sunday, march 23, 2008
March 23, 2008 by decaturfbc
A very cool day today. Our youth blessed us with a sunrise service at 7:00 and a breakfast at 8:00. What is up with the black light puppets? They were hilarious. We have some kids with amazing talent and great energy and we need to support and encourage them at every turn. Great job guys.
On to resurrection worship at 9:00. Good stuff.
The music:
The prelude was wonderful. The bell choir did a piece that led us from Gethsemane to the empty tomb. I loved the end of it. Very powerful. It helped set up a very inspiring service.
The choir music rocked. “The Tomb is Open Wide” was upbeat and powerful and the choir sounded great. I had heard that the song had the potential to be very cool and I though it reached its potential.
Mike’s offertory was super. He does such an awesome job; this congregation has found a special treasure in him .
We sang the normal Easter fare- “Christ the Lord is Risen Today”, “Christ Arose” and “Because He Lives.” There was lots of energy as we sang and the congregation sounded good.
The praise team sounded really good today and the songs fit the service well. Having a full compliment of instruments: guitar, bass, keyboard and drums sounds good. Vocally, the team blended well and helped lead the rest of us to sing our praises.
Lessons from the Basket. Ruth Ann shared a great truth that we are priceless in God’s sight and the resurrection emphasizes his amazing love for us. Her use of the game show “The Price is Right” was great and the kids soaked it up. It was exciting to see that many kids up there.
The theme: Our theme today was Open Doors. From the image on the screen to the opening words about the 25 doors in my house to the choir song, “The Tomb is Open Wide,” to the story about Jason finding open doors at the Christian Center to the scripture reading to the singing of the “People Need the Lord” chorus to the video clip from “Get Smart” to the message with a prop door on the platform, our goal was to focus on the doors that have been opened because of Jesus’ resurrection- the doors to life, hope and purpose.
I thought it worked really well. I was really pleased. I am curious to hear how you responded to the whole day. Let me know.
The atmosphere: There was a great spirit in the sanctuary today. It was powerful.
I was especially excited about our youth and kids. They seemed to have a lot of fun in worship today. The group on the front row looked like they were enjoying themselves immensely as they sang and clapped and did motions to the music. I love their enthusiasm and joy. Thank you guys so much for blessing me today!!!!
steve
I thought the youth sunrise service was great. The puppet ministy is cool (Sorry Josh). I wish that the youth sunrise service would have been more heavily attended, but hey, it was early. I liked doing some non-traditional songs for sunrise service, but my favorite song of the sunrise service was Chris tomlin’s Amazing Grace, My chains are Gone. The music overall was very good today. The bell choir rocked, the choir rocked, the Praise team rocked. It was a blessing.
I liked the sermon. I listened to it from the nursery. I just pary that I am not one of those people that keep people from walking through that door. I hope to point others to the door and show them wiht my life what a blessing it is to be able to open the door and walk through it.
It is cool that the youth and kids felt comfortable in our church to express their love and passion for the Lord in a manner that is true and genuine to them. They experience God in ways that all may not agree with, but I think it is great that they are allowed to do so. Clapping and singing and moving to the music should be encouraged if it is done with a genuine heart.
Easter is always a special day to worship - people greeting each other with the risen Lord - families filling pews, special music and always a special message from God.
The youth did a beautiful job with the sunrise service and the breakfast. I thought the crowd was very good for both.
It was so nice to see so many families filling whole rows of chairs in the sanctuary. It was nice to meet family members from far away that we have prayed for and heard so much about.
Our music is always wonderful but today it was extra special - bells, old favorites and new choir anthem, and the praise team - I am always so blessed by their songs. And you are right pastor we have a “real gem” in Mike Waltenberger.
I pray that as we go out the doors next Sunday to serve our community - that it will open doors for our church and for the individuals that will be participating.
May the spirit of Lord continue to lift us and bless us.
Well, I will try again. The computer ate my first response. Kelsey did a fabulous job preparing the Pulse for the Sonrise service. The kids were sure of what they were doing and really seemed comfortable. I can hardly wait till the Chancel is over crowded with teenagers. !!!! I loved the music they chose. Amazing Grace (chains) is the song I requested last week on my blue slip. I hope we sing it more often. It touches me so. It was great to see all the families. I am looking forward to hearing my CD of the service (thanks John). My family got the message, they were talking about it at Easter dinner. I hope someday we go to video recording so I can see all that I miss when I leave the sanctuary.
I too was moved by both services yesterday. The PULSE did a great job - I am constantly amazed by them! Breakfast was yummy! Thankfully Gary blocked me from the OJ baptism
Morning worship was fabulous too - from the music to the message! Playing bells is always a challenge, but with Mike in the lead, how can we go wrong? OK - so sometimes we mess up, but God knows our hearts and He appreciates it anyway. I enjoyed the video clips and the visuals (this week, the door). Steve, you do an awesome job of sharing God with us. Thanks!!!! My prayer is that FBC becomes an “open door” church. We don’t all experience God in the same way and that’s OK. We just need to learn to be accepting!
Thank you for the encouraging comments about the youth Sunrise Service. I will pass them along to the Pulse! They worked very hard to present the story the way they understand it! Everything was choosen by them(including what to serve at breakfast)! I too think they did a great job… I agree they looked so comfortable up there!!! Thank you for your support of them! Thank you to the countless people who helped the kids perpare for the service, the breakfast and the clean up! We will begin planning in the next week for the youth service June 22!
I wish I could have been at the 9am service. I have heard wonderful things!!! I will be looking forward to listening to it on CD.
What an amazing day! The Son Rise Service was awesome. So glad to see our kids enjoy worship so much! I wonder if our churches (not just ours, but all over the U.S.) would be full today if we were allowed to participate and worship in our own way? I love a Church Family who is willing to support our youth! I think God will continue to bless us through them.
We had our great niece with us for worship this morning. She so enjoyed the H2O program! Thanks to Sandy and all those who make their worship possible! Sometimes we forget those who are doing a really important ministry!
Almost 18 years ago, I filled in for an absent bell ringer. I never dreamed I would still be praising God through this kind of music! Thank you Pastor Mike for “forcing” us to be all we can be! Without you, it just wouldn’t work! We are so blessed!
I am so pleased that some of my family and friends chose to come join us in worship, and I look forward to next week when we reach out to our community! And all the times we get together to work for our Father!
Thanks, Steve, for this blog. I read it everytime you write and I love reading the comments!