My eyes have seen the work of the Lord

I will give thanks to God in the highest

He will give rain for my land in its season

Glory to God in the highest

When I am in the desert time of my life

Your water drenches my thirsty soul

When I go through deadness of spirituality

Your power will rescue and me whole

When my heart feels far and distant from God

I repent oh Lord, be manifest in me

As I get ready to leave the wilderness, for your promised land

The star of Epiphany will guide me to be free

When inside I feel empty and lonely

You remind me to re-examine my whole-self entity,

As I get ready to reach my destination in glory

I will always look up, for that star in the heavenlies

When I look into the stained glass, that is my story, my life

I will confess all to you oh Lord, make my heart truly clean

And when I come to your table, laden with the bread and the wine

I will remember all that you have done

When I see the cross, and the blood spilled for me

I will declare glory, hallelujah to the Lamb

After I have travelled through time and the cosmos that surrounds me

And stand before the great high priest, I will then be finally free.

Thanks to the Lord,

Glory to the Lamb

I will lift my hands in praise and adoration

I will lift up the banner that flies across my land

And surrender all to you, when on the restoration new Eden day

Before you, my great high priest, I will stand.

Explanation of reading

I have gathered ideas and points that spoke to me during the weeks of Essentials Red. I wanted to consider the various feelings experience as I go through Lent, that I personally am coming out of a desert dry time. It reminds me that I need to re-examine myself – one of the ideas that comes from preparation of our hearts before we come to the communion table.  I have used ‘responses’ in italics, to show how I reflect on the thoughts that precede it.

It finishes with the final journey in our life, when we have travelled through all of time and we will all ultimately stand before Jesus – the ultimate high priest.

References used:-

James F White, Introduction to Christian Worship (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2000)             

Dan Wilt, “Ancient ideas for worship-an introduction to Red” (lecture, Essentials Red, WorshipTraining.com, February, 2010

Robert E Webber, Ancient-Future Time (Michigan:Baker Books,2004)

Dan Wilt, Bearers of Memory:Historic Reflections on Worship (e-book Essentials Red, 2010) 

‘Art is the language of the soul’, and it is so fitting that a Christian circle can today enjoy the arts in a church setting (1).  I have literally just got home from Judah Ministry fellowship where their new church building was blessed. Women in white with different coloured ribbon belts, danced with decorated circlets, and then tambourines. I looked around me and saw banners proclaiming that Jesus is Lord.

It reminded me of the course material in week 4, that we can have fresh visions of the kingdom through art. During the preaching of the word,  echoing from an earlier week in Red,  the preacher used the phrase let’s bring the kingdom of heaven down here to earth. Subsequently, people were prayed over and the holy spirit saw one after one, fall in His blessings to the floor!

The arts of movement and dance were so free today in church -I was so blessed and pleased, that we have kept this tradition of old but made it fresh for today.

I have recently become more aware of the importance of the Old Testament to New Testament Jewish traditions and how these traditions have become still valid for today. The symbols of the tabernacle, the rich tapestries, the holy of holies and the ark of the covenant and the layout of the tabernacle, tell us today of a beautiful story of sacrifice, of love and of a blessed covenant that can be ours if we would just claim it (2).

Our church today is full of different cultures and we should embrace their history, as Dan said, ‘every tribe, nation and people’ bring an artistic rendering that is special and gives glory to God but one that we can share in and appreciate.

Art can create a place in our soul, where God can meet us (3). I lose count of the amount of sculptures I’ve seen, or musical pieces, where I’ve felt the Spirit reach down and touch my soul. Even a written piece, can bring harmony and blessing. My project for the Red course, is more of a reflective psalm. I wanted to create a piece, where I wrote some words and then reflected on them. I’ve posted that item as a separate post.

‘When the world is broken Lord, yet, will I still praise You, I will proclaim You are my God. When my spirit is bruised and my mind feels crushed, Lord, I will declare You are King. When the promises I felt were mine are not delivered, Lord Almighty – I will reclaim them and live them out, for You.’

