Leadworship.com’s Great Resources

Song/Hymn-writer Paul Baloche’s website, www.leadworship.com, is an anamoly in the world of commercially successful Christian artists.  Like a precious few others, he likes to offer songs and lead sheets for free!  He seems to get it, that these songs of worship – as in the days of Watts, Wesley and Fanny Crosby, need to be “out there” for the Body to use.  He also has a heart for making sure people learn from him, so he has many good “Thoughts on Worship”.

I want to specifically point you to his free songbook page.  For the non-musician, he has many full tracks you can listen to and be encouraged by (and may I encourage you to then go and buy one of his CDs, because you will be glad you did!).  For the church or private musician, most of his songs have available chord charts and lead sheets to download and use.  Of course, if you use them in worship, please be sure to give him proper credit and report the use to CCLI.

One of the neatest things about the songbook online is Paul’s sense of the seasonal.  He has placed songs for the Easter Season right there on top so you can access them.  A personal favorite right now is Great Redeemer, but there are many others worth giving a listen to!

Be blessed and equipped by this great resource!

A Presentation for Good Friday

As you are planning for Holy Week and for Good Friday, or even for an Easter Vigil, this PowerPoint presentation – which I posted last year – might be helpful.

• A silent presentation of the Passion of Christ Jesus (English and Spanish)

It’s bilingual, but should be easily edited if you have PowerPoint (and if you don’t, and would like it edited, let me know) to make it appropriate for your church situation.

In His Peace,
Tom

The Sunday Collect – Sunday after Ascension

A couple of collects for this week:

Ascension Day

Almighty God, whose blessed Son our Savior Jesus Christ ascended far above all heavens that He might fill all things: Mercifully give us faith to perceive that, according to His promise, He abides with His Church on earth, even to the end of the ages; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

Grant, we pray, Almighty God, that as we believe Your only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into heaven, so we may also in heart and mind there ascend, and with Him continually dwell; who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Seventh Sunday of Easter: The Sunday after Ascension Day

O God, the King of glory, You have exalted Your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to Your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us Your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

The Sunday Collect – Easter VI

Sixth Sunday of Easter

O God, You have prepared for those who love You such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards You, that we, loving You in all things and above all things, may obtain Your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

The Sunday Collect – Easter V

All right… I’m late today.

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth and the life, that we may steadfastly follow His steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ Your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.  Amen.

The Sunday Collect – Easter IV

Hi again; a blessed Lord’s Day to you all.

Fourth Sunday of Easter

O God, whose Son Jesus is the Good Shepherd of Your people: Grant that when we hear His voice we may know Him who calls us each by name, and follow where He leads; who, with You and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

The Passion on Powerpoint

Hi. I know it’s Easter, but I wanted to share a few things I did with the high schoolers in Chapel on Good Friday. Take a little trip back to the cross with me.

As the kids came in, a silent (bilingual) presentation of Christ’s passion was playing on the screen. After that, and some singing, and then our campus pastor’s own brief testimony about what the cross means to him, I shared what the Scripture says about the cross. The above presentation is simple, and goes through the last words of Jesus on the cross. Feel free to click on it, open it, save it, edit it and use it now or next Good Friday.

An … oddly … quiet … Easter …

I tell myself, I know Easter is not just a day; it’s a season. I remind myself, Our daughter’s got a fever of 102; staying home makes sense.

But, right or not, it’s odd to spend Easter Sunday walking to the Supermarket, eating Chef Boyardee, playing online Catan with your friend in Ohio, playing with your 3-year old (she really likes to give fake injections), and doing logic puzzles.

But there you have it. Easter 2008.

Being a parent makes odd things happen to your traditions. Granted, new and sometimes better traditions arise as you are introducing a young one to the Savior and teaching her the faith; but others seem a bit more flexible, changeable, even disposable.