Worship Ministry Update 9/29/08

 Choir & Orchestra: Leading worship this Sunday!

 

    As you could tell from practice last night, I'm really pumped about having the choir and orchestra part of worship this Sunday morning!  Please remember to park in the back of the parking lot, drop your kids off in the nursery with Jennifer (my wife) and to be in the worship center by 7:00 A.M.

 

        We'll also practice this Sunday night at 6:00 P.M.  We'll be working on "My Soul Does Magnify the Lord," which is my favorite song in the musical!  So we'll break into sectionals first, then come back together for the full group practice, and have prayer groups at the end.  Choir: you'll also need to work on the end of "Let the worshippers arise" during sectionals: we we're a little fuzzy on the end of that song last time we practiced. :) 

 

Shout out to the Media Team

 

Special thanks to the media team, who worked wonders getting the stage & sound ready to go for practice last Sunday night!  You all rock, and we are blessed to serve with you all!

 

Mentor & Equipper Fiesta: This Friday night, October 3  @ 6:30 P.M.

 

    This Friday is the night!  All mentors & equippers (including prayer group leaders and sectional leaders) are invited to our house for some food and fellowship!  Bring a side dish or a dessert.  Jennifer will be making her world famous enchilada dish!

 

    After we eat, we'll be discussing the strengths and weaknesses of how 2008 has gone: what has gone well and what has not gone so well.  I look forward to hearing from all of you.  Would you please RSVP to me by this Wednesday, Oct. 1?  Gracias. :)

        

Value for the month of September: Matthew 18

 

    Matthew 18: "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.  But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.”

 

    I'd really like the phrase "do a Matthew 18," to become a part of our culture in the worship ministry.  As I've said all month long: relational conflict will be the thing that shipwrecks the worship ministry if we allow Satan to have his way.  So we must be kind and compassionate to each other.  Any problems must be taken directly to the person involved and addressed in a spirit of love and harmony.  In short, me must "do a Matthew 18."  Thank you all for improving so much in this!  You all have come a long way in the past 3 years, and I praise God for all of you!

 

     Praying for you,

 

          Phill   

 

 

Phill Foust

Minister of Worship

First Christian Church of Newburgh

4544 State Rd. 261

Newburgh, IN 47630

 

Office phone: (812) 858-5000

Cell phone:    (812) 449-3474

Fax:              (812) 858-5001

www.fccn.org

Pfoust@fccn.org

 

Worship Ministry Update 9/22/08

Choir & Orchestra practice this Sunday night! (Media team too!)

 

    We're breaking records with the number involved: we're well over 100 now!  Praise the Lord!  But we're still in need of more people!  Come and join us this Sunday night: everyone 8th grade and older is welcome to join us.

 

    Here's the schedule for this Sunday night:

 

        5:00 P.M.: Solo tryouts in the dining room over by the gym.  Here are the solos available:

 

            "Do You Hear What I Hear" - 1 soprano (female), 1 alto (female) & 1 tenor (female or male) solo

            "Let the Worshippers Arise" - 1 male solo, 1 female solo

            "My Soul Does Magnify the Lord" - 1 solo (female or male)

            "While You were Sleeping" - 1 solo (female or male)

            "Sing Noel" - 1 solo (female or male) (measures 29-36 both times)

            "How Can I Keep from Singing" 1 or 2 solos (female or male) (we may split the verses and the bridge between 2 soloists.)

            "One King" 1 solo (Female or Male)

 

        5:00 P.M.: While tryouts are going on, everyone else is welcome to help set the stage for Sunday: we need to set up the choir risers, open the orchestra pit and move the drums, percussion, keyboard and piano to the other side of the stage.

 

        6:00-7:30: Regular choir and orchestra practice with the media team too!  We'll be practicing the music for when we lead worship on October 5.  We'll also break up into prayer groups about half way through practice. 

 

Christmas Musical Drama Meeting: This Sunday @ 6:00 in the Dining Room

 

    Anyone interested in the drama for the Christmas musical is invited to the dining room this Sunday night.  Paul Morrison, our drama director, will the there to give you some important information.  Remember, children and adults are invited to participate in the drama this year.

 

4th Quarter Praise Team Schedule is Out!

 

    A BIG thank you to Brenda Esparza who put the schedule together for us!  We'll also put a copy in everyone's box in the green room.

