Spring 2013 Choral Music

If you haven't picked up a study CD be sure to pick up a Spring 2013 choral study CD, please do so by this Wednesday or Sunday!  You will be inspired to heights of praise and depths of worship with these 12 new glorious songs of praise featuring a number of new dynamic and powerful songs from the latest Prestonwood project called THREHOLD OF GLORY such as the title track as well as "Standing", "Lion of Judah", and "This Blood"!!

JESUS SAVES - our latest Easter Worship Musical which will be presented Easter morning, March 31st in an unforgettable  celebration of this singular and eternal truth ... that Jesus Saves!  JESUS SAVES features 13 glorious and fully orchestrated songs such as the title track as well as "To The King", "Do It Lord", "My Inheritance", "The Mercy Seat", "I Am Persuaded", "In Christ Alone", and "Victory In Jesus".  This awesome musical will be presented by our combined youth and adult sanctuary choirs.  

Sectional rehearsals are held every Sunday from now until March 24th.  See the below announcements for locations.  Solo auditions will be held on February 13 & 20th.  Sign up this week if interested! Choral books are being assigned now in sectional rehearsals.  You may check out one this coming Sunday.  Sectional CD's will be made available this Sunday morning at sectional rehearsals.  Be sure to pick up one and being listening.  The sectional CD's will greatly assist you in learning your parts.  Blessings and Enjoy!

Christ is Risen!!

Pastor Chad

The Lord Is Our Immovable Rock!

Let me encourage you today from the word of the Lord.  If you are feeling weak or in need of renewed strength, here is a word for you that I was blessed to receive in prayer this morning from Psalm 18:2.
"The Lord is my Rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." 
This was part of a song David sung after God delivered him from the hand of Saul.  Imagine yourself as David being on the run from his enemies who were seeking to harm and destroy him.  David found a hiding place somewhere high in a rocky crag in the side of a hill that became a refuge for him.  Saul was unable to find David on this occasion because he was hid inside the rock!  Selah...now that will preach! This no doubt began David thinking about the correlation of his present hiding place with his God which became the inspiration for his song of praise.  
Couple of points you should notice.  1) There is a hiding place in God that will be a refuge to you in fearful times.  2) Jesus is the Rock and when you hide yourself in Him - the enemy who is seeking whom he may devour will be unable to find you. So hide yourself in Him today.  When you make God your hiding place the enemy can not find you -- all he sees is the Rock (Jesus Christ) in whom you are hiding.  3) We too can sing a song of deliverance when we hide ourselves in God in Christ because God is able to do for you what he did for David.  He is the same yesterday, today, and forever!  When under attack these are the times we are most tempted to stop praising and start complaining.  Do not allow the Devil to steal your praise ... even when you are under attack!  God is still God and He will be faithful to deliver you if you will run to Him and hide yourself in Him!  This is the time to "beli eve again" and "lift up your hands" just as we sang about yesterday.  This is the time to declare "Thus saith the Lord" and stand upon His Word!  "Only be strong and courageous...do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:6-9, 18)
Now, read Psalm 18:2 again.  This is one of those occasions that is okay to "run and hide".  Run to Him and hide yourself in the Rock! As you do, realize that God is your hiding place from the storms of life and from the attacks of the enemy.  He will be your shield, fortress, deliverer, and salvation.  He is an immovable and unshakeable Rock -- A mighty fortress is our God and a bulwark never failing! Only look to and trust in Him today.
"He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge" (Psalm 144:2)
Grace and peace to you in Christ Jesus,
Pastor Chad

