Real Worship

Today was my first Sunday back after a two week break and what a Sunday it was!

While I was on holiday, one of the things God was speaking to me about was the power of praise. I knew that on this first Sunday back I was to encourage the congregation to enter into praise with a renewed fervour and passion. So, over several days before the service I began to read around the subject and got a vision of me stood before them, reading scripture and encouraging their faith – declaring what happens when God’s people praise Him.

The first song on the set list was Chris Tomlin’s “Forever”. The band began playing the chord progression for the chorus while I read from Isaiah 12:4-6. I began to declare that God was great in our midst, saying that He “inhabits the praises of His people” (Ps 22:3) – as we bring what we have (our faith-filled praises), the almighty creator of the universe brings all that He is; we enter His presence & the kingdom of God invades the earth. What an explosive start!

The set list this week looked like this:

• Forever (Chris Tomlin) Ali
• Your Grace Is Enough (Chris Tomlin) Mike
• From The Inside Out (Hillsong United) Mike
• How Great Is Our God (Chris Tomlin) Mike
• Everlasting One (Ali Loaker) Ali
• Who Is There Like You (Ali Loaker) Ali

Right from the outset there was an excitement and an expectancy of what would happen as we met with God. The worship flowed freely & passionately, interwoven with prophetic words, healing and a tangible sense of God’s presence. This was great because there were a number of visitors who don’t yet know God. For everyone present, there would have been no doubt that God is real and He makes a difference in the lives of those who want Him.

It was great to be on holiday, but it’s great to be back!

Here’s week 2 of Ali’s guest blog:

• G Forever (Chris Tomlin) Ali
• G Come love of God (Ali Loaker) Ali

–(Notices)–

• Em The voice of the lord (Ali Loaker) Ali
• Em More than life (Hillsong United) Ali
• Bm Did you rise the sun (Hillsong United) Teash
• Am A thousand miles (Ali Loaker) Ali

“This Sunday was the first time in a while we have had the go ahead to play praise songs after the notices. We were playing before the service and God gave me a picture of us marching into battle with a ‘kingdom of God’ flag raise high above our heads (Isiah 59:19). I started the service by reciting this verse and letting everybody know the direction God wanted to go in today.

The first two songs went well and I encouraged the congregation to use them as a pathway on to the battlefield because breakthrough is in the air. The breakthrough never came unfortunately or at least not to the natural eye!

Worship went well with Teash leading her first song. She did really well and managed to remember all of the hand signals etc…

Cheers

Ali”

Week 1 of my holiday.  Here’s what Ali had to say about the service:

“Sunday went well, there was no real ‘topic’ or subject that the service was about but it did not seem to matter.

Set List:

• I will Exalt (Ali Loaker)
• My Best friend  (Hillsong)
• You’re all I want (Kelly Carpenter)
• Light of the world  (Matt Redman)
• I run to you (Ali Loaker)
• A thousand miles (Ali Loaker)

The service got off to a bang with ‘I will exalt’ and everything went well up to the notices, the songs seemed to lift the congregation.  I led the whole service with Mike away on holiday (this left a noticeable hole in the band!).  I felt that they should have gone into another praise song after the notices but did not have one ready in time so we launched into ‘Draw me close’ which actually created a lot of intimacy with the pastor declaring that the power of God was stronger than usual.  I challenged the congregation to ‘lay down their lives again’ as they did when they first came to Christ.

‘Light of the World’ bridged the gap to the next song and the calm, peaceful atmosphere continued.  ‘I run to you’ brought the congregation right into the intimate prescence of God and there were some tears as people who were hurting realized there is hope for them.  Musically it was all a bit simple but it seemed to do enough to lead people into God’s prescence.  The service ended with a little boy being dedicated to God; Rachel stopped playing the keyboard despite telling her to continue and then Pastor Mark motioned to her to continue.  The lesson learnt was: Always do what the worship leader asks – even if it makes you uncomfortable!  Most of the time he or she will be right!

Cheers

Ali”

This was the first week with our children’s church (R Kidz) running full service, so the hall was somewhat less populated to start – though this didn’t have any negative impact on how the worship flowed. I’m pleased by that because it says to me that our people aren’t motivated to worship dependant on the number of people present. Of course they shouldn’t be, but it can be easier to decide to worship when surrounded by a larger crowd of people than in a smaller one.

I chose the set list & had overall charge for the worship again this week. This is because, for the next two Sundays I will be sat on a Spanish island, with my family, soaking up the sun (not that I’m counting the days, or anything like that). Whilst I’m away, Ali will be leading the worship & hopefully writing about his experience so I can catch up with the blog when I return.

We had slightly more than the usual number of logistical challenges to deal with. This was because we had to bring two van loads of PA equipment and instruments back into the building & up to the first floor (where we meet) – after using them for the outreach event in Plinston Hall on Thursday. Despite the extra work, there was a sweet sense of God’s presence throughout the worship. This week’s planned set list was as follows:

• The Time Has Come (Hillsong United)
• Your Grace Is Enough (Chris Tomlin)
• Open The Eyes of My Heart (Paul Baloche)
• I Will Worship You (Mike Ellis)
• Here I Am To Worship (Tim Hughes)
• Beautiful God (Ali Loaker)
• God of Wonders (Third Day)

All of the songs were either in the key of A or E, making for seamless transitions between songs. The Chris Tomlin song, “Your Grace Is Enough ” was a new song this week and worked really well. God’s grace is a key theme for our church at the moment; we’ve been studying it together for some time.

At the end of “Open The Eyes Of My Heart”, we ended up going into an extended time of free worship before taking communion and then into “I Will Worship You”. This meant that there was only time left for one more song, so we did Ali’s, “Beautiful God”. Through these three songs (and the communion) especially, there was such a sense of God’s presence and I could see people were truly engaging, passionately crying out and giving themselves to worship.

The word this week was awesome. Mark Neale (one of our Senior Pastors) taught on worship, from the perspective of aligning our commitment with our priorities. So, if we say worship is a priority (and it should be our number one priority), then there should be certain evidences in our lifestyle that reflect that commitment.

I took plenty of notes and I’m sure that some of what he said will find its way onto these pages over the coming months as God continues to work it through in me.

WOW! What a truly awesome, amazing, inspiring night!

Drugs, violence, paranoia and prison. This was the background of Rob Joy, a member of our Church, who 2 years ago accepted God’s free gift of salvation.

We had put on an event where he would share his story to an invited audience – including a number of his old friends, still involved in that lifestyle.

Musically, our involvement was to play 3 songs in to start the evening. These were:

• The Time Has Come (Hillsong United)
• What The World Will Never Take (Hillsong United)
• From The Inside Out (Hillsong United)

This was followed by a dance choreographed to Casting Crowns’ “Set Me Free”, from their “Lifesong” album; after which Rob would share his story.

The venue had a good stage set up (including lighting). We got to crank the volume up a bit (which was great). We presented the songs “gig” style, which were really well received by a mainly unchurched audience – as was the dance (which was a very powerful and passionate presentation).

All of that however, faded into insignificance compared with the joy of seeing people respond, and like Rob, accept Jesus’ free gift of salvation; while still others received healing. God is so good!

Yes we played well, yes we had a good time and perhaps that helped prepare people’s hearts to receive the message and ultimately Jesus himself; but this day God’s kingdom was advanced, this day people were set free, this day was what living here is all about.