Categories
Advent Christmas Worship

‘A Brilliant Star‘ – An Advent Meditation

An Advent Meditation – take time to ponder Hope, Peace, Joy, Love and Faith…

Categories
Change General Worship

Outside Holiness

I was looking for the George MacLeod quote ‘Take us outside holiness’ – from the prayer prayed during the rebuilding of Iona Abbey in the 1930’s.

Before finding it, I came across another George Macleod quote

“I simply argue that the cross be raised again,

at the centre of the marketplace

as well as on the steeple of the church.

I am recovering the claim that

Jesus was not crucified

in a cathedral between two candles

but on a cross between two thieves;

on a town garbage heap;

at a crossroad of politics so cosmopolitan

that they had to write His title

in Hebrew and in Latin and in Greek …

and at the kind of place

where cynics talk smut,

and thieves curse, and soldiers gamble.

Because that is where He died,

And that is what He died about.

And that is where Christ’s own ought to be,

And that is what church people ought to be about.”

Lord George MacLeod of Fuinary

Words which the church might ponder again as we seek to discern where God is leading in the post-pandemic world, as we rationalise the building stock, looking to ‘well equip spaces in the right spaces’, and seeking to bring meaningful relevant faith in Christ to the folk who don’t ‘come to church’.

…And then I found the quote I was looking for…. Worthy too of renewed contemplation…

It is not just the interior of these walls,

it is our own inner beings you have renewed.

We are Your temple not made with hands.

We are Your body.

If every wall should crumble,

and every church decay, we are your habitation.

Nearer are you than breathing,

closer than hands and feet.

Ours are the eyes with which you, in the mystery,

look out in compassion on the world.

So we bless you for this place,

for your directing of us,

your redeeming of us, and your indwelling.

Take us ‘outside the camp’, Lord.

Outside holiness,

out to where the soldiers gamble, and the thieves curse,

and the nations clash at the cross-roads of the world…

So shall this building continue to be justified.

George MacLeod (A prayer during the rebuilding of Iona Abbey – circa 1938)
Categories
bible study Fun Worship

A day of double blessing

It’s Tuesday – a day of double blessing! A careful reading of Genesis 1: 9-13 reveals that ‘on the third day’, God said not once but twice “this is good”. In Jewish tradition weddings are often celebrated on the third day – the day of double blessing. Today, as I write, is Tuesday the fourth of May. It a day enjoyed by Star Wars fans – “May the fourth (force) be with you!”

In the light of Jesus’ resurrection, “the third day” takes on new significance, and with the coming of the Holy Spirit we have not so much a “force” but power, strength, hope love and inspiration.

May your Tuesdays and everyday be days of blessing, and at the end of the day may you be able to pause, reflect upon it, and say “this is good” knowing that God has been with you, blessing all your moments.

Categories
Audio Pastoral Worship

Phone in Audio only solution

Lanark Greyfriars Church, Church of Scotland are able to assist churches set up a Dial in audio only solution for the benefit of those not able to access the internet – details at:

https://www.lanarkgreyfriars.com/odbp

Categories
Audio Planning Productivity Video Worship

Creating Online Worship

vimeo.com/463877683 Rev Neil Glover on creating engaging OnLine Worship

Categories
Audio Hymns iOS Video Worship ZOOM

One Track Mind

One Track Mind is a very useful iOS app which lets you play through a playlist one Music track at a time – very helpful when playing music tracks in worship live or online – no more having to watch for the end of the track and stop before the next track plays!

Categories
Covid-19 Hymns Music Songs Worship

Music & Hymns

Music – Audio and Video Files

Various sites from where songs and hymn resources are available

Please ensure that appropriate licensing permission is in place when using these resources.

🟪 Items marked with 🟪 have Advent and Christmas music.

🟪 John Rutter 2021 Christmas Album now available on Apple Music, and on other platforms. Commercial music such as this can’t of course be streamed or otherwise broadcast without explicit permission, but can be used within on-site worship where there is no recording or broadcast.

