This week I led the whole of the worship service, as my co-pastor & worship director (Ali Loaker) was preaching. This had a practical implication for the band because it meant we were a musician down (we're not yet in the place where we have "spare" musicians that can cover absenses). Ali normally plays a Gibson Les Paul, whereas I play either a Fender Telecaster (which compliments the Les Paul sound nicely, but is in no way going to fill the sound in the same way), or I play a Takamine acoustic.
The set list this week was as follows:
Evermore (Hillsong United)
Kingdom Come (Mike Ellis)How Great is Our God (Chris Tomlin)
From The Inside Out (Hillsong United)Facedown (Matt Redman)
Passion (Mike Ellis)Love So Strong (Mike Ellis)
During the first two songs I used the Telecaster and for the rest of the set I used the Takamine.
Having to compensate for a missing electric guitar meant changes. Firstly, we had to tweak my amp settings to thicken up the sound of the electric - which was especially required for "Kingdom Come", where we start with a distorted Em chord "chugging" over bass & kick. Secondly, it meant changes to the way we played some songs. So for example, in "From The Inside Out", there was no electric guitar riff leading into the verses, and the solo was taken by our flautist instead.
Along with these changes, we were having to meet in a different hall to normal (we hire a building for our Sunday services & the hall we normally use for church was being let out to another organisation). The new hall was across the corridor from the old, but all of our equipment (PA, chairs etc.) was stored in the old and had to be moved back and forth. We are going to be meeting in the new venue for another 3-4 weeks. What was it I said last week about "blessed are the flexible..."?
Anyway, (for me personally) this week didn't feel as though the worship flowed particularly well - that is the time we spent worshipping before Ali brought the word ("The pursuit of holiness" - whoa!). The fact is though, the songs we sang all fitted with the theme (I had heard from God & brought what He wanted); and there were people in the congregation who engaged in the worship and gave themselves to it. When it comes down to it, worship is not about how I feel, it's about how worthy He is. In the words of Matt Redman, Paul Oakley (& others I'm sure) - "It's all about You, Jesus".
Even King David told himself, "Why are you cast down, oh my soul and moan within me? Hope in God; for I shall praise Him for the salvation of His face." (Ps 42:5); He also told himself, "Bless the Lord oh my soul..." (Ps 103:1,2). Note to self - don't trust your own feelings, they can deceive you; and certainly don't be led by them. Put them in their proper place - sometimes you just have to tell them what to do!
The pinnacle of the whole service came after the word, when the congregation were invited to respond personally to the call to holiness (the purpose of which is to share relationship with a holy God - motivated out of love and not of works). During this time, we were gently playing the chords to "Love So Strong" in the background (just keyboard & acoustic). After a short while, as I began to sing the first part of the lyric...
It makes me cry Holy, Holy are You Lord
...you could really sense God's manifest presence as He and his people were doing some very real business.
As I write this, I'm reminded of the scripture in the book of Proverbs, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths" (Prov 3:5-6) - which includes directing your worship service.
Having to compensate for a missing electric guitar meant changes. Firstly, we had to tweak my amp settings to thicken up the sound of the electric - which was especially required for "Kingdom Come", where we start with a distorted Em chord "chugging" over bass & kick. Secondly, it meant changes to the way we played some songs. So for example, in "From The Inside Out", there was no electric guitar riff leading into the verses, and the solo was taken by our flautist instead.
Along with these changes, we were having to meet in a different hall to normal (we hire a building for our Sunday services & the hall we normally use for church was being let out to another organisation). The new hall was across the corridor from the old, but all of our equipment (PA, chairs etc.) was stored in the old and had to be moved back and forth. We are going to be meeting in the new venue for another 3-4 weeks. What was it I said last week about "blessed are the flexible..."?
Anyway, (for me personally) this week didn't feel as though the worship flowed particularly well - that is the time we spent worshipping before Ali brought the word ("The pursuit of holiness" - whoa!). The fact is though, the songs we sang all fitted with the theme (I had heard from God & brought what He wanted); and there were people in the congregation who engaged in the worship and gave themselves to it. When it comes down to it, worship is not about how I feel, it's about how worthy He is. In the words of Matt Redman, Paul Oakley (& others I'm sure) - "It's all about You, Jesus".
Even King David told himself, "Why are you cast down, oh my soul and moan within me? Hope in God; for I shall praise Him for the salvation of His face." (Ps 42:5); He also told himself, "Bless the Lord oh my soul..." (Ps 103:1,2). Note to self - don't trust your own feelings, they can deceive you; and certainly don't be led by them. Put them in their proper place - sometimes you just have to tell them what to do!
The pinnacle of the whole service came after the word, when the congregation were invited to respond personally to the call to holiness (the purpose of which is to share relationship with a holy God - motivated out of love and not of works). During this time, we were gently playing the chords to "Love So Strong" in the background (just keyboard & acoustic). After a short while, as I began to sing the first part of the lyric...
A love so strong that spans all time
And reaches out into this heart of mineThat sets me free, now I can sing
Of all You have done for me, my gracious KingAnd I cry Holy are You Lord
...you could really sense God's manifest presence as He and his people were doing some very real business.
As I write this, I'm reminded of the scripture in the book of Proverbs, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths" (Prov 3:5-6) - which includes directing your worship service.
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