Saturday update
Did a couple of things last night. Had the CD Team meeting @ 3:00 which went well. Everyone showed up except for one person, so that is a good sign of commitment, etc. Kevin and I talked about what we expected, some of the logistics, where we saw things going, etc. It was all good stuff. I also announced this page, so maybe it will get some traffic! Maybe I'll add a counter to this site, since I got the one at WorshipJunky working.

Last night was also the Dead Celebrity and Cartoon Bash. Basically a costume party for Fusion, where you came as a dead celebrity or cartoon. I am never personally into dressing up myself (although I like seeing everyone else dressed up), but since a few people were going as 60s rockers, I just threw on a tie-dye shirt and head-band. As Tina said, "That is what you always look like", but at least it looked like I was dressed up some! Plus I was wearing my Connie's shirt from Chicago and it turns out Paul used to live there and had been to Connies. So that was cool.

Anyway... the bash went well. There were some great costumes and some of the girls (and a few guys... yikes!) looked very cute. "Last Ransom" (Scott, Donovan and Paul's group) played and it was pretty good. Dono had some trouble on the drums, but it is kind of hard to stay on the entire time when you are in a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle costume!

We did 3 songs for Praise and Worship - My Glorious, Deeper, and What a Friend I've Found. It went real good and Pastor Rick shared the Gospel some and did an alter call and about 10 kids raised there hands, so that was very cool. The Ark kids seemed to have a good time, and continue to tell us that we are the only place that doesn't treat them like a bunch of outcasts or something (So much for the main church in America... sad). So, good fun, good worship, good ministry.
posted by James at 6:40 AM

New Songs
I'm thinking maybe I should create a master list of our songs on the home page... but I haven't decided yet. Also, I'd like to start a list of songs we want to learn. For now, I'll just put it here. These might not be exactly the right titles... I'm terrible with names, but it will help me remember. :-)

Also, we need to find some more songs for Nat and Nichole to sing, so we have more female led songs, and so we even out the number of songs each leader sings!

• Hungry - not the one we already know, but the one we did with Tom and Jennifer
  
• History Maker, Delirious?
  
• Mountains Tremble, Delirious?

posted by James at 9:14 AM

CD Teams
On the 12th I had posted the CD team members. I've now deleted those entries, since they are posted on the home page. I also deleted the original CD Teams post (similar to this one), because of of the information has changed. We were going to meet on the Nov 2nd, but there is Ignition Training that day. Instead we are meeting today @ 3:00, prior to band practice. I'm really looking forward to the new CD teams. The current teams have done GREAT. The new teams will have some new leaders, and it is always cool to see someone else take on more responsibility, walk in their callings, etc. Also Kevin will be working with them on vocals, which is really cool. I think there is some cool stuff coming!
posted by James at 8:53 AM

Yes, youth can be responsible!
I mentioned to Nat on Sunday that she'd be leading next week, and that she needs to have Michael or Nathan burn a CD with the songs they'll be singing. She just called me to let me know she had it done. Very cool. Way to go Nat. Thanks much!
posted by James at 10:40 AM

God is ever faithful!
Saturday was a bit stressful. Saturday night we were having the first missions meeting for next year, and so the worship team was going to play from 6:00 - 7:00 and then there would be a meeting with the parents from 7:00 - 8:00. We've done an hour of worship many times, especially when the Spirit starts moving and people start getting ministered to, etc. But I kind of hate to figure, "Well, lets plan on 5 songs and just figure we can stretch that to an hour." Yeah, I know God will show up... and I know we can depend on him, but I kind of hate to just assume it is going to happen. Kind of like taking it for granted or something.
Anyway, so we need to figure an hour of music for that night. Bobby calls me at 8:00 that morning and says that Scott and Donovan won't be at practice, maybe not there at all. Great, there goes lead vocal for 1/2 the songs, lead guitar and the sax. Hey, people have lives and other commitments, but it is a drag finding out at the last minute (I like to be prepared!). Also, Staci had called earlier in the week to say she wasn't going to be able to make it (no keys). So Bobby and I talk and figure we'll have to do some old stuff where the girls lead, and hopefully we have enough songs.
I figure we'll be pretty OK, but its going to be a stretch. Then Tina tells me that Pastor Rick invited all the parents to come at 6:00, rather than 7:00, so they can worship too. Very cool... but now even more reason to be "on". To get it right. Sigh... we can't do some of our best/latest stuff, because Scott sings it. Stress.
Then on the way to practice Kevin calls to say he can't make it (which again, is fine), so he won't be able to help with the vocals. more stress. I explain to Kevin what is going on. "No big deal, God is good. He'll take care of it." Yeah, I know... but still...
Then I get there and find out that Ashley (a background vocal) won't make it.
Alright... this is going to be fun... But God will show, he'll take care of it.
Michael (who has led in one song, is the drummer, but also plays guitar) comes up and says, "Hey, if you need me to sing Scott's parts and play lead , I can do it." Really? "Sure, I'll give it a try." Luckily Nick (backup drummer) is there that night, so Michael doesn't have to play drums, although Nick hasn't been at practice much this summer.
So, we pray and start practice.
Michael nails the parts! Practice goes very well, everyone having good attitudes, filling in where they need to.
Michael is playing leading: singing and playing electric guitar or acoustic, or no guitar, depending on the song.
Meg is playing viola, electric guitar and acoustic guitar.
Nathan is playing his guitars, using some cool effects which are making up for the keys being gone.
And all the signers are doing a great job.
And everyone else is doing great as always.
Wow... this is going to be great.
We do some pre-service prayer and worship to CDs, and then we start.
Michael gets up there and he is, "Hey everyone, hows it going tonight" and just takes off. He did such a great job of leading. And then Nicole is talking about how great God is and what He's done for her this summer and calling people forward for prayer, and we do the offering and Natalie does a great job. God shows up in an amazing way, the worship is great, the ministry time is great. And it is with 1/3 of the team missing.
Yes, people have hidden talent, and yes, if we just let Him use us, and if we trust in Him, He always shows.
Yeah, I knew that. :-)
Actually, it was pretty humbling... He is always reminding me, I'm here, I'll take care of it. We just need to serve and do what He's called us to, and be willing to flow where He tells us to go.
posted by James at 6:41 AM

