Easter re-cap
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Ok, everybody. Did you do anything special for your Easter services? How did it go? What will you never do again?
We did music from Who Is This King? by Lloyd Larson and Joseph Martin for our Good Friday Service. Then for Resurrection Day we repackaged some of the same music. Usually our offering is at the end of the service, but we took a special offering today so it was in the middle. Also, there wasn’t as much congregational singing as a regular service. Last Easter we sang a lot, so I didn’t mind that for this year.
No prelude
Choir/Orchestra “Crown Him, the Risen King!” (Congregation joins with “Crown Him with Many Crowns”)
Pastoral Welcome and Prayer
Baptism (2)
Announcements
Offering: Orchestra “All, Glory, Laud and Honor” arr. David Winkler
Choir/Orchestra Package (I had a lady read some of the narration between songs. Very brief. Just enough to give the context of each song.)
“Who Is This King?” (piano/organ only)
“King of Tears” (full orchestra)
“Ah, Holy Jesus, How Have You Offended?” with “O Love Divine” (strings and winds)
“You Are the Christ” (full orchestra)
Message
Invitation
Benediction
We did music from Who Is This King? by Lloyd Larson and Joseph Martin for our Good Friday Service. Then for Resurrection Day we repackaged some of the same music. Usually our offering is at the end of the service, but we took a special offering today so it was in the middle. Also, there wasn’t as much congregational singing as a regular service. Last Easter we sang a lot, so I didn’t mind that for this year.
No prelude
Choir/Orchestra “Crown Him, the Risen King!” (Congregation joins with “Crown Him with Many Crowns”)
Pastoral Welcome and Prayer
Baptism (2)
Announcements
Offering: Orchestra “All, Glory, Laud and Honor” arr. David Winkler
Choir/Orchestra Package (I had a lady read some of the narration between songs. Very brief. Just enough to give the context of each song.)
“Who Is This King?” (piano/organ only)
“King of Tears” (full orchestra)
“Ah, Holy Jesus, How Have You Offended?” with “O Love Divine” (strings and winds)
“You Are the Christ” (full orchestra)
Message
Invitation
Benediction
Wow, that would have been exciting to this musician. As a small congregation in rented facilities, we were in a larger than usual room today (school gym rather than a classroom). During the congregational singing, I played my flute, mostly following the melody line; the pianist and I played an arrangement of the tune “Ash Grove” aka “Let All Things Now Living” for the offertory. We had a vocal solo just before the sermon, which is a rare occurrence for us.
For the context - we lease space from the Seventh-Day Adventists, who about a year ago moved into a church/school complex; unfortunately, due to financial restraints partially caused by heavy permitting requirements here in the NW, they have been unable to finish their sanctuary. They usually meet in the gym (on Saturdays, of course), we get the use of a classroom on Sundays and two rooms on Wednesday evenings. Today we had potluck breakfast in the gym and stayed in the gym for worship service. So, instead of being “squished” into a classroom, we were taking up about 1/4 of the seating space they had from their services yesterday. Not to mention terrible acoustics in both the gym and the usual classroom.
Glad you had a great day!
For the context - we lease space from the Seventh-Day Adventists, who about a year ago moved into a church/school complex; unfortunately, due to financial restraints partially caused by heavy permitting requirements here in the NW, they have been unable to finish their sanctuary. They usually meet in the gym (on Saturdays, of course), we get the use of a classroom on Sundays and two rooms on Wednesday evenings. Today we had potluck breakfast in the gym and stayed in the gym for worship service. So, instead of being “squished” into a classroom, we were taking up about 1/4 of the seating space they had from their services yesterday. Not to mention terrible acoustics in both the gym and the usual classroom.
Glad you had a great day!
I’m sorry, Christy, if my post came off as braggadocios. I can see that it reads like, “Look what WE did.” That really was not my intent. I was hoping to share successes and ideas from other ministries—ministries of all sizes.
When I moved to my church in Phoenix five years ago I asked my pastor if I could do a “no frills” Christmas service. He wisely helped me understand that churches of different sizes have different stregnths. (And weaknesses, of course. But that’s another post.) As a larger church we have to work really hard, for instance, to make opportunities for close fellowship. Because, by their very nature, larger churches can have “herd mentality.” On the other hand, larger churches have the resources to do special things for seasonal services. His message to me was: There’s nothing wrong with a simple service if that is what God has called you to. And there’s nothing wrong with using the resources God has given to a larger ministry when that is where God has placed you. Now go do what God has called you to do!
