This morning, we are opening our 15th-anniversary service with “Shout to the Lord”. If you’ve been at our church for very long, this might surprise you because we haven’t sung it together since 2007. It’s a song that I consider to be a Christian anthem – one that embodied the spirit of a generation of believers (at least it did mine). I spent twelve years in Christian school growing up, and “Shout to the Lord” made it into our weekly chapel meeting at least once a month. I can still remember singing it with my friends in high school. Years later, I’ve lost my personal taste for singing it. But that doesn’t make it any less important. In fact, since its release in 1993, “Shout to the Lord” has held a place in the top 20 songs used in worship services as reported to the CCLI. Even today, it will be sung by millions of Christians across the world.

This week I found an interesting interview with songwriter Darlene Zschech where she describes the process of writing this song. She was, as she put it, “between a rock and a hard place, and just went to the Lord.” Finding hope in the words of the Psalms, she sang them to her God. She didn’t sit down to write a “hit”, nor did she even give it much credit after writing it down. She wasn’t even a professional writer – just volunteering at the church. Bringing her honest grappling with the gospel to bear in song and sharing with her church. Years later, we see the power in her words – in that simple, singable melody. They are honest and heartfelt in a way that is hard to replicate.

And so, today we join the chorus of Christians around the world as we remember fifteen magnificent years together as Christ Community Church. We also embark on an adventure through Mark and Acts that will challenge us in our apprenticeship of Jesus. I hope you find comfort and hope in today’s service.