Who Can Satisfy?

Sunday's choir anthem is Who Can Satisfy? Part of what makes this a great song is the music. The keychange is so powerful! and you all sing it so well! but the reason - I think - that we all like the song so much is because of all of the names for Jesus that are part of the chorus.

Part of the reason there are so many names for God and for Jesus in the Bible is because God wants us to know Him. We need to know that when we have lost our way - He is our Shepherd. When we are going through a stormy time of life - He is our Peace and Comfort and Strength. When we are enslaved to sin - He is our Redeemer.

I could go on and on... Do you know Him that well? I hope you do. If not, spend some time in His Word and get to know Him. And of course time in worship and singing in choir ads that much more to our relationship and understanding of who God is.

I'll be looking for you this Sunday as we share with our congregation about our King and Redeemer Who reigns upon the throne!

25% More! Free!

I love it when my favorite shampoo gives me an extra 25% for free! Wow! Then I can not only lather, rinse and repeat, but I can splurge a little and have extra suds or even repeat the repeat if I want. And it doesn't cost anything extra! What a deal!

We're running a special in choir for a week or two - an extra 25% free bonus rehearsal. This will help us spend a little extra time - repeat and repeat - getting some songs ready for Sunday worship.

For those who can, we're going to meet at 6:15 on Wednesday nights for a couple of weeks. Not everyone can take advantage of our bonus rehearsal, but for those who can, this will be a great boost. It will also help those who come at the regular rehearsal time as those who came to the bonus rehearsal sing with great confidence (since they will have spent some extra time on notes and words).

So... whether you join us at 6:30 or get to take advantage of our 25% more free bonus rehearsal at 6:15, I'll be looking for you this Wednesday night!

Natalie Grant

I know you all have already made plans to attend the Natalie Grant concert, so I'm just putting this here so you will remember to invite your neighbors, friends, co-workers and strangers at Wal-Mart to join us next Sunday night, July 29 at 6:00.

If you aren't familiar with Natalie Grant you can click here to go to her web site http://www.nataliegrant.com/

If you don't have a chance to click over I'll summarize.

2007 Dove Award winner - Female vocalist of the year, twin baby girls, albums - Awaken, Deeper Life, Stronger, Christmas Album - Believe, 2006 Dove Award winner - Female vocalist of the year, married to Bernie Herms, "Natalie's House" To Offer Safe Haven For Girls Escaping Prostitution, single hits include "Held" (2006), "The Real Me" (2006), "No Sign of It" (2003) and more...

Don't miss a wonderful evening, July 29, 6:30, HIlldale Baptist Church, Clarksville, TN.

What Station Are You On?

I heard an interesting conversation this morning. Someone said, "Do you listen to the oldies station?" "I used to, but the one I liked went off the air", was the reply. Well, that started a whole series of radio comments. "I listen to WXYZ. It's the best." "Oh, I never listen to that one. The best one is 82.7!" "I used to listen to oldies but they changed it to something else." "Southern gospel saxophone is the only thing I ever listen to." "You should try that new station out of, where was that? anyway, they play the most relaxing music. It's wonderful."

And on they went. (OK, I'll admit I made up some of that.) But the interesting thing was that out of the 5 people listening to the radio this morning there were 7 opinions of which station played the best music.

After hearing everyone's views on music I was really glad to be the Worship Pastor of a church that likes all kinds of music. And what makes it work so nicely is that everyone at Hilldale is happy to sing all the different styles. It's part of living out Phillipians 2:3 "Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves."

As we willingly sing music that isn't particularly our favorite style, just because we know it touches the heart of others, we are considering them more important. As someone else sings music that you like they are treating you as more important.

Pretty cool, huh? How we can model the Christian life for each other and to the world as we gather together and worship. What station are you on? I hope you are the station where you can worship God with us each Sunday as we gather together. I'll be looking for you this Sunday! (If you are in choir I'll be looking for you Wednesday!)

