Preparing For Worship: July 24th, 2011

Can you guys believe it's almost the end of July?? Summer's beginning its descent into the history books, but the heat waves seem like they're just arriving!

This week in our Decades Worship Series we look back at the 1990s. This is the first decade that I really remember well (I was just going to turn 7 when the 80s ended), and there was a lot going on with worship music. I'll talk a little more about the trends and the importance of what happened with worship in the 90s, but for now, check out the set below and take a little stroll down memory lane...see you Sunday!

Call To Worship
Eternal Praise
Be Thou My Vision

Decades Worship: The 1990s
The Heart Of Worship
I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever
Shout To The Lord

Closing Song
Completely Done

Preparing For Worship: July 17th, 2011

Greetings! I hope you'll join us this week as we remember the 80s this week during our Decades Worship segment, and as we sit under the teaching of God's word from one of our elders, Darren Utley.

I know you're itching to know which songs we're doing from the 80s, so check out the set list below and get practicing!

Call To Worship
You Alone Can Rescue
Christ Is Risen

Decades Worship: The 1980s
Oh Lord, You're Beautiful (this song is still strong; check out this new recording!)
Awesome God (I won't make you try to sing those verses, just the chorus on this one)
Lord, I Lift Your Name On High (PETRA rocks this version!)

Closing Song
Revelation Song

Preparing For Worship: July 10th, 2011

Happy Friday everyone! Maybe you're browsing the web killing the last couple hours before the end of the workday, or maybe you're getting ready for a wedding rehearsal (congrats tomorrow Amos and Jennica!). Either way, glad you found your way to the Crossroads worship blog! Come ready for a great morning worshiping with other Crossroaders, and ready for the powerful work of God in your life as we exalt Christ and submit to the Spirit!

Check out the songs we're gonna sing together, and especially listen to the section of songs for our "Decades Worship: The 1970s" segment! If you were alive then and went to church, odds are you'll remember these tunes; if you don't, enjoy learning about this interesting decade in the life of the Church.

Call To Worship
How Great Is Your Faithfulness
Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me)

Decades Worship: The 1970s
He Has Made Me Glad
Seek Ye First
Psalm 5
I Love You Lord

Closing Song
Out Of The Depths

Enjoy your preparation! See you Sunday!

Preparing For Worship: July 3rd, 2011

We're looking forward to having you join us at Crossroads this Sunday for an amazing morning of worship with God's gathered church. When I put it that way, doesn't it sound so much better than say...going out of town for the holiday weekend? ;)

Check out this week's songs for worship below. Draw your attention especially to the two songs we'll be doing from the 1960s as part of our "Decades Worship" series over the month of July. This series is meant to remind us of the legacy modern worship, and to appreciate the songs and songwriters that have paved the way for worship music as we know it. If you were alive in the 60s, hopefully these tunes will ring familiar...if you weren't alive in the 60s (I wasn't born until 1983!), let's appreciate the history of the contemporary worship song, and how it began with songs like these!

Call To Worship
From The Inside Out
(I like doing this song as an opener because it is both confessional ["a thousand times I've failed; still your mercy remains..."] and declarative of God's glory. We adapt the style to add energy and dynamics that help bring the focus into worship.)

Decades Worship: The 1960s
I'm Gonna Sing, I'm Gonna Shout
(This song has stuck around, and can be found on a lot of kids worship projects. A simple gospel tune that declares God's praise, and our hope of eternity with him in heaven. You'll have to find the track titled "04. DaveRandy Im Gonna Sing" on the media player)
Reach Out To Jesus
(by Ralph Carmichael, one of the trailblazers of contemporary Christian music, performed by "The King," Elvis Presley!)

Worship Singing (during communion and close of the service)
Jesus Messiah
(a great song for communion, reminding us of the great exchange Paul talks about in 2 Corinthians when Christ became our sin that we might become his righteousness!)
Jesus Paid It All
(a hymn for the ages, with the addition of the ending chorus: O praise the one who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead. A great way to end the service!)