The Night of Worship

I LOVE helping to design Easter and Christmas, those include story writers, videographers, talented musicians and band leaders - but working on the Night of Worship feels more like an orchestration of God's people instead of the elements.

The concept is pretty straight forward.  Identify a few creative key elements, suggest a song or two  that need to be included in order for a creative element to work, determine the length of the service, write or locate any spoken word pieces, artists or dancers and ask our Pastor for key scriptures...

But what I love about it most is watching barriers between ministries breakdown, people stepping out of their little box and away from theological difference to visually and physically create the definition of COMMUNITY.

I mentioned to someone recently, I believe God intends to use any negative experience in our lives to either prepare us for something in the future, or allow us to use that to drive change where we see it needs to happen.  That is what the Night of Worship has personally become to me.

I grew up in a protective, loving, small church but the older I got the more I realized we were extremely inward focused, unwilling to join forces in the community with other churches and highly critical of any theological idea that didn't line up exactly with ours.  I am so grateful for their current leadership which has totally changed all of that.  Although I am unwilling to waiver on what I've studied and believe God teaches in His Word about the absolutes of Christianity and am myself determined not to accept every theological idea that comes along even if that is an unpopular stand to take, I think there can be events like the Night of Worship where we get to experience just a tiny, tiny glimpse of what heaven will be like when we can put all that fussing aside about differing opinions, because we'll be on our faces before our creator, completely sorry we wasted one minute worrying about what others were doing wrong.

As we create the Night of Worship, I get to reach out to other pastors, musicians, artists and congregations inviting them into the process...creating together something that will remain in our communities hearts for eternity!

Our first meetings with worship leaders was when we pitched the concept for this year and began to select music together.

We then pre-recorded the main worship leaders to use as our promo - this was an amazing experience!

Next we took amazing Eric and Eric, our video/audio guys downtown to record our pastor's spoken word video - I stood and cried during a lot of this process.   First of all I know how crazy pastors' schedules are, so it always humbles me when we can get them all at the same time to create together! And secondly - the visual of unity it creates for a community is powerful!

Pastors Spoken word video

Powerful unity!

One of the other things we agreed on was to use this gathering as a chance to surround a cause in our community.  We decided that cause would be to help Richland Pregnancy Services purchase their new Ultrasound machine!

I organized an interview with Scott Saunders at WVMC for the Director of RPS and Pastor Dave to begin to let people know ahead of time that we would be taking an offering.

Pastor Dave Vance and Pam Crank

And it made us so thankful when the offering that night was nearly $20,000.00!  This night now was both a celebration of spiritual life-change as we worshipped together, as well as helping to save the physical lives of babies!  To God be the glory!!

Next was the artist pieces of the performance to organize!  When we began to discuss the 'live performance' painting we wanted as part of the Night of Worship I asked Shawn Smith how large he wanted it, he said, "10X10".  Neither of us realized just how huge that would be, but it turned out to be the exact size needed to really have impact in the service!  (My hubby and I had to turn it corner to corner, to get it out the churches' garage doors!)

We sent Shawn (the artist) this picture of the finished canvas
to give him the perspective of size - a little larger than we thought!

The day came to transport it to the Renaissance and man was that something!

We stuck parking attendants flags on either side and followed
with flashers going.

Notice the beautiful blue sky!  We were pulling out within 10 minutes after this pictures was taken but as we turned the corner a clamp on the canvas shot across the parking lot!  And after fixing that  and we attempted to pull out onto the street behind the church all the tape flew off that Shawn had previously painted over, so that had to all be redone.  After stopping and gathering up all the tape a single cloud followed us all the way to the theatre POURING on us!  The canvas was drenched when we got there so we fired up the fans.  I swore the enemy was trying to discourage us or prevent the painting from happening.  I knew then, this is going to be powerful!  And it was!

Shawn worshipped while he painted and it was so amazing!

This amazing painting is for sale at Crossroads until this
weekend.  All proceeds go toward the Richland Pregnancy
Center's Ultrasound machine.

Finally rehearsals began!

Vocal Rehearsals were first at Crossroads

Then came rehearsal the night before the concert...

Everyone worked so hard! 

All the work, all the papers, all the emails, all the calls and discussion was done
and final rehearsal was now!

Everyone had prepared well, so there was nothing left to do but to worship!

It was packed!

Our pastors read scripture

Pastor Dave and Pam Crank prepared us for the offering

Rachel did a beautiful job painting!

Truly a Night of Worship to remember!

