Scripture Readings:
Psalm 121
Psalm 124
John 14:25-27
John 16:1-7
“Rough Sketch” Playlist:
Prelude:
Opening:
Response:
Offertory:
Sanctus:
Sanctus Holy Holy Holy Lord – E D
Eucharist:
O Great God – C D (probably staying in the key of C)
2012 05 27
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2012 05 20
Scripture:
John 17:11b-19
Psalm 122
2 Sam 6:12-23
“Rough Sketch” Playlist:
Opening:
The Lord Almighty Reigns – E
Response:
God of Grace and God of Glory – E
Offertory:
Sanctus:
Eucharist:
At the Foot of the Cross – E
Thoughts:
That’s right, if you read the 2 Samuel passage for Sunday you’ll get a sense of unrestrained praise to the Most High. Our God is the rescuer, the giver of good things, the good shepherd of his people (our opening set). So what do we do with all those “alleluia”s? As you probably know, “alleluia” means “Praise the LORD!”
“So why do I have to say it more than once?” is a comment I frequently hear. So here are a few responses I have found helpful in response to that statement:
- We have done such a poor job praising God throughout the week that we are making up for lost time.
- It gives our voices a chance to proclaim truth while we allow our minds to wander into a meditation of God’s character and blessing.
- Suck it up.
- It’s a word of praise…why? Do you have a better word?
- Because, “You rock, You rock, You rock,” just doesn’t do it.
Snarky? Sure. But for some reason, David saw it fit and appropriate to be repetitious all throughout the Psalms. The angels and saints in the throne room of God seem to think repetition works just fine. So maybe those of us who struggle with repetitious songs aren’t engaging our minds enough. Can we truly say the word, “Lord,” and know immediately the fullness of that word? Multiple dissertations have been written on basic phrases. Maybe when we demand to use “more words” to worship the Lord, we aren’t giving any of those words their appropriate weight or value thus actually stripping them of their meaning – of their power to impact our lives deeply. We might not be allowing them to transform our minds more fully into the mind of Christ.
As we live into the week, like our benediction says, “Go out into the world rejoicing in the power of the Spirit!” And we say twice, not just once, “Alleluia! Alleluia!”
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2012 05 13
Readings:
John 15:1-5
Psalm 120:1-7
2 Samuel 6:1-11
Opening:
Wait on the Lord – Am
Response:
Offertory:
Sanctus:
Eucharist:
The Feast – C
Thoughts
What does it mean to abide in a holy God in the midst of difficult circumstances? Our Scripture readings (John, 2 Samuel, and Psalm) have led me to this question, and in my own studies the best person I have seen model this is Daniel. And his response was humble, contrite confession of his wrongdoings and the wrongdoings of those around him. While one would think that this would always lead to shame, I have found that the ultimate end for those who approach the Lord in this fashion (especially Daniel) usually end up with greater wisdom, renewed minds, and a greater oneness with the vision of God. So as we wait on the Lord and look to him and his strength, let’s be confessing our personal and corporate wrongdoings that we may bear the weight of coming before the Lord as his body to seek greater vision. May he be our everything as we live lives that are dependent on his grace.
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2012 05 06
Readings:
John 14:15-21
Psalm 66:1-12
2 Samuel 5:1-21
Opening:
All Creatures of our God and King (C and D)
Response:
How Great is Your Faithfulness (G)
Offertory:
Sanctus:
Eucharist:
At the Foot of the Cross (E)
Thoughts
The Trinity is a really important piece of Christian doctrine. While many people spend much time debating over exactly how the three persons of the one God exist and have their being, I have to say that I am a big fan of the mystery of it. Our first two songs and the doxology make explicit reference to the Trinity and encourage us and everything else to worship our God accordingly. While “God the Spirit” definitely speaks to a specific role, I love the simplicity of letting the mystery be mysterious. God knows who he is and how he works, and he will do what he needs to do in order to do what he says he will do. (Read that quickly a few times) In the end we can trust that his love will not let us go and that we can rest our weary souls in him. Praise Praise the Father, praise the Son, and praise the Spirit Three in One. Oh praise Him. Hallelujah!
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2012 04 29
Readings:
1 Corinthians 15:50-58
Psalm 23
John 21:15-19
Opening Set:
Response Song:
Offertory:
Sanctus:
Sanctus Be Unto Your Name (F#m)
Eucharist:
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2012 04 22
Readings:
1 Corinthians 15:35-49
Psalm 98
Luke 24:36-48
Opening:
Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee (E)
Response:
Offertory:
Psalm 130 (D to E)
Sanctus:
Holy Holy Holy Lord (D and E)
Eucharist:
How Deep the Fathers Love (D)
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2012 04 15
Readings:
1 Cor. 15:12-19
Psalm 111
John 20:19-31
Opening Set:
Praise to the Lord guitar key of D to E
Response:
Offertory:
Sanctus:
Eucharist:
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