andrewmartin's posterous

February 8, 2009

An Amazing Community

It's been quite a while since I posted here but I was prompted today during the 9:00 Gathering here at LCBC as to what an amazing Community is here. I typically arrive at the church around 7:30 am on Sundays and it's really fun to watch the teams trickle in and start doing their "thing." Sound, lighting, IMAG, musicians, vocalists, ushers, greeters, parking, and other techs all arrive and start setting up and prepping the place for the over 8,000 people that attend over the weekend. What's amazing is that they all jump in and get it done! The attitude is social, glad to be here, but focused, because they all know that their seeking friends, family members, coworkers, and neighbors are about to walk thru the doors.

I watch them work, then the service begins and I watch them passionately engage and worship the God they love and serve. One of the best things about my job is getting to know the people of this community and their stories, then watch them praise God, worship, give thanks, engage - even when I know their circumstances in life would make you think they could not. I am truly honored and blessed to serve and live with this community.

Thanks,
Andrew

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November 9, 2008

What are the FAQ's of building a Worship & Arts Ministry

I'd like to know the main issues impacting your church's worship ministry. If you get a chance send them in.

Thanks

Here's what's come in so far:

FAQ’s of building a W&A ministry:

Target specific groups of people with different worship styles, or go multi-generational worship with one style

As a leader, learn to deal with multiple personality styles (not multiple personality disorders--but we've probably got some of those too!) and learn what individuals work best with others on a team. It's ... Read Morenot the notes and rhythms that ever give me trouble, it's the people

Choir or no choir

State and communicate expectations clearl

Start and end rehearsals on time--insist on it out of respect for everyon

How do you help your volunteers prepare musically for the weekend services? ex. sending music out ahead of time, mp3s, charts, scripts, etc

Paying your band vs. not paying your ban

How does a smaller church still do a quality service without having a lot of resources, both people and money.

Auditions vs. no audition

How do you build community among your volunteers

How do you develope the vision or foresight to do what may seem impossible to a bunch of volunteers, but winds up stretching them to use their gifts to the fullest.

Keep 'em coming and we'll dive in after a while.

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October 22, 2008

Thoughts from Communion

The Worship & Arts Team tries to pull away for a few minutes before the Sunday Gatherings to take Communion. It's become a truly special time to share with friends the incredible gift of grace that God has given us. Here are some thoughts from last week:

How often do you have flashbacks or memories of times of personal failure? Times when you've messed up and felt "less than." We've all had those times and they come in a variety of settings: social, where you felt like a goof; work, you fell short; relational, you've either let someone significant in your life down, or you've just been selfish; or moral, you've completely blown it, and stepped outside of God's plan.

I'm not sure why but my flashbacks seem to come to me most often when I'm headed to church. Sometimes it's during the work week but quite often it's when I'm headed in for the weekend gatherings. They're thoughts and memories that if I dwell on them, cause me to introvert, withdraw, shut down socially, to not interact and again to feel "less than." Usually it's some benign event and not some deep dark sin from the past. This week a flood of memories came from a Backpack trip I took in the Rockies 10-12 years ago. Typically I can get along with just about anyone, but for some reason the guide and I had several conflicts over a six day period. That's not good when there's only ten of you in the group and he's the one looking out for your safety. That memory popped into my thoughts and I started a downward spiral, that if not checked would have really effected me. When we get this way it causes all kinds of defense mechanisms to go off and we react poorly or atypical for us.

How's the view into my psyche so far? Sorry but it happens.
It's not a daily or even weekly thing but it happens enough for me to see it as a spiritual issue.

Anytime that I feel "less than," inadequate, unworthy of grace, love and acceptance then I know that's not God.
I can't tell you how many times I've talked with folks over the years who have stayed away from God because they've felt like they've messed up too bad, or that it would be hypocritical of them to come to God knowing how much they've blown it.

But isn't that the point? We do mess up, we do fail, and God knows already and is wanting, waiting for us to turn around and come to Him, from where ever we've been.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins then He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Then in Hebrews, God's word says that we can now "boldly approach the throne of grace." Not because of anything that we've accomplished but purely because of our advocate Jesus Christ and what he has done for us.

So the "less than" thoughts come and immediately we need to remember what Christ has done for us on the cross. You are, I am, loved, and valued, by the God of the universe.

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October 14, 2008

Sat@LCBC

The first run of Saturdays@LCBC is coming fast Saturday October 25, 2008. There are 113 folks from 14 different churches signed up at this point. We will be taking registrations up to the event and "Early Registration" pricing will continue thru 10/17. So group rate $40 per person up until 10/17.

Hope to see you there!
Andrew Martin
Executive Pastor of Worship & Arts
LCBC Church
Lives Changed By Christ
http://www.lcbcchurch.com
[cid:3306826625_15691277]

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September 28, 2008

Rockin the office

Here's what it was like last week at the office. You could feel the floor move. Watch the mug at the end. It actually was moving.

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September 27, 2008

Concert load out last week

Here's something fun from last Sunday.

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September 19, 2008

This Is Where It Starts

Well if you weren't able to be there be sure to get the recording. What a great night. It was so moving to hear LCBC praising God full tilt. The cool thing is that you will be able to still enjoy and be a part of the night once the CD/DVD comes out this December. The audio files are on the hard drives and the video is being transffered for editing, so after a couple of months of mixing and editing we should have a finished package.

You could help us out by praying for a few folks:

our Video Production guys as they do their normal work around LCBC and find time to edit the project too.
a guy named Chuck Harris who came to track the recording will be editing the CD as well.

I am so thankful to be a part of a community like LCBC where skilled and creative people use their gifts and talents to honor God and build up the body of Christ. I myself was little more than a coordinator for the dept for this concert but it was great to watch the staff use their skills and knowledge this month as they came together to make this night a success. We have some incredibly sharp people. Thanks guys, way to go!

The Worship guys - wow - great songs, great heart, great night - oh and the band rocked too!

A huge thanks to the volunteers that made it all happen; musicians, singers, cameras, graphics, shader, switcher, director, ushers, greeters, traffic you name it we had it. If we didn't the night couldn't have happened the way it did.

It's late and I'm probably forgetting folks so know that Christ was lifted up by what you did and that's where it starts.

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September 19, 2008