This Day.....

Have you ever started a day like every other day and then suddenly had the rug pulled out from under your feet?  Where you’re going along and something happens and the world as you knew it was suddenly wholly changed?  It was no longer the world you knew, but a world that had morphed into something right out of a circus, with shifting floors and distorted mirrors, where you no longer knew which way was up or which way was out, let alone if the foundation of the building was secure?  Sometimes it’s extremely hard to separate the true reality from the virtual reality in which many of us live our daily lives.  In an attempt to stop the spinning and get to the truth of the matter, when “the circus came to my town,” I had to still myself and think about what in my life was real and true and foundational; for only on those things was my footing going to be sure and my step going to be right.  I was only on solid ground when I went to the One on whom I have built my life and with whom I have found the way and the truth.  So I wrote this as my daily creed, something I refer to time and again when I need to Be Still and Know.  And while life continues to spin out of my control at times, it is never out of the control of my Redeemer.  And I no longer fear the circus. 

“This Day” by jill branson

This day I will remember whose I am.

I will remember that I am a beloved child of God,

covered by the blood of Christ, and an heir to the kingdom. 

This day I will remember that any battle I face,

I do not face alone, and in most cases,

I do not even have to fight it. 

I do, however, have to stand firm in the knowledge

that my struggle is not against flesh and blood,

and that victory is assuredly mine as long as I keep my eyes focused

on the One who fights for me. 

This day I will remember that I have accepted the call

to live a crucified life, and in doing so,

I have surrendered my rights:

my right to be angry,

my right to retaliate,

my right to be unkind,

my right to act however I want and say whatever I want.

I will remember that though I may feel like God is far away,

the truth of the matter is that He has never left me. 

I will remember that circumstances that seem hopeless

and beyond redemption are never the case;

That God can and will

bring good out of evil,

love out of hate,

peace out of chaos. 

I will remember that my children belong to God,

are loved by Him even more than by me,

and that His plan for them is greater

than anything I can ask or imagine for them. 

I will remember that God is the one who sits

on the throne of the universe and of my life and He is sovereign;

His will for both is good and perfect.

This day I will remember whose I am.                                              

                               

Justice Team Meeting: September 13, 2010

Attendees: Jeremy, David, Drew, LB, Caroline, Danielle, Marie, Lindsey, Alex, Angela, and Aaron

Mechanicsville Homecoming (August 30, 2010)Report: Good turn out; 65 people had blood pressure checked; performed other checks, served as the first aid booth. Nurses from Clinton Chapel and Friendship participated. Brad Carter was able to make connections with neighborhood folks

Gladiator Games: Aaron is going to get a report from Kate – there was a good turnout

CCDA Report: Six folks went. discussion of impressions, beauty of different races/cultures (“like a piece of Heaven”), great unity, good knowledge to bring back to the church and share. Next year October 12-16th in Indianapolis

CCDA Regional Conference: November 12th & 13th in Chattanooga – plant the seed, see if you know folks who would want to go.

Alex mentioned at CCDA that he learned about praying for the current and past sins of the city. It came up that the Study team might be planning programs with the Knox County Historical Society? for the city and that this might be a great time to learn about the city with actions that we be God pleasing as well as sinful and this might be a good time to talk about prayer for its sins. David was to check with the study team regarding this possibility.

Beardsley Farm Workday (this Saturday, Sept 18th 9am - noon): Nikki to get details out regarding the potluck: drinks, plates, etc?

Amachi Mentor Breakfast: Bob and Marie’s place, talking about the end of the first year of Amachi, feedback for Gloria, what activities were done with mentees, and see who will continue on.

Justice Walk (Sunday October 10): really a bus ride. Meet at career center and go on a tour of the neighborhood. Emerald Youth Foundation will lead and talk to us about the area and programs. The goal is to recruit folks to go on this. After the ride, it is Youth Sunday at Clinton Chapel for folks who are interested in staying and connecting. Brad Carter said that we could meet before or after the ride so that All Souls folks could see that a member is living there but it was decided to schedule this for another day.

