Here's our set from this week: "All Because of Jesus" [Steve Fee] "Say, Say" [Kristian Stanfill, Christy Nockels, Chris Tomlin, et al] Welcome, recognition, announcements "I Want to Love You" [Todd Fields] "True Love" [Phil Wickham] Message - "It's Your Serve: Tell Your Story" - Pastor Jay Dennis INV - "I Will Go" [Tim Neufeld, Jon Neufeld] Parent/Child dedication Business Meeting
This morning was a good morning - busy, but good. We had lots of elements to this Sunday, as you can see above. It is always a frustration of mine when we have too much to do to take time to worship. I guess it is the nature of the beast, because Sunday morning is the only time the church is all gathered together in one place, and is considered the best option for getting information to everyone in the congregation. I suppose this is probably the case in many places. I don't think anyone believes it is ideal, but it is what it is. We are working towards getting people to get all their information through the many other available means, and hopefully we'll get there sometime soon. Until then, we will have days where there are tons of people to mention and announcements to be made, and we'll make it work as well as we can.
One of the highlights for me today was the Parent and Child Dedication. This is the first time we were able to do this at the 9:30 AM service, where many of our young families attend. This is time well-spent in my opinion. Seeing the young parents dedicating their lives and their children to God with the church family is a beautiful thing. There are so many amazing stories in those families. One couple has been trying to have children or adopt for several years, and they got a surprise call a month or so ago to go to the hospital and pick up their child. It was an amazing moment for that family, and it was beautiful to see them on the platform for the dedication. I, as well as many people in our congregation, are thrilled for them.
I felt like things were a little disconnected, as we did one song we hadn't done in a long time ("I Want to Love You") and one that is more a "listening" type of a song ("True Love"). I probably should have had the congregation sit during that last one. It's a fantastic song with an amazing message, anyway. If you haven't heard it yet, check it out! It fit really well with Pastor Jay's message about sharing one's story to share the gospel, which was primarily about knowing and sharing one's personal testimony. It is such a useful thing to have prepared, because people will listen to your own story more than they will listen to preaching.
I hope you had a great day of worship wherever you were. Please let me know if you have any questions.
As always, check out Sunday Set Lists over at www.theworshipcommunity.com.
In the Son,
Bill