I was away last week leading worship for Medical Campus Outreach (MCO), hence the absence of a setlist.  I love MCO and the opportunity to be around these medical professionals and students.  It was a great weekend to be with them despite the rain every day.  

Even after a great weekend, it’s always good to come home.  Sunday morning was one of those days I’m so thankful for our home here at ECBC.  I love singing with the people there and am blessed to be able to lead in song.  So, here’s what we sang yesterday.

1. How Can I Keep From Singing (Tomlin, Cash, Redman) - It was one of those mornings I’m so thankful that we were starting off worship with this song.  We all have much to be grateful for no matter our life situation.

I will lift my eyes
In the darkest night
For I know my Savior lives
And I will walk with You
Knowing You’ll see me through
And sing the songs You give

How can I keep from singing your praise

2. I Stand Amazed (Gabriel) - This old hymn is a standard one for us though we usually do a country rock arrangement of it.  I tried to change it up a little bit this week and slow it down to give it more of a ballad feel, but we just can’t help being a little bit country.  We sang this right before doing baptism in each of our services.  There were 11 people baptized yesterday.  God is good.

He took my sins and my sorrows
He made them His very own
He bore the burden to Calvary
And suffered and died alone

How marvelous, how wonderful!

3. To God Be The Glory (Crosby, arrangement Matt Boswell) - I love this arrangement by Matt Boswell.  It’s on his “Vintage” cd which is fabulous.  This was our response and celebration for the baptisms.  It’s a great summary of the Gospel and calls forth praise.

O perfect redemption the purchase of blood
To every believer the promise of God
The vilest offender who truly believes
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives

Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord!

4. Jesus Messiah (Tomlin, Carson, Reeves, Cash) - This song is a simple declaration of what Christ has done for us.  It’s our pastor’s new favorite song.  I love to watch him sing this.  If you could sum up what we hear each and every week in the sermons he preaches, it would be this song.  

He became sin who knew no sin
That we might become His righteousness
He humbled Himself and carried the cross
Love so amazing love so amazing

Jesus Messiah, Name above all names

5. Your Name (Baloche) - I remember the first time I heard this song on Paul Baloche’s “A Greater Song” cd and knew it would be one we sing often.  We’ve been doing it for a while and I realized on the retreat last week when we sang it there that we hadn’t done it on a Sunday morning in a while.  It fit the theme for this week very well, so I was very glad to do this one again.  I let the piano take the lead on the first verse and chorus and I didn’t play a single note the whole time.  It was nice to focus on the words and not have to worry about my fingers if only briefly.

As morning dawns and evening fades
You inspire songs of praise
That rise from earth to touch Your heart
And glorify Your Name

Your Name is a strong and mighty tower
Your Name is a shelter like no other
Your Name let the nations sing it louder
‘Cause nothing has the power to save
But Your Name

6. Praise the Father, Praise the Son (Tomlin, Cash) - This is one of Tomlin’s best in my opinion.  Great melody, great words, and the bridge is powerful.  We introduced this one yesterday.  I love songs about the Trinity and this song calls forth praise for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  We had experience baptism together in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit.  We had prayed in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit.  And then we sang in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit. 

O sov’reign God O matchless King
The saints adore the angels sing
And fall before the throne of grace
To You belongs the highest praise

These sufferings this passing tide
Under Your wings I will abide
And ev’ry enemy shall flee
You are my hope and victory

Praise the Father
Praise the Son
Praise the Spirit
Three in One
Clothed in power and in grace
The name above all other names

To the valley for my soul
Thy great descent has made me whole
Your word my heart has welcomed home
Now peace like water ever flows

Yours is the kingdom
Yours is the power
Yours is the glory forever

Here’s a fun little story about me singing this song yesterday.  I have always been told my voice is similar to Darius Rucker from Hootie and Mac Powell of Third Day, so it’s more of a low, gruff voice.  So, with Chris Tomlin’s songs, I usually take them down a step or two for congregational singing and for my own (manly) voice.  Well, I only took this one down a half step which means it tops out at an F# on the bridge and it stays pretty high throughout.  I told the band that they had to play with all the energy they could muster to help me hang on those notes.  They did and I was able to hit the notes really well.  So, after one of the services a lady came up and said how much she liked the song.  But to top it off she added, “And on that high part at the end, you sounded like Bon Jovi.”  Awesome!

I posting this, once again, with other’s setlists at FredMcKinnon.com.