Worship Song Playlists

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August 16, 2020

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August 9, 2020

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August 2, 2020

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July 26, 2020

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July 19, 2020

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July 12, 2020

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July 5, 2020

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June 28, 2020

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June 21, 2020

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June 14, 2020

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June 7, 2020

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May 31, 2020

Dear church family,

It’s been a hard week with much to grieve and much to pray over.

How does God call us to respond? Jesus taught us to pray: “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

It’s a corporate prayer. We address God as “our” Father, we ask Him to give “us” our daily bread, to forgive “us”, to lead “us” not into temptation. The implication is that we function as a community - the very body of Christ.

What does that look like, really? How do we live that out? What does true community, made possible through the work of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, require of us? What does it require of me?

I invite you to join me in holding these questions before God and intentionally opening yourself to the work of the Spirit as we worship today. - Margaret

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May 24, 2020

Dear church family,

Scot and Christine are leading you in worship this week. As I listened to the songs that God put on their hearts to share with you this week, so many lyrics are sinking deeper into my heart than ever before.

Why am I hearing them in a new way? - because of the context in which I find myself. This context of pandemic - in the midst of its challenges and griefs, there are also invitations from God. I think for me, one of those invitations is to notice. I’m noticing things about God, about others, and about myself. This disruption to my regular busy life is holding up a mirror to me, when I’m brave enough to look.

In “real life” I often avoid looking in the mirror because the image there often doesn’t match the one I have of myself in my head. It shows me flaws that I’d rather pretend didn’t exist. I find myself doing the same thing in my spiritual life. I often avoid looking too closely (or for too long) at the inner Margaret for fear of what might be revealed. And the busy-ness of life is a more than willing co-conspirator in keeping me distracted.

But God, He just keeps putting things in my path for me to notice. I’m reminded of Jesus’ words that would follow so many of his parables: “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

The Spirit whispers to me:

“Did you notice…? Did you hear…? Did you see…?

And now, what will you do…?

Remember, I’m here to help you. You don’t need to be afraid. I love you. I am with you. Even in the painful things, I’m working to restore you and transform you. My grace is sufficient for you.”

What are you hearing, as you journey with Christ?

Don’t be afraid to look, to listen, and to allow the Spirit into those places in your soul that need transformation. Grace and peace to you, my sisters and brothers.

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May 17, 2020

Dear church family,

As I write this, it feels like we’ve gone from winter to summer this week. (Gotta love springtime in New York!) The summer-feel today is a REALLY nice change though and so needed!

We’ve given Scot a little breather this week, and worship is being brought to you through the talents of Andy Shipman with assistance from his daughter Aleise, Christine Comfort, Laura Howell, and Matt Dols. It’s great that the wonders of technology have allowed some collaboration between the team even when we’re all temporarily separated!

Thinking about how we are connected by technology led me to thinking about how we, as believers, are all connected by the Spirit. Those thoughts led me to think about Romans chapter 8 (which is all about life in the Spirit) and especially these verses at the end of the chapter:

“Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? …No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

How encouraging is THAT? Nothing can separate us from the love of God, revealed in Jesus, and ministered to us by the Holy Spirit - who is living in us and living in our brothers and sisters in Christ! So, even though we are “physically distanced” we are not truly separated. We are still united in Christ. - Margaret

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May 10, 2020

Dear church family,

Thinking of you all as I remember that Mother’s Day is this Sunday. This is a day that some of us look forward to, others dread, and many of us find to be bittersweet. This year, we have the added challenge of being isolated from friends and family on a day where we might normally gather to spend time together. In fact, spring 2020 seems to be a season of unrealized hopes and unmet expectations for so many of us, for so many different reasons. We are surrounded with much disappointment and pain. Our hearts break.

I encourage you to take time to grieve and, I encourage you to invite Jesus into your grieving process. He desires to be present with you, right there in the middle of whatever it is that you are experiencing. He wants to extend his peace to you and surround you in his love. I’m reminded of Jesus’ words to his disciples in John 16, verse 33: “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Take heart, my friends. - Margaret

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May 3, 2020

Dear church family,

All of songs this week invite us to draw close to (the heart of) God.

For example, the lyric “so heaven is real and death is a lie” in Great I Am reminds me of how Jesus taught his disciples to pray: “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” The lyrics of Anchor help me rehearse the truth that God (who was, is, and is to come) is unshakeable, unchanging, and unfailing in His promises. The lyrics of I Shall Not Want (which echo portions of Psalms 23 & 34) help me to confess specific struggles and fears - things that worm their way into my heart and mind and interfere with my becoming more like Christ.

So, as you worship, choose to draw close to God. Rehearse truth about who he is. Pray for His will to be done on earth - yes! And… IN YOU, specifically, as well. Respond to the invitation of the psalmist: “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” - Margaret

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April 26, 2020

Dear church family,

How was your week?

