To quote the band REM: “It’s the end of the world as we know it…”. In other words, northern Georgia received a lovely blanket of snow on Saturday.
Now, where I grew up in Canada, that would be better known as “A normal Saturday in January”, but in Atlanta, it’s “Polar Armageddon”.
That said, Church was cancelled. And I’m not talking about just North Point. I mean the sheer concept of of church was cancelled. We watched the church closings on the news and commented that it would be quicker to just list the churches that were meeting…
BUT!! Here’s what was planned…
No Opener.
WORSHIP:
Eddie Kirkland was leading in East, and newbie Trey McKnight was in West. Trey’s lead a bit at Buckhead Church (our campus near downtown Atlanta, 15 miles south), but is still a fresh face at North Point.
“All We Need” by Charlie Hall
“You Never Let Go” by Matt Redman
“How Great Is Our God” as made known by ye ole Chris Tomlin.
Yep – kind of a throw-back Passion Sunday.
But here’s some analysis anyway, because we had some opinions after rehearsal and then again Thursday morning. The players in each band have played these tunes a bunch over the last couple years, and the songs themselves are very easy. I mean REAL easy – basic chords, basic repeating chord pattern, simple to play – almost monotonous. To the point that Eddie encouraged the all-star band on East to really worship through the tunes, and not to just play the simple songs. Great advice to anyone playing a song for the 3,000th time…
So after rehearsal, for a while I thought that worship would’ve been a dud. Well, at least according to some of us youngins… But the more I thought about it, I think we had a chance to REALLY engage the audience in worship. Familiar songs: familiar, easy melodies, repetitive lyrics, simple theological concepts. Basically the reason these are popular worship songs around the world.
I don’t think we always need to do the newest, coolest, hip-est tunes. Sometimes people just want to worship with songs that they can sing with their eyes closed – literally! I think believers crave those rare, special moments when they can sing a simple song that lives in their hearts, as opposed to having to read a new theological novella on the bottom of a big screen each week.
Just a thought…
You caused YOU to worship this week?
EAST: Eddie Kirkland, Steve Thomason, Daryl Lecroy, John Carrozza, Scott Meeder, Richard Meeder, Jennifer Young
WEST: Trey McKnight, Michael Gleason, Brad Bretz, Brad Gage, Brad Long, Mike Bielenberg – yes, 3 Brads and 2 Mikes. That’s a Full House. Yahtzee!!
…
