You Make Us New

Been there, done that.

But some things are worth doing again. And again. And again. Because every morning brings a new day, and we need all the reminding we can get.

I Like It But I Should Have Put Some Cream On It

Oh my word.

Too funny.

Not LOL funny, but astounded, sort of. Appreciative. Clever.

Any woman of a certain age ought to feel something when they watch this.

It makes me PROUD!

HT to Darrell Elder!

Never Shout Never

I am committed to PCC - not just because I work there, but because I believe so passionately in what we do. We strive to make it a place where people can feel welcome, comfortable and safe. Above all, we want people to have a relationship with God.

We believe that relationship develops in different ways, at different rates of discovery. We believe that there is undeniable, irrefutable truth to be found in the Bible. We believe that God honors obedience, and that His precepts are set out for our good.

We don't believe in legalism, but we do believe that God has designed a good way for his people to live.

We believe that a relationship with God should be vibrant and alive through every hour of every day of the week. We believe in transformation.

And we hope that people will come to our church in an effort to see God, to enter into community with others who are striving to follow the teachings of Christ. We hope that they'll come with open minds and hearts; because we believe that God will meet us there, when we gather.

And we continue to believe that something happens when we meet together, something that makes "going to church" worth the effort. I caught this video this morning and found that it makes my heart happy, to hear witness of such an honest hallelujah. It makes my heart happy, even as it makes me a little sad to know that it's sort of about rejecting church. It makes me want to strive even deeper into being creative and open and inventive enough to welcome people like Christofer Ingle (also known as Never Shout Never) into our community and make sure there's a place for him.

Because his hallelujah helps our hallelujah, which our voices sing together. We need each other.




HT to Ben Arment for linking to this vid. Good stuff.

Wicked Excited

I want to write a blog post; I have so much swirling inside of me right now that needs to be released!

But maybe that's just the pizza I ate. (Time for a confession - the "new" Dominos is good. Too good. I ate four pieces. It is disturbing to realize that I ate, basically, half a pizza.)

Lord, help me. It's nervous energy.

Anyway, I want to write all about Wicked, because we saw it today and oh my oh my oh my. What an incredible experience - what a story. I knew all of the music but I have never seen the show, and so all the blanks were filled in and I was stunned at how it unfolded. I found it an incredibly spiritual experience - there was this rich undercurrent of redemption and grace and temptation and greed and good gone bad and forgiveness....it was brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. The story stands on its own, but the sets and costumes and effects were unbelievable. I cried, more than once.

I would love to go see this show again, on this current run, just to soak it all up again. I just might do that, if $100 drops out of the sky.

I went with my mom and my girls - it was a Christmas gift - and we had a great lunch and enjoyed the show immensely.

And the rest of what is swirling around inside of me (with the pizza) is the undeniable fact that tomorrow morning our church will worship - for the first time - in our own space. We'll be in a building in which we have invested blood, sweat, tears, prayers and financial resources. It is far from perfect but it it gloriously ready for us, and tomorrow we are going to fill it with people and give credit where it is due - "Not to us, but to YOUR name be the glory..."

I can't wrap my brain around it yet. If services tomorrow are anything like rehearsal last night, I'm likely to fall over. Or stomp my foot through the platform. It was just amazing.

I love my church, the people in it, and the God who created us and loves us - oh, how he loves us.

PCC. 4480 Anderson Highway. 9:30 and 11:00 AM Sunday.

It's going to be a great day.

A Love Song For Haiti

I once heard Bill Hybels say that artists had to speak, sing, dance, write, paint, sculpt - CREATE - to say for all of us what could not be communicated any other way.

This feels like the way my heart often has ached for Haiti.

"I Don't Have A Choice, But I Still Choose You"

Posting this because it breaks my heart.

Music has that power, to take us into a story that we don't even know, and within 300 seconds reshape our understanding of a moment.

Great art holds up a mirror to our souls. A simple lyric, an ostinato on one string, the rawness of the human voice and a little dissonance. Grace. Aural grace.

I think that Kim will like this, and Jayne and Jenn and Hope and Mary Elizabeth and Angie. I hope they soak in its grace today.

