CCC Gainesville | Blog
Over the years, CCC has hosted a handful of events that warranted a full-fledged choir. Last year, Song of the Stars reminded us how much fun it can be to sing the Christmas story to each other, and to our neighbors. We are establishing Song of the Stars as a tradition this year, and to make it even better than 2012 we are expanding the program to include more music! To make the program great, we need to assemble a choir. If you love to sing, please come to an info meeting this Sunday at 12:30pm in the adult classrooms. As we determine interest and experience level in the group, we’ll also discuss adding performances for Advent.
Calling All Voices—If you love to sing, please join the seasonal choir! Led by members of the worship team, the choir will rehearse on Sunday afternoons throughout the fall and perform in our Christmas program, Song of the Stars, on December 6th, plus help lead our Advent services on 12/1. Please contact Hannah Jones with interest or questions: hkj3d@virginia.edu.
Additional opportunities to make a joyful noise, as well as solos, will be discussed at our first rehearsal—9/29 at 12:30PM.
We need men and women of all ages (9th grade and up).
Rehearsal Schedule: 12:30 to 2PM OR 4 to 5:30PM TBD
September 29, October 6, 20, November 3, 10, 17, 24
Morning Run-Thru Saturday, November 30.
Evening Dress Rehearsal Thursday, December 5.
Show: December 6th
We hope you are all enjoying your summer. While you are planning your summer vacations and road trips to the beach we wanted to give you some family music resources. I say family because most of this music can and is enjoyed by the whole family. Thanks to my husband I am well aware that there is some really bad sounding children’s music out there. Here you will find some child-friendly music, that even adults will enjoy.
You might recognize this wonderful music company already. Seeds was started when a worship minister was asked to write a few songs for his church’s VBS to help children memorize bible verses. The songs were catchy, well-crafted and came right from scripture. There are 7 total volumes and each is packed with new verses that will get everyone singing them all day long. You can also go to their website to get downloads for children for more resources to help children with each verse, including PDF memory cards.
http://www.seedsfamilyworship.net/kids-stuff/
Rain for Roots is one of the most beautiful children’s CD’s you will ever encounter. With female vocalists like; Sandra McCracken, Elle Holcomb, Flo Paris and Katie Bowser you can’t go wrong on this folk-sounding CD. It has the feel of a lullaby and is based on a Sally Lloyd-Jones baby bible, Hug-a-Bible.
The Spares, Glory and Grace
This album is one of our family favorites. You might feel as though you are in a worship service led by Allison Krauss. It is actually designed to follow a liturgical service order. There is a call to worship, confession and assurance. This album was born out of the following verses that shape its “service” order
Matthew 11:28-3: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” [ESV]
Isaiah 6:5-7: And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.” [ESV]
While this is not a children’s CD it is a gentle, beautiful worship album, including several songs we sing in our own worship services each Sunday. What is so wonderful is that it follows a traditional order of service through music, so it is comfortable and uplifting.
You can test it out here first http://thespares.bandcamp.com/album/glory-and-grace
This album was written with families in mind. Its not your normal cheesy kids music that sends music critics running the the other direction. Forever home is a delightful CD that focuses on God’s Big Story, “From Abraham to David and Paul”. Its full of biblical truths with a rhythm that will keep you going all day long.
Enjoy Your Summer Listening!
Note: This is the final post from our intern, Hillary Smith. Hillary gave many hours to providing these insightful resources. Thank you, Hillary!
Q: What is idolatry?
A: Idolatry is trusting in created things rather than the Creator for our hope and happiness, significance and security.
Idolatry in the life of Christian did not disappear with the old practices of ancient religions. We are no longer tempted to bow down to gold statues or carved faces, but our idols manifest themselves in more subtle ways. How secure does your savings account make you feel? How comforting is it to cast your worries on your spouse? How much does the praise of others affect your day? These things are not bad inherently. Idolatry is when we let blessings from God become the object of our worship. We fall in love with the created, not the Creator. God asks us to rely solely on him for security.
As last week’s speaker, Steve Lammers, said (in his relationship series with RUF), we are called to put our hope in God, not in the good things. God is the only lasting good on this planet. We are to seek our security, comfort, and fulfillment in Christ. We are to put our expectations in the new heaven and the new earth, because there is nothing that is ultimately secure except for Christ.
We cannot find our identity in anything in this world without suffering. How can we exchange the glory of the Lord for something that perishes? We are called to store up our treasure in heaven and to rely on Him for everything. We were created to worship only God, and disaster comes whenever we don’t. But the Lord is merciful. We are Gomer, constantly running to other lovers. And the Lord is Hosea, always bringing us back and restoring us. Hosea 2 creates a beautiful picture of our unfaithfulness and God’s loving mercy.
v17-20:
For I will remove the names of the Baals from her mouth, and they shall be remembered by name no more. And I will make for them a covenant on that day with the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the creeping things of the ground. And I will abolish the bow, the sword, and war from the land, and I will make you lie down in safety. And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the Lord.
He will write his law on our hearts and make himself known to us. He has given us a covenant to restore us and heal this broken world and our sinful nature. Let us look forward to that glorious day and seek to honor Him above all else!
Last Sunday was week 17 of 52 catechism readings from New City Catechism. Christ Community is reciting an entry from the catechism each Sunday in 2013.
On Friday, May 17, we will be hosting Derek Webb’s tour for the 10th anniversary of She Must and Shall Go Free, supported by Kenny Meeks. This ticketed event is open to the public and tickets are on sale now!
Doors: 7PM; Show: 8PM
Snag your tickets before the show and save $3 off the door price! ($12 advance, $15 at the door).
This peculiar word (possibly an acrostic) has been popping up in our worship services over the past few months. What does it mean?
A preliminary look into “selah” will reveal some rather benign definitions that carry little meaning. A deeper look explains why: commentators, theologians and worship leaders seem to offer a resounding “We don’t know for sure, but it might mean….” That’s not to say that the word has no meaning. Of the 74 occurrences in the Bible, the majority are found in the Psalms. A more detailed look at its usage indicates a number of possibilities, one of the most common interpretations being that “selah” signals either a pause for reflection, or a musical break or interlude to the same end. I share this interpretation of the term’s meaning.
An excerpt from the excellent blog of Bob Kauflin, Worship Matters, helps make the case for this interpretation in a treatment on musical interludes in worship:
We can continue to reflect on God’s greatness and respond vocally with musical accompaniment. Many scholars think a selah in the Psalms was a time to consider what had just been said. Ps. 4:4 and 39:5 contain a selah that comes after a reflective thought, while the selah’s in Ps. 3:8 and 24:10 follow verse that are more exuberant in nature.
If you’ve attended our church for any period of time, you might have noticed that we rarely employ musical interludes in our services. Emphasis is given instead to lyrics derived primarily from Scripture itself. It’s my hope that we will all continue to seek an understanding of what we’re doing in corporate worship, so that we can more freely worship God in spirit and in truth. May He give us grace to discern the truth and wisdom found in Scripture, even in the words we struggle to understand.
