Worship Confessional 03-09-2008

Hi. My name's Cathy. I lead worship. ("Hi, Cathy.") This is my maiden voyage on the Worship Confessional Ride. What is it? Simple: The thoughts, musings, and reflections of a recent worship experience. While I constantly have a running-worship-dialogue in my head I rarely write down my thoughts for others to read and comment. I read several bloggers who share their weekly worship confessionals. It won't shock you to know that I may not succeed in that blogging goal. Yet, one must start somewhere. Like last Sunday. Here it goes:

My Church: Copper Hills Community Church, Glendale, AZ
My Role: Plan and lead worship in collaboration with some amazing people
The Setting: School Gym + Courtyard for baptism
This Service: Concluded a series on Salt & Light

Worship Music

• Walk-in Tune: This Little Light of Mine (instrumental-jazzy sax wailing)
• Romans 12:1 (Agnew)
• Forever (Tomlin)
• Center (Hall)

Faith Stories

• 5 people shared their life-changing encounters with Christ
• 3 people shared their real-life examples of being salt/light
  

Wrap-Up & Response Song

• Shine (Redman)- taught it for the first time 3/2/08. Immediate connection with our congregation
  
• Baptism Outside - the 5 people who shared earlier
  

One of the things I love about my church is the way we celebrate baptisms. It is an all-out celebration with whooping and hollaring and unabashed joy. These Sundays always energize me - you can't go wrong hearing stories about how God is working in people's lives! The highlights for me:

• One man's-man tearfully and honestly shared of his re-dedication to Christ. We're talking big, macho Jesus tears and big, macho life-change.
• One father-son duo shared. Both were baptised. At the same time. With arms linked together. Dry eye, anyone? I think not.

The band was solid, those who spoke came prepared and energized, the church was full and ready to celebrate. Could the music have been better? Absolutely. Always, right? Would I change a thing or two if I could? Maybe. But the spirit of God was alive and present from the get-go and in those moments we were The Church.

This weekend we celebrate Copper Hills' 10th Birthday. It almost feels like it will be a let-down compared to last week. BUT...more worship, more stories, more celebrating the goodness of God through 10 years of church-ing. Looking forward to it!