"ALIENS" - NE CAMPUS MINISTRY RETREAT SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP

This morning we had an AMAZING time of worship at the FALL 2011 NORTHEAST CAMPUS MINISTRY RETREAT in STAMFORD, CT ! Here are a couple MP3s from our worship service.  I was especially inspired by the energy of the congregation on these two songs, "Forever" and "Men Who Dream" ...

There is one point in "Forever" about 3/4s of the way through the song where the band drops out completely and you hear the whole church sing "His love endures forever" and it just always gives me goosebumps !!! I love hearing the church sing and praise and honor God !!! Truly His love endures forever, amen.

But for some reason I feel like "Men Who Dream" was particularly impacting on a personal level this weekend.  I have heard this song - and loved it - many times growing up, however I don't think it has ever connected me to God the way that it did this weekend.  Lately I have been studying out the books of Isaiah, Ezra, Esther, and Nehemiah in my chronological bible for my quiet times.  In the book of Ezra, after years of captivity, the Israelites were allowed to return to Jerusalem - to their home ! They were finally able to rebuild the temple of the Lord, and after a little bit of drama and a few regal correspondences, they end up not only getting PERMISSION but also getting FUNDING from the Babylonian government to rebuild the temple !!! When you read these books, you feel the passion of these people - Nehemiah, Esther, Mordecai, Ezra, Isaiah - to see the promised restoration...

Fast forward a few thousand years and its amazing how we can still relate to this passage.  Many things have happened in our church in the last 10 years.  We have seen great things and some not so great things.  But sometimes, like how Nehemiah felt about Jerusalem, it breaks my heart to see where the church IS at compared to where it WAS at - to what I have seen that it can be: the zeal, passion, fire, and love.  It has been hard seeing what the church has gone through in the last 7-8 years knowing what the church CAN and SHOULD be.  And AMEN! we know Romans 8:28 says that in "ALL things God works for the the good of those who love him", and that there were much needed changes that had to take place ... but just like the remnant in Babylon longed to see the glory of the temple restored, there are some of us who long like Nehemiah to see the wall rebuilt ... who long like Paul to see the Gospel spread ... to see the kingdom advanced ...

And what was exciting to me was to worship this morning in a room of somewhere in the range of 500 campus students who have this same desire ... To be used by God to see great things happen once again and to see the wall rebuilt ...

"Captives came

Back into Zion

From their freedom

Came a scheme

While the city

It lay in ruin

We believe

They had a dream ..."

Let us never stop dreaming for God ! Amen.

LISTEN BELOW:

FOREVER

MEN WHO DREAM

(NOTE: To download MP3, right click link and select "Download Linked File")

"ALIENS" - 2011 NORTHEAST CAMPUS MINISTRIES RETREAT

I'm currently up here in Stamford, CT helping lead the worship for the NORTHEAST CAMPUS MINISTRIES FALL RETREAT - "ALIENS" (check out the flyer below !!!).  Last night we opened the retreat with a time of worship, and then we got to hear Marty Wilkinson from the San Antonio TX church preach the word !!! IT WAS AWESOME !!!

It has really been a blast so far, but the most enjoyable and inspiring part for me has definitely been the worship ... last night we were able to sing and worship our AWESOME GOD !!! IT WAS INCREDIBLE ... The energy was electric and the singing was heartfelt ... it was truly a time of worship and praise !!! Below are some of the songs that we sang as well as a special song that I did with Alicia Gerald from the Harlem campus ministry.  I hope these songs encourage you as much as they encourage me !!! I will definitely be jamming out to them on my iPod for a while :-)  

LISTEN BELOW:

REJOICE IN THE LAW OF THE LORD

OPEN THE EYES OF MY HEART

HOLY HOLY HOLY

HUMBLE YOURSELF IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD

I NEED YOUR LOVE

MY LORD MY GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES

PRAISES HEARD AROUND THE WORLD

"ALIENS" - FEAT. ALICIA GERALD

(NOTE: To download MP3, right click link and select "Download Linked File")

ENTRUSTED

This past summer, the NYC Church held a campus ministry & teen ministry internship with the theme "ENTRUSTED" based on 1 & 2 Timothy and specifically 2 Timothy 2:2:

"And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses ENTRUST to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others"

 It is so important as disciples that we remember the magnitude of what we have been entrusted with and that we guard the gospel, just as Paul urged Timothy to do so many years ago !  Here is the theme song from that internship, "ENTRUSTED" !  As I was writing it, I was also thinking about 2 Peter 1:3:

"His divine power has given us EVERYTHING WE NEED for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness"

Not only has God entrusted us with salvation, he has given us EVERYTHING WE NEED !!! Sometimes as disciples we feel like we are unprepared and ill-equipped - that we don't have enough.  However the scriptures make it clear that God has give us exactly what we need ... in fact, he has given us the means to be THOROUGHLY EQUIPPED (2 Timothy 3:16-17) !!! Anyways ... heres the song :)

ENTRUSTED

VERSE 1:

Father God I know that you are gracious

Father God I know you’re full of patience

Father God I know you’re full of mercy

Father God I know you’re full of love

Father God I know that you have called me

In a world as dark as night

Father God I know that you have sent me

To be the salt, to be the light

CHORUS:

You have given me everything I need

You’ve entrusted me with eternity

Lord, your salvation

Is for every nation

Give me the courage to speak

VERSE 2:

Father God I know that you are mighty

Father God I know that you are holy

Father God I know that you are awesome

Father God I know that you are strong

Father God I know that you have called me

In a world as dark as night

Father God I know that you have sent me

To be the salt, to be the light

CHORUS

VERSE 3:

Father God I know that you are faithful

Father God I know that you are noble

Father God I know that you are perfect

Father God I know that you are great !

