Good Afternoon!

Here is a brief recap of some of the songs that we used to worship God through this past Sunday, the scriptures that inform them, as well as some thoughts on leading others into worship during this Advent season by one of our leaders John McCall.

We hope you are encouraged and uplifted as you read and watch below!

Communion & Advent

“How do we as worship leaders prepare for leading our church in praising God?”

In Relation to Advent (The coming of): The Hope we have of Christ’s Birth.
In Relation to Communion: The Hope we have of Christ’s Return.

Both are a posture of eager waiting and expectation.

Guarded by the Peace of God

Philippians 4:4-7 - "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness (Gentleness) be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication (asking humbly) with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

There is a tendency to be distracted or concerned with our “performance” or our “effort” in determining how we evaluate Sunday morning worship. Let us be reminded that we are Guarded by the Peace of God. That we should not be anxious or otherwise because of how we came in this morning or what our expectations were. “The Lord is at Hand;” a comforting reminder that He inspires our worship, and is aware of our hearts and minds this morning.

So how do we worship and lead others in worship?

Praise and Prayer: Don’t just play – Worship; Pray out loud and allow personal praise to be something that’s translated into a more comfortable invitation that engages other members in the congregation to do the same.

Two things to consider in meditation: Our Joy Because of Our Hope

1. How does Advent stir our admiration and view of Jesus as our King?
2. How do we see Communion now versus around Easter?

The passage this morning has much to do with the four virtues of Christ represented in Advent – Hope, Love, Peace, and Joy. In particular, the Joy we have in Jesus because of the Peace of God that protects our thoughts from anything that isn’t worthy of praise.

Let us look to God this morning celebrating enthusiastically the Hope with have in his Son, and the evidence of His Grace by the Holy Spirit.

Waiting Here for You
Yes Lord, walking in the way of Your truth we wait eagerly for You, for Your name and renown are the desire of our souls. (Isaiah 26:8)

All The Earth
Shout for joy to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name;
 give to him glorious praise! Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
 So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you. All the earth worships you
 and sings praises to you;
 they sing praises to your name.” Selah (Psalm 66:1-4)

Jesus Is Better
Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)

Cornerstone
We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever…(Hebrew 6:19-20)

When Love Came Down
Chorus: What joy, what peace has come to us! What hope, what help, what love!