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"Worship is man's full reason for existence. Worship is why we are born and why we are born again." A.W. Tozer

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Sunday Setlist - 04.24.11


Week #144 of Sunday Setlists. Here is our setlist for Resurrection Sunday, April 24th.

- Christ the Lord is Risen Today
- Stronger by Hillsong
- Your Name by Paul Baloche
- Easter Song (special music w/ choir)
- Happy Day by Tim Hughes

HE IS RISEN! What a wonderful Resurrection Sunday we had at Bethel! It was great to see so many people worshipping the Lord together. We also had quite a few new people come. Hoping that they continue to come. The music was great and so was the message. We also formed a choir again and they did a fantastic job. We may be small but we have a lot of very talented folks. It is truly a blessing to serve with all of them. To begin the message we showed the video that is below. The video is really well done and it's a very creative way to tell the Easter story. I'm a twitter fanatic, so it was very cool to see if done in that context. I hope that everyone else had fantastic Easter services and that all glory was given to God. Soli Deo Gloria!



To check out what others are doing in their services and learn more about what Sunday Setlists is all about, check out TheWorshipCommunity.com at http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/sunday-setlists-144/

Friday, April 22, 2011

Good Friday Setlist - 04.22.11


This is a special Good Friday episode of Sunday Setlists. Here is our setlist for Good Friday, April 22nd.

- Jesus Paid It All by Kristian Stanfill
- Hallelujah, What A Savior
- Nothing But the Blood by Matt Redman
- Forgiven by Sanctus Real (special music)
- O the Blood by Gateway Worship (special music)
- It Is Finished by Matt Papa (special music)

This is always a fantastic weekend to get together and worship with the body of Christ. If it weren't for Christ's death, we would have no reason to get together. It truly is a Good Friday and even through we know that death happened this day, that death did not last long. It was a great service. We had a lot of music which was nice, and quite a bit of that was special music. We don't do a lot of it, but we had three pieces in this one service. First was Forgiven by Sanctus Real. Second was O The Blood by Gateway Worship. This song has a perfect message for this weekend, and it was also the perfect set-up for our time of communion. I finished the service by doing Matt Papa's It Is Finished. I first heard this song at Radicalis and it is fantastic. Very thankful that Matt made this song available in time for Good Friday and Easter. I've included the music video he put together for the song.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Tim Hughes | Love Shine Through

Tim Hughes is back with his fourth studio album, Love Shine Through. This comes after his previous studio album from 2007, Holding Nothing Back, and his latest live project from 2009, Happy Day. You will recognize Tim Hughes as the writer of many songs that are being sung in churches all over the world today; Here I Am to Worship, Beautiful One, Happy Day and Jesus Saves. This project included a lot of collaboration with other song writers and producers; Martin Smith and Stu G formerly of Delirious?, Phil Wickham, Ben Cantelon, Kim Walker-Smith of Jesus Culture, Michael Guy Chislet of Hillsong UNITED, and Nathan Nockels. I'm very familiar with Tim Hughes' songs that are used in church, but the only project of his that I own is the Live CD/DVD Happy Day. I was very excited to get the chance to listen to and review this project. With an artist like this, I tend to listen through the lens of what songs can be brought into the church and used effectively there. While I have no doubt that this project is truly an offering of worship to the Lord as it's full of lyrics being sung right to God; I'm counting on Your name, I'm trusting You're the way, how great is Your love, forever I will love You, You have won my heart and here I stand everything is Yours Lord, I believe there are a lot of parts of this album that is going to serve people in their personal worship time more than in the corporate worship settings in church. That is just as important though, as believe this album will be a huge blessing to a lot of people. The lyrics are fantastic and the vertical nature of this project is just what we need. I do think there are a few tracks that will find themselves in the corporate worship times of churches.

