10,000 Reasons Follow-up

A couple weekends ago we celebrated as a congregation using 11 songs and 60+ minutes of music to facilitate our worship.  The songs were all authored or co-authored by worship leader, Matt Redman on his CD “10,000 Reasons.”  You can find his album here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/10-000-reasons/id441687303

When Matt (Giebler, not Redman) and I decided to conclude the Plan A series in this way, I began looking for musical ideas that could lend themselves to such a service.  So it was on a road trip last fall that I listened and listened to the songs, meditated on the lyrics, and – considering the dialogic nature of congregational worship – grew in appreciation for the structure of his service

Redman followed the very pattern we follow in our worship every weekend: Gathering, Word, Table, Sending.  Below is a summary of that structure, highlighted by some lyric samples…

Gathering – God’s people come together to answer the call to praise

• “We Are the Free”

There's a fire in our hearts and it burns for You

It's never going to fade away

• “Here for You”

Almighty God of love

Be welcome in this place

• Prayer
• “Holy”

The highest name of all

You're all You say You are

Word – God speaks to us, and we make ourselves available to listen

• Psalm 34:1-3
• “10,000 Reasons”

Bless the Lord O my soul

Worship His holy name

• “Fires”

And we're waiting on You God

And our hearts will trust in who You are

• “Never Once”

Every step we are breathing in Your grace

Evermore we'll be breathing out Your praise

• Philippians 2:1-11

Table – We respond to God’s grace and good news

• “Where Would We Be”

Jesus You're the only hope

Jesus hope for all the world

• The Lord’s Supper
• We Could Change the World

Jesus in Your name we could change the world

Could we live like this

Sending – God sends us into the darkened world to carry His light

• Prayer
• “Magnificent”

You are higher than we ever could imagine

And closer than our eyes could ever see

• “O This God”

We are going to shine

Now we are going to shine for You

• Prayer
• “Endless Hallelujah”

We will worship You

An endless hallelujah to the King

In addition to following the four-fold pattern of worship to which we adhere, the Redman songs offered the opportunity to add many new songs to our worship repertoire.  We began introducing some of the songs in the weeks leading up to April 13/14, and we will be singing them all over the weeks to come.

You can re-experience the service with our video podcast here:  (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/rejoice/id409002213?i=150381355&mt=2).

Thanks to all who contributed, led, supported, and worshiped with their whole heart.  It was a larger-than-normal undertaking.  As a worship leader, I’m grateful and in awe to serve the Magnificent God and His Church.