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weekend set list

This weekend we spent a little more time than normal in musical worship, and it's great that so many of you were really able to experience God in service this morning.  Thanks so much for all of the encouragement - it's great to get to serve each other.  Here's the set list from this weekend -

"Salvation" by Charlie Hall ("Road to One Day")
"Everything Glorious" by David Crowder Band ("Remedy")
"I Will Overcome" by Charlie Hall ("On the Road to Beautiful")
"When the Tears Fall" by Tim Hughes ("When Silence Falls")
"Mighty to Save" by Hillsong ("MIghty to Save")

"why-fi" series kickoff

Last weekend we kicked off our new "Why-Fi" series at River Valley, and it was definitely some good times.  So many people worked so hard to pull together something that would be dynamic and engaging, and it was so fulfilling to see it all become reality.  I had high hopes for this one, but in a lot of ways reality actually exceeded my expectations (especially the stage - check out the 'Staging' link to the right!).  It was also encouraging to have so many people come to worship and experience God - last weekend was our biggest as far as attendance since I've been at River Valley. 

Probably even more encouraging than the attendance numbers was the way people participated during the service.  We've been working really hard over the past year or two to make our worship experiences more interactive, and "Why-Fi" has taken that to a whole new level . . .

worship styles and philosophies

Hey Everybody.  So this weekend at River Valley was amazing, and it felt great to work with our team to pull together something that felt so groundbreaking and unique.  I'll planning to write more about that tomorrow or Thursday.

But before I do that, I want to write about something that's come up over the last few days.  In a post I wrote a few weekends ago a new friend challenged me on what authentic worship should sound like and look like and feel like.  Over the past 14 years I've share many similar conversations.  Most of them begin as discussions about musical styles, but it you stick with them long enough you'll find something deeper under the surface . . .

Easter Plans

And just when you thought your church's plans for Easter were out there . . . Mission Bay Church in S.F. is launching their Easter series entitled "Come and Follow Mii."  If you look closely in the graphic you can see the Easter Bunny doesn't think much of the Mii Jesus, as his thoughts are so dark that the can't even be articulated. 

I would really love to know how this one works out.  Anyone else trying something 'out-there' for Easter?

Drums

Last night I had the chance to go play, really play, drumset again for the first time in a few years.  Some good friends of mine are putting together a new band (Briarhill - more about that later), and they invited me to come and play drums for them last night.  It was so much fun.

It's been great developing a number of other artistic gifts over the past few year, but in all of that time I think drumset's remained my first love (artistically!).  There's simply nothing like the feeling of commanding that much natural musical power and harnessing to create something rich and subtle and complex and simple.   I love me some drums.

Song Set

Hey All.  Worship was blast to celebrate together this morning.  You know those mornings when when the whole band and building and congregation seem to pulse with a holy life of their own?  This was one of those days. 

A number of you have wanted to know about the music we did in church this morning.  Here's the set list -

"Let God Arise" - Chris Tomlin ("See the Morning" album)
"Everything Glorious" - David Crowder Band ("Remedy")
"Over My Head" - The Fray ("How to Save a Life")
"God of This City" - Passion ("God of This City")
"Revolution" - Starfield ("Starfield")

By the way, if you haven't had a chance to check out the band Starfield, you may want to give their stuff a listen.  We're beginning to use a lot of their stuff at River Valley, mostly 'cause it rocks hard enough to satisfy our peeps.  Check out "All for You" and "My Generation".  Very cool stuff.

daylight savings time

Ok, we need to talk about this.  Daylight Savings Time is stupid.  That's right, I said it.  It's basically just a holiday for morning people.  Why, exactly does it exist?  I'll tell you why.  Because politicians and yuppies of all stripes don't like the fact that their lives are structured in such a way as to require them to drive to work at an hour of night that's dark 5 months of the year. 

So what's the solution???  "Let's rob an hour of daylight from people with normal sleep schedules!  So what that everyone's confused unnecessarily two weekends a year.  So what that sunset begins at 4:30PM in some places.  I want sunshine when I drive my Volvo into the office!"

I'm sitting in my office right now enjoying the fact that it's 4:19PM and it doesn't feel like the day's almost over today.  It's nice.  To all of you who fought so hard and won a few more weeks of normal daylight time last year, my hat's off to you.  Let's keep fighting the good fight out there!   

Anyone else feelin' me on this one?