HT to my brother for his impeccable musical taste and guidance.

Shine

Go shine, people.

Shine.

"In The Light" from Northland Media Design on Vimeo.

HT to Chris Vacher and Northland Church.

The Merry Old Land Of Oz

We're off.

To see the wizard, and experience something new, and broaden our days.

Sydni and I have lived at The Steward School in Richmond since 9:00 AM yesterday. Two Friday shows, three today, two more tomorrow after church - then next weekend we do it all again.

There is so much I don't know about theatre.

There is so much I don't know about sitting under a conductor.

There is so much I don't know, and it's good to be reminded of that.

A few days ago, what I didn't know terrified me.

Tonight, I have my wits about me. I've found my footing - in the music, in the conversation, and in the joy that bursts out of the music and the dancing and the acting and the sets and the costumes and all that combines to make an incredible performance.

Excellence. It honors God and inspires people.

It's a privilege to participate. And it's an honor to be stretched.

Syd's having a blast, but she's tired. And she's struggling with some sort of allergy to the makeup she's using. We have changed everything we can think of, we're dosing her with Benadryl - but she wakes up every morning with her eyes swollen nearly shut.

Plus somebody dropped a chair on her toe in school last week, and her toenail is falling off.

She's a trouper; I'm so proud of her attitude and her commitment. She inspires me in so many ways....plus she's doing a GREAT job in the show!

There's a possibility that I will have a few extra tickets for next Saturday. If you're interested, let me know....

Beautiful Music

Something oh-so-lovely to start the day, thanks to Sarah B.

Apparently there are many, many things going on around us of which we are unaware.

What else am I missing?

Birds on the Wires from Jarbas Agnelli on Vimeo.

Pesonality Patterns

Prompted by a post on Tony Morgan's blog, I took a Personality Pattern test.

Here are my results. I'd say that there are a few things listed here that are spot on. Our production team can testify to that...

1.Loose - You feel that a clean, orderly desk is the sign of a person who doesn't have enough to do. Schedules and "to do" lists feel stifling; you thrive on a sense that anything goes, and know that the world won't end if you don't clean up after finishing a job. You don't need to know that everything is in its place; it is not empowering to you to feel that the world around you is neat and organized. Mowing down every item on your "to do" list, every day, does not bring you joy.

2.Curious -You like to get to the bottom of things. You're not content knowing what someone did; you want to know why they did it. You don't simply take things as they are and move on; you're not content skimming along on the surface; you don't feel you're wasting time by digging for the meaning of things.

3. Innovative - You come up with a lot of ideas; if one doesn't work out, there's always another waiting in the wings. You often have interesting solutions to difficult problems. You're practically a one-person brainstorming session. You are less interested changing the world than in dealing with things as they are. Unlike those who spend all their time trying to solve problems, you prefer to zero in on things that work and stick with them.

4. Aesthetic - You appreciate art, beauty, and design; you know that they are not superficial but absolutely crucial to living the good life. You have good taste, and you're proud of it. Those with a high score on the "aesthetic" trait are often employed in literary or artistic professions, enjoy domestic activities — doing things around the house — and are enthusiastic about the arts, reading, and travel. You don't think it's pretentious to be moved by art and beauty. You're not one of those who believe it doesn't matter what something looks like as long as it does its job.

5. Creative - You are good at solving problems, coming up with original ideas, and seeing connections between things, connections that most other people miss. People with a high score on the "creative" trait often are employed in such fields as finance and scientific research, and enjoy avant garde and classical music as well as literary fiction and scholarly non-fiction.
You do not shun abstractions and concepts in favor of the concrete and tangible.

6. Astute - You are a quick study. You generally don't need to have things explained to you more than once. When presented with a problem, you will often have an instant understanding of where to look for the solution. You do not take your sweet time when presented with a new task to complete or problem to solve. You don't avoid assignments that require you to learn new skills.

7. Intellectual - You are thoughtful, rational, and comfortable in the world of ideas. People find you interesting to talk to. You're the living embodiment of the saying "You learn something new every day." In general, those with a high score on the "intellectual" trait are employed in such fields as teaching and research, and are enthusiastic about reading, foreign films, and classical music. You do not avoid abstract conversation, experimenting with new ideas, or studying new things. It bores you to stick to the straight and narrow of what you already know.

