Christmas

The Christmas season is such a wonderful time! It would take me too long to mention all the great things that happened during this year's Living Christmas Tree, our Sunday morning services are so joyful as we sing the music of Christmas, the lights on houses are festive, the baby gate around our tree at home keeps the little ones from hauling off all of the ornaments or climbing up the tree, family and friends are all smiles as each new Christmas event takes place ... it's just a great time of year.

I hope you are taking time from the hectic pace of the holidays to relax a little and enjoy all the things happening around you. And then don't just be a spectator, join in the song and the fun and the festivities and the food.

We'll be singing some of your favorite Christmas carols and songs this Sunday morning at 8:30 and 9:45 and then again on Christmas Eve at 5:00. Bring your family. Sit with your children (they need to be with you in a service now and then - and more often than not if you ask me - which I guess if you're reading my blog, you did ask me. hahaha)

Here are two of my favorite pictures from Christmas. Can you find the differences?

BIG Rehearsal Night

Tonight's rehearsal begins at 6:00! This is earlier than the usual time. Spread the word.

If you have a student or family member as part of the cast please have them bring their costume tonight. They don't have to wear them for the rehearsal, but they need to be seen in them to make sure everything is ready for dress rehearsal tomorrow.

We are expecting REALLY BIG crowds. We have given away more tickets than we maybe should have. The excitement has caught on and we are getting tons of calls every day asking for more tickets. We're out! (And we printed a few more than we actually have seats for.....)

See you tonight at 6:00.

Rehearsal Schedule

I hate not posting regularly, but the last few weeks have been pretty crazy! If Abe Lincoln had followed the church calendar he wouldn't have put Thanksgiving so close to the beginning of Advent! Too much to do to take a weekend off.

Here is our rehearsal schedule if for some odd reason you have missed it.

Sunday, Dec. 6, 5:00 - all choirs walk through (and sing some) the whole program

Monday, Dec. 7, 6:00 - orchestra rehearsal - soloists can come by and sing their song

Tuesday, Dec. 8 - take the night off - go to supper with your family

Wednesday, Dec. 9, 6:00 - ALL choirs, church orchestra members, all cast

Thursday, Dec. 10, 6:00 - dress rehearsal with EVERYONE and orchestra

Friday, Dec. 11, 6:30 call, 7:00 performance (whichever children's choir is singing pre-tree needs to be here at 6:00)

Saturday, Dec. 12, 6:30 call, 7:00 performance (whichever children's choir is singing pre-tree needs to be here at 6:00)

Sunday, Dec. 13, 2:30 call, 3:00 performance (whichever children's choir is singing pre-tree needs to be here at 2:00)

We have given out over 850 tickets for every performance so far and that is before the door knockers go out Sunday and radio ads start and newspaper article is printed. Tell your family and friends to come early to get a good seat!

WOOOHOOOOO! It's gonna be great!

Dreaming of a White Christmas

If you click this picture it will open up in a larger size - Perfect for copying and using as a poster to invite family and friends.

Christ the King

Baptists don't generally follow the liturgical church year as many other denominations do. Probably because of years of trying to show that we are independent and not a break off of the Catholic church. And that's OK. But I have discovered over the years that there are some very nice things about the church year.

For one thing, you don't accidentally skip important church teachings. I suppose it would be possible - well, actually, I know from experience - to not talk about the Holy Spirit for an entire year. (Names will not be shared to protect the guilty.) Knowing when Pentecost is and singing and preaching about the Holy Spirit on that Sunday helps make sure the church knows about the work and power of the Holy Spirit.

For the past twenty plus years I have led the churches I have been serving in to celebrate Advent. I'll post about Advent later.

Advent is the beginning of the church calendar.

The last Sunday of the church calendar is "Christ the King" Sunday. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christ_the_King

Here are some verses that refer to Jesus as our King.

1 Timothy 1:17 CSB
Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Read 1 Timothy 1 View in parallel Compare Translations

Revelation 15:2-4 They held harps given them by God 3 and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb: "Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages.

Revelation 19:16 NIV
On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Matthew Mark and John all have verses where Jesus is called "King of Israel."


Sunday we are singing songs about Christ the King.

Sing to the King
O Worship the King
You Are My King

Join us Sunday as we Sing to the King!

Music for November 15

As I was sitting here thinking about tomorrow's music I wondered how late Mrs. Irene checks the blog. She always likes to see ahead of time what we will be singing in worship. I think she practices the ones she doesn't know and looks up the ones that may be new. A good example for all of us.

Tomorrow morning we are singing B.B. McKinney's great song "Glorious Is Thy Name" with a chorus I wrote years ago called "Glorious Mighty God."

The choir is going to sing "Our God Saves" and the congregation will follow that with "Mighty to Save."

The last set of music will be songs about the blood of Jesus - "Nothing but the Blood," Are You Washed in the Blood" and "The Blood will Never Lose Its Power" followed by one of my favorite new choruses "Covers Me for Life."

Believe it or not, some denominations have taken references to the blood of Christ out of their hymnals. They think "bloody" hymns aren't appropriate for modern people. They have turned their back on the Gospel. Hebrews 9:22 says, "In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." People don't like to hear about the blood because they don't want to admit they are sinners in need of a Savior.

A Day in Nashville - Some Balance?

I love Nashville. It's a great city. Today, MLW (my lovely wife) and our girls (daughter and daughter-in-law and Hannah) are going to Santa's Village. Fun! I'm spending the morning as Papa with the two three year olds - Elam and Benjamin. Hmm, now that I think about it, Benjamin won't be three until February.



I have tons of things to do to get ready for "the Tree" but it's also important to spend time with family. We need balance in our life. In our work, work, work society our work - our jobs - are considered the most important thing in life.



Guess what. It's not! Your relationship with our Lord Jesus is most important, then your spouse, then the rest of your family (grandbabies, kids, parents, etc.) THEN perhaps work.



There are times that you have to spend more time at work. I add a lot of hours to my work week during "the Tree" and the Passion Play, but even during those times I have times that I give undivided attention to my family.



Even though I am going to spend time at the park with the three year olds, while I'm in Nashville I'm going to JoAnn's for fabric for costumes and to Old Time Pottery for tree stuff.



OK, this is a really boring post. Oh well, I thought it was important for you all to think about work and family. Check your life and see if you have some balance. Do your best at your work. Give your family time for just them (no work in the background).