Jesus Saves: This one I know is already being used as it's not a brand new song. I do have to say that I like the version on his Happy Day (Live) project better. This version seems more subdued and I think the upbeat, fuller version better suits the song. Still a fantastic song though. Hope is here, shout the news to everyone, it's a new day peace has come; mercy triumphs at the cross, love has come to rescue us, Jesus saves.

Counting on Your Name: A great medium tempo song focusing on the Name that is above all other names. My name is written on Your hands, You've called me Your own; now I am Yours, no earthly power could tear us apart; I'm counting on Your name, counting on Your name to save me.

At Your Name: A fantastic song that was written with Phil Wickham, who is a great song writer and is also writing great songs for the church. This one is no different. It's a great response singing about the greatness of our Lord. I see the church lifting their voices together in praise as the bridge rings out in a tremendous moment of worship. There is no one like our God, we will praise You, praise You; there is no one like our God, we will sing, we will sing; There is no one like our God, we will praise You, praise You; Jesus is our God, we will sing.

All Glory: If you have a worship choir helping lead services, this is a song to add to the repertoire. A song focusing on the love of God during the verses, but what really got me is when the choir comes in singing the bridge, exalting the Lord to his rightful place. I also love the depth of the last line, even if it is only three words. Lift Him higher, He is mighty; lift Him higher, He is God!

Special thanks to The B & B Media Group, Inc., David C. Cook and Kingsway for providing this complimentary pre-release album to listen to and review. You can download the album here on iTunes (deluxe edition) or amazon.com.

Monday, April 18, 2011

Lucky by Glenn Packiam

Glenn Packiam's new book, Lucky: How the Kingdom Comes to Unlikely People, joins the ranks of his two other books Secondhand Jesus: Trading Rumors of God for a Firsthand Faith and Butterfly in Brazil: How Your Life Can Make a World of Difference. In this book, Glenn unpacks the context of the word blessed in Luke's depiction of the beatitudes, Luke 6.20-23. The English translation uses the word blessed, but Glenn says that Jesus didn't use a religious word, he chose a street word that had the idea of the good, fortunate, or as Glenn says of a word we might be more likely to choose, lucky. The hard part for me in reading this book and even some now as I write this review is getting passed thinking of lucky as random or chance. Even if I can't help myself from thinking that, I think about why we're lucky, and it's because of God and nothing that He does is random or chance. The poor, hungry, sad, and persecuted people that Jesus was talking about are ones that you wouldn't consider as being the lucky ones, but they were exactly the ones that Jesus sought after and wanted to spend time with. Glenn says this,
"Jesus took an inherently nonreligious word, a word from normal, everyday, conversations, and filled it with divine implications. It turns out the ones we ought to call 'lucky' are the ones that God is blessing with the arrival of His kingdom. In doing this, Jesus redefined who the lucky ones are. They are not the ones culture lauds as successful, not the ones we secretly aspire to be. He turned our appraisal of the good life on its head. There is a great reversal that is coming; indeed, it has already begun. And the ones who are receiving and participating in the kingdom of God are the ones who are truly lucky, deeply blessed."
Where this really begins to hit home is when I, and you, begin to think of how much an unlikely person I am to be receiving the kingdom of God. But because of the death and resurrection of Christ, we have become rich through Him, He satisfies our hunger through time with Him and His Word, we need not weep because we have strength in His joy, and no matter what happens in our life on this earth we have a treasure awaiting us in heaven. As we come to realize that we are the lucky ones, at the end of the book, Glenn challenges us to become the luck-bearers. Because the kingdom has come to us it can go through us to others.
Lucky are the God-dependent, for they will enjoy and participate in God's rule.
Lucky are those who are empty on this world, for they will be filled with Jesus and feast with Him in the age to come.
Lucky are those whose best life is not now, for what is coming is better than what is.
Lucky are those who are rejected by the world, for they are a threat to it and their reward is from a kingdom not of this world.




