The Story Behind “He Who is Mighty”

by Bob Kauflin in —Christmas, —Songwriting, —Sovereign Grace Music

He Who is Mighty is one of my favorite songs from our Christmas album, Prepare Him Room. Every time I’ve led it, which I’ve done both during and beyond the Christmas season, the response has been immediate and enthusiastic.

I asked Rebecca Elliott, one of the writers, to share a little of the story behind the song, which she co-wrote with Kate DeGraide.

For he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. (Luke 1:49)
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. (Isaiah 9:2)

Mary, Jesus’ mother, has always been a hero of mine, and the Magnificat is one of my favorite details of the Christmas story. In the midst of all the amazing and terrifying things God was doing in her life, her response was to sing praise and declare God’s power and faithfulness! Her courage and obedience is convicting and inspiring, and I have frequently thought of her example when asking the Lord for the strength and humility to submit to His leading in my life.

I had also never heard a song based on the Magnificat that moved my heart in the same way that reading the passage did, so when Kate and I sat down to write a Christmas song, Luke 1:46-55 was my first suggestion for a text. In retrospect, it is clear to me how appropriate it was that we were drawing inspiration from Mary’s Song mere weeks after the births of my daughter and Kate’s son. 

I am supremely grateful to have been able to work on this song with my dear friend Kate, who is a fantastic songwriter and editor. We have talked about how humbled and joyful we are to hear others sing this song in worship. It is my hope and prayer that the Lord continues to use it to edify and encourage the church, and inspire the same awe that Mary felt when she sang her song of praise and surrender to God.

Rebecca and Kate sing the song below. You can download all the sheet music at the Sovereign Grace Music website.

Parkway Worship Ministry News – Week of June 7, 2015

THIS WEEK…

Thanks again to everyone who has been filling in for me while I have been out. I was able to attend the late service last Sunday! It was great for me to be able to sit in the congregation and worship. You all sounded great!

This Wednesday, June 3^rd, rehearsal will begin at 7:00pm for only the vocal team and band that will be leading on Sunday. There will be NO CHOIR this week because the VBS stage set will be up. The VBS Kids will lead the first two songs. Jon Drury will be leading the congregational songs with the vocal team and band. Jon will be leading the altar call by himself with his acoustic guitar or piano. (NOTE TO BAND – Make sure you have ‘God Is Able’ and ‘This I Believe (The Creed)’ in the key of G. I left the charts on your stands before I left.)
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CHURCHILL DOWNS…

The Parkway Worship Ministry will be leading worship and providing the meal for the Churchill Down Chapel Service on Monday, June 22^nd. WE WILL BE CARPOOLING. (The church vans will be at camp with the students.) I will be leaving from the church at 5:00pm, if anyone would like to meet there and carpool. Otherwise, you can meet at the Churchill Downs Chapel at 6:00pm. We will be singing songs we’re very familiar with, since we won’t be having an extra rehearsal for this. The Service is at 7:00pm with a meal (Lee’s Famous Recipe) immediately following. I hope to see you all there!
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UPCOMING SCHEDULE…

Wednesday, June 3^rd –
7:00pm – Vocal Team & Band Rehearsal (David Vincent, drums; Jon Drury, Worship Leader; NO CHOIR)

Sunday, June 7^th – VOCAL TEAM & BAND; JON DRURY, WORSHIP LEADER (NO CHOIR – VBS Kick-off Sunday)
8:00am – Vocal Team & Band Sound Check & Rehearsal
9:00am & 10:30am – Sunday Morning Worship Gathering
12:00pm-2:00pm – Worship Planning Team Meeting

Wednesday, June 10^th –NO REHEARSAL

Sunday, June 14^th – FULL TEAM (CHOIR & BAND)
8:00am – Vocal Team & Band Sound Check & Rehearsal
9:00am & 10:30am – Sunday Morning Worship Gathering
CLICK HERE for the complete JUNE 2015 SCHEDULE.
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SCRIPTURE FOR THIS SUNDAY
“You shall not steal.” – Exodus 20:15 ESV
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SUNDAY MORNING MUSIC… (6/7)
SOUND CHECK/REHEARSAL: 8:00am
SERVICE TIMES: 9 & 10:30am

