After wrapping up things late on Saturday, we drove from Camp Living Waters in North Carolina to Snellville (Atlanta area) - we rolled in around 1 AM, crashed a couple hours, then head over to
Grace Fellowship, not only one of my favorite churches, but a church family I consider part of my own. After an early, extensive sound-check/rehearsal, we jumped right in.
The set:
"
Your Grace is Enough" - Matt Maher
I usually pull this song out in less familiar territory because it's simple, the lyrics are great and God-focused, it's been all over the radio, and people tend to enjoy singing it. That said, Atlanta peeps - at least the ones I've led for - don't seem to connect to this song like we 'Southerners' do. I have a worship-leader friend that has what he calls "Money Songs" - the songs that are guaranteed to light his church aflame every time. This song is apparently not one of Grace's "money songs". That said, lyrically the song was moving for me because of the concept of God's justice: I had seen so many broken youth in the week prior, and was encouraged to consider that it is God Who justifies - He'll make all things right. His grace is indeed enough.
"
Your love never Fails" - Chris McClarney/Jesus Culture
Continuing on that theme, this song seems to be a favorite at Grace, and I know it's one of mine. I love that the lyrics are both very personal, but that they also strongly lean on God's sovereignty in less than ideal circumstances. I find those sorts of lyrics very encouraging.
"
Wandering Heart" - Saint Lewis (original)
After all that God did with this song at camp, and given that it's Kingdom message fits well with Grace's, we introduced this original with the prayer "Revive my heart - awaken my soul - grant me Your favor that I may live our the Kingdom". Every time I sing that line my heart tightens in anticipation that God may radically bring about something special to answer that prayer. Though I didn't see it with my earthly eyes this Sunday, I still hold to it being true: God loves to answer a prayer like that.
"
All in All (You're all I Need)" - Saint Lewis (original)
We introduced this one of the earlier times we led at Grace - I was blessed to hear their voices joined in chorus singing "All in all, You're all I need!"
"
Father will You Come" - Unhindered
This is one of Grace's own, meaning that two of their own worship pastors penned it (you wouldn't believe the degree of giftedness they have in their worship department). It also happens to be one of my favorite worship songs. Very powerful stuff.
Buy it on iTunes if you don't already own a copy.
During our extended worship time we improvised a more spontaneous rendition of "
You won't Relent" by Misty Edwards... I love how Grace does a "soft dismissal" from their 5:15 service, encouraging any who may want to to continue worshiping through song, communion, and prayer. That may be the most beautiful time of the service for me.
Well, I hope to have some video footage to post on here soon, until then... next up - back home at
St. Simons Community Church.