Fellowship Service Recap - 08/20 - 08/21/16

This was our second weekend in our Storms series (I was on vacation last weekend) and the message this weekend was about Jonah, and how storms call us back to the Lord. Joe called those who have been running away to return to the Lord, and for those of us who knew people who had run away to pray for the Lord to bring them back.

Here are the songs we sang together:

Pre-Service - "Grace Alone" [Dustin Kensrue/The Modern Post]
"In Tenderness" [Citizens & Saints]
"Before the Throne" [The Modern Post, Charitie Lees Bancroft]
"I Stand Amazed (How Marvelous)" [Charles Hutchison Gabriel]
"Lamb of God" [Vertical Church Band]
"Lord, I Need You" [Daniel Carson, Matt Maher, Christy Nockels, Jesse Reeves, Kristian Stanfill]

We had a huge band this weekend (11 people!!!), and it was a great time serving together. We had three leaders, two acoustics, three electrics, bass, drums, keys, violin, and banjo, and it was a beautiful thing. The team did a great job serving and leading. For our singing, we focused on how the Lord sought us out to serve us and save us in His incredible grace and kindness toward us, and how we all desperately need His continued working in our lives.

I am so grateful to the Lord for what He is doing in our church and in our team!

in the Son,

Bill

FBC Service Recap - 03/05 - 03/06/16

This weekend, we continued in our Acts series, Mission Possible, where Pastor Joe shared some lessons from Paul's final address to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20. I find this passage to be very powerful, as Paul had shared life with these men, and was giving his parting words to them as he understood that he was heading to his own death. That context makes one perk up and pay attention to what he shared with them.

Here's what we sang together:

"A Mighty Fortress" [Christy Nockels, Nathan Nockels]
"Hosanna (Praise is Rising)" [Paul Baloche, Brenton Brown]
"Lamb of God" [Jason Ingram, Andi Rozier, Meredith Andrews]
"Your Name" [Paul Baloche, Glenn Packiam]
"O Praise The Name (Anástasis)" [Marty Sampson, Benjamin Hastings, Dean Ussher]

As I mentioned above, I really love this passage. For our songs, this weekend, we wanted to emphasize the transformation that happens in us when Christ is our all, and we put all of our hope in Him alone. This leads to our faith growing and our priorities being realigned. "A Mighty Fortress" comes from Hebrews 12 where the writer speaks of God as a consuming fire whose kingdom will never fail, and who is worthy of our worship and our lives. "Hosanna (Praise is Rising)" is an invitation for the Lord to have His way in us and to remake us in His image. "Lamb of God" was our communion song this weekend, and focuses on the atoning sacrifice of Jesus for us. "Your Name" is a recognition of the unique saving power of the name of Jesus, and the fact that He is our only hope and refuge. Finally, "O Praise The Name (Anástasis)" is a song we have taught for three weeks now, and it takes us through the story of the cross, and echoes the message of Philippians 2–because of His sacrificial death on the cross for us, Jesus is exalted above every name, and is worthy of all the praise and the glory!

It was a great weekend together, lifting high the name of Jesus like He deserves. He has done great things for us, and He is our only hope!

Have a great week!

In the Son,

Bill

Songs We Sing - 08/15 - 08/16/15 - Fellowship Bible Church

This weekend we continued our "Family of Tomorrow" series, with our Pastor Joe sharing about . He led our congregation in answering the question, "What does my family need from me?"

Here are our songs from this weekend:

"This is Amazing Grace" [Josh Farro, Phil Wickham, Jeremy Riddle]
"It is Finished" [Dustin Kensrue]
"Lamb of God" [Andi Rozier, Meredith Andrews]
"He is Jesus" [Heath Balltzglier, Matthew Melton, Steve Fee]
"Jesus" [Zach Bolen, Brian Eichelberger]

We had another great weekend of worship together. This was the first weekend we sang "He is Jesus" in our weekend services, and I think it connected with our church family, and is one that we will continue to sing together. We also continued teaching "It is Finished," which continues to grow on me as one of the best songs of victory that we sing together. I am consistently moved by both of these songs, and I'm thankful for the opportunity to sing them together.

Our team did a great job, and the worship center was full of people, so it was an exciting and encouraging weekend of worship together! I'm excited about what the Lord is doing in our church family, and about our future together!

