Order Of Worship

• Great Is Your Glory
• Here Is Love
• Mighty To Save
• Your Love Never Fails Download audio file (CCUC%20Worship%20Team%20-%20Vol.%202%20-%2004%20-%20Your%20Love%20Never%20Fails.mp3)

• “Principles for the Inner Life” – Dr. Dan Green – 1 Thes. 5:16-18

• Desert Song Download audio file (CCUC%20Worship%20Team%20-%20Vol.%202%20-%2003%20-%20Desert%20Song.mp3)

And here’s what I was talking about, featuring the majesty and power of God and His creation:

Lightning strikes three of the tallest buildings in Chicago at the same time! from Craig Shimala on Vimeo.

Even though the rain came hard, it didn’t stop us from spreading the love of Christ throughout Chinatown! We had a great turn out for Jesus Day 2010, so thanks to all the volunteers who came to help. Worship from Jesus Day:

Download MP3 Download audio file (CCUC-Jesus_Day-2010-06-05.mp3)
Morning worship:

• Be Thou My Vision
• Glory Download audio file (CCUC%20Worship%20Team%20-%20Vol.%202%20-%2001%20-%20Glory.mp3)
• Forever
• Mighty To Save Download audio file (CCUC%20Worship%20Team%20-%20Vol.%202%20-%2002%20-%20Mighty%20To%20Save.mp3)
• By Our Love

Afternoon worship:

• You Are Holy
• Hosanna

Find some pictures taken by Mike here: Flickr Gallery

The night was lead by members from both Kingdom Seekers and Ambassadors worship teams. For most of the KS worship team members, this was their first time leading a praise night so it was a very blessed experience for them. We had guest speaker Jonathan Mann from Wheaton Chinese Alliance Church preach on a passage from Revelation 21. It was a great night of worship, fellowship, and hearing the word. Thanks to all who helped serve and those who attended. Here are the recordings from that night.

Program order

Download MP3 Download audio file (CCUC-2010-05-15_Praise_Night.mp3)
(262MB, level balanced and slightly mixed, no cuts)

First of all, use Lent as an opportunity to explore different musical worship styles than you are accustomed to. Chant the Psalms, particularly Psalm 51. Explore Taize, which is Scriptural and beautiful. Unearth some classic Lenten hymns, and pick those hymns which speak best of the season (“Lord Who Throughout These Forty Days”, “The Glory of These Forty Days” and “Forty Days and Forty Nights”).

Some ideas for song selection follow.

[TheWorshipCommunity]

Download mp3 Download audio file (CCUC-Christmas_Worship-2009-12-24.mp3)

• What is one thing that has ministered to you in a special way this year?
• What one thing you would like to see improved?
• What is one aspect of worship that God has grown your understanding of?

We, as leaders, would really like to know how you are doing and how we
can serve you better. We’re interested in every single one of you, and
even though there aren’t enough hours in a day to get face time with
everyone, there are other ways we can make sure you’re cared for and
you are heard–so your input and responses are appreciated.

If you are not comfortable with posting here, always feel free to approach
any one of the leaders and talk to them privately either in person or
otherwise.

Order of worship

Download mp3 Download audio file (CCUC-Sunday_Worship-2009-09-20.mp3)

I did not have enough time to set up the recording properly and didn’t get Phil’s voice and the instruments properly mixed out, my bad. If someone’s interested in learning how to manage the recording on Sundays, let me know…

• I Will Exalt You
• This Is My Father’s World

• Sermon: Demolition

• Oh You Bring
• You Are Good

Artist – Album – Title

As always, the leaders want to know what has been speaking to you so we can better connect with the congregation as well as those who volunteer. Use this thread to post what has been speaking truth in your life!

Not all of us are good at speaking off the cuff about the songs we sing, or even have the resources or knowledge to do it well even if we tried to prepare ahead of time. I was talking to James LeFeu about this and he has generously offered to help us in this. All he asks is that you give him enough time, and that you give him the specific song or theme to focus on.

[End important part. Read on for more information and background.]

If you don’t know who James is, he’s the Worship Ministry’s theological resource, and helps us a lot in making sure what we do is scripturally sound, and also provides some insight in creative ways to present theological truths.

The inspiration for this was seeing a lot of mini-sermons before songs that different churches do–in particular, the sermonette on the meaning of “Yahweh” before the Yahweh song on the latest Hillsong album. Without it, the song might still be good, maybe average at best in terms of content. But in context of what “Yahweh” actually means (“our hope is Yahweh, Yahweh.”–why Yahweh? Do you know what that means? What if you didn’t know what Yahweh actually means?), I think it amplified the ability to connect and impact of the song immensely. We can use these opportunities to then connect it back to how worship is part of everyday living, not just part of the song they’re singing.

As a side note in this same discussion at the WAM dinner, I think it’s worth mentioning that we should be careful in introducing new/unfamiliar songs not as “new and unfamiliar.” The general consensus was that by introducing new songs and telling the congregation that it’s a new song and to join in when they feel comfortable is setting them up to have the expectation of not being able to worship here and now, but only after they’ve learned the song.

Instead, try introducing the scriptural basis or themes for the song, and connect the congregation with the lyrics and worship of God. Even if they can’t sing along right away, they can surely read and agree with you in what you’re saying up front, and be worshiping in that way.

I want encourage everyone to think about this and discuss openly. After all, we are in the business of changing lives for Christ, and there are infinite ways to do that.