Living Streams Worship ::: February 6-7/2010 Weekend Recap

Ahhh…the Super Bowl.  Rarely am I very interested in the game itself.  Our family is generally more excited to see all the commercials than the game.  Last year, because we had just moved to Phoenix, there was an excitement here because the Cardinals were in it.  This year it’s pretty much about the commercials again.  I’ll make my ridiculous Super Bowl dip and we’ll pile on the couch for a few hours.  Fun times.

I took last weekend away to see what was happening at a couple other churches in the valley.  It was a nice change of pace, and I appreciate Luis Acosta and Jay Murphy for leading in my stead.

This weekend we had two very solid teams and our services went great.  There was a great flow and ease to the worship sets.

Here is the set from the weekend:

New Doxology – G
Awesome Is The Lord Most High – G
Your Name – G
Savior – G
All Who Are Thirsty – G

Have a great week!

Andy

Living Streams Worship ::: January 23-24/2010 Weekend Recap

The services went really well this weekend.  Even with separate teams on Saturday and Sunday services, there is a cool flow to the way the tech and platform teams are working together.

We’ve used a click off and on, but I’m implementing it on a more consistent basis now.  We’ve purchased a Tama Rhythm Watch and our drummers run it.  Over the past year I’ve changed the way we’re set up on the platform, moved completely to a quiet stage with In-Ear Monitors and now bringing in the click to keep the band solid.  Change can sometimes be a challenge, but kudo’s to my worship peeps for hanging in there with me.  I’ve seen a huge improvement in the technical and musical side of our worship ministry.

Here is the set from this weekend:

Mighty To Save – G/A
Great Is Our God – A   (Andy Allen original, recording not available yet)
Come Thou Fount, Come Thou King – C
Hosanna – E
Beautiful Beautiful – Dm (Special Music Performed by Ivy Weesner)
All Who Are Thirsty – G (Saturday)
Son of God – G  (Sunday)

Have a great week!

Andy

Living Streams Worship ::: January 16-17/2010 Weekend Recap

I spent a lot of this week staying up on everything that has been happening in Haiti since the earthquake there.  It is amazing to watch people respond when we see our brothers and sisters underneath the weight of tragedy.  I’m struck by how quickly most people will rally together in the reality that we’re all connected in our human condition.  I’m also struck by the idiocy of some who would try to be a voice for Christianity and completely miss the chance to extend hope and mercy to people in their greatest hour of need.

I was watching CNN and saw a man who was trapped under the weight of a concrete building.  While his friends and neighbors worked desperately to free him as no rescue crews were there, a reporter asked him what was going through his mind.  The man said, “As I’m a Christian, I say ‘Jesus, my life….my life is in your hands.’”  I can’t imagine for a moment that the blanket condemnation and judgement issued every person in Haiti by Pat Robertson could have been more off the mark as this man, literally facing death, solemnly declares his faith and hope in Jesus.

I would be remiss not to direct you to a place where you can help.  I’ve worked with World Vision for over 10 years and know that they are one of the largest, if not the largest, groups on the ground in Haiti serving the disaster victims. World Vision has been working in Haiti for more than 30 years and has 800 staffers there….they are some of the first responders and you can help by donating and praying.  You can click on this link, or Text to 20222 and make a donation.

In our weekend services we also talked about the work going on in Haiti.  We prayed for the people there and had one of our Elders talk about the work Food For The Hungry is doing in Haiti.  It’s somewhat surreal to know there is so much suffering in our world while we continue to go about our usual routines.  Another reminder of how much we have and what we take for granted living here in the US.

Here is the set from this weekend:

Hosanna – G
Today Is The Day – D
Overcome – A
I Surrender All – A (Traditional Hymn)
How He Loves – A (Saturday only)
In The Secret – G (Sunday only)

Praying for Haiti -

Andy

You Better Not Cry

My kids gave me this book for Christmas.  I’m pretty sure they got it on the merits of the cover alone, but my wife knew I’ve enjoyed the author so she signed off on it.  This is the third Augusten Burroughs book I’ve read.  While we don’t share moral or faith perspectives, I have have a strong appreciation for his talent as a writer.

This book is a collection of anecdotes from the author’s life, each having some connection with Christmas.  There were definitely some laugh-out-loud moments, along side of some well-crafted thought-provoking observations on his life and relationships.  I was particularly taken by his experience with the homeless woman who challenged him to not waste his talent and loose himself to his addictions.  His honesty in his failures was refreshing.

Burroughs has a conversational and engaging writing style that I really enjoy.  His approach and world view may be difficult for some of those who read this blog to connect with because he is blunt about his lifestyle and occasionally uses profanity.  Overall this was an enjoyable read and a fun departure from the other books I’m currently reading through.

Publishers Info:

You’ve eaten too much candy at Christmas…but have you ever eaten the face off a six-footstuffed Santa? You’ve seen gingerbread houses…but have you ever made your own gingerbread tenement? You’ve woken up with a hangover…but have you ever woken up next to Kris Kringle himself? Augusten Burroughs has, and in this caustically funny, nostalgic, poignant, and moving collection he recounts Christmases past and present—as only he could. With gimleteyed wit and illuminated prose, Augusten shows how the holidays bring out the worst in us and sometimes, just sometimes, the very, very best.

Living Streams Worship ::: January 9-10/2010 Weekend Recap

I went a different direction this week and rolled all our songs with percussion loops from Reason & Garage Band without a percussion player on the team.  I led from keys and we worked the “unplugged” vibe in our set.  It was fun to mix things up a bit and have our worship time both look and sound different.

Here is the set list from this weekend:

Jesus Messiah – A
You Are Good – A
My Jesus I Love Thee – A   (with new chorus by Andy Allen, recording not yet available)
Amazed – D
Draw Me Close – Bb

Hope you have a great week!

Andy