I hope you had a great weekend of worship, too!

in the Son,

Bill

Songs We Sing - 08/01 - 08/02/15 - Fellowship Bible Church

Below is a recap of both our services and our worship night from this past weekend. It was a fantastic weekend of worship together! - bh

Weekend Worship Services

"It is Finished" [Dustin Kensrue]
"There is a Fountain" [William Cowper, Zach Bolen]
"Before the Throne" [Charitie Lees Bancroft, The Modern Post]
"Son of God" [Tim Neufeld, Jon Neufeld, Ed Cash, Gordon Cochran]
"Rock of Ages" [Augustus M. Toplady, Thomas Hastings]
"Lord, I Need You" [Jesse Reeves, Kristian Stanfill, Matt Maher, Christy Nockels, Daniel Carson]
 

Worship Night

"Lead Me to the Cross" [Brooke Ligertwood]
"10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)" [Jonas Myrin, Matt Redman]
"A Mighty Fortress" [Christy Nockels, Nathan Nockels]
"Great Are You Lord" [Jason Ingram, Leslie Jordan, David Leonard]
"Lamb of God" [Jason Ingram, Andi Rozier, Meredith Andrews]
"Jesus Paid It All" [John T. Grape, Elvina M. Hall, Alex Nifong]
"This is Amazing Grace" [Josh Farro, Phil Wickham, Jeremy Riddle]
"Rejoice" [Dustin Kensrue, Stuart Townend]
"Made Alive" [Zach Bolen, Brian Eichelberger]
"It is Finished" [Dustin Kensrue]
"Forever (We Sing Hallelujah)" [Brian Johnson, Kari Jobe, Jenn Johnson, Gabriel Wilson, Joel Taylor, Christa Black Gifford]
"He is Jesus" [Heath Balltzglier, Matthew Melton, Steve Fee]
"Your Great Name" [Michael Neale, Krissy Nordhoff]
"Rise and Sing" [Steve Fee]
"Jesus!" [Zach Bolen, Brian Eichelberger]

Songs We Sing - 07/18 - 07/19/15 - Fellowship Bible Church

This weekend was like Easter in July, as we looked at 1 Corinthians 15 and Pastor Joe shared about the hope of the resurrection. It was a great reminder of the hope that we have because of Jesus.

Pre-Service - "Death in His Grave" [John Mark McMillan]
"Made Alive" [Zach Bolen, Brian Eichelberger - Citizens & Saints]
"Sing to the King" [Billy Foote, Charles Sylvester Horne]
"Lamb of God" [Andi Rozier, Meredith Andrews, Jason Ingram - Vertical Church Band]
"Great Are You Lord" [Leslie Jordan, David Leonard, Jason Ingram - All Sons & Daughters]
"You Have Overcome" [Bill Horn & Erik Oldberg]

We continued teaching a new song, "Great Are You Lord," and our congregation seemed to engage with it more this week than last week. We'll rest the song a week and then bring it back in two weeks and see where we're at then. We also sang "Death in His Grave" by John Mark McMillan, which is a great song about the resurrection of Jesus. Since Joe's message focused on our hope for today, when we die, and then when Christ returns, our songs pulled from each of those three themes.

It was a great weekend of worship together, despite personally wrestling with a cold and nasty cough. We made it through, and Jesus was lifted up. Our team always does a great job serving the church, and this weekend was no exception.

Now, it's time for nap.

I hope you had a great weekend of worship!

In the Son,

Bill

Songs We Sing - 06/20 - 06/21/15 - Fellowship Bible Church

This weekend we continued through 1 Corinthians, focusing on chapter 11, where Paul teaches about the Lord's Supper, or communion. Pastor Joe explained how this passage calls the Church to unity under the person and the work of Jesus Christ. It was a great reminder of the beauty of the celebration of communion.

Here are our songs from this weekend:

"I'll Fly Away" [Albert E. Brumley]
"I Stand Amazed" [Charles Hutchison Gabriel]
"Made Alive" [Zach Bolen, Brian Eichelberger]
"Son of God" [Tim Neufeld, Jon Neufeld, Gordon Cochran, Ed Cash]
"Lamb of God" [Jason Ingram, Andi Rozier, Meredith Andrews]

We had a great weekend! We did something a little different called a "guitar choir," where we invited anyone in our congregation who had at least a basic grasp of the guitar to join us on the stage and help lead our congregation in worship. We held a mid-week rehearsal, and then the players showed up to their normal service and joined us on the stage for the first part of the service. The hope was to involve more people in leading, and for them to get a glimpse of our team and our experience from the inside.

Along with our guest players, we had a consistent core of our team that led throughout the four weekend services, including guitar, Cajon, banjo, and ukulele. They all did a fantastic job. All together, it made for a fun chnage of pace, and celebratory weekend of worship together.

I hope you had a great weekend of worship, too!

in the Son,

Bill

Songs We Sing - 05/30 - 05/31/15 - Fellowship Bible Church

It was great to be back with my church this weekend after a good vacation with my family and friends! We continued in our series through 1 Corinthians, as Joe shared about "staying power" from 1 Corinthians 7:17-24. It was a powerful challenge to be faithful to where God has called us.