God has placed me in a church with personnel, talent, and history. Frankly, I’m not sure I’m up to the challenge. And I would be dishonest if told you that I have never sighed for a Sunday of just four or five close families worshipping God without all the bells and whistles. Don’t tell anybody … . But you want to know what my last comment was before I walked out onto the platform today? “Sometimes I wish it were just me and the pianist.” Not kidding! I guess “the grass IS always greener … “, huh?
I’m sorry your situation was discouraging today. My church folks know that I could have posted about our “SonRise” service—which I royally messed up! (That’s what I get for trying to sing “He Lives” with the congregation before 9:00 in the morning! :-)
I am still interested in what other folks enjoyed about their Resurrection Day services,
Dave
When I moved to my church in Phoenix five years ago I asked my pastor if I could do a “no frills” Christmas service. He wisely helped me understand that churches of different sizes have different stregnths. (And weaknesses, of course. But that’s another post.) As a larger church we have to work really hard, for instance, to make opportunities for close fellowship. Because, by their very nature, larger churches can have “herd mentality.” On the other hand, larger churches have the resources to do special things for seasonal services. His message to me was: There’s nothing wrong with a simple service if that is what God has called you to. And there’s nothing wrong with using the resources God has given to a larger ministry when that is where God has placed you. Now go do what God has called you to do!
God has placed me in a church with personnel, talent, and history. Frankly, I’m not sure I’m up to the challenge. And I would be dishonest if told you that I have never sighed for a Sunday of just four or five close families worshipping God without all the bells and whistles. Don’t tell anybody … . But you want to know what my last comment was before I walked out onto the platform today? “Sometimes I wish it were just me and the pianist.” Not kidding! I guess “the grass IS always greener … “, huh?
I’m sorry your situation was discouraging today. My church folks know that I could have posted about our “SonRise” service—which I royally messed up! (That’s what I get for trying to sing “He Lives” with the congregation before 9:00 in the morning! :-)
I am still interested in what other folks enjoyed about their Resurrection Day services,
Dave
Ah the hazards of this format … you couldn’t see me smile, nor remember times past in other churches where everything fell apart at the last minute.
No, Dave, you certainly did not come across as bragging, and I’m sorry if I sounded like I was whining. We were actually pleased with the turnout and participation. Our soloist yesterday was also the songleader, as our regular songleader is out of town. This young man is from overseas, and has been saved for about two years; he is a music performance major at one of the local universities. So, it was a genuine delight to have him able to participate that much. I have deliberately had to cut back on my performance opportunities in the local community with my current job responsibilities, so I wouldn’t have had time to direct or even participate in something more involved this year, anyway.
We had several families and individuals who were return visitors, a few first timers, and of course the C & E crowd.
I was truly intended to share “here’s what our small congregation in rented facilities was able to do”, and again, didn’t mean to sound whiny.
No, Dave, you certainly did not come across as bragging, and I’m sorry if I sounded like I was whining. We were actually pleased with the turnout and participation. Our soloist yesterday was also the songleader, as our regular songleader is out of town. This young man is from overseas, and has been saved for about two years; he is a music performance major at one of the local universities. So, it was a genuine delight to have him able to participate that much. I have deliberately had to cut back on my performance opportunities in the local community with my current job responsibilities, so I wouldn’t have had time to direct or even participate in something more involved this year, anyway.
We had several families and individuals who were return visitors, a few first timers, and of course the C & E crowd.
I was truly intended to share “here’s what our small congregation in rented facilities was able to do”, and again, didn’t mean to sound whiny.
Our new pastor’s first service was yesterday morning, so we had a day of new beginnings in addition to looking at the Lord’s resurrection. :-)
We have an interim music man, who pulled out the best of our choir’s repertoire of songs on resurrection and the cross.
The new pastor preached an excellent message on the rolling away of the stone. There were many amens from our crowd. It was a blessed service!
We have an interim music man, who pulled out the best of our choir’s repertoire of songs on resurrection and the cross.
The new pastor preached an excellent message on the rolling away of the stone. There were many amens from our crowd. It was a blessed service!
Praise the Lord Ann!
