Thanks

Friends of ours worshiped with us this morning.  It was kind of neat seeing folks we are accustomed to seeing at the ball field join us in worship.  I had a chance to speak with them after the service, but moved on and left them chatting with Libby and proceeded toward the narthex and my office.  I was stopped a couple of times along the way by folks (Hugh Farrior waxing poetic on the ministering power of music among them) who wanted to express appreciation for the music in the service.  At one point those guests caught up with me.  the gentleman said to me as he passed something to the effect of, "Gee, I don't hear that sort of thing at my work!"

So, a couple of things:
1. Thank you for being so effusive and demonstrative with your praise and appreciation for all of the music that takes place in worship.  I suppose it's easy to get a little accustomed to hearing your thanks.  I and all our musicians need to remember that we would quickly starve if the thanks were to cease. So, really, "thanks."
2.  Try to be as thankful for folks and their efforts wherever you happen to be.  I don't actually know what this gentleman does.  How much more might any of us thrive when given a little encouragement and praise? Have a good word for your bagger, your waiter, your co-worker, your banker, your janitor, your classmate.  You might make their day.

The is the play list for the Prophets of Praise concert tonight at West Asheville Presbyterian Church PC(USA):

Set 1

Everlasting God

Your grace is enough

We fall down/Holy, holy, holy (NICEA)

Glorious day

Welcome to WAPC by Kent Smith

Set 2

Lead me to the cross

This is our God

Tuya es la Gloria

Holy, holy, holy

Alabare

Introduction of Ensemble by Mike Barker

Set 3

Jubilate, everybody

Shalom, chaverim

Dayenu

Uyaimose (Come all you people)/Praise to the Lord the Almighty

The wonderful cross (When I survey)

Presentation by Habitat for Humanity

Freewill offering

Solos

David Hekking

Andy Gwynn and David Hekking

Set 4

Holy is the Lord

Mighty to save

Alive forever amen

Not to us

You are holy, you are whole

Read the press announcement in ACT here.  The event is a fund-raising effort by WAPC for Asheville Habitat for Humanity.  Please join us at 7PM for great music for a great case. It's free, but bring a little cash for Habitat.

Music for 042912

FirstLight
Gathering Song(s)
Jesus, name above all names
Come let us worship and bow down

Opening Song
Come, now is the time to worship

Prayer of Praise Response
Halle, halle, hallelujah (STF 2026)

Offertory
Mighty to save

Prayers
Amazing grace (Alleluia)

Closing Song
The Risen Christ (O breath of God)

11AM
Hymns
Easter people raise your voices (REGENT SQUARE)
172, My shepherd will supply my need (RESIGNATION)
538, Lord, dismiss us with thy blessing (SICILIAN MARINERS)

Prayer of Praise Response
2026, Halle, halle, hallelujah

Anthem
Allen Pote, The Lord is my shepherd

Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow (with Alleluias)
LASST UNS ERFREUEN

Instrumental/Organ Music
Prelude:  Douglas Wagner, Pastorale, from Psalm Impressions
I will both lie down and sleep in peace; for you alone, O Lord,
make me lie down in safety.  Psalm 4.8

Offertory:  Douglas Wagner, Elegy, from Psalm Impressions
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me;
your rod and your staff— they comfort me. Psalm 23.4

Postlude:  Douglas Wagner, Toccata, from Psalm Impressions
Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe!
Psalm 150.4

Hymnal update

The day after Easter the PCOCS (Presbyterian Committee on Congregation Song, "peacocks") released the contents for the new hymnal.  You can view them here.  See which of your favorites are present, and get a glimpse of the new material to be included.  In other news, the colors available for the cover of the new hymnal will be RED and PURPLE.  BMPCNC will be publicizing an effort to secure advance copies of the new hymnal (with a significant price incentive) this week.

Music for 042212

FirstLight
Gathering Song(s)
Montreat College Choir
Timothy Wilds, director

Opening Song
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord

Prayer of Praise Response
Halle, halle, hallelujah (STF 2026)

Offertory
Montreat College Choir
Timothy Wilds, director

Closing Song
Go forth in his name

            
11AM
Hymns
108, Christ is alive (TRURO)
377, Lord, you have come to the lakeshore (PESCADOR DE HOMBRES)
306, Fairest Lord Jesus (CRUSADER’S HYMN)

Prayer of Praise Response
2026, Halle, halle, hallelujah

Anthem
Tanzanian Worship Song, Christ has arisen, alleluia (Mfurahini, haleluya)

Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow (with Alleluias)
LASST UNS ERFREUEN

Instrumental/Organ Music
Prelude:  Hermann Schroeder, Fairest Lord Jesus (Schoenster Herr Jesu)
Offertory:  Arr. Mark Sedio, Lord, you have come to the lakeshore
Postlude:  Lefebure-Wely, Sortie on B-Flat