Maintenance
Added the "sponsored by" type buttons at the top. Also modified the Dates section (adding some whitespace to it) so that the first entry didn't overwrite it when viewing with IE. I'm also going to post the teams, and then put some links to them. That way we can always go back in the archive (I think) and view them. Poor man's web page. :-)
posted by James at 11:05 PM

You're never too young to worship
Update on Children's Church worship.

Last Sunday we played for them again. The room is a bit of a sound nightmare, as it is fairly small and fairly loud. So I was having a hard time hearing Kevin, but I told him and he moved closer to me, and things went better from there. Plus we did a few news songs "Hey, we didn't do this last time, but lets try it." There is definately something to be said for small. Kevin knows the chords, I just drum along, and the girls sing along. Very easy to throw a song together in a few minutes. Nice!

Seemed to go pretty well. Less up front "lecturing", and more "encouraging" during the worship. At least more from me, as I didn't do much last time. This time, first song, I just had to pull the "hold it, hold it, aren't you supposed to be worshipping" routine. My gosh, probably 7 - 9 year old boys, and they are already "too cool to worship." I talked to them about it a bit, we started again, and they got into it pretty good.

The great news was after the fact. Some times you aren't sure how well things went, or what kind of impact you are making, then someone comes up and says something to you:

• Parent: My (10 year old?) daugther told me how awesome worship was last week. She really got into it. Thank you so much for taking the team down there. Are you going to do it all the time? That would be great!
  Right now the plan is for once a month, but we'll see. Anyway, how cool! I wasn't even sure how much they were paying attention. I mean, they seemed to get into it... but to have a kid tell their parents. Very cool!
  
• Director: Wow, having you guys do worship makes so much difference. The kids are much calmer, not rowdy and jumping around, and they get into their lessons much better. We don't have to keep after them!
  Wow... very cool. Great to know we are making an impact.
  

So, this just all shows me that:

1. God can use anyone and anything, if their hearts are there to serve. Certainly not the most practice, best room, etc. But we worshipped and the kids followed.
   
2. Yes Virgina, Kids CAN Worship!
   

There were some questions as to what kind of Praise and Worship we should do. Should we adjust it for the kids? Do it at their level. I thought about that some. Doing "kids" songs. But we started w/o any, 'cause we didn't know any. And it has been great! Why? Because they are singing worship songs, they understand them, and it is getting in their spirits. Yes, we have to tailor out songs to the audience, but that is always true. But I think they'll do fine with "adult" worship songs, as long as they understand the meaning, so they aren't just singing words, but actually worshipping. It gets in their spirts, calms them down, and prepares them for why they are there. Very cool.
So..., for now, that is the course we'll follow, and we'll see how it goes! Extremely cool to be used by God for His will!

posted by James at 12:30 PM

New Teams
Kevin B and I went over the applications today, and we pretty much have a first pass at the new CD teams! Pretty cool. I'm excited about what God is going to do this coming year! We'll be announcing it tonight and the new teams will probably be starting in Nov. Either the first week or the third one. This will give us a chance to get with everyone. Anyway, cool stuff.
posted by James at 3:26 PM

Children's Church
Doing worship for Children's Church went very well. It was Kevin leading, me playing Djembe, Michael didn't have to drum, so he can down and did some other percussion, and Nat and Jaime sang. I did some teaching on the difference between Praise and Worship, why we Worship, etc. before we started. The kids really seemed to pay attention. The Kevin talked about Worship during each song. Nichole came foward during Worship and lead them in prayer, asking if they had any needs, etc. She is very annointed for that and it was great.
I also talked to them about singing in the Spirit, which they then did. Very cool having 20 little kids sing in the Spirit!
All it all, it went very well. Miss Leslie said she was really blessed and they'd have us do it every weekend if we could. We'll probably leave it to once a month for now, as we need to also be in the regular service.
Its very cool to minister outside your main ministry. To reach out to others. I think it will be a great experience for all involved, and a good way to grow, bless others, etc.
Children's Church is moving, so they won't have their sound set up yet, so we'll be doing it again this week. Probably same teaching and songs (Miss Leslie said repition is good at this age). I'm really pleased that we are branching out like this. Great stuff!
posted by James at 7:48 AM