A couple days ago, we had the privilege of joining Southview Community Church for worship. The Pastor and worship leader there is Mark Rampulla and it was a joy getting to work with him. He’s got a vision for including people from other congregations in both worship and teaching at Southview. It is nice to bring variety and bring unity within the body. He chose the songs that we would do and asked me to lead a couple, one of which was a song I hadn’t yet heard. So, it was exciting to get to learn and the lead “I Asked You For Life” by Kim Walker (Jesus Culture). The chorus of that song is so true when it says “You deserve all the praise and all the honor that I can bring.” It is true, God deserves actually more than we can bring, but I am sure it thrills His heart to hear us call out “Holy, Holy, Holy…Only You are Worthy.” We also did How Great is Our God, Mighty to Save and All I Need Is You (Hillsong United) and Rescue (Jared Anderson). It was nice to hear the theme of God not only being the Creator of the Universe, but the one who holds us in the palm of His hand. It is a good reminder…and quite humbling I might add.
We look forward to worshiping with them again on June 6th.
So, how awesome it was to get to play a show where we could play hard and loud. It was a show of firsts – the first show since little Levi was born, the first show that I played electric (the Epiphone Dot hollow-body), and the first time I have ever played a full set with toilet paper in my ears. Jon Rogers was killing it on drums…the only problem was that I was standing right in front of him while he hammered on the ride that was at shoulder level…making the sound deafening…..But hey this is “rock-n-roll,” I better get used to it huh? 🙂 Craig Woelber held down the low end and heck, I even used a distortion pedal on a few songs. It was so much fun! We hate that David Casey has to leave…but we are glad that his leaving gave us the opportunity to play a show with They Came With Sirens. And I tell you what, that band just gets better and better every time I hear them.
Going back to my old stomping grounds…we played a couple songs at Temple Baptist Church in Kingsport, TN yesterday. It was great to see so many of the people that taught me when I was a kid. Matt and I did “Real Life” from Body, Soul and Truth and then went in to “Revelation Song.” As usual, Matt played through his acoustic pedal board making people in the congregation question how he was getting those “amazing sounds.” We talked with the youth director, Josh, and it looks like we may be headed back that way to do some music with them sometime soon. We’ll keep you posted.
HE’S HERE!
It was an unexpected and welcome change to have our son two weeks early as opposed to the usual two weeks “late” (like Phoebe and Selah). It was remarkable that even though he decided to make an early entrance on March 10th, 2010, he still weighed in at 8lbs 4oz…granted he weighed less than our others, but still not too shabby. We joke that if I had carried him full term he would have ended up like his Dad weighing around 10.5lbs. Needless to say, I am glad God sent me into labor when he did. The fact that contractions started just a couple hours after recording BGVs on Christen Cole’s demo, just adds to the story 🙂
I know many of you have been patiently (some not-so-patiently :)) waiting to hear his name. It was really difficult this time, especially since he came early, to narrow down our choices. So, we left the hospital with him as “Baby Boy Stefanick” . Just in case you were wondering, legally, you have up to a year to name your child. Not that you would necessarily want to wait that long…but sometimes you just need to get to know the kid before you stamp a title on him.
All through the Bible there are instances where God renames people to suit the purpose for which he is calling them. So it seems that the meaning of a name is pretty important to God. We’ve taken that same stance and decided to name our kids with that in mind. Phoebe (a family name that goes back 7 generations), means brilliant or bright, and that is just what she is. Selah, means to pause and reflect, another variation, “Sela” means “rock” – and that is how she came in to the world, looking around as if she had been expecting the delivery, solid and unshaken. And so now we have a son. In the womb and even in entering the world his gentle strength was evident. Our son, Levi Boaz Stefanick, is one who “brings harmony” and is “swift and strong” – a picture of the redemptive love of Christ. We have been given such precious gifts in our children, we pray that we are able to walk our faith out with them and lead them in the ways of God.
Thanks so much for reading the whole blog…you couldn’t expect me to give away the name in the subject line could you? Really, come on….you guys have been waiting for so long…we had to milk it for all it was worth. 🙂
Our good friend Christen Cole recently asked me to lay down some background vocals on her song “I Will Go.” Being nine months pregnant…I told her I would love to and sooner would be better than later. So, Tuesday, March 9th, I met Christen at Brett Teegarden’s studio in Brentwood, TN. James Wells and I went back and forth recording harmonies and finally ended with tracking ad lib parts over the chorusy “Hey Jude” moment at the end. I was a little worried about my breath support since I had a thirty pound weight sitting on my diaphragm 🙂 but everything ended up going well and I think we got some cool stuff.