Here are our songs from this weekend:

Pre-Service - "I Know" [Brian Eichelberger, Chad Gardner - Kings Kaleidoscope]
"Rejoice" [Dustin Kensrue, Stuart Townend]
"Everlasting God" [Brenton Brown, Ken Riley]
"Jesus Take All of Me (Just As I Am)" [Charlotte Elliot, Brenton Brown]
"Lamb of God" [Jason Ingram, Andi Rozier, Meredith Andrews]
"Made Alive" [Zach Bolen, Brian Eichelberger]

We had a fantastic weekend of worship together. We had several of our brass players with us, and they always add something special to the music. We also opened with one of my favorite songs of 2015, "I Know" by Kings Kaleidoscope. It's a phenomenal song that declares our confidence that because of Christ alone, we have the sure hope of an eternity together with Him! I was moved to tears the first time I heard the song, and it continues to minister to me and encourage me today. It was great to play it together and share it with our church family. I'm not sure it will ever be a congregational song that we all sing together (it would have to come down a few steps for that to happen), but I think it is still something we need to hear.

For the rest of our songs, we sang familiar songs that focused on Jesus as our example and our strength to follow. He has saved us and made us alive together with Him so that we might in turn be a blessing to those around us and lead people to Jesus. He is the one who gives us the resources to carry out His calling on each one of us, and we simply need to be available and obedient to that call. 

In all, it was a beautiful weekend of worshiping together with the church! It's good to be home.

I hope you had a great weekend of worship, too!

- Bill

Songs We Sing - 05/07 - 05/08/15 - Fellowship Bible Church

This weekend, we continued in our second week of or series through 1 Corinthians, Grounded. Joe shared a challenging message about the pursuing the wisdom of God from 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:16. 

Here are our songs from this weekend:

Pre-Service - "Search My Heart" [Matt Crocker, Joel Houston - Hillsong]
"Hosanna (Praise Is Rising)" [Paul Baloche, Brenton Brown]
"Made Alive" [Zach Bolen, Brian Eichelberger - Citizens & Saints]
"Lamb of God" [Andi Rozier, Jason Ingram, Meredith Andrews]
"Son of God" [Tim Neufeld, Jon Neufeld, Gordon Cochran, Ed Cash - Starfield]
"Jesus Messiah" [Daniel Carson, Jesse Reeves, Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash]

Our team did a great job leading, and we had a great weekend of worship together. We introduced Hillsong's "Search My Heart" in the pre-service slot, which is a song that I have wanted to incorporate since I first heard it. We also continued teaching Vertical Church's "Lamb of God," which is a fantastic song about the cross. I love it, and it has been beautiful to hear the church take hold of it over the past few weeks.

I hope you had a great weekend of worship wherever you were!

If you want to hear more of the songs that we sing with our church, you can find a Spotify playlist of our favorites here.

Also, you can watch our entire service here.

Have a great week!

- Bill

Songs We Sing - 05/02 - 05/03/15 - Fellowship Bible Church

This weekend, we began our message series through 1 Corinthians - "Grounded." Joe began by looking at the idea of unity within the Church, based on the Word of Christ, the cross of Christ, and the Lordship of Christ.

Here are our songs from this weekend:

Pre-Service - "Those Who Trust" [Don Chaffer - Waterdeep]
"O Worship The King" [Robert Grant, Johann Michael Haydn, Chris Tomlin]
"Lamb of God" [Jason Ingram, Andi Rozier, Meredith Andrews - Vertical Church Band]
"Lord of All" [Kristian Stanfill]
"Jesus!" [Zach Bolen, Brian Eichelberger - Citizens & Saints]

We had a great weekend of worship together! "Those Who Trust" is always a favorite, and we hadn't sung it for a while, so it was fun to bring it back. Tomlin's modern arrangement of "O Worship The King" is one of my favorite hymn rewrites. It preserves the original melody and adds a fitting chorus that I really enjoy singing. "Lamb of God" is a new one that we first introduced at our Good Friday services. This is a beautiful and moving song about Christ's work on the cross for our atonement, and I am really looking forward to continuing to sing it together. "Lord of All" remains a staple for our church, and for good reason: it's a GREAT song that is all about the Lord! Citizens & Saints' "Jesus!" is a powerful declaration of the surpassing worth of Jesus Christ of all worship and honor and glory from Philippians 2. One thing I love about Citizens & Saints is how they incorporate Scripture so well into their songs. I believe this helps with how well their songs resonate with the Church.

All in all, it was a fantastic weekend. I hope you had the opportunity to worship Jesus together with a local body of believers this weekend!

-bh