Music for Sunday, May 3

I have an anniversary. It's the first Sunday in May. Years ago my family and I were going through some very difficult times. Perhaps another time I can tell that story, but for now, let me just say that after many months of praying and totally trusting God to provide for our needs - which He did! - our prayers were answered on the first Sunday in May.

So for almost every year since 1989 (sometimes preachers would want something in particular for that day so this wouldn't happen) I have led whichever congregation I have been with in singing "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" on the first Sunday of May. (side note - I listened to 20 different versions of this song on youtube and 99% of them were reallllly slow. We won't sing it this slow Sunday!)

My children know that I do this and they know why. It's important for your children to see your faith through the difficult times of life and it is important for them to remember how God provided. If you don't tell them who will?

You may not have a song to sing, but you should have some reminder of God's faithfulness: Perhaps a picture, a book, a song, a tree planted... something that in years to come you and they will see it and say, "oh yeah! remember when?..." The children of Israel had a pile of stones taken from the center of the Jordan River.

There's no charge for the extra sermonette. Here's this Sunday's order of worship.

May 3, 2009 AM

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
Forever

Prayer – Bro. Lyndel Littleton

Choir Anthem – My Father’s House
Solo – Emily Moman

Welcome – Bro. Lyndel Littleton
Welcome song – Days of Elijah

Children’s Message – Bro. Tim Munoz

Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Made Me Glad

Special Music – Bro. Lyndel Littleton – I Can Only Imagine

Message – Bro. Paul Scott

Invitation – Come Just As You Are

Offertory – Gena Tate

Baptisms -

Announcements and Benediction – Bro. Tony Lewis

Family Art Project - Family Pics part 1

Our Family Art Project was several weeks ago. Somehow I had thought it wouldn't matter to do the art project a few weeks before Easter and the Passion Play. I'm not sure where my brain was when I put this on the calendar!

So now, after Easter is over and my statewide tour with the chorale is past, I actually have a little spare time to blog about it.

The Family Art Project was SOOOOO much fun! There were so many creative ideas around the room that day. While I was driving across Tennessee with the chorale I made some collages of each family that participated. You'll notice there are a few pictures of the painting in progress and then the family posing around the finished product. I'm not using names on most because I know a lot of people don't want their names published out here on the WorldWideWeb.

I love the circles on this one. One of the girls suggested they use the bottom of their cup do make them.

This family used the aluminum pan as a palette to mix their paint. They also made this dish of orange paint with gold mixed in. See it shine?!

Jerry and Phyllis really enjoy all of the art projects here. They made stained-glass windows and did water color painting with me last Summer. Now they have joined Hilldale's photography club. (You may recognize Phillis as the winner of our 20,000th hit prize see that post here )

Golden Granny Awards - Get Your Tickets

It's time to call and reserve your tickets for this year's Golden Granny Awards. Actually, you should have already, but there are about 80 of you that haven't yet.




What are the Golden Granny Awards? If you are new to our music/worship ministry you may not know yet that the Golden Grannys are like the Golden Globes, Oscars, People's Choice, CMA, GMA and other prestigious awards all rolled into one.



Last year we only had people involved in our music/worship ministry attending, but I know we have many who regularly follow us on our blog, so if you want to see first-hand the fun and excitement of the Golden Granny Awards, call the church office today and let Donna know that you want to come too.


Here are last year's winners!



Don't miss out this year. CALL US TODAY!

Foolishness and Fear

Yesterday on Fox and Friends there was a report about a school asking a church to cover up the crosses in its Sanctuary for an upcoming High School graduation. The church said it would not, so the ACLU was suing the school so it would have to hold graduation ceremonies elsewhere.

Ends up this isn’t something new. I tried to find this story on line and when searching for it I found this same kind of story in Florida from 2005.

On April 14 of this year President Obama gave an economics speech at Georgetown University. Prior to his arrival – and at the White House’s request – the cross and IHS were covered up. IHS is a centuries old monogram for the name of Jesus Christ.

