Written by Kait Raak You may have noticed our large group of worship leaders this past Sunday morning. Getting a big group together filled with youth participants gets me really excited; both hopeful and nostalgic. Cody and I recently discovered this album: Vintage, by Shane & Shane, which brings back some contemporary classics with fresh …
#WorshipWednesday: “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing”
*This post is reprinted from Amazing Grace: 366 Daily Devotionals, by Kenneth W. Osbeck, copyright 1990. It would be enlightening if the people in the pew could stand on the platform and observe the congregational singing during an average church service. One would soon concur that there are many who appear to have attended church …
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#WorshipWednesday: “God So Loved”
“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him"~ 1 John 4:9 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iq5URsXbKXs This song celebrates God's power, God's goodness, God's love shown to us in the giving of Jesus Christ. And, I think, it asks a …
#WorshipWednesday: “Angels We Have Heard On High”
written by Kait Raak https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v5V0k0fwuE I mentioned before that Phil Wickham’s style easily invites me into a state of peaceful worship. This song is my favorite on the album and it brings up a lot of visuals for me as I like to close my eyes and take in the familiar words in a new …
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#WorshipWednesday: “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”
written by Ginger DenHerder https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F756Mjxxrvc The familiar Christmas carol “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” dates back to 1863. During the American Civil War, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow heard the church bells on Christmas morning and felt the inconsistency of God’s peace and the war dividing the nation. The poem he wrote that Christmas Day, …
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#WorshipWednesday: “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”
written by Pastor Cody Raak https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZ--HwWc4Ms Emmanuel (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23)Son of God (Matthew 16:13-17)Dayspring (Malachi 4:2, Luke 1:78-79)Rod of Jesse (Isaiah 11:2)Desire of nations (Haggai 2:6-7) This hymn uses all these names for Jesus, to inspire adoration and expectation. Adoration, because we sing these names to "Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his …
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#WorshipWednesday: “Joy to the World (Joyful, Joyful)”
Written by Kait Raak https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DE4w-W-PAo I discovered Phil Wickham's album last year and it became a fast favorite. He makes it easy to drift into a state of worship and wonder. Give the whole album a listen if you get the chance, but today I want to focus on his version of "Joy to the …
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#WorshipWednesday: “Psalm 23 (Surely Goodness, Surely Mercy)”
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, ESV - Paul makes God's will sound so simple: Rejoice, Pray, Give thanks. But if you're like me, these practices have been elusive this year. Thanksgiving calls us back to this, to …
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Advent @Home
Emmanuel Family! This coming Sunday (November 29, 2020) is the first Sunday of Advent, the worship season that comes before Christmas. Many of us are hunkering down again, seeing the pandemic hitting closer to home. I want to invite you -- especially if you're parents with young kids at home -- to consider adding some …
#WorshipWednesday: “Great Are You, Lord”
This morning, with so much anxiety and concern, we are called back to the throne of Jesus, the King of kings, who has not been unseated, and is still -- always -- worthy of our praise. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHz0w-HG4iU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHz0w-HG4iU 22 So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in …
EMMANUEL REFORMED CHURCH 