ORBC Worship BLOG (A New Hope)

After Pastor Brian’s announcement Sunday I am sure that many of you have begun to ask how will this impact worship arts. If you have not seen the message yet, I would suggest that you go and watch the message from this past week. http://salisbury.orbc.net/sermons/sermon/2013-11-17/becoming-a-grand-slam-christian

I am sure that there are many of you who have question about what this new direction looks like? Some of those questions are still being worked out. What I can say at this time is God is moving us in a new and its an exciting direction for greater venue ministry. So, for this week’s devotion let’s focus on preparing our heart for this new direction before we prepare our organization.

¹⁸   “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past ¹⁹   See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:18–19 (NIV)

Watch this week’s video: This WK's Vieo Blog

Come ready this week for a great discussion. Thanks and see you THUR!

Pastor Larry

Announcements:

-       Rehearsals Next Wk (Thanksgiving Wk):

o   All venues will be moving to a Tuesday night rehearsal for the week of Thanksgiving (Tuesday, November 26^th for the Service of December 1^st). Same time, same locations, and same format.

-                Christmas Services (I will be working to get a rehearsal schedule completed soon)

o        Thu Dec. 19th 7:00pm

o        Fri Dec. 20th 7:00pm

o        Sun Dec. 22 3:00pm

o        Sun Dec. 22 5:00pm

o        Mon Dec 23rd 7:00pm

o        Tue Dec. 24th 3:00pm

o        Tue Dec. 24th 5:00pm

ORBC Worship Blog (Excellence)

Daniel 1-3

This week Meredith Hazel will be leading our devotion time Thursday night and she will be working through the core value of Excellence. She has chosen the O.T. story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel CH 1-3). So, read the story and reacquaint yourself with this famous story that many of us were exposed to in church as a kid.

For those of you that grew up with Vegie Tales or watched them with your kids here is a version that might still make you laugh http://www.cross.tv/86411 and lighten your week...

As you prepare for this THUR think about some of these questions:

1.      What is your definition of Excellence?

2.      What is the Worship Arts Ministry’s definition?

3.      Where did you see Excellence lived out in the Daniel 1-3?

4.      How can an improper definition of Excellence hurt a ministry or organization?

5.      What could the Worship/Arts ministry do ti improve the value of Excellence?

I will be out of town this week (THUR – SUN). I want you to know that I appreciate everyone of you and the gifts that you bring to worship arts. You all had a tremendous impact on Easter and I want to share some of the wins with you as an encouragement that what you do matters. Whether you were on the stage this week or your role was one of prayer for lives that were being changed, God responded!

Here are the responses from our Keeping in Touch Cards:

Total attendees - 2083

Prayed - 107

Baptism - 15

Small Group - 11

Membership - 32

Class 201 - 10

WOW! Thank you again for using your gifts to impact people at ORBC!

Striving to Grow with You,

Pastor Larry

ORBC Worship Blog (What a Holy Week)

Matthew 21-28

While Christmas is the most celebrated event in American culture, Easter is without doubt the holiest week in the Christian calendar. I believe that it is a time for us to remember what happened and what Christ has done for us, in us, and wants to do through us. I would like to encourage you to read through the last Chapters of Matthew with me this week (Chapters 21-28).

Watch this week’s video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBa4ZqnOkB0

As you prepare for this THUR think about some of these questions:

1.      What significant event stands out to you during the holy week?

2.      Why does it stand out?

3.      In what way does it affect your faith or your worship?

4.      As a result of your faith, who are you intentionally inviting this Easter?

I am looking forward to hearing what God focuses you on this week!

Pastor Larry

ORBC Worship Blog (Submitting Our Narcissism)

Philippians 2:1-11

This past Saturday I attended a production conference with some ORBC volunteers that was full of some of the best and brightest production people in the world of production. One of the key speakers shared a concern about the tension between narcissism, art, and Christian production. (If you are unfamiliar with the term narcissism, just substitute self-centered.)

He said that “Artists need to be able to submit their natural narcissism” to be able to accomplish the mission that Christ has for worship/arts. At first I thought the idea might be too harsh until I began to google the topic. I found many articles that said that narcissism is a necessary component for artistic expression. This is a pervasive attitude in our culture and in art. But it creates a paradox when we use the term Christian Artist.

Watch this week’s video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbFEB5PD2n4

As you prepare for this THUR think about some of these questions:

1.      As Americans is there a dynamic to our culture that makes us more self-centered or narcissistic?

2.      What things do you think are owed to you as a tech or artist at church?

3.      What does it mean to submit my artistic narcissism to the mission of Christ as it is expressed at ORBC?

I will be praying that the Lord reveals His wisdom and hear to you as you prepare this week!

Hoping to be found more completely in Him,

Pastor Larry