I will count it a privilege forever to have been part of this evening!  I believe we presented our best to the Lord and worshiped as one!

rehearsing to worship well

I think this is the 19th Easter I've had the privilege to be part of at Crossroads, and it's the first one my dad will miss.

It's always so humbling when you watch many hands touch a concept and bring to life what once was just in a folder in a your drawer, this concept became filled with Holy Spirit filled life.

As I'm critiquing and watching every move of our Easter rehearsal, listening to every note - I worship, almost so overcome I cannot watch.  Forever He is Glorified...forever He is lifted High...my dad's singing too - I know it.

We try to worship as we should and then every once in while when we prepare well, we stand before him forgiven, then we catch a glimpse for just a moment of what it may be some day in heaven.

While we remain for a while with hurt, and sin in a scared world - dad worships His Savior face to face.  And as we try to understand what worship really is - there is no effort in my dad's worship, he cannot resist it - nothing else enters his mind but continuous worship of the only Savior of our world!

Until then, I'm just asking you all not to miss the opportunity to worship this weekend - don't forsake the gathering together of saints as we celebrate the amazing undeserved love of our Savior!

nearing the end

It's hard to believe that we are down to our last rehearsal tomorrow night at Crossroads! We are nearing the end of creating our Christmas service, several of us working together for the 18th year!

Many things are different this year, but one thing is the same, I still stand back every year and marvel that I get to be part of Crossroads and the things that God is doing in that place!

The process of our Christmas@Crossroads begins the same every year, with an idea, a concept, a single song or creative piece and it builds from there to become what God brings the creatives together to produce.  Something He allows us to form as our gift to Him - our very best - and He already knows what it will be, how it will be used, and who it will touch.  It takes my breath away to think of it.

We talked over the past couple of days about the ways God's used Christmas@Crossroads in the past.  And as our team went out to lunch together to celebrate Christmas early, and just to take some time together away from our work, we rejoiced as our new graphic designer, Allie, reminded us that just a year ago she and her husband came to Crossroads for the very first time at Christmas,  and now she's on our staff!  Amazing!

People took invite cards with renewed determination - with plans to invite people to come with them this year, and I cannot wait to walk out of the back hallway and see the crowds of people for the first time Sunday night!  I'm praying for them now as I finish writing this. 


As I drove around today I prayed God would create a fire within me for the lost in our community.  That He would bring creative new ideas to me that would help to reach people that desperately need to be surrounded by a church family that cares about them.

Please join me in praying for all of those that will hear about God's precious gift of His Son, this Christmas.  May all of churches in our community rise our voices and talents in unison to be the very loud - irresistible voice of God!

night #1

Tonight is our first rehearsal and night of preparing tech support for our Christmas services.

one of our EP backgrounds

The enemy knows where and how to hit us, details overlooked, changes that don't get communicated, careless words...but God is Mighty and He is sovereign and all will be as He wills it- we just need to get through the preparations!

I haven't reached the point of anticipation yet, too buried under the details right now - but, we'll get there.  Right now I am remain in a state of prayer...covering all the staff praying for protection from illness, prayer for rest and for cooperation among the team.

The details pale in comparison to the message that must get out.I've never felt so desperate for that to happen.  The only message that can bring any shred of hope to a hopeless nation and world.

A Savior who is Christ the Lord...

May our work proclaim the message of Emmanuel so loudly that many, many people meet you Lord for the very first time!

the process in pictures

Such a blast to watch God take the creative ideas of a team and help us work it to completion! This is how Christmas at Crossroads will come to be!

Here are pictures of the rehearsals that took place at our home before going to the church.

After arriving at church I began to find various groups around the church in offices practicing before taking it to the stage. So fun to see them there and then later to watch it all come together!

Our first rehearsal, although chaotic - was amazing! I am excited to share the service with everyone!

The church is preparing!

my day off

Today I enjoyed my kids (and hubby)! Our house was full of noise again with preparations for Christmas. Gifts being wrapped and music being practiced and then off to Crossroads.

Crossroads' Christmas services are Thursday at 7:00 and Friday at 5:00, 7:00 and 9:00. And rehearsal was in full swing tonight!

It went extremely well and will be excellent by service time, Lord willing! I'll post pictures in the morning but desperately need to sleep right now.

I occasionally become overwhelmed by God's people as they generously serve and give of their time and tonight was one of those times! As I looked around the room at everyone and imagined how many times they listened to the music, and how many times they practiced their instruments, I thanked God for each one and thanked him they are all at Crossroads. Such a blessing!