Monthly Book Report from Justice Team members: Talk about what we have read,
learned, etc. Jeremy is going to email around a sign up sheet. Suggestion: Justice Team could host a café with the study team/prayer team and introduce folks to what books are in the library. Danielle will follow up on this. Also, a list could be distributed to small group leaders
Small Group Grant Request: From the prayer team to commission a work of art for the chapel. Sent proposal back to prayer team to resubmit with more of a justice issue focus. Alex will touch base with them.

Justice Movie Night: Nikki will be talking to Sarah Cox

Lent Class: Hot topic @ CCDA was immigration. Email or let Jeremy know if you have a topic in mind for the lent class.

Communication with Katie in regards to expanding the ASK website to include history of the Justice Team, small group grant ideas, Amachi information, events and pictures. Nikki/Drew for BFarm Lindsey will type up something about CCDA for the website.

Quarterly newsletter with scheduled events: Aaron agreed to handle web updates (coordinate with Katie)

Offertory presentation for October 3: Aaron can pull a video together for offertory, Jeremy will ask Travetta if available

Meeting adjourned. Minutes by LB

Leading Worship: A Band Member's Perspective

I have been playing music for about 25 years. During this time I have acquired a music performance degree and played in countless ensembles. I have experienced the highs and lows of preparing and playing for the public. My experience tells me that music that leads congregational worship is prone to these same highs and lows.

My experience also supports the fact that most everyone has an opinion as to what constitutes good music. I have seen many well meaning Godly worship leaders fall victim to churches subjective opinions about worship music. The musicians I known at All Souls Church are well meaning individuals. They intend to honor God and faithfully lead the congregation.

Being musically trained, a worship leader, and an active participant in the All Souls worship, I frequently hear mistakes, persons singing slightly off key, and subtle band miscommunications. Furthermore, my preferences in music differ stylistically than what is often played at All Souls. I would be lying if I said I never struggled with these issues. I do struggle with them. Furthermore, I am often envious of those who are playing and leading worship. I am a musician and I want to do it. Ultimately, I know the worship music should not present a problem so I pray and work through it. A cherished friend once told me that I should be able to engage in worship even if a ten year old were leading. Good word, Joe!

The worship team experienced difficulties the other Sunday. I played bass that night and it was frustrating and ludicrous. It is not pleasant as a musician to have strings break, equipment malfunction, or monitors accidentally muted. It's a drag when this happens. Listening to a guitar cut in and out of a song is extremely distracting. I have learned over the years that musical bumps in the road happen. Steer as you might, sooner or later a pothole comes down the road and you burst a tire. Just like sin, you confess and move on.

{{My musical career is full of embarrassing tales. I've had stage fright and I could not remember a song. Once, my original tune was "cut short" due to "technical difficulties," (I really believe it sounded pretty bad so they turned off the mic and blamed it on "technical difficulties"). My jazz recital was canceled one semester because my playing did not meet the criteria. I spent an extra semester in school to get it right. I felt like the Rudolph of jazz guitarists, no one ever asked me to sit in on a gig. My parents told me once that I sang out of key. This was after a flat bed trailer stage show in Kingston, TN. I was trying to sing me some Van Halen in David Lee Roth's key. My falsetto doesn't even come close to that dude's pipes. What I am saying is being a musician is not for the faint of heart. Despite all of these set backs I must play music. I must create no matter the cost.}}

Interestingly, one of the most difficult crowd to please is Christians. Congregations have told me that I could do whatever I wanted, then turned around and tell me that I actually could not do whatever I wanted. Fellow worship leaders have told me (not at All Souls) that elders have come to them right before a service and exclaimed "The Lord told me" that your song list needs rearranged. Huh! As a musician who feels that their primary gift to the church is leading worship, let me tell you that I have one intent: To be a gateway for God's Spirit. I wrestle with it all week long.

Little more disparages me more than negative comments about the worship set. After a week of praying, reflecting on the texts, worrying about arrangements, making the PowerPoint, rehearsing, arriving early to set up, changing strings, and getting subs for the the worship team the last thing I want to do is to forget a tune, get musically lost, or have technical difficulties. After a night where that kind of mayhem goes on, what I need from a brother or sister is some grace and support. A pat on the back that says, "Hey, it's all right. No worries. God's grace is sufficient. You'll get it next time. You want to talk about it? Man, that must be frustrating with all that stuff going wrong. Wanna grab some grub..."