 

Mentor & Equipper Fiesta: Friday night, October 3.

 

    All mentors & equippers (including prayer group leaders and sectional leaders) are invited to our house for some food and fellowship!  Bring a side dish or a dessert.  My wife Jennifer will be making a southwest, cheesy, meaty dish (I'm not sure what it's called, I just like it a lot. :)

 

    After we eat, we'll be discussing the strengths and weaknesses of how 2008 has gone: what has gone well and what has not gone so well.  I look forward to hearing from all of you.  Please RSVP to me by Wednesday, Oct. 1.

        

Value for the month of September: Matthew 18

 

    Matthew 18: "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.  But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.”

 

    Okay, so let's say you need to "go to your brother and show him his fault."  Doesn't that sound like fun? Don't you just love confrontation? :)  A good way to start the conversation sounds something like this:

 

    "I wanted to talk with you about what happened yesterday.  I want you to know that I haven't told anyone else about what happened, or about this conversation.  This is a Matthew 18 thing, between you and me...."

 

    I've found that it is comforting to the person to know that you have not complained to 15 people already: you're going directly to that person in love.  As long as what you say is true, it can open a channel of communication.  Once they realize that, the conversation goes well and the relationship is better as a result.

 

     May God bless your socks off,

 

          Phill   

 

 

Phill Foust

Minister of Worship

First Christian Church of Newburgh

4544 State Rd. 261

Newburgh, IN 47630

 

Office phone: (812) 858-5000

Cell phone:    (812) 449-3474

Fax:              (812) 858-5001

www.fccn.org

Pfoust@fccn.org

 

Worship Ministry Update 9/16/08

This is the weekly worship ministry update.  If you'd rather not receive this, just reply and let me know!  Otherwise, happy reading!

 

2009 Vision: serving the community through the arts and acts of kindness

 

    Thanks to so many people who came and supported us last first night!  In fact, not everyone could fit into the room in which we we're playing!  I welcome any comments from any of you who were able to hear us: what you liked, what you didn't like, how we can improve, etc.  Enclosed is a picture taken by photographer extraordinaire: Brenda Esparza. :)

 

Choir & Orchestra practice this Sunday night!

 

    We had a great turn out for the choir and orchestra again, praise the Lord!  You all sounded good on the new song "How Can I Keep From Singing."  

 

    We're still looking for more people to join us!  Come this Sunday night at 6:00 P.M. in the worship center and check it out!  Everyone in 8th grade or older is welcome to join us.

 

    I've timed out the musical with the drama, and it totals 71 minutes (including the greeting, communion, decision, offering, closing, etc.)  So to make sure we end on time, I'm cutting one song: "How Great our Joy." (I can hear the collective "boo" already!  Sorry.)  So don't worry about practicing that one, but we'll do it next year, God willing!

 

    This Sunday night we will be practicing "Little Town" & "Let the Worshippers Arise."  We'll also be passing out the worship tunes for when we lead worship on October 5.  Some have asked about which songs we are practicing for the remainder of the year, so here goes:

 

        9/21: "Little Town" & "Let the Worshippers Arise"

   

        9/28: Practice for 10/5 worship service, including "How Can I Keep From Singing."

 

        10/5: "My Soul Does Magnify" (my favorite!)

 

        10/12: "Do You Hear What I Hear?" & "My Soul Does Magnify"

 

        10/19: "Sing Noel" & "One King"

 

        10/26: Practice for 11/2 worship service, including "Let the Worshippers Arise."

 

        11/2: "Two Kingdoms" (choir only),  "Underscore 1" & Herod Underscore" (orchestra only)

 

        11/9-11/16 Full group practice for November 23 @ Eastland Mall!

 

    By the way: solo tryout are coming up fast!  Anyone who wishes to audition for a solo, please come to the dining room on Sunday night, Sept. 28 at 5:00 P.M.  Remember that we have lots of solos this year, and this is the best way to audition for the praise team and solos in the future, so I encourage you to give it a try!

       

Praise Team practice moved to Wednesday  this week (Sept. 17)

 

    Because of the ITT graduation in the worship center today, Sept. 16, we will have practice in the worship center this Wednesday, Sept. 17.  Please let me know if you can't make it and I'll be happy to practice with you some other time.