I described my family’s week to someone as feeling kind of slump-ish. Not sure if it was the weather or what, but the isolation this week felt heavier or gloomier or… something. So, during this time, and especially this week, I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to wait. The verses that keep coming to my mind are from the end of Psalm 33: “We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you.” In all of the uncertainty swirling around us, this is what I keep coming back to: the unfailing love of God. This is my hope. So, I choose to rehearse this truth, even when it’s a “middle of a pandemic, winter when it should be spring, missing “normal” life, slump-ish” sort of week.

Scot Cook (with some help from his daughter Kimberly and wife Heather) and Andy Shipman recorded worship for us this week. Before you join them in singing, I invite you to read all of Psalm 33 as way of preparing your hearts to worship. - Margaret

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April 19, 2020

Dear church family,

Thinking of you this week and am missing seeing your faces! Some of the worship & tech team was able to gather via Zoom this week, chat a bit and check in with one another. It was so good just to see each other’s faces and hear each other’s voices. As I was reflecting on that experience, it brought to mind this verse from 1 Corinthians 13:12: “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” Can you imagine what that experience will be like?! Amazing… Meanwhile, there is a bit of that experience folded into our interactions with one another as the body of Christ. It’s hard being physically distanced from one another, isn’t it? And yet, we are still connected by the Holy Spirit who makes us one.

So, as we gather to worship, perhaps take time to pray for those in the church body that God brings to mind. Next, invite members of your family take turns reading 1 Corinthians 13, verses 1 through 13 and then join in with Scot as he leads us in singing about the love and presence of Emmanuel, God with us. Peace be with you. – Margaret

Scot Cook worship video

Scot & Kimberly Cook and Andrea & Mackenzie Shields worship video

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April 12, 2020

Dear church family,

HE IS RISEN!

Scot Cook and his daughter Kimberly & and Andrea Shields and her daughter Mackenzie have recorded worship for you this morning. The same songs are available for you on the usual platforms. Before you begin singing, may I suggest that someone(s) from your family read Luke 24:1-12 & 44-53 (or, if time and patience allows, read chapter 24 in its entirety) to bridge from the events of Good Friday to this morning. Remember that the Holy Spirit is always present with you. Even though we are scattered rather than gathered together this morning, the Holy Spirit unites us and makes us one and fills us with joy as we praise our risen Savior. Allelujah! - Margaret

Luke 24:1-12, 44-53

But very early on Sunday morning[a] the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. 3 So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes.5 The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? 6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man[b] must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.”8 Then they remembered that he had said this. 9 So they rushed back from the tomb to tell his eleven disciples—and everyone else—what had happened. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several other women who told the apostles what had happened. 11 But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it. 12 However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened.

44 Then he said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 46 And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. 47 It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations,[f] beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ 48 You are witnesses of all these things.”

49 “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”

50 Then Jesus led them to Bethany, and lifting his hands to heaven, he blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven. 52 So they worshiped him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy. 53 And they spent all of their time in the Temple, praising God.

Scot & Emily Cook and Chris & Caly McAllister worship video

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April 5, 2020

Dear church family,

Here are the songs that members of the team selected for worship this week. Scot Cook and his daughter, Emily, and Chris & Caly McAllister recorded these songs for you from their homes. I'm also including a pdf of the song lyrics so you can sing along with their recordings. Hope you and your family will enjoying gathering in your home and worshiping along with them! :) (Note: If for some reason we run into any technical difficulties with the recordings, we are also providing you with links to the same worship songs on the same platforms as in previous weeks.) Also, the Spotify and Apple Music Playlists are a great way to keep this music with you throughout your week. Wherever you find yourself (physcially or emotionally) this week, keep lifting your heart to our Savior. - Margaret

Scot Cook and Andrea & Mackenzie Shields worship video

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March 29, 2020

Dear church family,

Here are the songs that members of the team selected for worship this week. Scot Cook and Andrea & Mackenzie Shields are experimenting with recording these songs from their homes. (How cool is that?!) Therefore, we are also including a pdf of the song lyrics so you can sing along with their videos. Hope you and your family will enjoying gathering in your home and worshiping along with them! :) (Note: If for some reason we run into any technical difficulties with those videos, we are also providing you with links to the same worship songs on the same platforms as last week.) - Margaret

YouTube Videos (w/ lyrics):

March 22, 2020

Dear church family,

Here are the songs that God has laid on the hearts of the worship team for this week. We're providing them in several formats in the hopes that your family will have access to at least one of them. May I suggest that you also have someone in your family read Psalm 139:1-12 as you begin to worship together and be reminded that God is with you wherever you are and in whatever circumstances you find yourselves. Grace and peace to you - Margaret Smith