Amen

1.Dan Wilt, Bearers of Memory:Historic Reflections on Worship (e-book Essentials Red, 2010)  

2.Dan Wilt, “The Worship Languages of Art and Music ” (lecture, Essentials Red, WorshipTraining.com, February, 2010)

 3. Dan Wilt, ibid

 There is so much more I could have written for the week 3. I wanted to talk about prayer walks! I am hoping to do one soon – I may be able to support a human trafficking charity and we will do prayer walks in the areas where others will be doing the action work. This is my way of worship too – i wrote a song after attending a seminar – God is really pricking my conscience and awakening more words within my soul and creative juices are flowing so freely.

I read the articles on Dan Wilt.com – i’ve included the link below to my post as it was an interesting discussion on where worship can be taken to the ‘world’ outside.

http://www.danwilt.com/worship-leader-role-evaluation/#comment-872511

Go beyond the mere words of repentance and adopt a real action that will see real change in my life – these words of Robert E Webber speak so deeply and truly (1). Let’s all take on the Lenten spirituality but mean it and put it into REAL action.

God bless

1.Robert E Webber, Ancient-Future Time (Michigan:Baker Books,2004)105

 ”SPIRITUAL INSPIRATION FOR YOUR PERSONAL LIFE AND HELPFUL ANCIENT RESOURCES FOR CONGREGATION WORSHIP ”. (1)

This quote from Ancient-Future Time presents what this week’s reading has meant to me. Diving and delving deep into how the ancients prayed and read scripture brings to life, today, what we have missed out on and is a timely reminder on what we could do!

I don’t think we realise that we have CHOICES in how we worship. The pattern was laid for us in the bible, the Jewish tradition created the pattern and it’s up to us how to take it forward. We need to be reminded, that the act of baptism in water, is patterning what Jesus did and when we ‘go down’ we die to sin and when ‘we come up’, we have NEW LIFE in Christ!

Let’s now consider the power in preaching – service of the word. The preaching is the power of God, the source of which should be scripture, the authority comes from God to allow preaching in the church and this comes to the relationship with the people to whom the word is spoken (2).

Let’s be ready, to hear the word, to speak the word, to pray the word. The word has powerful functions, it can heal, restore and reconcile. The Jewish faith is all about reconciliation, remembering and restoration. This season of Lent, is a timely reminder to remember this.

Finally, to finish with Dan Wilt’s words from the course lecture video, this is now my quote about my ministry -  ”MY MINISTRY IS THE MINISTRY OF JESUS, THIS IS EXPRESSED THROUGH MUSIC, BOTH AS A WORSHIP LEADER AND WORSHIPPER, AS A PRAYER WARRIOR – PRAYING OVER AND FOR THE PEOPLE ”. (3)

We are blessed and loved. Amen.

1.Robert E Webber, Ancient-Future Time (Michigan:Baker Books,2004) 16

2.James F White, Introduction to Christian Worship (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2000),156

3.Dan Wilt, “History of Christian Worship part 1″ (lecture, Essentials Red, WorshipTraining.com, February, 2010).

The material for Essentials Red week 1 was a challenge – purely because I couldn’t access some it! At the start of my studies I had itunes Red, then Red disappeared and I couldn’t access the Master All of IWM. I got the general message with the things I managed to read and listen to.

In addition to my week 1 post, I wanted to share about visiting places that have time and space significance. We visited Sinai a few years ago – I stood at the place where it is said that Moses received the Ten Commandments. During the sunrise, I felt the significance of being with God. We visited the site of the Burning Bush – due to the amount of buildings, I felt it difficult to connect. 

I’ve had many human experiences where time and space have been important yet it’s only later on, say, a year or two later where I’ve really understood this. Also, doing the Essentials courses have been really enlightening.  I’ve been trying to understand more of the sacrements and festivals from Jewish history, to enable me to see where we’ve come from, to know where I am today. The space of the tabernacle, its significance today is pretty cool and to know that Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice and we have GRACE to live by. Amen. 