 

Value for the month of September: Matthew 18

 

    Matthew 18: "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.  But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.”

 

    Jesus is quite clear: we are to go directly to the person who has offended us and talk about it in a loving way.  I like what Rory Noland has to say about this in his book Thriving as an Artist.  He says, "Remember that how you say something is just as important as what you say.  that principle should apply from the beginning of the conversation, because when it comes to expressing anger, those first words out of your mouth are extremely important.  You don't have to sugarcoat your words.  You don't have to walk on eggshells.  But at some point you have to articulate the fact that you're angry or offended" (Noland 87).

 

    I've found that it is important to get control of my emotions first.  Once I'm calm, then I can go to the person and say "something happened this morning that was upsetting to me: can we talk about it?"  Then I gradually introduce what happened (without attacking) and explain how it made me feel.  The conversation usually flows from there, and the end result is a strengthened relationship.   

 

     God bless you all!

 

          Phill   

 

 

Phill Foust

Minister of Worship

First Christian Church of Newburgh

4544 State Rd. 261

Newburgh, IN 47630

 

Office phone: (812) 858-5000

Cell phone:    (812) 449-3474

Fax:              (812) 858-5001

www.fccn.org

Pfoust@fccn.org

 

Worship Ministry Update 9/11/08

This is the weekly worship ministry update.  If you'd rather not receive this, just reply and let me know!  Otherwise, happy reading!

 

2009 Vision: serving the community through the arts and acts of kindness

 

    This Friday, September 12 is a trial run for our 2009 vision!  Louis Rose, James Geisler and I will be performing at Abshier Ice House in Newburgh tomorrow, September 12 at 8:30 P.M.  The Abshier Ice House is the new name for "Cafe Newburgh," 17 W Jennings St, downtown Newburgh.

 

    Remember why we are doing this: we'll play some (hopefully) good acoustic music, and then simply invite them to come to worship on Sundays at 9:00 & 10:45.  Our prayer is that they not only attend worship, but become fully devoted followers of Jesus as a result.  We're just doing what Jesus did: going to where they are to meet their need. 

 

Christmas Musical: it's more than just the choir & orchestra!

 

    We'll have sign ups for the Christmas musical one more time this Sunday morning after each service in the gymnasium.  You'll be able to sign up to help with drama, set construction, props, costumes and sign choir!  Serena Gelhausen is scheduled at the table after the 1st service and Karla Dodson is scheduled after 2nd service.  Come on down and check it out!

 

Choir & Orchestra practice this Sunday night!

 

    We had an awesome turn out for our first practice, but we still are looking for more!  Everyone with a love for music and worship is welcome to join us this Sunday night from 6:00-7:30.  BTW, the choir and orchestra is open to everyone from 8th grade up.  There is also full programming throughout the building for the entire family, so "bring the kids, bring the grown-ups, and bring the hot dog buns!" (shout out to NBA Street Vol. 2: Jason C., can I get a witness!?!?!)

 

    We'll have our first prayer group time (6:05-6:25), Sectional rehearsal (6:30-6:55), then full group time practice from 7:00-7:30. 

 

Praise Team practice moved to Wednesday next week (Sept. 17)

 

    Because of the ITT graduation in the worship center on Tuesday, Sept. 16, we will have practice in the worship center on Wednesday, Sept. 17.  Please let me know if you can't make it and I'll be happy to practice with you some other time.

 

Value for the month of September: Matthew 18

 

    Matthew 18: "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.  But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.”

 

    I have been very proud of you all, because many of you have come to me and told me to pray for you, because you needed to do a "Matthew 18" with someone.  You do not tell me who it is, or what the offense was.  I'm so proud of you for doing that!  When we work things out one on one in love, some marvelous things can happen.  It's far easier just to complain to other people about it, but it's far better and more biblical to do what Jesus commanded: if someone sins against you, go directly to that person in love and say, "hey, can we talk this over?"  Then if the relationship is still a little shaky, invite a trusted mentor, equipper or me to come along with you.  We'll again sit down in love and kindly try to work it out.