Roger Carlson, Pastor Berean Baptist Church
Yes, Roger - you would have a strong interest in my church, wouldn’t you?! I still smile when I think of Dr. Rice. He was a wonderful man and pastor. (For readers: Roger’s uncle was my pastor for nine years. He was a people-person bar none. He passed on to heaven not quite two years ago.)
Glad your day was a good one, Christy!
Speaking of mis-readings … . Even if apocryphal, I think the bulletin blooper I like best is: “Come join us next week for our special Easter service in which Mrs. So-and-so will come forward and lay an egg on the altar.”
Dave
Speaking of mis-readings … . Even if apocryphal, I think the bulletin blooper I like best is: “Come join us next week for our special Easter service in which Mrs. So-and-so will come forward and lay an egg on the altar.”
Dave
I am taking a new church this week. So I didn’t get to make my 1st sermon during Resurrection Sunday, but I think I actually like coming in on a day that is not the most important Sunday of the year for Christians. Let’s me get to know the congregation a little. With that said, I’m glad to hear of your new Pastor, and that the services went well. We had wonderful services at the church that the Lord has allowed us to spend the last 6 months at.
Serving the Savior, Pastor Wes Helfenbein 2 Cor. 5:17
We had an early service with the choir singing [URL=http://www.jwpepper.com/8061993.item] “Behold the Risen Lamb”[/URL] (can’t remember the composer, but it’s a simple, almost completely two-part piece set to Waly-Waly). Then breakfast in the Fellowship Hall (which is always SO good for singing voices ;)). Then in the morning service the choir sang http://www.jwpepper.com/10072032.item] “Let Us Not Forget” (again my memory fails me on composer :(). We had a father and son play the offertory on French horn and baritone horn (that was really sweet, son on the baritone is about 12, and he did a really good job). And then we had a quartet sing http://www.jwpepper.com/8065822.item] “It Should Have Been Me” for the special music. Easter’s about the only time of year you can get away with Latin in an independent Baptist church in Georgia. ;) And we did give the meaning of “Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison” before we sang to be sure everyone knew what we meant. :D
(Edit: I looked up the songs and added links. It was bugging me that I couldn’t remember. ;))
(Edit: I looked up the songs and added links. It was bugging me that I couldn’t remember. ;))
Thanks for the laugh, Dave. I realized after re-reading my post it sounded like “Glad YOU had a great day, ‘cuz I sure didn’t” , which really wasn’t the case. Even managed to keep the, uh, older folks in the family from fighting during and after Easter brunch at home later on.
Angela - nice to hear about the father/son combo. I’ve played duets with my daughter and it’s really a treat for me, anyway.
Always interesting to hear what other churches have done for a special service.
Angela - nice to hear about the father/son combo. I’ve played duets with my daughter and it’s really a treat for me, anyway.
Always interesting to hear what other churches have done for a special service.
The last couple of years we have a communion service and some quiet time from 9:00-9:30 then from 9:30 to 10:30 we have a continental breakfast (just fruits and breads, donuts, etc). at 10:30 we sang a lot of congregational hymns beginning with The Power of the Cross and ending with Rejoice the Lord is King (kind of tracing the cross through the ascension. We had a wonderful ladies trio (my mom, my wife, and my sister in law sounded beautiful) which was fitting as the song was beautiful Savior. I preached on three resurrections in the OT (Elijah, Elisha, and Elisha’s bones) and then three resurrections in the NT (Jairus’ daughter, Lazarus, and Jesus) and it was exciting to note that in the OT, the prophets prayed in earnest to be able to raise the dead, but Jesus simply spoke (except in his own where he spoke nothing) and the dead lived. This proves that only God gives new life, Jesus gave new life, Jesus is God, trust him for eternal life. The best part was at the end of the service my closing plea was to seek to know Jesus who is risen from the dead. A little girl of about 11 years old, came up to me and asked me if I could help her know Jesus. Her family has recently been coming to church and I have discipleship studies with her dad. Praise God she was more than ready to know Jesus and she believed on him for eternal life. It was a blessing that Jarius daughter was about the same age as this little girl, Jairus’ daughter got a fresh start on life, this little girl is a new creation in Christ on the day we celebrate Christ’s resurrection. How exciting to serve a Great God!
That’s exciting to hear, Matthew!
Dave
Dave
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