Prelude: Psalm 85
Opening: O Come O Come Emmanuel, vs. 1, 2, 5
Psalm: 25 To You O God I Lift Up My Soul
Prep: There Is A Longing
Communion: Remembrance
Meditation: I Love You Lord (old hymn)
Closing: O Come O Come Emmanuel, vs. 1, 3, 7
Monday, November 30, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Worshiping in Brokenness
Last weekend a few of us attended the Christian Music Summit @ Overlake. We'll be posting our notes that we took over the course of the two days and share what we learned and our thoughts here in this blog, so look out for them over the next few weeks. I begin with my notes from a session led by Laura Story (composer of 'Mighty To Save'), entitled, "Worshiping in Brokenness".
Laura started by saying that unless you are Adam or Eve, you have only experienced worship in brokenness. She asked the audience the question, "Where in the bible can we find worship?" After several answers by audience members, she admitted that it was a trick question, for the answer is that worship is in the whole bible. She then read the definition of "Broken" from Webster's dictionary (check it out: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brokenness).
She reminded us that as Worship Leaders, we are leading a congregation of brokenness. It is good to see us Worship Leaders living in brokenness - to allow the congregation see some transparency of our own struggles - yet we're still getting up there and leading others through this brokenness in worship.
Laura is a Worship Leader in her church in South Carolina; she shared with us the story of when they discovered a tumor in her husband's brain, the near death experience after surgery, and how he hasn't fully recovered and has never been the same man she married. A heart-wrenching story of pain, suffering, loneliness, and a struggle with the question, "why?"
We have plans A, B, and C, but sometimes God whips up plan Y ("Why"). We read from Genesis about Abraham and Isaac - sometimes God seems to "rub it in"; but judge the circumstances by your God, not God by your circumstances. Then she had us read the following three passages from scripture: Psalm 13, James 1, and 2 Cor 1.
Laura enumerated three ways to worship in brokenness:
1. Come As You Are.
Like exercise, you may not like it, but you like the result. David in the psalms starts with what he feels, but ends with what he knows (about God's faithfulness); but don't abandon how you feel. She makes this statement, "God is half as concerned about our happiness than our holiness", and perhaps our working through our brokenness is carrying our cross to better holiness.
2. Consider It All Joy.
During the darkest hours during her husband's ordeal when he lost even the memory of who his wife was, Laura would cry out to God, "How can you love someone who doesn't even acknowledge you?" The answer she heard was, "Yes Laura, I know what you mean" - God so loved the world that He sent his only son, and how many people in the world don't even acknowledge Him, yet He is Love. But because we are so loved and cherished by the Lord, we can 'consider it all joy', even in our sorrow and brokenness for through it we can draw closer to God and one another.
3. We Learn to be Better Comforters if We're Afflicted.
Sometimes God chooses what we NEED, not what we WANT. Laura prefers the term "Music Minster" to "Worship Leader" for a minister is a servant, and we are called to serve the congregation, and worshiping through our brokenness makes us better servants. If we can't worship in our brokenness, then we don't have faith - it is our faith and hope in the Lord that sustains us through our brokenness and affliction. Ultimately, whatever we feel, God is no less worthy of our worship, and our worship honors Him even more when we do so despite our brokenness.
Moved by the Spirit, with tears in my eyes we ended the session singing "Here I am to Worship" and "Mighty to Save".
Laura started by saying that unless you are Adam or Eve, you have only experienced worship in brokenness. She asked the audience the question, "Where in the bible can we find worship?" After several answers by audience members, she admitted that it was a trick question, for the answer is that worship is in the whole bible. She then read the definition of "Broken" from Webster's dictionary (check it out: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brokenness).
She reminded us that as Worship Leaders, we are leading a congregation of brokenness. It is good to see us Worship Leaders living in brokenness - to allow the congregation see some transparency of our own struggles - yet we're still getting up there and leading others through this brokenness in worship.
Laura is a Worship Leader in her church in South Carolina; she shared with us the story of when they discovered a tumor in her husband's brain, the near death experience after surgery, and how he hasn't fully recovered and has never been the same man she married. A heart-wrenching story of pain, suffering, loneliness, and a struggle with the question, "why?"
We have plans A, B, and C, but sometimes God whips up plan Y ("Why"). We read from Genesis about Abraham and Isaac - sometimes God seems to "rub it in"; but judge the circumstances by your God, not God by your circumstances. Then she had us read the following three passages from scripture: Psalm 13, James 1, and 2 Cor 1.