 

    So in closing let me say that the worship ministry has come a long way in the Matthew 18 area, and I praise God for all of you in following Jesus' wisdom!  Keep that up. :)

 

    God bless,

 

          Phill   

 

 

Phill Foust

Minister of Worship

First Christian Church of Newburgh

4544 State Rd. 261

Newburgh, IN 47630

 

Office phone: (812) 858-5000

Cell phone:    (812) 449-3474

Fax:              (812) 858-5001

www.fccn.org

Pfoust@fccn.org

 

Big day this Sunday

    I am very excited for this Sunday and I hope you all will be joining us!  I'll be narrating the entire book of Jonah on Sunday, complete with a boat & sail, Nineveh city set, and a shelter with a vine (no worm though).  We'll weave worship and communion through it, and end it very evangelistically.  Please pray for me and the rest of the worship ministry team this weekend, we'll need all the prayers we can get! :)

 

    Special thanks, by the way, to Freddy Musser, Peg Rose and Cynthia Moore for getting the set construction together.  They are using talents that I do not have!  God bless you all!

 

    Then we'll have our first choir and orchestra practice this Sunday night at 6:00 P.M. in the worship Center.  We will need a MAMMOTH size choir and orchestra to pull off the Christmas musical this year.  It will be big.  May God receive all Glory and honor!

 

Phill

 

 Phill Foust

Minister of Worship

First Christian Church of Newburgh

4544 State Rd. 261

Newburgh, IN 47630

 

Office phone: (812) 858-5000

Cell phone:    (812) 449-3474

Fax:              (812) 858-5001

www.fccn.org

Pfoust@fccn.org

 

Worship Ministry Update: Sept. 7

Choir and orchestra begins this Sunday Night!

 

    Come and join us at 6:00 P.M. In the worship center as we preview the Christmas Musical!   I'm really fired up about it!   

 

Praise Team 4th Quarter Schedule: Due Tuesday, Sept. 9

 

    Please let me know which Sundays you can be scheduled for the vocal team and praise band.  You can email it to me or hand it to me directly.  Brenda Esparza will be putting the schedule together this quarter, so please have it to me by Sept. 9 so she can have time to make it happen.

 

 Christmas Musical Sign Ups: Aug 31-Sept. 14

 

      We'll still have sign ups this week in the Gym for the Christmas Musical.  We had a page full of people interested in drama, and Eric Rudisill casually mentioned that there might be some interest at FCCN in this ministry (hmmmm...prophesy is one of his spiritual gifts, by the way).

 

Here's who scheduled to be at the table for the next two weeks:

 

Sept. 7 Jana Garrett & Lisa Breidenbaugh (after both services)

 

Sept. 14 Serena Gelhausen (after 1^st service)

             Karla Dodson (after 2nd service)

 

2009 Vision: Serving the Community through the Arts and Acts of Kindness

 

      Next Friday, September 12 is a trial run for our 2009 vision!  Louis Rose, James Geisler and I will be performing at Abshier Ice House in Newburgh next Friday night, September 12 at 8:30 P.M.  The Abshier Ice House is the new name for "Cafe Newburgh," 17 W Jennings St, downtown Newburgh.   It will be part of a benefit fundraiser for Nick Davenport's family: he was the young man who was tragically killed on 261 last Sunday morning.  Come on out and listen to the music! 

    

 Value for the month of September: Matthew 18

 

            This is a value that, if it were followed correctly, would solve 75% of the relationship conflicts in the church today.  According to Jesus,

 

            Matt. 18:15-17 15"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.”

 

            In The Heart of the Artist, Roly Noland  talks about Matthew 18.  He says, “for a team member who is offended to not go directly to the member who caused the offense really brings a team down, and it’s wrong.  I repeat, it is wrong for us to go to anybody else but the person with whom we’re in conflict.  Too many of us, for some reason, think we’re exempt from the conflict resolution process laid out in Matthew 18” (100).

 

            This is one of the ways the church should be different from the world.  We resolve our conflicts in a loving way, going directly to the person (in love) and trying to talk it out.  What a freeing and wonderful model to follow!   I look forward to learning more about this with you this month.

 

    God bless,

 

        Phill 

 

Phill Foust

Minister of Worship

First Christian Church of Newburgh

4544 State Rd. 261

Newburgh, IN 47630

 

Office phone: (812) 858-5000

Cell phone:    (812) 449-3474

Fax:              (812) 858-5001

www.fccn.org

Pfoust@fccn.org