Church services for 31 May, 2009

What a great day in the life of York St Church of Christ. Can you feel it? We had two great services, centered around an encouraging and confronting message in our series txt:me - from 2 Timothy about the importance of reading the Bible.

10am service
Blessed be Your Name
Majestic
I Can Sing of Your Love Forever
Welcome
Jesus Messiah
When I Survey
Communion / Prayer / Reading
Sermon
Your Love Oh Lord


The first thing I would like to comment on is the great sense of fellowship and nice atmosphere I sensed as I walked into the practice Sunday morning. I am not sure if I could put my finger on it, but I felt an answer to our prayers about unity and binding the teams together. It was such a great environment to work in. That opened it up to a manageable practice, even though we had some stressors, like limited time, dealing with a large team, and new members.

Encouragement on the tying together of the songs (very important to flow of the service), the crafting of the songs, and what were those piano chords in the hymn? Amazing. They really lifted the song to someplace else. You all are such excellent musicians.

In Majestic, there were some brilliant moments from lead guitar and drums. An encouragement to continue to be free to let loose more!

I also liked the orderliness of the practice, where the worship leader led strongly, the team followed and put their flavour on it. This is an example of when all things go right.

The only suggestion is for the sound to be set up earlier (but it sounded great in the service). This will be addressed as we look at changing the format and times of the practices.

Thanks for a great worship experience. BTW, I think I'll put "I Could Sing of Your Love Forever" back on the song list!

6pm service
Beautiful One
Mighty to Save
You'll Come
Welcome
Pour Down Like Water
Consuming Fire
Prayer/Communion
Sermon
You'll Come

I think that the new song went down well, didn't it? Well done for doing it, it's always hard to introduce a song that many of the congregation doesn't know. Although the practice was quite hard work with 3 new players, thanks for a great sounding team. It was good FOH during the service. And data, wise, you were so invisible (which means you did job perfectly!).

Nice work linking the songs together, that was smooth. Be encouraged to delegate more too, to give the different flavours. There wasn't much of the two duelling guitars that could have been explored more, I think. Only really an academic thing, as there wasn't anything lacking in the service.

Thanks to the drummer, on loan from another church. Amazing. I really hope that you can play with us again. Thanks to the bassist, I hope that you felt as home as you sounded. It sounded like you had been doing this with us for ages! And nice to have a trombone! Great job, sound-wise I'm glad we fiddled with different ideas because the last one was the best idea. You gave a nice flavour to the team.

Be encouraged that you all don't have to do this in your own strength. Although you all have gifts that can stand up perfectly well on their own, the real weapon you have is Holy Spirit, interceding and sometimes playing for you. Well done on worshipping while playing too.



I am pumped after a great day of services and worship to God. I know we are heading in the right direction. So hang on to the ride! Have a great week.