I echo Dan’s thoughts in his introduction lecture, we are a fallen race but let’s ensure we all REMEMBER, RECLAIM, REFRESH, RE-CELEBRATE and RENEW our commitment to God. (1) 

Lastly, I want to share a song with you that I heard – What an Awesome Wonder you Are by Darlene Zschech. I had never been so deeply impacted by a new song before, I simply cried tears of love that I can remember He is awesome, in my time of trouble and need, He is awesome and that I can renew daily, my relationship with Him.

God bless to you all.

(1) Dan Wilt, “Ancient Ideas for Worship Today” (lecture, Essentials Red, WorshipTraining.com, February, 2010).

I hope whoever reads this is blessed in Jesus name.

Amen

http://sites.google.com/a/essentialscourse.com/projects/blue/rosemary-j-everett/cry-mercy

This is my post for week 4. I have completed the task in the form of an actual statement of truth, that my community and any worship community could adopt. I have made a statement followed by a declaration! I got very excited in the Spirit doing it this way.

A CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW – STATEMENT OF FOUNDATIONAL BIBLICAL TRUTH FOR OUR CHURCH COMMUNITY 

We welcome everyone into our church community as a body of believers, sharing in the presence of the Holy Spirit, believing that there is redemption, restoration from our human brokeness and transformation for all.

CREATOR  – we are made in His image therefore we become like the One we worship, we are subcreators of beauty and creation. Take careful stewardship of the world in and around us. The new creation started with the resurrection of Jesus – wake up world! Replant Eden, restore the tribe of Judah, let there be a renewal of peace and praise in the new world creation (1).

SAVIOUR – work for justice. When others are wronged, we demand that the world should be a place of freedom, justice and fairness (2). Jesus took injustice on the Cross, as part of the healing restoration for individuals and the world as a whole – this is our primary Christian calling. Reawaken our church to the cry for justice and peace for all. Offer extended compassion to the needy, offer a voice to the voiceless – remember the poor and needy (4).

KING – Jesus is royalty, reigning over us, inviting us to explore deeper, our spirituality. Our ultimate sacrifice of praise, to the One who is worthy, is a totally surrendered life. Restored to our rightful place at the right hand of God, renewed and fulfilled promises of God given to his chosen people. Re-establish the kingdom of God here on earth, in the temple tabernacle of your heart.

TRINITY – communing as one, maker of relationships, community. Like the ocean single source, we are the church with our members from different cultures, diverse rivers of this world, flowing together, towards the New Jerusalem (3), where all are welcome. Our desire is to equip God’s people, to do His purpose and will in the new covenant and new creation.  The Trinity is our model – live and serve one another, love each other, sharing in sorrows (5). Rediscover our relationship with God – the Son – the Holy Spirit and with one another in our community, share eachother’s pain, suffering and joy!

PROMISES                                                                                                                                                                       

Let’s remake creation, free from corruption and through the Holy Spirit, have a fresh renewal and new relationship with the Trinity and creation.   

Re-establish our commitment to follow Jesus, be like Him, surrender ourselves daily to Him, give Him our loyalty and allegiance to Him, re-invite the Holy Spirit to establish the kingdom of heaven on earth, restore our relationships.

We need to hear God’s voice, through creation, relationships, spirituality and justice, and simply through scripture.  THIS will be our legacy of worship, in the church of yesterday, today, for generations to come and in His kingdom.  

1. NT Wright, Simply Christian, (New York:HarperOne,2006)  83
2. NT Wright, ibid 225
3. NT Wright, ibid 200
4. What is Worship? David Ruis (Vineyard Music USA dvd, 2006) chapter 9
5. Dan Wilt, Stumbling Into Mystery:Toward a Theology of Worship (e-book Essentials Blue, 2010) 35-36

I will add an extra thought as I hadn’t had time to listen to all of the CD resource and it would have made my post even longer! Again, my computer defeated me and I struggled with the InsideWorship material. The CD and DVD have been very useful and I will use them for a long time to come after Essentials has come and gone.