Music for 041512

FirstLight
Gathering Song(s)
Alleluia, alleluia (Sinclair)
Holy is the Lord

Opening Song
Forever

Prayer Response
Halle, halle, halleluja (STF 2026)

Scripture/Proclamation
More precious than silver (STF 2065)

Doxology
Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord (in E)

Closing Song
Jesus Messiah

11AM
Hymns
104, Christ is risen! Shout hosanna! (HYMN TO JOY)
399, We walk by faith (DUNLAP’S CREEK)
371, Lift high the cross (CRUCIFER)

Response of Praise
2026, Halle, halle, hallelujah (HALLE, HALLE)

Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow (LASST UNS ERFREUEN)

Instrumental/Organ Music
Prelude: JS Bach, Christ is arisen
Offertory: JS Bach, Christ is arisen
Postlude: JS Bach, Christ is arisen
The chorale "Christ ist erstanden" is itself based on a plainsong sequence. The three stanzas of the hymn each have a different melody, but based on a single hymn text. Thus Bach has created three pieces for each of the three stanzas, each building in intensity.

Music for Easter 2012

FirstLight
Gathering Song(s)
He is exalted
Lord, I lift your name on high

Opening Song
That’s why we praise him

Prayer Resposne
Halle, halle, halleluja

Scripture/Proclamation
Glorious day

Offertory
Alive forever amen

Communion
Responses: Leon Roberts
During the distribution: You are holy, you are whole

Closing Song
Christ the Lord is risen today (EASTER HYMN)


11 AM
Hymns
Christ the Lord is risen today (EASTER HYMN)
Thine is the glory (JUDAS MACCABEUS)

Prayer Response
Halle, halle, hallelujah

Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow (with Alleluias)
(LASST UNS ERFREUEN)

Communion
Responses: Eslinger, in C
During the distribution: Sing the joy of Easter Day and
You are holy, you are whole

Benediction
GF Handel, Hallelujah, from Messiah

Instrumental/Organ Music
Prelude: Sigfried Karg-Elert, Praise the Lord
CrossRoads Brass Ensemble, Michael Barker, organ
Offertory: Arr. Lynne Trapp, The Day of resurrection
Chancel Choir, CrossRoads Brass Ensemble
Postlude: Guilmant, Voluntary on Thine is the glory

CrossRoads Brass Ensemble:
Julie Howard and Michelle Haddad, trumpets;
Herb van der Ven and Chuck
Pofalh, trombones; Will Talley, tuba

Stations of the cross

I read in Reformed Worship journal of a church that put together a Protestant Stations of the Cross (based on the Catholic devotional practice) for their worshiping community. I knew I wanted to do something similar here in Black Mountain, given the abundance of talented and dedicated artistic folks in our congregation. The plan morphed over a period of several weeks, but finally culminated in a series of five stations in our fellowship hall for Palm Sunday worship at FirstLight. We have kept the stations in place during Holy Week; the plan is to start dis-assembling them tomorrow. Folks at the early service on Sunday seemed to appreciate the experience (it took the place of a sermon on this day). And there has been a trickle of folks all week to stop in and see them also.

The first station was the upper room, site of the last supper and where Jesus washed the disciples' feet. David Kaylor used his wood carvings to create a tableau.



The second station was Jesus at prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. Fred Barkley used elements from the forest around his home to create a miniature garden that transitioned from a place of prayer, to a valley of shadows and ultimately the mount of Calvary.

The thirds station was Jesus' arrest in the garden and his trial. Gene Schimpf made a multi-media installation that included a flaming torch and a recording of a rooster crowing (emblematic of Peter's denial).


The fourth station was Jesus on the cross. Martha Jane Peterson created a new fabric banner that symbolized the torn shroud in the temple as well as the crown of thorns with which Jesus was mocked.


The last station was Jesus in the tomb. For this Andy Gwynn created a wood and wire frame for paper-mache which our children completed; all the remained was a little bit of staging to complete this tableau.



We also created a very impressive printed guide which provided scripture readings, pastoral reflections, prayers, notes about the installations and an appropriate hymn text for each station. As with any venture there is room for improvement, but we were all very pleased with this experience as the main content of a worship service for Palm Sunday and as a devotional tool during Holy Week.

You can see and read the complete descriptive piece we prepared for the stations experience here as a pdf file.

Last of the Lenten banners

These are the last two in our series of seven banners for Lent. These images were keyed to the sermons during this season, a series called "We were there." The last two are the centurion at the cross, and the women at the tomb on Easter Day. Thanks to the entire team who created these.

Farther afield

The hymn commissioned by BMPCNC is spreading. We asked Carolyn Winfrey Gillette to write a text for us dealing with the slave who was injured in the Garden of Gethsemane, and how Jesus responded to that act of violence. We sang the hymn as part of our Lenten sermon series back on March 4. Word of the hymn has gotten around Sojourners makes mention of it in this recent post. The formatting is a little messy, but the church gets a shout-out.