8. Sympathetic - You have a knack for knowing what's going on in the hearts and minds of those around you, without their having to tell you explicitly. People tend to turn to you with their problems because they know you care, and that you will likely offer good advice and a helping hand. You do not feel that people with sad stories are just looking for attention, or have brought their problems upon themselves.

9. Original - You are constantly coming up with new ideas. For you, the world as it exists is just a jumping-off place; what's going on inside your mind is often more interesting than what's going on outside. You don't feel that the road to success is to be a realist and stick to the program; you never stop yourself from coming up with new ideas or telling the world what you're thinking about.

10. Assertive - You behave in a confident and forceful manner, take charge of the situation, raise your hand in class, stand up for what you think is right, and lead others. Among those who have a high score on the "assertive" trait, many have jobs in which they are valued for their organizational skills as well as their talent for supervising others. You are not interested in fading into the woodwork, leaving everything to fate, taking more time than necessary to accomplish a task, or avoiding confrontation.

So what are your top ten traits?

Loves Like A Hurricane, I Am A Tree

A few Sundays ago, we finally used Jon Mark McMillan's How He Loves in a service.

The song is powerful, loaded with a unique opportunity for awe-struck expression. The lyrical images differ from the usual worship song fare these days.

I got to sing it. It was an honor. There is no possible way the melody and the harmonies can convey the gut-wrenching glory of four simple words, launched in repetitive declaration:

"He love us, oh how he loves us, oh how he loves us, oh how he loves..."

As the band played and sang, the painters painted. Two of our artists were incredibly moved by the song, as we were, and they expressed their declaration with paints and brushes.

Read about their experience here, where my friend Angie blogs.

And don't forget: He loves us. Oh, how he loves us.

The Universal Language

Music is universal. It's in our souls, long before we start singing in school, before Guitar Hero, beyond time signatures, sharps and flats. Before anyone in Arcade Fire picked up an instrument.

So inspired by this short clip featuring one of my favorite artists. Ever.

Enjoy, and props to my brother, who twittered this my way.

This will make your day. It made mine.

Overcome

Several folks have asked about the closing song from today's service. "Overcome" by New Life Worship is a powerful song that grew out of the challenges they faced at their church. It's a great reminder of who and what we believe to be true. (Purchase the original here.)

Sometimes a piece of music comes on that just seizes you and won't let go - because of the truth of what it says or where it comes from. Often, we have emotional responses to particular songs that have a lot to do with our own circumstances. However, from time to time, a song comes along that seems to have an immediate connection, a lasting impact and an effect on an entire group of people. Songs like "Amazing Grace" and "Holy, Holy, Holy" have endured through the years in houses of worship, while countless other hymns have fallen away and been forgotten. I believe that certain songs are anointed - literally "dedicated to the service of God", no matter when or how they are used.

Songwriters today still find new, fresh ways to express praise and thanksgiving to God. Songs are still born that seem to connect and put words to that which is unspoken and in our heart.

I'd love to hear from you - is there a song that you believe is anointed with an inexplicable something that makes it powerful for worship?

Here's the link from New Life, with an amazing demonstration of heart-felt worship. If you don't know the story behind the challenges faced by their church, you can check that out here; maybe then you'll have even greater appreciation for the power of these words they sing.

RSS and Facebook readers - there is a video here. Go to the original post to see it.

For Those Who Are Creative (Or Not)

"Is it logical or normal that we should be afraid of the work we were created to do?"

My friend Brandee directed me to this video of Elizabeth Gilbert's talk at a recent TED conference.

Stunning.

About 19 minutes, but it will fly by. I promise. I turned on the English subtitles; it helps me focus. Try it.

It's a big statement, but I believe this is mandatory for any creative person, particularly those striving to be creative in a ministry or non-profit setting. It is a vision of inspiration worth as much as any registration fee you've paid for the latest and greatest high impact conference. Gilbert acknowledges just how excruciatingly difficult it can be to keep creative juices flowing - and offers up for consideration a remarkable and different (for me, anyway) perspective on the process.

