Stefanick

Worship at New River

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.