Special thanks to The B & B Media Group, Inc. and David C. Cook for providing this complimentary book to read and review. You can purchase the book here on amazon.com.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Sunday Setlist - 04.17.11


Week #143 of Sunday Setlists. Here is our setlist for Sunday, April 17th.

- Hosanna by Paul Baloche
- Agnus Dei by Michael W. Smith
- O Worship the King by Chris Tomlin

Another great morning of worship. We really changed things up this Sunday and I think it turned out to be a great thing. Typically we open up the service right away with a song, but this Sunday our pastor focused on John 17.13-26, Jesus' prayer, so he made a lot of time available in the service for us to pray. So we actually had the lights dim and about 5 minutes of prayer time at the start of the service before we sang the first song. Then he went right into his message, ended with about 8 more minutes of prayer time and then did the final two songs. It's always nice to change things up a little bit from time to time.

To check out what others are doing in their services and learn more about what Sunday Setlists is all about, check out TheWorshipCommunity.com at http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/sunday-setlists-143/

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

New Life Worship | You Hold It All

The team of New Life Worship have released a new project, You Hold It All, that joins their two other worship projects, Counting on God and My Savior Lives. If you're familiar with New Life Worship and Desperation Band this album will not disappoint. I do have to say though, the first time I listened to the album, it was very strange not to hear Ross Parsley's voice in the mix. Ross is now the Sr. Pastor of ONEchapel in Austin, TX which is one of New Life's church plants. But the spirit of this project is still the same; a spirit of true worship from the heart of those of a church that has gone through some very tough times. These songs come from a church that has sung them in worship and response to a God they love and I believe they will soon make there way into the worship of other churches. New Life Worship & Arts Pastor Brad Parsley says this:
"Through some of the toughest years a church will ever experience, New Life Church has seen the incredible faithfulness of our God. On October 13, 2010, we gathered as a church to declare our faith in a God that never fails and to thank Him for what He has done. You Hold It All is the refrain from that night of worship and it epitomizes what we want to say about our lives, our church and our God. It all belongs to Him, it all came from Him and it's all going back to Him. That's what we want to declare every time we gather as a body of believers and that's what this recording celebrates!"
This project contains a great mixture of songs written by Jon Egan, Glenn Packiam and Jared Anderson. Here are a few of the songs that really grabbed a hold of me.

Our Messiah Reigns: A great song that also appears in Glenn Packiam's new project The Kingdom Comes EP. There's something about a live recording and the spirit of worship that it captures. The scripture that Glenn reads at the end of the track is perfect for the song; Luke 4.17-21 (NLT). I also love the use of the word Messiah in songs. It truly shouts the majesty of Jesus Christ. Glory to the Lamb, who died and rose again. Exalted over all, our Messiah reigns. Every knee will bow. A thousand tongues will sing. Holy is the Lord! Jesus, our Messiah, reigns.

Lift the Name: This upbeat song written by Jared Anderson is a song that I believe is the cry of the church today and especially of the younger generation. A cry to lift high the name of Jesus, the One who reigns. Let's take this moment of our day, turn it into praise and offer it as a gift, to our King, to our Lord, for He reigns evermore. Praise and worship are Yours, heaven and earth sing for joy, like an eagle takes the sky, let Your name be lifted high.

Be Thou Exalted: I love this slower song written by Jon Egan. It's of a very hymn-like nature. The lyrics are very personal and ones that come as a cry from the heart to God to continue to guide and be with the worshipper always. Reminds me of the Psalms. Hallelujah to the Name of all Names. Hallelujah to the God be all praise. Ever holy, worthy be Thou exalted always.



Special thanks to Integrity Music for providing this complimentary pre-release album to listen to and review. You can download the album here on iTunes (deluxe version) or amazon.com.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Glenn Packiam | The Kingdom Comes EP

Glenn Packiam, from Desperation Band and New Life Worship is back with a new album, The Kingdom Comes EP. I have enjoyed getting to know Glenn through his music, blog and twitter and I was really excited to listen to this project. This project has a spirit of worship all over it. It really shows where the heart of the man who wrote the songs is focused; on the God whom he loves and serves. These songs are full of rich lyrics and wonderful melodies. I believe these songs will find themselves in the corporate worship of many churches and in a believers personal worship time. From the beginning to the end of this project you will be drawn into the presence of the Lord.