The platform in Gaston Hall

Before President Obama spoke the cross and IHS were covered with a piece of plywood painted black.

Philippians 3:18 - Show Context
For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.

The point of this blog is the "why" behind this, but as a side note I must say how completely disappointed I am that our Catholic brothers would bow to this request.

Here is the opening statement of their on-line policy for use of Gaston Hall.

GASTON HALL POLICIES EXTERNAL (non-Georgetown University) organizations or individuals may rent the facilities, subject to availability, if:
* the event does not conflict with similar campus activity
* the event is appropriate to the ambiance of the facility
* the event is appropriate to the educational mission of Georgetown University
* the event is not in conflict with Georgetown University standards as a Roman Catholic institution (emphasis mine)
Gaston Hall is used for many non-religious activies. Below is a picture of a panel discussion on U.S. - Russian relationship and energy. Notice how the cross is NOT covered up.

I would hope one of the standards of a Roman Catholic institution would be to declare the message of Jesus Christ and the cross.
Georgetown should not have agreed to cover up the cross. President Obama should choose a secular place for his speeches if he is offended by - or afraid to offend others - by the cross. (Of course since almost all of the schools in the founding years of our nation were Christian in nature most will have Christian symbols in very prominent places.)


So why is the cross so offensive?
Why is the world afraid of the cross?

Because it declares many things.

The cross declares that we are sinners in need of a Savior. Americans don’t like to be reminded that they are sinners. We like to blame others for anything wrong in our lives. The cross makes each of us admit “I have sinned.”

The cross declares that Jesus Christ is the only way of Salvation. The payment for our sins was made through Jesus Christ. It is only through faith in Him that our sins are forgiven – that we find peace with God.
Colossians 1:20 - Show Context
and to reconcile everything to Himself through Him by making peace through the blood of His cross -- whether things on earth or things in heaven.

The cross shows Jesus’ demand on our lives.
Matthew 16:24 - Show Context
Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.

The cross seems foolish to the world and they don’t see why the cross is a big deal to those who are followers of Jesus Christ.
1Corinthians 1:18 - Show Context
For to those who are perishing the message of the cross is foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is God's power.


It’s perhaps easy to criticize Georgetown and President Obama for covering the cross, so let me help make you a little uncomfortable.
How have you covered the cross this week? I don’t mean literally. Each of us, probably every day in one way or another, “cover the cross” by what we say, where we go, what we do… We deny the power of the cross in our lives. We ignore the call to “take up our cross” and follow Him. (OK, this is the point where you preach your own sermon to yourself as the Holy Spirit shows you things in your own life.) (I can’t do everything for you.)

Go out now and live a life that doesn’t deny (cover up) the cross. Live through and because of the power of the cross.


Another angle.
Here is a quote from a blogger, Joseph Speranzella, that brings some excellent insite. Wish I had thought of this first.
"Those who call themselves Christian do not mock God. They are obligated to remember that the Holy Martyrs too were asked to "cover up the Cross". They declined knowing that he who denies God on earth will be denied by the Father in heaven. The Church has counted the cost of true belief and there is no political correctness in the blood of the martyrs."
see the full article here Excellent post.

How Can I Keep From Singing?

We're singing this song Sunday morning in worship. Practice.

This is a test to see if my phone will update my blog. How fun will that be?

Chorale Tour Update

We're having a great tour. If you are on Facebook then you probably know that I've been using Twitter to update all day every day as we travel across the State. If you're not on Facebook or on Twitter then you may not know that we've had great crowds, wonderful concerts/times of worship and it has been a great week.
Tonight is our last concert. It is at the Renaissance Center in Dickson. It's probably not too late for you to drive over and hear us. The Ladies' chorus is joining us tonight. It will be wonderful!

Sorry, no pictures. They are on my phone and it's a bit of a hassle to get them off.
and besides, I've mostly been taking pictures of the gorgeous pianos we've had all week. I've been working very hard on not coveting. I had sort of figured out how to get one under the bus (taking the legs off) but I couldn't figure out how to strap in onto the top of my PT Cruiser.

See you Sunday!