Laura enumerated three ways to worship in brokenness:
1. Come As You Are.
Like exercise, you may not like it, but you like the result. David in the psalms starts with what he feels, but ends with what he knows (about God's faithfulness); but don't abandon how you feel. She makes this statement, "God is half as concerned about our happiness than our holiness", and perhaps our working through our brokenness is carrying our cross to better holiness.
2. Consider It All Joy.
During the darkest hours during her husband's ordeal when he lost even the memory of who his wife was, Laura would cry out to God, "How can you love someone who doesn't even acknowledge you?" The answer she heard was, "Yes Laura, I know what you mean" - God so loved the world that He sent his only son, and how many people in the world don't even acknowledge Him, yet He is Love. But because we are so loved and cherished by the Lord, we can 'consider it all joy', even in our sorrow and brokenness for through it we can draw closer to God and one another.
3. We Learn to be Better Comforters if We're Afflicted.
Sometimes God chooses what we NEED, not what we WANT. Laura prefers the term "Music Minster" to "Worship Leader" for a minister is a servant, and we are called to serve the congregation, and worshiping through our brokenness makes us better servants. If we can't worship in our brokenness, then we don't have faith - it is our faith and hope in the Lord that sustains us through our brokenness and affliction. Ultimately, whatever we feel, God is no less worthy of our worship, and our worship honors Him even more when we do so despite our brokenness.
Moved by the Spirit, with tears in my eyes we ended the session singing "Here I am to Worship" and "Mighty to Save".
Home Away From Home
A couple of Sundays at Seven members performed at a community event called Home Away From Home. This event was set-up to welcome refugees and immigrants to the community by having a potluck Thanksgiving lunch and sharing experiences with each other.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Is this serving God?
That is the critical question when making decisions in our ministry of leading the congregation during mass, praise and worship or benefit concerts. Too often we get caught up making a decision to please ourselves or each other and the moment of indecision arises since pleasing everyone was designed to be impossible.
To please God. To serve God. To worship God is our goal.
Everything else follows.
To please God. To serve God. To worship God is our goal.
Everything else follows.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Home Away From Home (Community Event)
The following is an event hosted by Mercy Laurino at the Blessed Sacrament Church Gathering Hall.
-------
When: November 21, 2009
This event is to welcome refugees and immigrants to our community by having a potluck Thanksgiving LUNCH and sharing our stories with each other. We invite everyone who are recently relocated to the Puget Sound Area, and most especially those who cannot go home to their families and/or loved ones for Thanksgiving.
-------
Our Strength Lies in Our Diversity
Come celebrate Thanksgiving with us through sharing of cultures as we welcome newly arrived refugees and immigrants to our communityWhen: November 21, 2009
Where: Blessed Sacrament Church Gathering Hall
5050 - 8th Avenue NE
Seattle, WA 98105
Time: 12:00pm to 3:00pm
Please RSVP by contacting Mercy Laurino at 206-349-1040
email: mercy.laurino@gmail.com
5050 - 8th Avenue NE
Seattle, WA 98105
Time: 12:00pm to 3:00pm
Please RSVP by contacting Mercy Laurino at 206-349-1040
email: mercy.laurino@gmail.com
This event is to welcome refugees and immigrants to our community by having a potluck Thanksgiving LUNCH and sharing our stories with each other. We invite everyone who are recently relocated to the Puget Sound Area, and most especially those who cannot go home to their families and/or loved ones for Thanksgiving.
The event will begin at 12pm with music, a moment of reflection to give thanks, and then lunch. Mingling and eating is required :)
Again, please bring a dish and/or drink to share.
Again, please bring a dish and/or drink to share.
Suggestions on what to bring by last names:
A-F appetizers / salads
G-L main dish
M-Q dessert
R-Z non alcoholic drinks
A-F appetizers / salads
G-L main dish
M-Q dessert
R-Z non alcoholic drinks
For more info: http://homeafhome.blogspot.com/
NewWorldSon rocked CMS
http://www.myspace.com/newworldson
The drum solo/conga line in the middle of their set was awesome :)
The drum solo/conga line in the middle of their set was awesome :)
Monday, November 16, 2009
more Psalms coming soon
We'll be posting arrangements for Psalm 19 and 32 as soon as we can make simple youtube videos for them. They were written during a music retreat where we didn't have access to a video camera.
home studio set-up tips
Over time we have recorded a few demo songs and here's some tips if you want to start your own projects
Home Studio Set-Up
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Home Studio Set-Up
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Congrats to Makipag x FASA | Tanghalan
For raising over $2600 to help the flood victims in the Philippines.