LINKS FOR THIS SUNDAY
   Planning Center Online
   PCO Public View
   PDF of Service Order
   Spotify Playlist
   YouTube Playlist

Journey Off The Map – VBS These Song (Kids will lead)
The Way – VBS Song (Kids will lead)
God Is Able – PraiseCharts in G
This I Believe (The Creed) – PraiseCharts in G
Lord I Need You – PraiseCharts in A (Jon will lead w/ acoustic guitar only)
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Follow Parkway Worship Ministry on
Facebook, Twitter, Blog, YouTube,  iTunes and Vimeo.

“None of Self and All of Thee”

“None of Self and All of Thee”.

Leading Worship Without a Microphone

Leading Worship Without a Microphone.

PARKWAY WORSHIP MINISTRY NEWS WEEK OF AUGUST 12, 2012

WORSHIP CHOIR TO BEGIN…
There will be an orientation/informational meeting on Wednesday, August 22^nd at 7:30pm to ‘kick-off’ the Fall season with the Worship Team.  If you or someone you know would like to sing in the Worship Choir or Vocal Team, or play in our Worship Band, you must plan to attend.  This will be the perfect opportunity for you to bring a guest or invite someone back who hasn’t sung with us in a while!!!  Please be in prayer over our Worship Ministry and how you can serve as a part of it.  I can’t wait to see you all back in a couple of weeks!!
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MUSIC FOR THE BOOK OF DANIEL…
So that you can begin to prepare for the upcoming Sermon Series from the Book of Daniel, I have created a ‘playlist’ on Planning Center Online that includes all the songs that we will do throughout the series. Most are familiar, a few a new, and a few are new arrangements of songs we already know. Some songs are on this list multiple times because we have made them available in multiple keys. If you want the ‘original’ artist’s recordings in the original keys, you may get them from iTunes, Spotify, or Amazon. (Most songs have direct links to iTunes and Amazon on PCO.)

I encourage you to begin listening to and learning these songs!
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THIS WEEK…
This Sunday’s Worship Team will have rehearsal this Wednesday, August 8th at 7:30pm to prepare for this Sunday, August 12^th. Only Worship Team members leading this week need to attend this rehearsal.  See below for information about this Sunday’s services.
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WORSHIP MUSIC FOR THIS SUNDAY… (8/12)
To view this service, click here to log in to your PCO (Planning Center Online) account,
or click here to view without logging in, or to download the PDF click here.
SERIES: JESUS
SERMON TITLE: The Messiah
SCRIPTURE: Mark 10:46-52
SOUND CHECK: 8.15am – BLUE Vocal Team & Band
SERVICE TIMES: 9am & 10.30am
COLOR: TBA
NOTE:  Measure cuts and transitions are indicated on PCO.
Mighty To Save – PraiseCharts
Jesus Messiah – PraiseCharts
Forever Reign – PraiseCharts
Overcome – PraiseCharts
Stay Amazed – PraiseCharts
Great I Am – PraiseCharts
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SCRIPTURE FOR THIS WEEK…
Jesus Heals Blind Bartimaeus (Listen)
And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside.  And when he heard that it wasJesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”  And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”  And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.”  And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus.  And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.”  And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.
-Mark 10:46-52
ESV Bible Online
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HAVE A BLESSED WEEK!

