For our Christmas services we use mostly hymns and carols but our Praise band will be playing four songs this year. We will be playing Chris Tomlin’s new Christmas song titled “Emmanuel – Hallowed Manger Ground” on 12/20 and Paul Baloche’s “Christmas Offering” on 12/24. You can hear each selection here:
We will also be accompanying “Silent Night” and a new arrangement of “O Come All Ye Faithful.”
Our Children’s Program is 12/20 at 9:00AM, Christmas Eve candlelight at 7:00 PM and Christmas Morning at 9:00 AM.
On March 8, 2009 at 4:00 PM, we will be installing our new Pastor – Timothy Ehlers, who comes to us in CT from Oakley, MI.It will be a traditional service with Lutheran hymns appropriate for the occasion.However, it’s important to us at Messiah Lutheran Church to inject a little of our own local worship personalities.As such, our small “Praise Band” will be offering the song “God of This City” as a pre-service selection.
This song is magnetic.There’s something about it that just grabs you.I think it’s the chorus which states: “There is no-one like our God.For greater things have yet to come, and greater things are still to be done in this city.”And that’s our sentiment at Messiah, and that’s our hope, our prayer and with the Lord’s blessings, that’s our expectation with our new Pastor as we open up a new chapter in the worship life of Messiah Lutheran Church in South Windsor, CT.
Last night, at choir/band practice, our keyboardist and I played through a few potential song candidates until we landed on “God of This City.”Mid way through, Ruth (our keyboardist) stopped playing and said “this is it” and we both knew it.It just felt right.
The song was originally written by a little known band from Ireland known as “Bluetree”, but was made famous by Chris Tomlin.You can watch Tomlin perform the song and describe the background of the song here:
That’s not what I’d call a good title for a hymn. However, the very next line puts everything into context:
“Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.”
Ahh… Now it makes sense. In fact the entire song is about surrender, commitment & offering.
Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee.
Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my King.
Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect, and use every power as Thou shalt choose.
Take my will, and make it Thine; it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own; it shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love, my Lord, I pour at Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for Thee.
You will note that every line starts with the same phrase – a very contemporary approach!
We plan on singing this hymn on Sept 14th in our church.Our Pastor will precede it with this introduction:
The hymn, “Take My Life and Let it Be” was written by an unusual woman named Frances Havergal (1836-1879).The daughter of a minister, she mastered Greek and Hebrew to read the scriptures in their original languages.Having grown up in England, she traveled in Europe and enjoyed skiing in the Swiss Alps –– an unusual recreation in the nineteenth century.She was also an accomplished singer who sometimes sang with the Philharmonic.
Because her voice was lovely, Frances was in demand as a concert soloist.With all her education, however, Frances Havergal maintained a simple faith and confidence in the Lord.She never wrote a line of poetry without praying over it.
Frances had begun reading and memorizing the Bible at the age of four (eventually memorizing The Psalms, Isaiah and most of the New Testament).At seven she wrote her first poetry.
At age 36, she spent five days with a small group of people, some of whom were not Christians, and others of whom were lukewarm.She spent those five days witnessing to them and praying for them, and was delighted to see her prayers answered.By the end of that week, all ten people had devoted themselves to Christ; thanks to the work of the Holy Spirit working through Frances.That night, too excited to sleep, Havergal sat up writing the hymn, “Take My Life and Let It Be.”
Her devotion to Christ took many shapes.For one, she quit singing in secular venues and devoted herself to Christian music.For another, she donated her collection of jewelry to a missionary society to raise money for mission endeavors (hence the lyric “take my silver and my gold; not a mite will I withhold”).But those were merely minor notes in the symphony of devotion that was Frances Havergal’s life.
During the Offering, our choir/praise team will sing Chris Tomlin’s version of the same song. You can hear it here:
It’s basically the same song but Tomlin has added a chorus with the following lyrics:
Here am I, all of me.
Take my life, it’s all for thee.
A simple, but nice sentiment to add to an already wonderful hymn.
On March 8, 2009 at 4:00 PM, we will be installing our new Pastor – Timothy Ehlers, who comes to us in CT from Oakley, MI. It will be a traditional service with Lutheran hymns appropriate for the occasion. However, it’s important to us at Messiah Lutheran Church to inject a little of our own local worship personalities. As such, our small “Praise Band” will be offering the song “God of This City” as a pre-service selection.
Christmas Music
December 18, 2009 at 7:00 am · Filed under Chris Tomlin, Christmas, Messiah Lutheran Church, Paul & Rita Baloche ·Tagged Christmas Offering, Emmanuel
For our Christmas services we use mostly hymns and carols but our Praise band will be playing four songs this year. We will be playing Chris Tomlin’s new Christmas song titled “Emmanuel – Hallowed Manger Ground” on 12/20 and Paul Baloche’s “Christmas Offering” on 12/24. You can hear each selection here:
We will also be accompanying “Silent Night” and a new arrangement of “O Come All Ye Faithful.”
Our Children’s Program is 12/20 at 9:00AM, Christmas Eve candlelight at 7:00 PM and Christmas Morning at 9:00 AM.
Have a blessed Christmas to all!
- Steve
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