Here's Lorenzo with Evergreen High School students.
http://makipag.wordpress.com/
Here's Lorenzo with Evergreen High School students.
http://makipag.wordpress.com/
Readings for Sun 11/22/09: Our Lord Jesus Christ the King
sources: liturgy.com and www.usccb.org
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON Revelation 5:12; 1:6
The Lamb who was slain is worthy to receive strength and divinity,
wisdom and power and honor: to him be glory and power
for ever.
FIRST READING Daniel 7:13–14 (161B)
Daniel had a vision and saw “one like a Son of man coming, on
the clouds of heaven…. His dominion is an everlasting dominion.”
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 93:1, 1–2, 5
The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
SECOND READING Revelation 1:5–8
The firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth has
made us a kingdom, priests for his God and Father.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Mark 11:9, 10
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the
kingdom of our father David that is to come!
GOSPEL John 18:33b –37
When Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus
replied, “You say I am a king.”
COMMUNION ANTIPHON Psalm 28:10 –11
The Lord will reign for ever and will give his people the gift
of peace.
Reading 1
Dn 7:13-14
As the visions during the night continued, I saw
one like a Son of man coming,
on the clouds of heaven;
when he reached the Ancient One
and was presented before him,
the one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship;
all peoples, nations, and languages serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 93:1, 1-2, 5
R. (1a) The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.
The LORD is king, in splendor robed;
robed is the LORD and girt about with strength.
R. The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.
And he has made the world firm,
not to be moved.
Your throne stands firm from of old;
from everlasting you are, O LORD.
R. The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.
Your decrees are worthy of trust indeed;
holiness befits your house,
O LORD, for length of days.
R. The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.
Reading II
Rv 1:5-8
Gospel
Jn 18:33b-37
Pilate said to Jesus,
"Are you the King of the Jews?"
Jesus answered, "Do you say this on your own
or have others told you about me?"
Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I?
Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me.
What have you done?"
Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not belong to this world.
If my kingdom did belong to this world,
my attendants would be fighting
to keep me from being handed over to the Jews.
But as it is, my kingdom is not here."
So Pilate said to him, "Then you are a king?"
Jesus answered, "You say I am a king.
For this I was born and for this I came into the world,
to testify to the truth.
Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."
sources: liturgy.com and www.usccb.org
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON Revelation 5:12; 1:6
The Lamb who was slain is worthy to receive strength and divinity,
wisdom and power and honor: to him be glory and power
for ever.
FIRST READING Daniel 7:13–14 (161B)
Daniel had a vision and saw “one like a Son of man coming, on
the clouds of heaven…. His dominion is an everlasting dominion.”
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 93:1, 1–2, 5
The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
SECOND READING Revelation 1:5–8
The firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth has
made us a kingdom, priests for his God and Father.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Mark 11:9, 10
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the
kingdom of our father David that is to come!
GOSPEL John 18:33b –37
When Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus
replied, “You say I am a king.”
COMMUNION ANTIPHON Psalm 28:10 –11
The Lord will reign for ever and will give his people the gift
of peace.
Reading 1
Dn 7:13-14
As the visions during the night continued, I saw
one like a Son of man coming,
on the clouds of heaven;
when he reached the Ancient One
and was presented before him,
the one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship;
all peoples, nations, and languages serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 93:1, 1-2, 5
R. (1a) The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.
The LORD is king, in splendor robed;
robed is the LORD and girt about with strength.
R. The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.
And he has made the world firm,
not to be moved.
Your throne stands firm from of old;
from everlasting you are, O LORD.
R. The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.
Your decrees are worthy of trust indeed;
holiness befits your house,
O LORD, for length of days.
R. The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.
Reading II
Rv 1:5-8
Jesus Christ is the faithful witness,
the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,
who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father,
to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.
Behold, he is coming amid the clouds,
and every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him.
All the peoples of the earth will lament him.
Yes. Amen.
the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,
who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father,
to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.
Behold, he is coming amid the clouds,
and every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him.
All the peoples of the earth will lament him.
Yes. Amen.
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, " says the Lord God,
"the one who is and who was and who is to come, the almighty."
"the one who is and who was and who is to come, the almighty."
Gospel
Jn 18:33b-37
Pilate said to Jesus,
"Are you the King of the Jews?"
