From the Mind of MandoRon

Hey good people of Wichita!

My very good friend, Carmen Kamps, is trying to find her 16-year-old daughter that ran away 5 months ago.  They believe that she is still in Wichita based on occasional phone calls and contact with friends.  Last week, Carmen recorded this song as a plea for Ashlynn to come home.

Please check out the video and let the Kamps family know if you’ve seen her.  They are asking that you either email them at ashlynncomehome@gmail.com or call 911.

Also, I’m sure the Kamps family would covet your prayers.  It’s been hard 5 months for them, and I can’t imagine what they’ve gone through.

Thanks!

It was good to be playing in church again this morning!  It’s been 4 or 5 weeks due to travel, a sick kid, and a planned (but not taken…) vacation.

We mixed things up a bit at GracePoint this morning.  Bryson spoke about worship, and we alternated back and forth all morning between music and his message.  I think it was pretty effective, although I wouldn’t want to do it every week since the band stayed onstage for the whole service…  It’s hard to be still and not be distracting…

This week was also notable because it was the first time that I’ve ever been the only guitarist.  Usually, I’m playing rhythm with someone else playing lead.  I thought it went pretty well overall.  It helps to play musicians that are so incredibly talented.

The Setlist:

I Run to You by Lady Antebellum.  We first used this song during the country series earlier this year.  It’s a fun little tune, even if it is a country song…  Thomas and Christina did a great job on the vocals!

Bryson spoke for about 10 minutes about why we use secular songs, the importance of worship in our lives, and about “horizontal worship”.

Let God Arise by Chris Tomlin.  One of my favorite Tomlin songs!

Breath by Jeremy Camp.  One of my favorite Camp songs!  Had a little glitch with my effects pedals in the 1st service, and completely blanked out on the outro in the 2nd service…  It’s always frustrating when you just suddenly forget part of a song.  Especially when it’s one you’ve played a lot.

Bryson now spoke on the subject of “vertical worship” and improving our relationship with God through worship.  He made a really good point that we need to make time to just ”be still” and connect with Him.

Hosanna by Hillsong United.  This song has such powerful lyrics.  I love the bridge: “break my heart for what breaks Yours.”  Rod played a tasty little keys solo in the middle.

Finally I Surrender by Misty Edwards.  It’s a very simple song, but it’s an awesome one.  It was amazing to see people on their knees crying out to God as we played and sang this one.  If you’ve never heard it, I suggest you check it out.

Bryson wrapped up by teaching about offering as worship.

Set Me Free by Casting Crowns (offering).  We’ve been playing this one for years.  Great song!

The band:  Christina - vocals, Thomas - vocals, Deric - drums, Gil - bass, Rod - keys, Ronnie (me) - electric guitar.

Be sure to check out more Sunday Setlists over at TheWorshipCommunity.com.

[Edit: I should probably point out that Ed has started loading the worship podcasts onto itunes again. The technical glitches with the recording equipment have apparently been solved... You can find the last 3 weeks on there now.]

It was good to be back in church yesterday for the first time in three weeks!  Two weeks ago, I was home with my sick daughter.  Then last week, she was in the hospital. So as you can imagine, it was nice for us all to go to church again…

This Sunday, we kicked off the the last sermon series in our rented facility.  Now there are only two more weeks at Maize South!  Then it’s on to GracePoint’s permanant facility!  So exciting!

The Setlist:

• Give A Little Bit - Goo Goo Dolls version (walk-in)
• Awakening - Switchfoot
• Broadcast - Fee
• God of This City - Chris Tomlin version
• Revelation Song - Jesus Culture version
• Love Revolution - Lenny Kravtiz (offering)

Give A Little Bit is a song we learned last year for a series on Giving.  Very fun song, but it’s got a ton of different sections which makes it kind of tricky.  Gil did a great job on the vocals.

Awakening used to be in pretty regular rotation but we haven’t played it in a while.  Great song!

Broadcast … I’ve always thought of this as just a fun, upbeat, get-your-blood-pumping song.  However, the lyrics jumped out at me this week (perhaps based on some new perspective in life…)  The verses are really powerful.  For example, “I know a name that is higher than any name.”

God of This City … speaking of powerful lyrics…  Don’t tell anyone, but I leaked a few tears when I heard Carmen sing this at practice Saturday.  In case you don’t know, “there is no one like our God”.  If you’re not familiar with the story behind this song, I’d encourage you to read this blog post about God of This City.

Revelation Song is such an awesome, powerful song.  Not much else I can say…

Love Revolution was the only new song in the set.  A very cool, funky song with great lyrics.  Tommy did a great job on the guitar solo.

The band: Carmen - vocals, Gil - vocals, Chris - drums, Carlos - bass, Tommy - lead guitar, Rod - keys

For more Sunday Setlists, be sure to check out the Sunday Setlist Blog Carnival over at TheWorshipCommunity.com.

Since I didn’t make it to church this morning (sick kid…), I asked my good friend, Rod Nance, to make another guest appearance.  Thanks Rod!

