Hi WCC Family! Here's the worship music setlist for this Sunday, November 1, 2020 (playlist attached below). Here are a few personal thoughts about each song.

1) "The Love of the Father" (written by City Alight). I love that this song encourages us to sing together as the body of Christ, celebrating the victory that has already been won in Jesus Christ! Despite circumstances, election stress, and 2020 in general, God has not been dethroned. This song reminds us: "This is the song of the redeemed, the ransomed and the free, given life at such a price, this is love!" For me, this song encourages me to find joy in the Lord and look to Him for my peace, joy, and satisfaction. Nothing else can ulitmately bring that to us.

2) "Jesus is Alive" (also written by City Alight... what can I say, I'm a fan boy of "City Alight" :-). I love that this song draws attention to the resurrection of Jesus and all of it's many implications for us! As the song says, "There is now a hope that lasts beyond our days, for the one that once was buried lives again." The song ends in verse 3 with this great truth that because of the resurrection we no longer have condemnation nor do we have to be dominated by sin or fear. 

3) "Jesus Paid it All"- Words written by Elvina Hall in the 1860s (music by the organist in her church, John Thomas Grape). Legend has it that she wrote it in the choir loft during one of her pastor's extra long prayers (don't get any ideas now! haha). This music has been updated over the years, but personally, I love singing this song during a communion Sunday. It moves me to remember how large my sin is (much bigger than I can ever realize in fact), yet how much greater is the grace of our Lord...who paid for all our sins through his atoning sacrifice on the cross. And because he paid it all, verse 3 reminds us that one day we will stand before the Lord complete in Him- yet praising Him all the more for his glorious saving work!

4) "And can it be" -written by Charles Wesley in 1738 immediately after his conversion. Charles Wesley wrote over 6,000 hymns and this particular song has been deemed as one of his best. The song itself speaks about the riches of the Gospel and how it's only by God's grace that we are truly saved. Every verse ends the same with this joyful phrase "Amazing love, how can it be, that Thou my God shouldst die for me!" Let me be transparent with you though. As a little kid, I didn't like hymns. I thought they sounded weird and outdated. Over time though many hymns really grew on me because I noticed the depth to which they described the saving work of our Lord. That's what this song gives us. Every verse peeling back another glorious facet of God's saving grace- reminding us that the truth of the Gospel is not a fad or a chaff blown away in the wind. It's (the Gospel) been around thousands of years. "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes." (Romans 1:16).

So regardless of whether these songs (or musical styles) are your cup of tea or not, my hope and prayer is that we will all sing to the Lord together this Sunday with one united voice and heart, worshiping our Lord and Savior who alone is worthy of our worship!

Much love in Jesus,

Jeffrey