,
-that I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all Your wondrous works.
-LORD, I have loved the habitation of Your house, and the place where Your glory dwells.
-Do not gather my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloodthirsty men,
-in whose hands is a sinister scheme, and whose right hand is full of bribes.
-But as for me, I will walk in my integrity; redeem me and be merciful to me.
-My foot stands in an even place; in the congregations I will bless the LORD.

Over the years, I have talked and acted in ways that belie integrity. I know that I have compromised this important character trait, to the point that I feel like the word "integrity" could not be used to describe me. Perhaps I am being too hard on myself; I don't think so. I would ask that as I work to restore the important character traits to my life, that you would pray with, and for, me in this endeavor. I want to be used by God to help people worship Him with all their hearts. I want to be a man whom God can use, for His glory. I want this psalm to be true of me. May all of us who serve in the worship life of BBC claim this psalm for ourselves.

Music for Sunday Worship: 10 February

These are the songs that BBC will use to praise and glorify God on Sunday morning, 10 February:

How Majestic Is Your Name
What a Mighty God We Serve
At the Name of Jesus
'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus
-worship in giving-
In Christ Alone (My Hope is Found)
Goin' to Build My Life
How Firm a Foundation
-Pastor Steve's message will be from Philippians 4:4-8
closing song: Be Thou My Vision

Thank you for your hard work and dedication.

What Does a Worship Leader Do?

That's a good question. For many years, in my role as 'song leader' @ BBC, it was like most Baptist churches; basically conducting (or 'waving my arms') in time to the music as the congregation sang. The term 'worship leader' has come into some prominence in recent years. What's the difference? I know that I don't have all the answers; I have very few or no answers. I have thought about it over the past few years, especially as we have sought to incorporate new songs into our worship services, songs not necessarily already in our hymnbook. Songs like Here I Am to Worship, In Christ Alone, You Are My King, and others.

Bob Kauflin, a worship leader & minister for Sovereign Grace Ministries, is someone whose writings I take in, because I believe he has some good ideas on the subject. I also like the balance he tries to bring to the discussion. This is a "Worship Leader Mission Statement" he came up with:

A faithful worship leader magnifies the greatness of God in Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit by skillfully combining God's Word with music, thereby motivating the gathered church to proclaim the gospel, to cherish God's presence, and to live for God's glory.

In reading that over and over, I see how short I have fallen over the years in living up to that. I intend to use it to do better, for God's glory and not my own. Keep in mind that the above statement can apply to anyone having a place on a worship team, as far as being "on the platform," so to speak. And those who play instruments have a vital role as well, even if they don't say anything out loud in the service.

These are just some initial thoughts. As I develop them more fully, I will share them here; not only for myself, but for the edification of all who read them.

God bless you all.

Our purpose @ BBC for worship

Several years ago I offered the following as a purpose statement for the BBC Worship Committee:

"To cooperate with the Holy Spirit in planning, and participating in, worship and other activities which glorify God, and encouraging believers to live as followers of Christ in a continuing attitude of praise and thanksgiving." The scripture for this statement is John 4:23 & 24:

"Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." (NIV)

I pray that as we go forward in what we do for God, and our church, that this statement will guide us as we pursue excellence not just in our worship activities, but in our Christian lives as well.