Sunday's Music

We had a great rehearsal last night. There were 56 in choir counting me and Rusty. That's a great turn out for a hot July night. Thanks for singing with us.

Sunday's anthem - Rock of Ages

Other music will include Victory Song, Shout to the Lord, Blessed Assurance and more! I'm looking forward to a great morning Sunday. See you then!

I love Wednesdays!

Do you remember this nursery rhyme?

Monday's child is fair of face.

Tuesday's child is full of grace.
Wednesday's child is full of woe.

It was that poem that inspired Gomez and Morticia Adams to name their daughter Wednesday.

But Wednesday isn't a day of woe at all. It's a great day!

It's not because the work week is half over and you can see the weekend just around the corner, and it's not because it's "take your kids out to eat for half price at that yummy restaurant across town" day. It's because Wednesday night from 6:30-7:30 is choir rehearsal time! We get to sing, laugh, pray and fellowship together. Wednesday choir rehearsal is the perfect pick-me-up for the middle of the week.

This Wednesday's rehearsal is a very special one because it is my first rehearsal as Hilldale's Worship Pastor. I'm sooooo excited. You all have been so wonderful the last two Sundays singing songs you had barely rehearsed. It will be wonderful to actually spend some time on the songs we will sing Sunday.

I'll be looking for you Wednesday - 6:30 - in the choir room. Bring someone with you.

Bro. Lyndel

If this is your first visit to our Hilldale Worship Ministry blog be sure and check out the previous entries.

You can scroll down and read about how you can get involved in our worship ministry (or click on this link http://hilldaleworship.blogspot.com/2007/07/our-worship-ministry-team-and-you.html ) and be sure and scroll down one entry and read about the incredible conference coming in August (or click this link http://hilldaleworship.blogspot.com/2007/07/mmlc-august-10-11.html ) We want to take 50 people or more with us to Brentwood for the Music Ministry Leadership Conference.

I would love to see you involved in our Worship Ministry at Hilldale. We have some exciting days ahead as we gather our worship team: choir members, praise band members, orchestra players, audio and video technicians, actors, children's choir leaders, scenery designers, buildres and painters. There are so many great ways you can be involved in God's kingdom work through the music/worship ministry. E-mail me or call the church office and talk to me or our Worship Ministry Assistant, Donna, to get more information or to tell us how you want to be plugged-in to ministry.

Rejoice!
Bro. Lyndel

MMLC - August 10-11

The Tennessee Music Ministry Leadership Conference is coming in August. August 10-11 to be exact. This is an incredible opportunity that only happens every other year.

The Tennesse Baptist Men's Chorale and Ladies'Chorus will be singing, but even more exciting than that is The Annie Moses Band willbe there. Oh my! They are really, really wonderful!

The conference is at Brentwood Baptist Church in (duh) Brentwood. The cost is $25, but that covers your lunch and materials. What a deal!

CONFERENCE DESCRIPTIONS & LEADERS

COMPUTER HELPS FOR MUSIC MINISTRY For music ministers, music librarians, music teachers, and others - Jim Faull, Founder/CEO, Worship Ministry Solutions, Kennesaw, GA

ADULT MUSIC MINISTRY For Adult Choir/Worship Choir Leaders and Members, Ministers of Music, Worship Leaders, Senior Adult Choir Leaders - Billy Orton, Minister of Music and Worship, First Baptist Church, Huntsville, AL

PRAISE BAND MINISTRY For Praise Band leaders and members who use “contemporary” styles in worship - Chip Leake & Praise Band, Worship Pastor, Thompson Station Baptist Church, TN

PRAISE TEAM MINISTRY (VOCAL) For Praise Team singers and leaders who use “contemporary” styles in worship - Kim Nobblitt, G3 Worship Music, Hurst, TX

KEYBOARD MINISTRY For Pianists, Organists, and Keyboard players• Ron Boud, Professor of Music, Union University, Jackson, TN & • Heather Sorenson, Lillenas Arranger, Music Associate, Lavon Drive Baptist Church, Dallas, TX