In his interview with Dan Wilt, NT Wright says that the job of the worship leader and of the church should be to “make articulate the praise of all creation”.  I think this is an amazing and wonderful expression, suggesting further that the very trees will sing out like the animals in Revelations 4. I am desperate to RECLAIM the rightful place of worship in the kingdom of God, to encourage others to sing out with the trees and rejoice in the world that God came to save and rescue.

 I love the description of the Trinity for community living in Dan’s ebook (1).

BELONGING -we should welcome all people into our worship community

BEHAVING – let’s display friendship to all and freely allow the Holy Spirit to open our hearts and minds, to make way for change

BELIEVE – let’s believe what we say – if we choose to!

If we are to truly show that we are the image of God, ‘image bearers’, community builders and spiritual beings, we must understand the need to live as Jesus lived, display his character.

Yet again, I have to admit to falling short of studying all the material. I wish my job wasn’t so tiring so I could put more time to this course. I hope I have done enough! My computer was playing up again for the IW Master all Inside Worship articles. I have already seen the article by Peter Fitch – Inner Living Outer Giving and it blew my mind. I strongly suggest all to read it. I can’t recall an article that has had such an impact on me before.

It describes basic rituals/sacrements that we take for granted and gives them a worship slant. Foot washing – amazing. I’ve put my thoughts on that one separately on MY THOUGHTS on my blog.

I laugh each time I read a different article and see the echoes of a voice harking back each time. I never thought I’d say it, but I see it in every day life.

The riches of Inner Living are so pure, such holy worship to the One who deserves all the praise.  Praise God that he came to rescue me…

1.Dan Wilt, Stumbling Into Mystery:Toward a Theology of Worship (e-book Essentials Blue, 2010) 36

I was greatly challenged by N Wright – again! All I can say is the powerful thoughts of cleansing and restoration have really hit home to me. These ideas can be applied in so many walks of our worship life. The books for the course for week 2 have been my main sources for my posts. I have found many challenges this week. I have felt very tired because of my work demands and ‘life’ demands. 

This has meant that I have to scan the material and select the items for intense study. I find some of the itunes videos (longer lecture ones) a little repetitive and I think because I’m tired, too lengthy. I pray God will give me strength as I am getting so much out of this course – I wasn’t so sure when i started reading Wright but, now, I have ordered another of his books.

Blessings to all and God’s love may abundantly surround you and fill your heart with joy!

My reflections on the 1st week of Essentials Blue:

Didn’t get off to a great start – my computer was playing up so I couldn’t access most of the articles.  NT Wright Simply Christian and I didn’t get on very well.   I got to the itunes video by Brenton Brown and the light bulb starting coming on! I totally agree with his thoughts in ‘Theology and the Worship Leader’ – people come into our churches with little theological background or understanding (1). Until 3 weeks ago, I was probably one of them! We take it for granted that the words and themes in our songs affect those in our congregation. What a pastoral responsibility we have! I further agree with Brenton and I encourage all worship leaders – don’t let the songs become false, your words disciple those infront of you, ensure that you are living the life you sing.

The light bulb moment was well and truly in full motion by the time I got to the Essentials Blue ebook by Dan Wilt. He tells us about Embedded Theology and Deliberative Theology (2). I have now taken the choice to carefully review what my upbringing ‘told me’ and reflect on what I am learning now.  The world infront of me is so different to the view of the world I had 2 years ago.  The mix of ethnic and cultural groups has transformed the way I form worship sets, the emotions and life experiences influence the worship expressions.

I am so grateful that I am changing, becoming more engrossed in different expressions of worship, forming conversations with different people around the globe.

I am enjoying this journey of discovery. Are you??

God Bless all who read this.

1. Brenton Brown, “Theology and the Worship Leader” (lecture video clip, Essentials Blue, WorshipTraining.com, January, 2010).

2. Dan Wilt, Stumbling Into Mystery:Toward a Theology of Worship (e-book Essentials Blue, January 2010)