Our Messiah Reigns: A great upbeat track to begin the project. I love the use of the word Messiah in songs. It truly shouts the majesty of Jesus Christ. Glory to the Lamb, who died and rose again. Exalted over all, our Messiah reigns. Every knee will bow. A thousand tongues will sing. Holy is the Lord! Jesus, our Messiah, reigns.

All Things: A wonderful, piano driven track with fantastic lyrics rooted in Romans 8.28, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." In all things God is working, for our good and for Your glory, God is working now.

Forgiven Forever: This is a perfect track to listen to especially as we approach Holy Week and Easter. I love the focus on forgiveness, but I believe what makes the track is how the theme of love is woven in with the bridge. Worthy is the Lamb seated in heaven, beautiful the blood, we are forgiven forever, forgiven forever. Victory is won, Jesus is risen, love has overcome, we are forgiven forever, forgiven forever.

Praise is the Offering: What a call to worship; corporately and privately! How great is Your love for us and great are the things You've done. With all of our heart and soul, for all that You are and more. Praise is the offering we bring to You.

Everlasting God: I'm glad Glenn included this track, a great song for the church to lift up in worship. You never change, You're still the same, You are the Everlasting God. You will remain after the day is gone and the things of earth have passed, everlasting God.

At The Cross: This track has a wonderful hymn-like nature to it. It's also a song that becomes very personal; crying out straight from the heart as we kneel at the foot of the cross. At the cross I've been redeemed, found forgiveness for my sin, no more shame, no more guilt, hallelujah. At the cross I give my life as a living sacrifice, saints and sinners lift your voice, hallelujah.

The project ends with a great acoustic track of Forgiven Forever, as well as Glenn reading the first chapter of his latest book, Lucky: How the Kingdom of God Comes to Unlikely People. You can get the book here on amazon.com.

Special thanks to Integrity Music for providing this complimentary pre-release album to listen to and review. You can download the album here on iTunes or amazon.com.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Sunday Setlist - 04.10.11


Week #142 of Sunday Setlists. Here is our setlist for Sunday, April 10th.

- Chosen Generation by Chris Tomlin
- Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee by Charlie Hall
- I Am Yours by Michael Neale
- What Do I Know of Holy by Addison Road (special music)

It was a great morning of Worship. Chosen Generation was a new song for us and normally I wouldn't do a couple new songs this close together, but this song fit perfectly with the end of series on the Church. The first Sunday of the series, our pastor focused on the passage from 1 Peter 2.9, "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." This song from Passion 2010 is a declaration of that verse. Heard good things about the song, so I think it will have to stick around too. Special music went well also. I'm very blessed to serve with such great people.

To check out what others are doing in their services and learn more about what Sunday Setlists is all about, check out TheWorshipCommunity.com at http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/sunday-setlists-142/

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Sunday Setlist - 04.03.11


Week #141 of Sunday Setlists. Here is our setlist for Sunday, April 3rd.

- Forever by Chris Tomlin
- Stronger by Hillsong
- Praise to the Lord, the Almighty by Travis Cottrell
- Glorified by Jared Anderson
- Not To Us by Chris Tomlin

Another great morning of worship at Bethel. Loved the song set this morning and the team did a great job. We did Stronger again for a second Sunday and I believe this is a song that is going to get added into the regular rotation. The team really likes it and the church seems to have grabbed a hold of it as well. It's very encouraging to look out and see the church worshipping through that song.

To check out what others are doing in their services and learn more about what Sunday Setlists is all about, check out TheWorshipCommunity.com at http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/sunday-setlists-141/