YOUTH MUSIC For Ministers of Music, Youth Music Ministry Leaders, Youth Choir Sponsors - Jonathan Nelms, Associate Pastor of Music, First Baptist Church Cookeville, TN

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC MINISTRY For Orchestra Directors, Instrumental Ensemble Leaders, Music Ministers who use instruments in solo, or ensemble forms - Kenn Hughes, Asst. Minister of Music/instrumental, Hermitage Hills Baptist Church, Hermitage, TN

HANDBELL MINISTRY For Handbell Choir Directors and Ringers - Tim Waugh, Handbell Clinician and Fine Arts Director, Bluefield, WV

PRESCHOOL /CHILDREN’S MUSIC MINISTRY For directors, workers, leaders of preschool and/or children's choirs
For Experienced:• Preschool - Susan Eernisse Music Teacher grades K-12 at in Lyons, GA; Robert Toombs Christian Academy Lyons, GA• Younger Children - Vicki Wright Organist/Arranger Nashville, TN• Older Children - Terry Taylor Minister of Music First Baptist Church Dothan, AL
For Less Experienced:• Preschool - Libby Carlton Founder/Teacher Catawba Community Music Program Salisbury, NC• Younger Children - Beth Coleman Children’s Music Director/Teacher First Baptist Church Winter Park, FL• Older Children - Beth McCoy Children’s Music Director/Educator Abingdon, VA

The conference schedule includes some times of worship and special times of reflection on how the ministry of music has impacted our lives. There is also on-site resource displays and vendors.

You'll be hearing more about this in the next few weeks. I'd like to see 50 people attend from Hilldale.

Happy Independance Day!

Some day I'm going to go to Boston and see the Boston Pops and see their fireworks display. (I've been saying that since 1988). We have been to Nashville's concert and show. It's great. The last time we went there to hear the orchestra play along the Cumberland riverbanks there was hardly anywhere to sit and the lady next to us was listening to Country music playing loudly on her radio. It kind of clashed with the symphony!

As I am thanking God for the priviledge of living in such a wonderful country, I can't help but also think about our brothers and sisters in Christ who do not have the freedoms we have. Did you know more Christians have died because of their faith in the last century than died in the previous 18 centuries put together? You may have noticed a couple of links here regarding the persecuted church. Check them out. They will give you things to pray about and give you more information.

Have a wonderful day. Be safe with the fireworks. I'll be looking for you Sunday morning as we worship freely together!

Our Worship Ministry Team and YOU!

There are exciting days ahead as we gather our Worship Ministry Team. The Worship Ministry at Hilldale encompasses many areas - music, sound, television, pageants, drama, special events and services, computer programs and more.

Here are some ways that you can get involved in our music/worship ministry.

Music
- sing in a choir (adult, youth, children)
- play the piano or keyboard
- play in the praise band - which includes rhythm guitar, lead guitar, bass, drum set, percussion instruments
- play a band or orchestra instrument - like the flute or violin or trombone

Technology
- operate a camera or switcher
- be a sound engineer
- operate a computer during worship (MediaShout is the program that runs our words for singing and sermon notes

Other things you may like to do
- sew a costume
- build or paint scenery for Christmas or a special program
- help with make up for actors

There are probably many other things that you enjoy doing that can be used in our Worship Ministry. Give me a call and we can talk about how you can use your gifts and talents in worship.

You can contact me (Bro. Lyndel) or my assistant Donna in the church office.

1st Sunday

Today was the first Sunday at Hilldale for Cheryl and I. We had a wonderful day. Thanks to everyone for all the kind words. We're looking forward to wonderful days ahead.

The choir sounded great as they sang. Chuck played a little of the TV mix and it was super! Check it out on cable or on the internet.

There's no choir rehearsal this week since it will be July 4th. I hope to see you all next Sunday.

Check back late this week for a list of ways that you can be invovled in the Worship Ministry at Hilldale. Forward our blog address to people you think may be interested.