PARKWAY WORSHIP MINISTRY NEWS WEEK OF JULY 22, 2012

THE BOOK OF DANIEL…
Our Worship Planning Team met on Monday to choose the song list for the upcoming series from the Book of Daniel (which begins on August 19^th).  We are very excited about the upcoming series and we pray you are too.  I’ll publish the song list later this week or early next week, so you can go ahead a get an early start on learning the songs!
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THIS WEEK…
We have rehearsal this Wednesday, July 18^th at 7:00pm to prepare for this Sunday, July 22^nd.   Only Worship Team members leading this week need to attend this rehearsal.  See below for information about this Sunday’s services.
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WORSHIP MUSIC FOR THIS SUNDAY… (7/22)
To view this service, click here to log in to your PCO (Planning Center Online) account,
or click here to view without logging in, or to download the PDF click here.
SERIES: JESUS
SERMON TITLE: Defender of Marriage
SCRIPTURE: Mark 10:1-12
SOUND CHECK: 8.15am – ORANGE Vocal Team & Band
SERVICE TIMES: 9am & 10.30am
COLOR: Green/Black/Khaki
NOTE:  Measure cuts and transitions are indicated on PCO.
Blessed Be Your Name – PraiseCharts
Always – PraiseCharts
Holy Holy Holy (Savior King) – PraiseCharts
From the Inside Out – PraiseCharts
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SCRIPTURE FOR THIS WEEK…
Teaching About Divorce
And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to him again. And again, as was his custom, he taught them.

And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”  He answered them, “What did Moses command you?”  They said,“Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.” And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.  But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. And he said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

-Mark 10:1-12
ESV Bible Online
Listen
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HAVE A BLESSED WEEK!

Follow the Parkway Baptist Church on Facebook, Twitter, Blog, Vimeo and iTunes.

PARKWAY WORSHIP MINISTRY NEWS WEEK OF JULY 8, 2012

THIS WEEK…
I hope you had a fun and safe Independence Day on Wednesday!  Sorry to be sending this late this week, but since there was no rehearsal on Wednesday I decided to wait until after the holiday!
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WORSHIP MUSIC FOR THIS SUNDAY… (7/8)
To view this service, click here to log in to your PCO (Planning Center Online) account,
or click here to view without logging in, or to download the PDF click here.
SERIES: JESUS
SERMON TITLE: King of a Unique Kingdom
SCRIPTURE: Mark 9:30-41
SOUND CHECK: 8.15am – RED Vocal Team & Band
SERVICE TIMES: 9am & 10.30am
COLOR: Red/Black/Khaki
NOTE:  Measure cuts and transitions are indicated on PCO.
How Great Is The Love – PraiseCharts
Your Great Name – PraiseCharts
Forever Reign – PraiseCharts
Great I Am – PraiseCharts
Jesus Paid It All – PraiseCharts
Jesus Messiah – PraiseCharts
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SCRIPTURE FOR THIS WEEK…
Jesus Again Foretells Death, Resurrection
They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.

Who Is the Greatest?
And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”

Anyone Not Against Us Is for Us
John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For the one who is not against us is for us. For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.

-Mark 9:30-41
www.youversion.com
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HAVE A BLESSED WEEK!

PARKWAY WORSHIP MINISTRY NEWS WEEK OF MAY 27, 2012

TONIGHT’S REHEARSAL and MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND…
Just to remind you all… THERE IS REHEARSAL TONIGHT FOR THE CHOIR & BAND!  We will meet at 7:30pm in the choir room.  I don’t have a video tonight, so we’ll have scripture and prayer, then get to rehearsing.  We will be looking at a couple of the new songs we’re introducing in June…”Always” and “The Great Day”.

The Choir will not be leading this Sunday, since so many are out for Memorial Day Weekend.  The Vocal Team and Band for Sunday will follow our regular schedule.
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CHURCHILL DOWNS…
We will be traveling to Churchill Downs to lead their Chapel Service on Monday, June 4^th at 7:00pm.  We will taking the Band and Worship Choir.  MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
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WORSHIP MUSIC FOR THIS SUNDAY… (5/27)
To view this service, click here to log in to your PCO (Planning Center Online) account,
or click here to view without logging in, or download the complete order here in PDF.