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/gb/album/i-sing-of-a-maiden-5-new-carols-by-john-rutter-ep/1588777984

St Chads, York

www.stchadsyork.org/freemusic

Evangelical Movement of Wales

https://www.emw.org.uk/what-we-do/resourcing-publications/hymns-for-use-in-church-services

Songs for Sunday

RCL based Suggestions from Trinity College, Glasgow

https://www.trinitycollegeglasgow.co.uk/blog/categories/songs-for-sunday

Craigsbank Parish Church

‘performance permission’ granted, for these to be used alongside CCLi or appropriate Streaming Licence.

www.youtube.com/channel/UCu1xAS2e9Co3uzCOitH8jug

Everingham Music

https://youtube.com/channel/UCjSod1JYIqPRsUakBSsfWQQ

Scottish Psalter, Hymns etc

stevenstonhighkirk.com/praise-resources

🟪 – Advent and Christmas Music

Joyfulnoise.uk 🟪

Ferryhill Church Virtual Choir 🟪

Engage Worship 🟪

Fischy Music

Small Church Music

  • Public domain music – freely usable

Home for Christmas 🟪

Rev Craig Downes

  • YouTube Channel with permission to use.

ChristianBSL 🟪

  • Traditional Carols, with BSL

Virtual-Organist.Com 🟪

  • Virtual-Organist.compublic domain tunes downloadable as MP3s – favourite hymn tunes from Mike Whitton.

Premier Christian Radio 🟪

  • Downloadable Resources inc Carols

Emu Music 🟪

Small Church Music

Public domain mp3s available for download

Carolyn’s Hymns

Carolyn says, “Some pastors and church music leaders have asked for permission to use my hymns in worship services that they are streaming live, or in other ways they are reaching out to their congregations from a distance. During these challenging times, you have my permission to go ahead and use my copyrighted hymns in these ways for free.”

Graham Kendrick

Resound Worship 🟪

During the Covid-19 crisis, we give permission for all churches worldwide to stream Resound Worship songs. This includes our videos, our recordings, our lyrics and your own performances.

If you have a streaming licence (eg CCLI, OneLicense), we’d appreciate it if you would report your usage. If you don’t, we would like you to use our material anyway

Suggestions from Resound Worship

Sunday 30 Jan

Fourth after epiphany (RCL & CWL)

Luke 4:21-30 (RCL)
Jesus is here
Our God was a refugee

1 Cor 13:1-13 (RCL & CWL)
If I speak words of wisdom
There is a love
 

Sunday 6 Feb

Fifth after Epiphany (RCL)
Proper 1 (CWL)

Isaiah 6:1-13 
All I am I lay it down
Holy. Holy, holy Lord
Worship the Lord

1 Corinthians 15:1-11 
He’s my Saviour
Jesus Christ God’s Son (Jesus lives)
We believe

Sunday 13 Feb

Sixth after Epiphany (RCL)
Proper 2 (CWL)

Psalm 1
Most merciful God
Your word, O Lord

Jeremiah 17:5-10
Find rest, O my soul
Your word, O Lord

1 Corinthians 15:12-20
Christ was raised
Jesus Christ God’s Son (Jesus lives)

Sunday 20 Feb

Seventh after Epiphany (RCL)
Proper 3 (CWL)

1 Corinthians 15:35-50
Christ was raised
Jesus Christ God’s Son (Jesus lives)
 

Sunday 27 Feb

Transfiguration Sunday (RCL)
Next before Lent (CWL)

2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2
Spirit of God
In the name of God the Father
 

Ash Wednesday

Isaiah 58:1-12
You are a refuge

Psalm 51:1-17
Lord, have mercy

Jubilate Music 🟪

www.jubilate.co.uk

MP3s and lyric videos available to buy on individual basis or with Annual Pass (currently £29.99 Nov 2021)

New Scottish Hymns

  • Video Recordings available for use for a small fee.

Salvation Army 🟪

Worship Lyric Videos 🟪

  • Small payment required – good quality videos – with 2021 updates.
Categories
Audio Music Video Worship

Royalty Free Music on Apple Music

If you have Apple Music – do a search on ‘Royalty Free’ and you’ll find some background music for your videos…

Categories
Change Leadership Pastoral Worship

Healthy Church Leadership

in Uncharted Territory with Tod Bolsinger

Tod Bolsinger, author of Canoeing the Mountains: Christian Leadership in uncharted territory speaks about Church moving forward through Covid19.

Categories
Audio Video Worship

Audacity Editing

for Beginners: 16 Audacity Tips in 9 Minutes