It turned out to be a good thing that we went in the studio when we did…because 2 hours after I came home, I started having contractions and by 11:05 the next morning, we were holding our beautiful baby boy. So, I don’t know whether or not recording had anything to do with me going into early labor…but if we have another kid…I might just try it again!
Sunday was a wonderful day. We had a lot of fun with worship at BUMC. Matt played electric at a kids service for a couple hundred 1st through 6th graders where the worship team “rocked it out for Jesus,” in the words of Christen Cole. The theme of the whole day was “Love is on the Move” and all the music was about walking out God’s love. A good message for all of us!
I have just started reading “The Irresistible Revolution” by Shane Claiborne. I am only in first chapter, but it is really making me think about some things. One of the main points of deep soul confrontation for me is – love as it concerns the poor. Granted, being 9 months pregnant, I am not at the same place Shane was in college when he began spending the night on the streets with the homeless. I have 2.8 children and I know part of God’s call on my life is to care for them and “train them in the Way they should go.” And for me, that means spending the night in my own home. Anyway, at the close of chapter one Shane recounts a story about a 7 year-old homeless girl who told him she wanted to own a grocery store when she grew up. When asked why, she replied, “So I can give out food to all the hungry people.”
This evening my 5-year-old, Phoebe, asked me for empty jars and containers. She began creating a grocery store and we even made a Open/Closed sign. The store started on the front steps, but as the sun set and it grew colder she put up her “closed” sign and moved all her containers inside. The store reopened and she told me it was ready and it was time to come shopping. I chose a few jars that we decided were peanut butter and jelly. When I asked how much I owed…she said “It’s free…just take it.” I told her that was really kind, but asked “Why?” She replied, “What if there are people who don’t have any money?” My mind began spinning with all the thoughts my earlier readings had provoked. Some call this “coincidence,” I call this “God.” Phoebe has never read “The Irresistible Revolution.” I didn’t discuss any of this with her. Yet this is the first day of her life she chooses to open a “grocery store” in our home and give away the food. God is speaking through a five year old’s empty jars of peanut butter and jelly. May we be quick to listen and follow.
This Sunday Matt is playing guitar for Christen Cole at Brentwood United Methodist Church. After he’s done with that, we’ll be running to the studio with Christen and some of her other friends to lay down vocals on her new demo. We’ll be sure to give you an update on how everything goes.
I can’t believe that it is March already. Yesterday we led worship at our church in Franklin. It was a really nice time. The people were ready and willing to worship God…and the band sounded great (which always helps : ) We had Rebecca Loomis back on violin after a long hiatus, Craig Woelber (Salient) played bass, Jon Rogers on drums, Derek Brooks on keys, Sarah Pharo and Emily Brooks were BGVs, and of course Matt played electric, and I led on acoustic. I love this group of people, so even rehearsal was fun. We opened with “My Everything” (one of our worship tunes that isn’t recorded yet) and then corporately read
Psalm 116:1-9 “I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the LORD : “O LORD, save me!” The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The LORD protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me. Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you. For you, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the LORD in the land of the living.” Powerful stuff if you take time to digest it.
From there we went into “Christ Is Risen” by Matt Maher. It is a really powerful song calling us as believers who serve this marvelous Deliverer to Come Awake and Rise Up. Christ has defeated death and darkness, so we no longer need to be trapped in fear and shame. Next we did “You Never Let Go” by Matt Redman. Again, that song reinforces how we should have no fear, only faith in a God who is ever-present and loving. We ended with the Celtic hymn “Be Thou My Vision” (Stefanick-style) and with Rebecca on violin, I was nearly in tears as we finished up by tagging the chorus “Hallelujah Our God Reigns.” It was a beautiful moment as I stepped away from the mic and just listened to the congregation singing “our God reigns.” I am convinced that God must thoroughly love the sound of His children fully proclaiming His praises together in unity.
We were also able to do our song “Rain Down” as the offeratory. (If you haven’t heard it, just click on the widget on the right of the screen and you can have a listen.) In this time with all sorts of madness going on from earthquakes to corruption and sickness even within the church…it is just a call asking God to take over and let His love rain down on us. So, come, rain down and revive us Lord.
GIG REPORT, UPDATES | AimeeStefanick May 18, 2010 | 
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