Enjoy your week and let us all come together and celebrate the birth of our Savior later this week!

rehearsing with all our might

Tonight at Crossroads we rehearsed and sound checked with all our might.

It was a glorious night of worship even during rehearsal.

As I walked the auditorium making sound suggestions and carefully examining the stage for any missed detail that demanded attention, this is what I saw...

Two little darlings whose momma was taking care of our announcements this evening thought our sound levels were just a little too loud for tiny ears! SO CUTE!!

I suspect some day they will be the ones up front leading us in worship!

rehearsing

It seems long ago that we rehearsed. all things with order take practice. So we practiced for the wedding last Thursday. It is very hard to believe that it will be a week ago tomorrow.

And so the days pass, memories linger and eventually fade. This is the reason we need pictures!

I took very few pictures at our daughter's wedding - I left that to the expert. But I did snap a few of the rehearsal evening. A night that began with instruction and ended with the bride and groom reading the pieces they wrote telling us what we meant to them - not a dry eye to be found... So meaningful to each of us.

Here are a few pics, maybe they can help bring back memories of your own!

an exciting evening

We will prepare all the final details for Christmas Eve tonight, I am always anxious to see all the details of everyone's work come together live, instead of on paper.

God gives each of His children talents and gifts that he asks us to use to serve Him. Tonight we get to see many people's talents come together in unison to worship this God who sent His son.

Last night at the Willow Creek service Bill Hybels said, "God wants to have a relationship with us so much that He sent his son - to become like us and the relationship He desires is that of a Father with His child. Just as 'good' earthly fathers will do anything to have a relationship with their children God desired us SO much that He would give up His son to reach us." Amazing!

So we go into tonight's rehearsals knowing we bare great responsibility to communicate this message of salvation well, to present the sacrifice of God giving His son strongly and to give a desperate community the hope that can only come through relationship with Him.

little time left

We all have little time left to get it just right.

Christmas that is.

Did we forget to buy for anyone?

Did we buy enough...too much?

Will they like it?

Will they take it back?

I wish I had more money I could spend on Christmas. I know, I know that's not what the celebration is about, but it is so much fun to surprise people!

So instead of more spending the effort goes into getting it just right and that of course includes much more than gifts.

God made it right by sending us His son. How amazing it will be this week to worship Him...we will rehearse tomorrow to get this important, life changing message ready for Christmas Eve. The thought of some hearing this message for the first time is my favorite part of Christmas and is what will motivate me to work very hard with so little time left...

Rick's voice

I value voices. I listen to everyone that talks to me differently perhaps than most people listen. I have an appreciation for good voices because I need good voices for many of the projects I create. But I value most of all a voice of wisdom and experience.

Did you ever meet someone that you just feel like you've known forever? That is how Ron and I felt about Rick Muchow, Saddleback's Worship Pastor. I thought I would be very intimidated and nervous, not so. He put us at ease from the moment we met him. The entire Magnification team felt the very same way!

The weekend was exactly what our teams needed, a wise, experienced voice. Rick spoke to us on Saturday morning, reminding us what worship really was. Worship is not just the music portion of each service, but instead the entire service, every element. It also includes our preparation, what we bring to each service, our attitudes, spiritual preparation as well as rehearsal.

In talking to Rick later, I asked him how he was able to lead the incredible amount of Christmas Eve services at Saddleback Church. He said he would begin immediately upon returning to California to not only prepare musically but physically. He would be working out more and getting ready to give his best to each service. I never thought about how being physically in shape would make services even better, it just makes sense. Many practical things he mentioned were so helpful.

It is amazing how quickly you fall into routines, Rick pointed out that the way you rehearse, is the way you will perform. Habits are created at rehearsal. If you want to have good stage presence, smile and imagine you are leading an audience even when there isn't one. Rehearsal has to be the place that you practice leading, not just the words and notes to songs. I could go on and on.

When I asked Rick to come it was so our teams could hear a new voice, an experienced voice. A voice that God has used to lead thousands of people through faithful obedience to his calling.
A call Rick cannot deny because he lives a life to serve his God and to serve God's people.

Rick's voice changed us, and we are forever grateful.


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Here is a link to Rick's performance of the song Depend Upon His Love at Crossroads!

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These are additional pictures taken while Rick was here: We took him to see the Carousel Works. We discovered they were refinishing some of the carousel pieces from the Central Park Carousel in New York. Rick remembered sitting in the chariot when he was a young boy in New York! He enjoyed reminiscing while looking at all the amazing carousel creatures being created and restored.


Thanks for coming to Mansfield
Rick!