Music for April 11

I read an article this week about how faith traditions celebrate Easter for seven Sundays in a row! The reason it is seven is because that takes you to the next big Christian event Pentecost. (more about that later)

Baptists have joined most all other faiths in having our weekly worship times on Sundays. That's because the early believers gathered on the first day of the week to worship because that is the day Christ rose from the grave. We use Sunday as our Sabbath - our day of rest and worship. So in reality, we celebrate the resurrection every time we meet on a Sunday.

Even so, I always like to sing at least one "resurrection" sort of song the week after Easter. Usually - and is the case this year - I like to lead our congregation in singing "Crown Him with Many Crowns."

Try reading the words like a poem rather than singing them so you can absorb the richness of this wonderful text. Click on the video and you'll hear the Mississippi Baptist State Youth Orchestra play as you read.


Crown Him with many crowns, The Lamb upon His throne;
Hark! how the heav'nly anthem drowns All music but it's own:
Awake, my soul, and sing Of Him who died for thee,
And hail Him as thy matchless King Through all eternity.

Crown Him the Lord of life, Who triumphed o'er the grave,
And rose victorious in the strife For those He came to save;
His glories now we sing, Who died and rose on high,
Who died eternal life to bring, And lives that death may die.

Crown Him the Lord of love; Behold His hands and side,
Those wounds, yet visible above, In beauty glorified:
All hail, Redeemer, hail! For Thou hast died for me:
They praise and glory shall not fail Throughout eternity.

Sunday we'll follow that great hymn with "Shout to the Lord."

The choir will sing "Thine Is the Kingdom."

Then we'll all sing together "Amazing Grace, My Chains Are Gone."

Because Jesus triumphed over the grave and through His amazing grace our chains of sin are gone when we choose to follow Him as Savior and Lord.

It will be a great day of worship. I hope you'll join us.

Music for January 10, 2010

So are you saying "twenty-ten" or "two-thousand-ten?"
I'll put a poll up over there
◄ for you to vote.

Here's the order of worship for Sunday. If you are in my choir and missed rehearsal last night you can still sing with us because we are singing one of our favorites "Let the Worshippers Arise."

January 10, 2010 AM

To God Be the Glory
Everlasting God

Choir anthem – Let the Worshippers Arise

Welcome song – You Are Holy (Prince of Peace)

When the Roll Is Called up Yonder
When We All Get to Heaven
I Will Rise

Special Music – Brooke Hill

Message – Dr. Larry D. Robertson

Invitation Song – I Give You Me

Offertory – Mary Beth Mathews

Baptisms: Both Services

Closing – Bro. Tony Lewis

Sunday, September 20

September 20, 2009 AM

Welcome to HBC & Opening Prayer

Sing to the King

O Worship the King


Choir anthem – Our Great God

Fellowship Song – I’ll Fly Away


When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder
When We All Get to Heaven
I Will Rise

Special Music – Angie and John T., Lynn B. and Bro. Lyndel

Message – Dr. Larry D. Robertson

Invitation – Lord, I’m Coming Home

Offertory – Gena Tate

Closing - Bro. Tony Lewis

Music for August 23 - Grace

8:27 - Welcome & Prayer – Dr. Larry D. Robertson

Your Grace Is Enough

Fellowship Time – Since Jesus Came into My Heart

Choir Anthem – Enough

Covers Me for Life
Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)

Bro. Lyndel – Your Grace Still Amazes Me
Wish I could get Phillips, Craig and Dean here (the ones on this video), but instead you'll have to hear me sing it Sunday.

Message – Dr. Larry D. Robertson – The Grace of Salvation

Invitation – Marvelous Grace

Offertory – Gena Tate

Closing – Bro. Lyndel Littleton

Order of Worship for Sunday, February 8

February 8, 2009 AM

You Are God Alone (Our Wind and Fire ensemble will play along with the band on this one)

Prayer – Bro. Lyndel Littleton

Special Presentation – Kevin Kennedy & Dr. Larry D. Robertson

Choir Anthem – Revive Us Again

Welcome to Worship – Dr. Larry D. Robertson

Welcome Song – Hallelujah (Your Love Is Amazing)

Children’s Message – Bro. Tim Muñoz

Down at the Cross
Above All

Special Music – Men – The Power of the Cross Click here if you missed hearing this the other day

Message – Dr. Larry D. Robertson

Invitation Song – Whiter than Snow

Offertory – Mary Beth Mathews

Announcements & Benediction – Bro. Tony Lewis

Sunday Worship with FBC Pinhiero

1 Igreja Batista na Vila do Pinhiero isn't far from the entrance to the favela.

The people there are warm and kind. Each day during the week several church members would join us each day as we went door to door telling people about God's love and how they could know Jesus in a personal way as their Savior and Lord. Pray for them as they follow up on the many who prayed to accept Christ. It is difficult for people to feel comfortable joining a church because they know they have to quit smoking and drinking. We kept telling them we weren't there to have them join a church or start following a set of rules, but we wanted them to know Jesus.

The service Sunday morning began with some congregational singing.

Hmmmm, can't find a picture. They sang wonderfully. They used an overhead projector for the words and sang with some accompaniment tracks. They had a couple of guys and Ii think I remember three girls leading - singing in microphones. This is a picture of the congregation as we read Psalm 145.

Scripture reading. A testimony. A prayer. The man in the yellow shirt is their Associate Pastor. The Senior Pastor was out of town.

Our mission team sang "How Great Is Our God".

I played "Amazing Grace" in Portuguese. This violin belongs to Ray's son. It is a wonderful instrument.

Then I preached. Tulio, who had been my interpreter all week, was my interpreter Sunday morning as well. He did a great job.

The church members presented us with gifts after the service. The painting was done by the guy in the middle. He was the church member that went with Cheryl and I each day. His wife (on his right) crocheted the edges of the dishcloths. It was so wonderful to get handmade presents.

After church we went to a Mexican restaurant and met up with the medical mission team from Atlanta that was just beginning their mission.

Then we shopped a little at the Hippy Feira (an outdoor area - I would describe it as a bazaar.) We bought t-shirts for our grandchildren.

They had a lot of beautiful paintings.

I REALLLLLLY wanted one of these bamboo saxophones. They were sooooo cool! Some were shaped like clarinets too. But they were R100 (which is about $70). I figured Mike wouldn't be too happy if I used the church credit card to buy one - but it was very tempting...

We ended up the day with a wild ride to the airport. I guess the driver thought we were behind schedule. I don't think the van had any shocks. If you've ever ridden The Runaway Mine train at Six Flags over Texas you have an idea. Wheeeeeee! It seems faster in the tunnels.

Tomorrow I'll post about our adventure coming home titled Surviving the Streets of Rio Only to Almost Die on I-24. You won't want to miss it.

Here's a picture of Ray and Sharron Fairchild, the missionaries we partnered with.