There's been a ton of stuff happening lately at Journey and still alot of things coming down the pipe. So, I wanted to take a second to celebrate and share a few of those things here as we close out 2010 together.
1. A special thanks to Julie Schuler and her amazing team who put together a ridiculous worship team Christmas party last Friday night. If you missed it, well ... you MISSED it. These are always great times of reflecting on the past year and gearing up for another great one to come.
2. Thanks for your prayers for Tasha Via. Her surprise abdominal surgery went as good as can be expected. She is improving by the day and recovering quickly. If you want graphic details, you can visit her blog! :)
3. Continue to pray for all the new moms and dads and babies on our worship team. The Peterson's and the Sandine's both had their babies about 2 weeks ago. And of course, the Leino's are a couple months along now, I think, with #2. And I'm sure I'm forgetting someone. Please forgive me. Oh, yea, Adam Neal is expecting his first .... whoawhoawhoa...just kidding. hahaha! woo. wow. Sorry Adam. Seriously though, make sure you congratulate them and see if there's anything they need. Let's serve each other in this way.
4. The orphanage at Bukaleba, Uganda - Great things are happening. Many of you have responded overwhelmingly to the need that these children have. And it's pretty exciting to be able to say that our church basically funded the orphanage and is now helping to sponsor every child in that place. That's really exciting. An easy way to fulfill your monthly commitment is to simply give at the Giving Kiosk in the lobby. Or you can always write an old-fashioned check (Random fact: I've written a total of about 4 checks in my lifetime). But if you ever have any questions about anything, feel free to drop Tasha an email (just not 200 please - :) at tashavia@gmail.com.
5. Christmas Eve - you don't want to miss it. Two services. 4 and 6. It's gonna be an amazing time of worship and celebrating King Jesus. We could still use some additional choir members for the last 2 songs of the night, Jesus Messiah and No One Higher/The Stand. Wear black if you can make it and be there Thursday night at 8:30 and Friday afternoon at 2:30. Invite everyone you know. Anyone who's breathing. Get 'em there. We're also very excited to welcome back two of our former worship leaders for this special night: Steven Sharpe and Alex Anders. Oh, heck yea!!! You'll wanna come just to hear Steve-o kill it with those masculinely-angelic pipes of his and to hear Alex shred a mean guitar like the world's about to end!!!! Seriously though, it's gonna be great. The most we've ever had on the stage at one time. A sound tech's dream!!
6. New Songs - We're excited about the new songs spilling out of the hearts of many of you on our worship team. And it's gonna be fun to incorporate many of these in the coming months. And who knows, maybe by this time next year we can record a second live worship project, only this time with all original material birthed right out of the movement that is Journey Church. That would be pretty exciting! We do ask, though, for your patience and understanding with us as a worship leadership team as we seek to select and compose songs that we think will connect with our people and that are on a level consistent with the songs we do on a week-by-week basis. This is not always an easy process, and I'll be the first to admit that, as an artist, I often wear my heart on my sleeve and often get married to a lyric, a thought, or a melody that, in reality, wouldn't serve the church very much at all. And it often takes an outsider listening to my stuff to honestly tell me that it's not conducive for a worship setting. It's then that I have to step back, swallow my pride and realize that it's not about me. And that my art doesn't define who I am. It doesn't mean that my art doesn't carry value. It just means that it may not be what our church needs at the time. Make sense?
Well, sorry for all that. I didn't mean to rant. All of that to say, do submit songs. And do let us in on what God is doing in your hearts, but just know that we are all learning together what it means to serve the body of Christ by creating music and art that connects on the level that we're at or where we need to be in this journey. No pun intended.
7. Finally a shameless plug: Many of you know by now, but you can download a free Christmas album I did over the weekend at joshvia.bandcamp.com. It's nothing to write home about, but I thought it would be a good way to raise some awareness (and money) for our adoption. And maybe bring a smile to someone's face.
I love you all and consider it a huge blessing and high calling to serve together with you at Journey.
Have a very merry Christmas and a blessed new year,
josh.via.