Welcome back to another Sunday Setlist.  This week is brought to you by the words Sun and Burn.

With each day passing bringing us closer to the opening of GracePoint Westlink, we had a big block party on Saturday.   The morning was filled with volunteers helping throughout the neighborhood - trimming, cleaning, mowing, painting, and lots and lots of sweating.  The neighborhood project was followed up by the block party at the soon-to-be GracePoint Westlink which included clowns, (yeah I know there was only one official one but don’t forget we also had Gil on the premise.)  There were snow cones, hot dogs, popcorn and lots and lots of heat!  As it turned out, yesterday, June 26^th, was the hottest day so far this year.  The excitement was soon quelled by the GracePoint band, Edge of Grace.  (Only kidding.)  Actually, thoughi it was a great set by Edge of Grace followed up Sunday with lots of red faces and burnt shoulders and necks.  OK, on with the Sunday Setlist.

We are still in the Soul Revolution series and Bryson put it to us to put God first.  At one point he had the congregation divided into two with one side yelling back and forth at each other.  “Stay Connected” and “Fruit Happens”.  Not sure I have ever seen that, but then again I never thought I would see spider man in church either.   (I really can’t explain that because it is just too disturbing still.)  Ok, here we go.

Cross the Line by Superchick

This is a new one that I believe Christina brought to everyone’s attention.  A good Rock tune to get people up and moving.  Christina nailed the song and Tommy on guitar just plain nailed it.

Say Say by Kristin Stanfill

We have done this one a couple of times and it is a great song to continue the high energy and move us into worship.  Thomas has that kind of vocal sound that just fits so well and sounds so right.  Excellent job Thomas.

Let God Arise by Chris Tomlin

This has been around for quite a while and always sends out a great message.  Thomas belted this one out.

Sing to the King - Passion version

This has been used many a time here at GracePoint and it still really gets the crowd into the worship atmosphere.  Christina did an excellent job of getting the congregation singing. 

My Savior My God by Aaron Shust

I don’t think that this has been in the rotation for a while and it was really nice to have it back.  Tommy did a great job of making one guitar cover two parts.  Thomas lifted the song up and the congregation followed.

Hope Now by Addison Road

Christina led the worship on this and she has sung it before and I for one really enjoy hearing her as did the congregation.  

This weeks band:

• Skins - Deric
• Bass - Gil
• Guitar - Tommy
• Keys - Rod
• Vocals - Christina and Thomas

Well that is it for this week.  Thanx for stopping by and don’t forget to check out more Sunday Setlists at TheWorshipCommunity.com. 

One a side note…  While I was watching the CBS evening news on Sunday, they had a story about how people are being affected down by the oil spill areas and happened to show a church having worship that was having a contemporary type worship.  On the projector screens you could see the words to “Let God Arise”, so I thought that was interesting seeing that those affected are keeping their faith up and letting God take care of them.

Peace.

Let me begin by saying HAPPY FATHER’S DAY! 

We are in the middle of the Soul Revolution series at GracePoint, and Bryson spoke a lot this morning about men and the church.  He mentioned that he thinks the church has emasculated men by turning church into a “chick flick”.  In hindsight, I think the music was probably more “chick flick” than “Rocky-Rambo Rock & Roll”…  But oh well…

The setlist:

• How to Save a Life by The Fray (walk-in & exit)
• Rise and Sing by Fee
• Break Free by Hillsong United
• Solid Rock by Delirious
• Where You Go I Go by Jesus Culture
• Beautiful, Beautiful by Francesca Battistelli (0ffering)

How to Save a Life is one we used to do quite a bit, but it had been probably two years.  Good song!  Maybe a little mellow for the walk-in…  I’ll have to think about that…

Rise and Sing is a great song that we introduced on Easter. 

Break Free is one of those that you can’t help but bob your head to.  Dancing is also encouraged.

Solid Rock seems to be a GP favorite.  It’s got a lot of fun little musical elements to it.  Rod always adds some very nice Stevie Wonder-esque keys to the song.  Jeff’s slide guitar during the rap was also very cool.  And the lyrics are solid!

Where You Go I Go is new to Sunday mornings.  We’ve used it at the worship nights earlier this year, but not on a Sunday morning.  I’d love to hear your thoughts on this one.  I have mixed feelings.  The lyrics are awesome and it’s easy to sing along with due to all the repetition in it.  I love the music, but I find it rather dark and moody.  Add a comment and let me know what you thought of it.

Beautiful, Beautiful is a new one.  You’ve probably been hearing it on the radio a lot lately.  I thought the band did a great job, but in hindsight, it was maybe a little too pretty for a Father’s Day where Bryson preached about men need action & adventure in the church…

The band: Carmen - vocals, Gil - vocals, Jeff - electric guitar, Bruce - electric guitar, Eron - bass (Eron is celebrating his first Father’s day today…), Rod - keys, and Chris - drums.

Be sure to check out more Sunday Setlists over at TheWorshipCommunity.com.  I always find it interesting to read what other churches are doing.

Have an awesome week!