Real Worship

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”