Sunday Am 4/29/08, Flesh and Bone

I'm a week behind with news on how it was leading worship last weekend with Andrew and Amanda, but in my defense I believe that this week was only 5 1/2 days long. I came to work on Monday morning, 100 phone calls, 600 miles and a bazillion emails later it was friday afternoon, and I hadn't even finished my timecard.

Leading with my brother and sister again was awesome. I was almost an hour late for the practice on thursday, but nobody killed me. What a great team; Amanda, Andrew, Guy, Lou, and Leigh-Ann (the hardest working chica in the worship business). A moment for Leigh-Ann's ability to rock a tamborine in the right hand, shaker in the left hand, ready the rain stick with her right foot, sing harmony, and do it all into one mic and balance it perfectly. Guy and Lou are the most dynamic bass/rhythm section I have played with. Those guys work off each other amazingly. During the practice we joked about the fact that if you get three Gonzales' to lead a service, you'll get 45 minutes of worship and three songs. Turns out, sunday am was 45 minutes of worship and three songs.

Sunday Set:

Flesh and Bone; S.McMillan, Amanda

Announcements

And Can it Be; C.Wesley, Andrew
Sing My Love; S.McMillan, Leigh-Ann
You Gave Your Life Away; P.Baloche, Andrew
I Love Your Presence; D.Clark, Dave (deleted)

Sermon

Not To Us; C.Tomlin, Dave

Andrew can only be described as the gentelman worship leader. His style is so smooth. Of course he's been doing it the longest, but Andrew is a throw back to a different style of piano led, free flowing worship. Songs do not begin and end with awkward page turning and instrument tuning between songs. The worship offering begins then rolls seamlessly into the word. The direction that worship style has moved in the last decade is to guitar led electric sound with more instrument solos and driving beats. The ebb and flow of a piano led style of worship is unique and intimate.

Leading the charge for the plugged in, Bobby D at Monterey, electric sound is Amanda. I have said many times that when I grow up, I want to be my sister. I would describe her sound as very bare. She takes every song that she leads and presents it as her offering, open and bare, not hiding behind her talent or merit. She takes the song, cuts it in half, aligns the halfs in two rows and waits for the fire! Amanda expects the refining fire. She anticipates it, yearns for it, and runs to it. Her sound is raw and unsettled, but her passion is purity in her offering.

All in all, I was blessed by the opportunity to stand next to my family and friends and worship the Lord together. I am blessed to be surrounded by talented people who have a passion for worship.