SERIES: JESUS
SCRIPTURE: Mark 7:31-37
SERVICE TIMES: 9am & 10.30am
COLOR:  Tan/Khaki/Navy Blue
NOTE:  Measure cuts and transitions are indicated on PCO.
The Same Love – PraiseCharts
More Than Amazing – PraiseCharts
Stay Amazed – PraiseCharts
Your Great Name – PraiseCharts
The Saving One – PraiseCharts Lead Sheet (duet w/acoustic guitar)
Shout to the Lord – PraiseCharts
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SCRIPTURE FOR THIS WEEK…
Jesus Heals a Deaf Man
Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
-Mark 7:31-37
www.youversion.com
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2012 SCHEDULES & STUFF…
The new schedules for Media, Vocals and Band are available.  You can download them from the links below, or pick on up at church.
MEDIA TEAM SCHEDULE JAN-JUN 2012
VOCAL TEAM SCHEDULE JAN-JUN 2012
BAND SCHEDULE JAN-JUN 2012
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HAVE A BLESSED WEEK!

PARKWAY WORSHIP MINISTRY NEWS WEEK OF MAY 20, 2012

CHURCHILL DOWNS…
We have been invited back to Churchill Downs to lead their Chapel Service on Monday, June 4^th at 7:00pm.  We will taking the Band and Worship Choir.  MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
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WORSHIP CHOIR & BAND…
Here is the schedule we will follow on Wednesday evening:
7:30-7:45pm… Everyone in Choir Room
7:45-8:30pm… separate rehearsal time
8:30-9:00pm… joint rehearsal in WC

Here is the Sunday morning schedule:
8:15am – Band and Vocal Team Sound Check
8:30am – Choir Sound Check
8:45am – Break
8:50am – Meet in Choir Room for Scripture & Prayer
8:55am – Band and Vocal Team on Platform

See below for a list of the music we will be working on this week.
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WEDNESDAY WORSHIP PREPARATION…
Music for this coming weekend is listed below.  In addition to the service music for Sunday, The Choir will be working on the following:
Your Great Name – PraiseCharts (for 5/27 & 6/10)
Always – PraiseCharts (for 6/3)
How Great Is The Love – PraiseCharts (for 6/10)
The Great Day – Octavo (for 6/17)
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WORSHIP MUSIC FOR THIS SUNDAY… (5/20)
To view this service, click here to log in to your PCO (Planning Center Online) account,
or click here to view without logging in, or download the complete order here in PDF.
SERIES: JESUS
SERMON TITLE: The Savior of Gentiles
SCRIPTURE: Mark 7:24-30
SOUND CHECK: BLUE Vocal Team & Band – 8.15am / Worship Choir – 8.30am
SERVICE TIMES: 9am & 10.30am
COLOR:  White/Gray/Black
NOTE:  Measure cuts and transitions are indicated on PCO.
Victory In Jesus – Jesus Saves Live book
Blessed Be Your Name – PraiseCharts
Jesus Saves – PraiseCharts (Jeremy Camp song)
The Saving One – PraiseCharts Lead Sheet (duet w/acoustic guitar)
Just As I Am – When the Stars Burn Down book
Great I Am – PraiseCharts
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SCRIPTURE FOR THIS WEEK…
The Syrophoenician Woman’s Faith
And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.
-Mark 7:24-30
www.youversion.com
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2012 SCHEDULES & STUFF…
The new schedules for Media, Vocals and Band are available.  You can download them from the links below, or pick on up at church.
MEDIA TEAM SCHEDULE JAN-JUN 2012
VOCAL TEAM SCHEDULE JAN-JUN 2012
BAND SCHEDULE JAN-JUN 2012
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HAVE A BLESSED WEEK!

