life’s little stories

Worship elements:

You are Good (Israel Houghton)
Content set-up, prayer
Testimony: Our Past
Solid Rock (band arr. of hymn)
Testimony: The Present
You are (Mark Roach) 
Testimony: Our Future
Lord We Pray (Billy Foote) 
‘The Harvest Project’ video
Offering: We Will Remember (Tommy Walker)
Closing comments   

Today was the kickoff of our financial campaign for a new worship center. This campaign is going to be a focus this fall, as we take a look at what rules our hearts and as we ask God what we should each do with what he’s given us.  

Honestly, I was skeptical about incorporating a financial campaign kickoff into worship services.  If you have questions popping into your head about that idea, I probably had the same questions.  But God’s voice, His love for the church, His worthiness shone through all morning.

Three men were asked to speak… each was assigned to bring a slightly different perspective of what they see God doing through and in our church.  All three have experienced the joy and struggles of life through the lens of faith… all three have contributed their gifts to this church family, and have been served by it during difficult times.  They were asked to bring it.  And they did.  A story of a church holding a man up after unspeakable tragedy.  A reminder that this church moved 20 years ago to serve the community, and that the time to do that is NOW.  And a vision for the church… to glorify God… to be a place where people can serve, using their gifts… and to bring light to the community.

Musically, for the contemporary services (outlined above) all the music was led by worship band & vocalists. The final song featured a 20-voice ensemble with the worship band, and they killed the song, which was the perfect ending to the experience.  Our classic service followed the same content outline, using different song selections, but featured the same closing song.

The video: 7 minutes. Explanation of the history & future of our building, our church’s vision, and an invitation to each of us to begin praying about how God might be asking us to participate in this building financially. Brilliantly done.  

The lesson for me this weekend:  The most confusing and exhilarating thing I’ve experienced during my years on a church staff is the resiliency and holiness of God’s church.  The Church, made up of imperfect people doing things imperfectly.  The Church, responsible for some of the most amazing and some of the most horrifying events in history.  Yet, The Church that God continually redeems and chooses to work in and through to bring light in the darkness.  When God’s presence is obvious within a church, it is truly awe-some. With the memory of some rough moments in our history, this church is recognizing God’s activity as a blessing, a miracle, a vision to be followed without hesitation.  This is not about the building.  This is about what God is stirring us to be and do. 

This post is a part of the Sunday Setlist Carnival.