New Music Suite Pix!

Voices of Praise first choir rehearsal was this week!  We are loving the new rehearsal space!!

O The Blood of Jesus by Pastor Chad

^18-21 Unlike your ancestors, you didn’t come to Mount Sinai—all that volcanic blaze and earthshaking rumble—to hear God speak. The earsplitting words and soul-shaking message terrified them and they begged him to stop. When they heard the words—“If an animal touches the Mountain, it’s as good as dead”—they were afraid to move. Even Moses was terrified.

^22-24 No, that’s not your experience at all. You’ve come to Mount Zion, the city where the living God resides. The invisible Jerusalem is populated by throngs of festive angels and Christian citizens. It is the city where God is Judge, with judgments that make us just. You’ve come to Jesus, who presents us with a new covenant, a fresh charter from God. He is the Mediator of this covenant. The murder of Jesus, unlike Abel’s—a homicide that cried out for vengeance—became a proclamation of grace.  (Hebrews 12:18-24/The Message)

You and I have come to the blood of Jesus which proclaims to us God’s rich grace and mercy through Christ.  The blood of Jesus is the key to spiritual life and to all godliness.  We know that if we have come to the blood of Jesus it is only be the Holy Spirit and of God’s grace that we have come.

We did not come to this blood on any merits of our own.  We were guilty, lost, defiled, helpless, and bankrupt when we came to stand under the cleansing crimson flow.  We were full of sin but the Savior called us by name and bid us to lift our eyes to him.  As we gazed upon his streaming wounds, each drop of blood cries out “It is finished…I have put an end to the power of sin…I have brought in everlasting life and righteousness.” 

If you have come to that blood once, you will keep coming back to it over and over again as your life continually looks to Jesus the author and perfector of your faith.  Your life will be about “looking to Jesus” constantly and all the more the closer you draw to him.  It’s not to Him that we “come” but it is to Him that we are always coming.  If you have ever come to the cleansing blood of Jesus and had it wash over you and have felt the cleansing power  -- you will feel the need of coming to this flow every day. 

Charles Spurgeon said, “He who does not desire to wash in it every day, has never washed in it at all.  The believer ever feels it to be his joy and privilege that there is still a fountain opened.”

We cannot live by our experiences alone.  Past experiences are not a sure foundation for us as Christians.  We must continually come to the cross and build our faith in nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness AND upon the foundation of Christ and his cleansing blood.  We need a present coming to Christ alone is the only thing that can give us real joy and comfort. 

As they did the first Passover, let us daily sprinkle the door-post of our hearts with fresh blood from His sacrifice and then feast upon the Lamb of God being assured that the destroyer will pass us by.

Pastor Chad

This Week's Ministry Announcements!

ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 2013

1.    CHOIR DRESS:

Robes will be worn one final time this coming Sunday.

Coordinated dress will begin Sunday, May 5th in new worship center.

Here is the plan for the first two months of services in the new worship center.  Dates are still TBA.  This plan will continue going forward:

·       May 5th – Skittles

·       May 12th – Ladies Choir (TBA coordinated dress)

·       May 19th – Black, white, and gray ensemble

·       May 26th – Red, white, and blue ensemble

·       June 2^nd – Black, purple, and gray ensemble

·       June 9^th  – Brown, tan, and cream ensemble

·       June 16^th  – Green, blue, and gray ensemble

·       June 23^rd  – Sunday Best (your choice) 

2.    SPECIAL OFFERINGS:

Tonight’s offering (final) will go toward supplies for the new music suite, please turn in cash/check donations to Cynthia Harris, our choir treasurer.

3.     THIS SUNDAY:

·       Choir will robe in puppet room.  Place choir robes back in puppet room following second service music.

·       NOTE:  Breakfast will be served in new music suite this Sunday!

4.     MUSIC LISTENING:   Please listen to following songs over the next couple of weeks:

o   Love Came Down

o   Oh That People Everywhere

UPCOMING:

o   Into The House of the Lord

o   Threshold of Glory

5.    UPCOMING REHEARSAL SCHEDULE:

May 1^st – Ladies choir rehearsal @ 7pm

May 2^nd  – VOP rehearsal from 7-8:30pm in suite. (childcare available)

May 8^th – Ladies choir rehearsal @ 7pm

May 15^th – VOP rehearsal @ 7pm

May 22^nd – VOP rehearsal @ 7pm

May 29^th – Mens choir rehearsal @ 7pm

June 5^th – Mass choir rehearsal @ 7pm

June 12^th – Mens choir rehearsal @ 7pm

June 19^th – Mass choir rehearsal @ 7pm

6.    CHOIR SABBATICAL:

No choir sabbatical is planned at this time.

7.    UPCOMING CALENDAR EVENT DATES:

Sunday, May 5^th – Inaugural Service in New Worship Center

Sunday, May 12^th – Mother’s Day / Ladies Choir

Friday, June 7^th – VOP to sing @ NGA Campmeeting in Buford, GA

Sunday, June 23^rd – New Worship Center Dedication Service 

New Worship Center Guidelines for Choir

NEW SUNDAY MORNING GUIDELINES

1.    Choir will resume use of lockers on Sundays.  Please refer to the list for your number if you have forgotten.

2.    Please attend to most of your bathroom and toiletry  needs before and/or in between services.  We need to keep bathroom use to a minimum during services to keep noise down.

3.    Choir will be arranged in choir loft in the following manner:  Sopranos and Bass  (left riser) &  Altos and Tenors (right riser) 

4.    Choir will march on in two lines:  Stage left line (soprano & bass)  & Stage right line (Alto and tenor).  Glow tape will be used behind black curtain to help you navigate.

5.    Choir will be seated on risers.  Seating is not in place at this point.  Dress must be modest.  There is no modesty rail to hide legs.  Ladies, please keep dress length modest and below knee.  Pants is preferable to a knee length skirt.  Ladies on front row especially must be mindful of this.

6.    Choir monitors will be blended SATB.

7.    Stage Display will be located on back sanctuary wall. Format will change from “side to side” to “top to bottom”. 

8.    Lighting changes will occur sometimes from song to song (just like Easter and Christmas) to enhance the message and to create a worshipful atmosphere that enhances the song and facilitates worship.

9.    Breakfast will continue to be served in between services in a more efficient manner than in the old rehearsal room with two lines.

10. Please refer to choir attire schedule which begins Sunday, May 5^th with Skittles.  Men should wear long-sleeve shirts.  Ladies should wear slacks or skirts below the knee.

11. Choir seating chart will be reinstated to mirror stage seating in 3 rows. 

12. Toiletry products have been made available for your convenience in the restrooms.

13. WHEN SERVICES ARE STILL IN PROGRESS, REMEMBER TO ALWAYS KEEP TALKING TO A MINIMUM AND THAT TO A WHISPER WHEN BACKSTAGE OR IN THE BACK HALLWAY IN ORDER TO NOT BE HEARD IN THE SANCTUARY UNTIL BOTH SETS OF HALLWAY DOUBLE DOORS ARE SHUT BEHIND THE LAST CHOIR MEMBER.

14. Finally, if services are still in progress please shut double doors and restroom doors very quietly.

15.  No food or beverages (sugar or carbonated) on stage or in sanctuary at any time.