PARKWAY WORSHIP MINISTRY NEWS WEEK OF MAY 13, 2012

CHURCHILL DOWNS…
We have been invited back to Churchill Downs to lead their Chapel Service on Monday, June 4^th at 7:00pm.  We will taking the Band and Worship Choir.  MARK YOUR CALENDAR!  I will have more details at rehearsal on Wednesday.
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WORSHIP CHOIR & BAND…
I hope you’ve had a great week so far!  I’d like to begin this week by revisiting some points I made last week regarding your personal rehearsal and preparation time:

1.   Remember to rehearse on your own.  Please try to spend one hour with your music prior to Wednesday’s rehearsal and one hour prior to Sunday’s services.  You should be getting a rehearsal reminder from Planning Center around 10:00am every Monday.  Take a few minutes to look over the upcoming service and make sure you have all the correct charts prior to arriving on Wednesday.  If you are missing anything, please let me know before you arrive on Wednesday (not after rehearsal begins).

Here is the schedule we will follow on Wednesday evening:
7:30-7:45pm… Everyone in Choir Room
7:45-8:30pm… separate rehearsal time
8:30-9:00pm… joint rehearsal in WC

Here is the Sunday morning schedule:
8:15am – Band and Vocal Team Sound Check
8:30am – Choir Sound Check
8:45am – Break
8:50am – Meet in Choir Room for Scripture & Prayer
8:55am – Band and Vocal Team on Platform

2.   I want to challenge you to get out of the printed music as much as possible.  Try to memorize one song from each week’s set-list.  Many times we tend to become so focused on what’s on our music stand (or for vocalists, what’s projected on the back wall) that we forget to focus on God and engage with our congregation.

3.   Please be on time!  (I’ve been late a couple of times myself during the past couple of months.)  We really need to keep a tight schedule on Wednesday evening and, especially on Sunday morning, so that we can have time to ‘be still’ and pray before the service begins.

4.   Check PlanningCenterOnline.com 24 hours prior to Sunday’s services for the final service order.  We (the staff) sometimes make last minute changes.   The service order for Sunday is usually finalized by the time I leave the office on Thursday afternoon.  You should be getting an email from Planning Center every Friday morning around 10:00am regarding Sunday’s services.  Take a second to view the service and make note of anything that may have changed.

5.   Most importantly…DON’T FORGET TO PRAY!  We need to be in constant prayer for our worship team, our staff and our congregation.  I thank those of you who remained after rehearsal on Wednesday to pray for those who will be filling the pews this weekend.  We also need to be in constant praise and worship to God.   Ask HIM to empower us to lead His people into His presence this weekend, and then be open to receive that empowerment.

See below for a list of the music we will be working on this week.
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WEDNESDAY WORSHIP PREPARATION…
Music for this coming weekend is listed below.  In addition to the service music for Sunday, The Choir will be working on the following:
Your Great Name – PraiseCharts (for 5/27 & 6/10)
Always – PraiseCharts (for 6/3)
How Great Is The Love – PraiseCharts (for 6/10)
The Great Day – Octavo (for 6/17)
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WORSHIP MUSIC FOR THIS SUNDAY… (5/13)
To view this service, click here to log in to your PCO (Planning Center Online) account,
or click here to view without logging in, or download the complete order here in PDF.
SERIES: JESUS
SERMON TITLE: The Purity Pursuer
SCRIPTURE: Mark 7:14-23
SOUND CHECK: RED Vocal Team & Band – 8.15am / Worship Choir – 8.30am
SERVICE TIMES: 9am & 10.30am
COLOR:  SPRING COLOR PALETTE (Note: You CAN wear lighter shades of these colors.)
Jesus Messiah – PraiseCharts
Mighty To Save – PraiseCharts
Jesus Paid It All – PraiseCharts
The Same Love – PraiseCharts
From the Inside Out – PraiseCharts
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SCRIPTURE FOR THIS WEEK…
What Defiles a Person
And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
-Mark 7:14-23
www.youversion.com
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2012 SCHEDULES & STUFF…
The new schedules for Media, Vocals and Band are available.  You can download them from the links below, or pick on up at church.
MEDIA TEAM SCHEDULE JAN-JUN 2012
VOCAL TEAM SCHEDULE JAN-JUN 2012
BAND SCHEDULE JAN-JUN 2012
SPRING COLOR PALETTE
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HAVE A BLESSED WEEK!