Worship Update 9/18

From Jay

Freedom in Worship

The music starts, but I can’t quite tell what’s happening. I don’t know this song, and I don’t feel comfortable singing something I don’t know. No one around me is singing either, and the lyrics on the screen don’t even match whatever is being sung from the platform. It’s too loud or it’s too quiet. This song is too fast, and that one is too slow. Song after song it’s the same thing, if I’m supposed to be experiencing or feeling something I’m not, and I don’t think anyone around me is either.

Have you ever thought anything like that? I have many times! Of course, not at Sunset J. Actually most likely for you of course this has happened here, at Sunset, with me leading on a Sunday morning. Contrast that with the opposite feeling of losing yourself in praising Jesus corporately, and the freedom that washes over you as you pour out your affection to Jesus with a room full of people doing the same.

OK so for all the buzzwords and philosophies and ways to think about worship, let me narrow this conversation for a moment down to what takes place in an hour on Sunday, and our time of praising God together, in song. My hope for what happens there, in that time, for you is also my hope as a pastor for your whole life and my whole life as well. What do you think of when you think of freedom in that setting?

For me, one of the places that freedom in worship starts is being rooted in my true identity in Christ. If I am praising from that place… the place of who I am in Him, of what He says about me and my relationship to Him, than I am praising from a healthy place.

When I’m not free, my identity is found in other things. How well I’m singing or not, what people are thinking of me, positive or negative, whether or not I like a song, the look on that guy’s face that must have something to do with me, etc. When I am in this place I am not free, I am in bondage to myself and my thoughts, and my identity apart from Christ.

One of the goals this year, in regards to Sunday morning, is to continue to give all of us in the room the time and space to get to that place… that free place in our worship. To change our perspective from us centered to Christ centered. I believe when we praise from that place we change from consumers of a product to participants in an experience of lifting up the name of Jesus together. This is the heart of what we want to be about. It doesn’t let those who serve here off the hook to do all we can to provide an environment free from distraction, but the heartbeat of what happens in the hour on Sunday is so that we have time and space to move into Christ centered worship together.

Colossians 3:1-2 and 15-17
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.


Head’s Up!!

Next Sunday The Gathering will change to its new time of 5:30 pm, in the Gym.
This worship service is designed especially as a community based, conversational gathering of the church. It’s a great way to introduce your friends to Jesus.

Praise Night - Freedom Is Here
Sunday, September 27, 7 pm, Sanctuary
Join us for a night of praise! A night of worship at Sunset Presbyterian Church put together by the youth worship ministry and weekend worship teams. It’s a great opportunity to experience God through worship with your entire family.

Opportunities To Serve

Sunday Morning Preludes
We are looking for people willing to play the preludes Sunday mornings before The Nine service, in January. For more info or to propose a list of your available Sundays please contact Janet Harmon, jkharmony@comcast.net.

Pop Culture Wanted!
Sermon Research Team
We’re looking for people who have an eye for what is current in movies, art, music, and media to partner with Pastor Ron by researching and using these sources for sermon preparation.
Please contact janetfraser@sunsetpres.org.

Videographers And Set Designers Needed!
We’re looking for people to serve in filming and editing the children’s dramas, for distribution to parents. Also set designers to help plan and build the sets.
Next drama is December 6th. If you are able to help in either capacity, please contact carriepeeples@sunsetpres.org.

Join Sunset Choir
Choir has started!! But it’s never too late to join. If you love to express your heart for God through song, please plan to participate in choir this year. Rehearsal is every Wednesday, 7-9pm in the basement on the west side of the building. For questions or more information, contact jillhofer@sunsetpres.org.

Production/Tech Team Volunteers Needed!
We are looking for people to fill the following roles:
· Service Director
· Lighting
· Graphics
· FOH Camera Op Week
· Message Slide Designer

In addition we have a new volunteer role: Video production. We'd like to find some video editors in our midst. Are you or do you know someone who could do simple projects for us? (i.e. this week, we have white text (provided) on black screen and need someone to edit.) The level of the projects will depend on who we discover. The content is generally available a couple weeks in advance of the deadline. Ifyou have this skill or know someone at Sunset who does, please email me janetfraser@sunsetpres.org.

September 20 & 27 – Pathways & Connections
September 27 – Praise Night!
October 10 – Compassion Beaverton, info at www.compassionbeaverton.org
October 11 – Infant Baptism and Dedication, church-wide Pancake Breakfast
October 16 – FUN Family Unity Night