FALL 2012 VOICES OF PRAISE SOLO AUDITION RESULTS

LORD I LIVE                                         DUANE PITT

HEAVEN ON MY MIND                      FLOYCE KILBY & MICHAEL MANSFIELD

MY LIFE IS IN YOUR HANDS           PASTOR CHAD

THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD      ELLIE WHITE

GLORIFY YOUR NAME                     CYNTHIA HARRIS & DUANE PITT

RAIN ON US                                         MATT PARMER

EXCITED ABOUT JESUS                   LEONA FARMER

TAKE UP YOUR CROSS                    MICHAEL MANSFIELD

MY DELIVERER                                  TWANEESA MALLORY

GREATER                                             JERICA COVINGTON

DO IT LORD                                         PASTOR CHAD

ONLY A LOOK                                    REV. ROGER POWELL

HOLY ARE YOU LORD                     CONNARD WILLIAMS & TINA STANDIFER

JESUS I LOVE YOU                            FAYE WILLIAMS

I WILL RISE                                          PASTOR CHAD

AMAZING LOVE...A CHRISTMAS MUSICAL!

JOIN OUR VERY OWN SOUTH METRO VOICES OF PRAISE 

FOR A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS MUSICAL CELEBRATION FEATURING THE MUSIC OF BROOKLYN TABERNACLE AND FEATURED SOLOISTS.

SUNDAY - DECEMBER 16TH - 9AM & 11AM

Jesus Is Coming Soon!

Maranatha!

What a privilege we have of knowing Christ the Creator as our personal Lord and Savior and soon coming King! What an honor we have of serving him on the earth in our worship. Truly - it is a foretaste of heaven when we will worship and serve Him continually in an everlasting life of worship. 

What a powerful time in the Lord's presence yesterday as well! I have such anticipation of the Lord's soon return. For those who know Him it is a hopeful time -- not a dreadful time. 

Jesus foretells that his coming will take place as a thief in the night when He will comes to "snatch" his church away. It will be in a moment when you do not expect and will happen in the blink of an eye. The Word of the Lord warns us that it will be as it was in the days of Lot and of Noah when evil was pervasive and everyone was going about as normal eating, drinking, and living their lives without any acknowledgement or fear of God. In both stories, if you will remember, Lot and Noah were both taken out of the way (a picture of the rapture) before sudden destruction and the full judgment of God came upon the earth. 

Most biblical scholars believe that the church will be raptured prior to the great tribulation. This does not mean we will not see trouble on the earth. Clearly we will witness great distress (wars, rumors of wars, famine, and pestilences) in the earth. We see these things occurring every day in the news! All of these troubles are described in Matthew 24 but the Lord will appear coming in clouds of glory for his church to catch us away before the worst devastations come upon the earth. Praise the Lord! 

I believe the Spirit is reminding us once again to be serious about our commitment to Christ and to get ready for Jesus is coming back for a bride without spot or blemish. Bible scholars are in agreement that no other prophecies need to be fulfilled before the coming of the Lord and the rapture of the church. The fact of the matter is he could come at any moment. The question is will we be like the wise virgins who were ready or the unwise virgins who were not? Nothing we enjoy or love in this life compares to Christ and what we shall be when we shall see Him for we shall be like Him. 

v. 3 - Let us then be true and faithful trusting serving every day. Just one glimpse of Him in glory will the toils of life repay. (When We All Get To Heaven) 

Thanks and may wherever you go and whatever you do today become a place for His Holy presence to dwell for you are the temple of the Holy Ghost. 

Until He Comes,

Pastor Chad Stafford 
South Metro Ministries

This Week's Schedule - October 1-7, 2012

This coming Sunday's service, October 7th, is on planningcenter now so please check it out at your convenience -- especially the new praise song "Great I Am". I believe this powerful song will bless you and inspire your personal worship this week. We will prepare this song for Sunday. 

I will be sending you reminders about this week's rehearsals, but in the meantime, make a mental note of the following: 

Wednesday praise team and choir rehearsals - normal schedule 
Wednesday 8:30 band rehearsal - cancelled / we will rehearse Saturday 
IMPORTANT: Saturday, Oct. 6th, praise team and band training sessions - 10am-3pm (Praise team - 10-noon / Lunch - 12-1pm / Band - 1-3pm).