Jesus answered, "Do you say this on your own
or have others told you about me?"
Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I?
Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me.
What have you done?"
Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not belong to this world.
If my kingdom did belong to this world,
my attendants would be fighting
to keep me from being handed over to the Jews.
But as it is, my kingdom is not here."
So Pilate said to him, "Then you are a king?"
Jesus answered, "You say I am a king.
For this I was born and for this I came into the world,
to testify to the truth.
Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."
sources: liturgy.com and www.usccb.org
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Christian Music Summit 2009 at Overlake
This was such an awesome experience. Mars, Amy and I were totally blessed to have been given the opportunity to learn from the music ministers at the conference.
It was also a lot of fun!
We took some notes and we'll definitely share them asap.
Before then, enjoy these clips :)
It was also a lot of fun!
We took some notes and we'll definitely share them asap.
Before then, enjoy these clips :)
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Steven Curtis Chapman copes with daughter's death through music
Here's an artcle on CNN on how Steven and his family are dealing with the tragedy.
On a personal note, a few of us from Sundays@7 were at his concert at Overlake in Redmond, WA the day before this whole thing happened. He was so passionate talking about his children and so proud of his two sons playing with him that night that we were in utter shock to learn about the accident the next day.
song selections for Sunday 11/15/09
Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (from liturgy.com)
FIRST READING Daniel 12:1–3 (158B)
“I, Daniel, heard this word of the Lord: ‘At that time…your people
shall escape.’ ”
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 16:5, 8, 9–10, 11
You are my inheritance, O Lord!
SECOND READING Hebrews 10:11–14, 18
“Brothers and sisters: By one offering he has made perfect forever
those who are being consecrated.”
GOSPEL Mark 13:24–32
The Son of Man will appear from heaven in power and glory. He
will “gather his elect from the four winds.”
FIRST READING Daniel 12:1–3 (158B)
“I, Daniel, heard this word of the Lord: ‘At that time…your people
shall escape.’ ”
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 16:5, 8, 9–10, 11
You are my inheritance, O Lord!
SECOND READING Hebrews 10:11–14, 18
“Brothers and sisters: By one offering he has made perfect forever
those who are being consecrated.”
GOSPEL Mark 13:24–32
The Son of Man will appear from heaven in power and glory. He
will “gather his elect from the four winds.”
Prelude: YOU GAVE YOUR LIFE AWAY (same as meditation)
audio: http://www.youtube.com/watch?
audio: http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Opening: Our God Saves (Paul Baloche)
chords: http://www.ultimate-guitar.
audio: http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Psalm: Psalm 16:5, 8, 9–10, 11
You are my inheritance, O Lord!
http://cdn.ocp.org/shared/pdf/
Offertory: Eye Has Not Seen (...ear has not heard what God has ready for those who love him)
Communion: I Am the Bread of Life (Talbot...I am the bread of life, all who eat this bread will never die, I am God's love revealed, I am broken that you might be healed)
Meditation: YOU GAVE YOUR LIFE AWAY (Paul Baloche)
chords: http://www.ultimate-guitar.
audio: http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Psalm: Psalm 16:5, 8, 9–10, 11
You are my inheritance, O Lord!
http://cdn.ocp.org/shared/pdf/
Offertory: Eye Has Not Seen (...ear has not heard what God has ready for those who love him)
Communion: I Am the Bread of Life (Talbot...I am the bread of life, all who eat this bread will never die, I am God's love revealed, I am broken that you might be healed)
Meditation: YOU GAVE YOUR LIFE AWAY (Paul Baloche)
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Psalm 30 Endless Is Our Praise To You
This was recorded during Amy & Joseph's wedding at Blessed Sacrament. Both of them were part of the team that wrote this arrangement back in the 2006 music retreat.
Brenton Brown teaching Everlasting God
This song is anointed to bring us closer to worship.
everlasting god how to
Brenton Brown | MySpace Video
everlasting god how to
Brenton Brown | MySpace Video
Community Service Opportunity
November 14, 9:00 AM, Newman Center
The Community Service/Social Justice team will be making lunches at Newman, going downtown, and individually handing them out to the poor. We will be making sack lunches consisting of sandwiches, juice, a piece of candy, and napkins and putting them in a bag lunch. If you want to come and meet new people while serving the poor, please join us at the Newman Center on Saturday the 14th at 9:00 AM.
