Real Worship

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.