Sunday Review 8/30/09

What can I say, the music-side of yesterday's service went quite well...the audio/visual side, not so well.

I immediately new we were in trouble when the visiting speaker, Johnathon Herron, handed me a disc before service and stated that it contained his "Powerpoint."  Now, those of you with even limited computer knowledge will know that "Powerpoint" is a visual presentation software used to present slideshows and other presentations.  We very rarely use "Powerpoint" during our services.  So rarely, in fact, that the newest version had not been downloaded since we upgraded our computer some three months ago.

God bless Marshall (our "Video Presentation Specialist").  He labored to get things settled before service began but; unfortunately, didn't quite get things aligned before we began.

The first Praise and Worship set went seemlessly (albeit, longer than I had realized) and we moved into the "Greeting" portion of the day as usual.  That's when I began to notice, on the BIG screen for all to see, that Marshall was adjusting the monitor controls for our second set. 

Needless to say, almost everyone in attendance was familiar with the song "In Christ Alone."  However, being familiar with a tune and being able to sing the lyrics from memory are two very different things.  Basically, without the use of our projection system, the Praise Team presented a quite stirring rendition while our congregation hummed along, looking quite lost and much like a calf at a new gate.

O well, expect the unexpected I always say.  Even with the hiccup in production, things went very well musically.  The choir's version of Untitled Hymn (Come to Jesus) was quite inspiring and the service moved along as expected.

I'm continually amazed at how well our choir pulls things together on Sundays, even when attendance at rehearsals on Wednesdays has been quite scarce.  Wonder what we could accomplish if everyone (that possibly can) attended practice each week???  Maybe God only knows...  Or, maybe one day we'll find out...

Before I close, I would like to express my appreciation for our instrumental accompanists.  Our interim pianist, Joey, has done an excellent job filling in for Linda while she's been away.  Those are huge shoes to fill!  I am always amazed at how Terry can step in on Sundays after working out of town all week and provide exactly the drum licks I was looking for.  I can honestly say I have never worked with a more talented drummer.

And...I should also mention, Marshall and his crew always do an excellent job upstairs with the projection system.  None of what went wrong Sunday was in any way their fault...just the usual annoying computer glitches.  Thanks to all our volunteers!

Thanks to all who sang and glorified God yesterday as well!  See you at the "next appointed time!"

In Christ,
Michael

"Let them eat cake!"

August 21st...Evan's 14th birthday. (Consequently it also marked his first week of high school.) Born four weeks early in 1995, he was an answered prayer. Weighing in at 6 lbs. 15 oz., he was barely able to cry. His breaths were shallow, his chest was retracting, and he was turning a light shade of blue. A new mom's worst nightmare. I was paralyzed with fear for my baby. Before we knew it, he was rushed to a larger hospital that specialized in neonatology. Those few short days of sickness seemed like years at the time. Michael and I were young and really didn't understand any of the medical jargon whispered all around us nor did we understand how this could be happening to our son. All we knew was that we wanted to take home a healthy little boy.

...Obviously, he made a full recovery. He's a great kid; smart, funny, ambitious, and handsome. Unfortunately, wonderful attributes don't make a mother worry any less. In fact, I probably worry more!


A friend recently recently told me about a book entitled, "If Satan Can Get Your Firstborn..." I haven't read or researched this book yet, but just the title speaks volumes to me. Younger children always watch and learn, so to speak, especially their older siblings. My goal as a mother is to protect him and love him, but to also teach him to protect his own testimony and to be mindful of how his three younger siblings look to him for their own behavior modifications.


As parents, we do pick our battles; and, as far as I'm concerned, raising a teenager is a daily battle. If you start to lose the small ones, or think they don't matter, it will have a domino effect. Before you know it, all of your pieces are down and you have nothing left.


I encourage you to fight for your child. Love them enough to let them hate you (if that's what it takes), and; through it all, celebrate the life that God has given you in them. ...And, as often as possible, let them eat cake...especially on their birthday!

God Bless!
Susan

Welcome

In celebration of my one year anniversary as Worship Leader, Susan and I have decided to start this blog dedicated to the awesome things God is doing through our church's music department. Check back often (or subscribe below) to read reviews of previous services, preview upcoming services, and to remain informed about what's happening at West End.
We also plan to occassionally give you a glimpse into our personal lives and those of our four children.
We hope you enjoy our site and that God will use it to expand the reach of West End Baptist Church.

Talk to you soon!
Michael