The Community Service/Social Justice team will be making lunches at Newman, going downtown, and individually handing them out to the poor. We will be making sack lunches consisting of sandwiches, juice, a piece of candy, and napkins and putting them in a bag lunch. If you want to come and meet new people while serving the poor, please join us at the Newman Center on Saturday the 14th at 9:00 AM.
The Family Flu Retreat
The past few days spent nursing the flu of an entire family has seen a kaleidoscope array of colorful emotions. One might reason with reality that the mixed drinks of cold drugs, too much sleep, and an overdose of Miyazaki movies were the winds behind the sails across rough seas for the soul.
If you subscribe to the saying, "life isn't a fairy tale", perhaps consider life a tale woven with other creatures with wings and desires of the heart to fulfill - angels? Maybe instead, life's a tale of saints and angels, with the faith, hope and love that we're counted among the saints!
After days and days of constant wind and rain, the sun finally breaks through the dark clouds' barricade of gloom. As if watching yet another movie, suddenly the eyes receive the gift of fall colors in one bright instant. The clouds break their ranks and make their retreat leaving their spoils of azure, high in the sky, and gold glowing over the horizon with the late afternoon sun.
On this retreat we were compelled to, was a chance for a family to reconnect. While bodies were mending, hearts were bending; new bonds replaced ones worn, tattered and torn.
Now as the retreat draws to an end, "what of the 'real world'?" Bring to it the dreams, the songs, the colors and textures and prose; and leap into the dance of life - regardless of whether it's a tale of fairies, saints or angels - life is a gift.
If you subscribe to the saying, "life isn't a fairy tale", perhaps consider life a tale woven with other creatures with wings and desires of the heart to fulfill - angels? Maybe instead, life's a tale of saints and angels, with the faith, hope and love that we're counted among the saints!
After days and days of constant wind and rain, the sun finally breaks through the dark clouds' barricade of gloom. As if watching yet another movie, suddenly the eyes receive the gift of fall colors in one bright instant. The clouds break their ranks and make their retreat leaving their spoils of azure, high in the sky, and gold glowing over the horizon with the late afternoon sun.
On this retreat we were compelled to, was a chance for a family to reconnect. While bodies were mending, hearts were bending; new bonds replaced ones worn, tattered and torn.
Now as the retreat draws to an end, "what of the 'real world'?" Bring to it the dreams, the songs, the colors and textures and prose; and leap into the dance of life - regardless of whether it's a tale of fairies, saints or angels - life is a gift.
-Mars Tanumihardja
Matt Maher/Matt Redman Inspiration
One of the Christian Music artists we look for inspiration from is Matt Maher. His song Your Grace Is Enough has been sung a lot by the group. Recently we have been singing a song he co-wrote with Matt Redman titled Remembrance for the past couple of Sundays. The lyrics are so good for communion!
chord chart graciously provided by Matt Redman.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Psalm 56 -- For My Trust Is In You Lord!
This arrangement was written during our last music retreat. Mars had the spirit-filled idea of singing it for the Healing Mass but I had not transcribed the song yet. So I spent lunch time listening to the original in order to reverse engineer it :)
-Joseph
Psalm 56 -- For my trust is in You Lord
Capo 4
Response
G C
No one can hurt me
G
I have no fear
C
For my trust is in You Lord,
G G
For my trust is in You
Verse 1
Em
Have mercy on me
Am7
For I am surrounded
C G
By many who bring me down
Em
But I know you have promised
Am7
You bring peace to my soul
C D
And you wipe away all my frowns
Verse 2
All day they harm me
All day I fear
Attempted to take me by surprise
They watch my steps
They wait for my life
But I know You are on my side
Verse 3
You know all my sorrows
You've seen all my tears
My heart will give you rest
You've saved me from death
And shown me the light
Now I will walk with you
in all of my days
Bridge
I trust in You
I trust in You
I trust in You
I trust in You (2x)
Where we find songs
Our ministry is special in a way that we bring to the congregation a few Contemporary Christian music on Sundays. In the local Seattle area we listen to Spirit 105.3 to gain access to these songs. We also get inspiration from Spirit & Song as well as OCP. Along the way, we stumble upon melodies that turn into original songs that we share as gifts.
Psalm 90 -- Favor Us
Psalm 56 -- For My Trust Is In You Lord
Psalm 90 -- Favor Us
Psalm 56 -- For My Trust Is In You Lord
Healing Mass
Here's a video clip of Everlasting God from the Healing Mass at St. Michael's in Snohomish, WA
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