An Advent Meditation – take time to ponder Hope, Peace, Joy, Love and Faith…
Category: Worship
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
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.
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:
Categories
Creating Online Worship
vimeo.com/463877683 Rev Neil Glover on creating engaging OnLine Worship
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!
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
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 🟪
- Comfort and Joy https://youtu.be/uJsE63PIWjU
Ferryhill Church Virtual Choir 🟪
Engage Worship 🟪
Fischy Music
- youtu.be/LEORRN_3avU – a Song for Christmas 🟪 – can be freely streamed and shared.
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.com – public 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 🟪
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.
If you have Apple Music – do a search on ‘Royalty Free’ and you’ll find some background music for your videos…
Categories
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.
for Beginners: 16 Audacity Tips in 9 Minutes