peace on earth

Peace Kept

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If you have ever wondered who is the media mastermind behind our services, look no further.  My son, Eli, is the technological guru behind all things AVL during our services.  Well, he at least likes to act like he is.  Honestly, he’s so smart and skilled in these areas, it won’t be long.

I always love the Sundays before Christmas.  Today was a little different.  The worship was great.  Message was powerful.  Great services full of eager worshipers, but so much stuff happening before, during, and after services that it is hard to process.  Watching families work on reconciliation in our midst.  Unemployed fathers trying to find assistance to provide for their family this year.  Single moms trying to find hope.  Families unable to attend worship because they are beside hospital beds.  And so much more.  It’s the Body of  Christ.  It’s church.  It’s not usually glamorous, but it’s real life, and I’m honored I get to alongside these people as Christ draws them closer.

Today, we worshiped to:

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A Bluegrass Christmas

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Personally, I have been overwhelmed and humbled by the encouraging amount of feedback we have received about our 4th 2012 worship album: “Peace on Earth: A Bluegrass Christmas.”  What started as a neat idea to have a small EP turned into something a little larger and more thematic.  We have sold out of our original run, and have been refilling stock as often as we can.  Many of our members have given theirs away and needed another one.

There are some random stories and interesting facts from each track.  If you like knowing some of the behind the scenes stuff, read below:

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Peace Made

Peace on Earth

We had a wonderful time being the church today.  Whenever the service starts out with Jeff getting on the banjo, you know it is going to be a special day!

We actually sold out of our “Peace on Earth” CDs today, but we will have some more copies available for tomorrow night at the mall.  So thankful for the encouraging response we have received.  The time of worship was powerful, and I never knew how God was orchestrating the details of the service together.

We had a powerful time of worship and intercession over the people of Newtown, CT.  And what I loved about it was the order of service was in play before the tragedy occurred.  We had planned to sing the new song “Peace on Earth” during the service as a lead into the message, and was the song ever timely with our congregation yesterday.  Pictures from Newtown filled the back wall as we sang, “There are wars in the streets, there are wars where we sleep, o, the wreckage it grows by the day.  My soul can only take so much of this heartache, help me, Jesus, please don’t delay.”

As we sang, you could tell the amount of prayers going up in the room hoping that the people devastated by this tragedy will realize that the peace on Earth Jesus promised can be found in him even among such horrible times.

Today, we worshiped to:

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