I hope you'll watch it, especially you - Kim and Jan and Terrace and Cynthia and Brian and Angie and Connie and Katie and Jenn and Sarah and Annie and Lisa and Scott and Eric and Mary Elizabeth and Nancy....

Creme Filled

When I was hired for the job I currently hold, which is something along the lines of creative arts director/minister of music/worship leader/experience coordinator (DON'T LABEL ME!!!!), my boss offered what seemed to be an incredible gift. He said, "You'll get a few weeks each year of study break. You're creative; you need to protect and care for that part of your life so that you can be here for the long haul." (Or something like that; it's a loose paraphrase.)

I was excited and sort of honored. With a background in teaching, it sounded at the time like he was handing me a mini summer vacation to keep me healthy. While it's not a vacation, it's at least a change in routine, time to read and reflect and think and pursue something other than cranking out another worship set for Sunday.

In the past four years I have worked in and around this idea of a study break. It's awkward at times, because, frankly, I know that some folks wonder what it is, why I get it and what the heck I'm doing. What makes me special as a staff member, to get three extra weeks "off"? It's a little embarrassing. 'Cause I'm all about making other people happy.

I've wrestled with this, along with trying to figure out the ebb and flow of my productivity.

And here's what I've discovered: my boss was right. I need this. And rather as a gift to me, in the long run it is all about the end result for the investment made in me by the folks who make it possible for me to pay the bills.

How do I know?

Because after two weeks away from being creative and productive (and, frankly, feeling dry and empty) - one week of study break paired with a real vacation week - I am full to overflowing with the creative energy necessary to meet my weekly responsibilities. I'm better spiritually, too; but simply based on what I am paid to do each week, I feel like a Krispy Kreme donut that just got a shot of the most delicious creme filling. I woke up this morning - early, way before the alarm - with a song floating through my head, something we needed for an upcoming service. I spent hours yesterday in planning for our next series and was thrilled with the collaborative efforts with my friend and partner and the outcome. A meeting with our missionaries resulted in the bones of an incredible service designed to honor their work, reflect the mercy of God and inspire others.

I feel like singing again. And, being an artsy sort, I can't make that happen on my own.

The bottom line is this: my boss was right. I am grateful. God is good.

And I can't wait for band rehearsal tonight!!!

More Stuff That Made Me Think

We've had some interesting discussions at PCC and at small group lately. How do we reconcile a God who offers love, grace and forgiveness to everyone with our human desire for fairness, revenge and justice?

God is love.

It's easy to say. Some of us learned it with flannel-graph images in musty Sunday School rooms. Others picked it up from Oprah, or New Age teachings, or just general random-acts-of-kindness concepts.

He loves everyone.

It's easy to say. But when it's in our face - when those who God loves are different from us, perhaps radically opposed to things that we hold dear, or even offensive - the words choke us.

God is love. God is good. And He loves everyone.

"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone–for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2.1-4

Thanks to Andy Sikora for this link, and thanks to folks like Michael Gungor - who writes amazing worship music - and Goodwin Films for being creative.

Art, Art, I Want You

There are some artists at PCC. You're seeing some of their work on Sundays, as they use the inspiration and imagination that God gave them to help us create an environment on the stage that suits the message and the series.

They're also creating things at home -cards, paintings, sculptures, graphics. They're serving in Power Jam and helping with Mega Camp.

They're everywhere!

Maybe you're one of them, too. In hiding.

We're having some conversations about how to bring more art to worship, more art to Powhatan - about opening the doors to some incredibly exciting and somewhat unbelieveable ideas.

We're dreaming big.

Want to dream with us?

Comment below, or find the PCC Visual Artists group on Facebook.

And take a look at this. It's extremely cool.

Everything At PCC

Proud of my church and our creative team.

Proud of my kids, too. That's one dancing with Jesus, and one giving her a hard time about her hair....

Great New Worship Tune

This Week At PCC

Check out some interesting conversations caught in the hallway last week at PCC:


This week's service will be built upon the questions YOU have. It's sure to be an interesting service - who knows what will happen?

Do YOU have a question? Send it our way! Email myquestion@powhatancc.org