Father God I know that you have called me

In a world as dark as night

Father God I know that you have sent me

To be the salt, to be the light

CHORDS

VERSE

F, C, Bb, F, C

CHORUS:

F, Dm, Bb, C

F, Dm, Bb, C

Dm, Bb, Dm, Bb

Dm, Bb, C

ENTRUSTED

DOWNLOAD MP3

"REMEMBER HYMN" - WELCOME !!!

My name is Ross Lippencott and I am a Youth & Family Minister as well as a Worship Leader with the NJ Region of the New York City Church of Christ.  

THE GOAL of this blog is to provide worship leaders, singers, and musicians with resources to take back to their respective ministries and use to help encourage our brothers and sisters and worship our GREAT and AWESOME God through song !!!

AT FIRST I wanted to simply post songs, lyrics, chords, MP3's, videos, etc. ... However after thinking about it more I have decided that I would like to use this blog as a creative outlet to get some of my thoughts down - an outlet to document this journey that I have set out on... I can only imagine how fun it will be 10 years from now to look back and read some of these posts and to see what I was thinking at the time and to remember what I was learning ... Over the last 6 years I have gone from hating Christian music to loving Christian music and from making fun of Christian lyrics to writing Christian songs.  Before I made Jesus Lord, Christianity was corny - especially those contemporary Christian songs. When Christian songs came on the radio I would change the station ... So I guess my point in saying all that is that in the last 6 years ... well ... a lot has changed.  I have changed.  And 6 years from now I hope I will have changed some more :) And through this blog hopefully I will have some documentation of my journey...

If there's one thing I have learned, it is that WORSHIP is not just something we do on Sunday mornings when we come to church - WORSHIP is  a MINDSET and a LIFESTYLE.  As a Christian, my goal is to worship God in everything that I do ... its not just about the songs that I sing or the music I play ... It is about who I am, and who God is - My relationship with Him.  And that is why I want this blog to be more than just me posting music...

I was trying to think of a good name for the blog (very tough thing to do) and I was praying and meditating on what name would really communicate the message of my blog and what I am all about and I thought about how God constantly calls us in his word to remember him and not to forget his law and the amazing things he has done ... and so I came up with "REMEMBER HYMN":

REMEMBER: To recall to the mind by an act or effort of memory

HYMN: A song or ode in praise or honor of God

Besides the fact that it is a play on words, I love the idea of this being a blog that helps me as well as others to remember Him through song !  This is really why we sing in the first place - Is so that we can remember Him - who he is and how much he loves us and cares for us !!! It is my hope and prayer that this blog helps me and many others to remember Him !

So... Hey ! Welcome to my blog.... "REMEMBER HYMN" !!!
- Ross

"Do this in remembrance of me"

- 1 CORINTHIANS 11:24

JAVITS BAND REHEARSAL - STANDING ON THE PROMISES

Working on a version of "Standing On The Promises" for our next NYCCOC Congregational "JAVITS" worship service (November 20, 2011) ... here's what we came up with after jamming out for a bit in a Manhattan rehearsal space ... The goal was to take the traditional version of "Standing" (which is incredible and inspiring) and then to go in to an upbeat / funky / soulful version that the whole church can get in to !!!

MY LORD MY GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES

Chorus:

My Lord, My God keeps his promises

Verse 1:

My Lord, My God

He promised me

A room up in heaven

He gave me the key

My Lord, My God

He promised me

A life to the full

By setting me free

Verse 2:

My Lord, My God

He promised me

A life free from worry

For eternity

My Lord, My God

He promised me

Though I once was blind

He helped me to see

Bridge:

He promised forgiveness and grace

He promised that I'd see his face

Chords:

Verse: 

Am, Dm, G, Am

Am, Dm, E

Chorus: 

Am, Dm, G, Am

Am, Dm, E, Am

Bridge: 

A, F, C, G

A, F, E

MY LORD MY GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES

DOWNLOAD MP3

THE PROMISE

CHORUS

                              G

This promise is for you

               D

For your children

     Em              

For all who are far off

       C        G

For all who the Lord our God will call

               D

For your children

       Em 

For all who are far off

        C         G

For all who the Lord our God will call

VERSE 1

F         C           G         D

Amazing grace how sweet the sound

F C         G         D

That saved a wretch like me

F            C      G         D

I once was lost but now I’m found

F           C            D

I once was blind but now I see

CHORUS

VERSE 2

Twas grace that taught my heart to fear

And grace my fears relieved

How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believed !

CHORUS

VERSE 3

His love drives out every fear

His love cleanses every stain

His love proves our faith sincere

His love comforts every pain

CHORUS

***IMPORTANT*** If this key (G) is too high, try it in "F" or in "E"

THE PROMISE

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ALL NYC WORSHIP LEADER DEVOTIONAL - 10/22/11

Very encouraged after our NYCCOC Worship Leader Devotional on Saturday, October 22nd, 2011.  It was so refreshing to be with all of my brothers and sisters and to just SING TOGETHER !!! Below are a couple rough MP3 recordings from our time together ... looking forward to many more times like this to worship God together !!!

-Ross

HARD FIGHTING SOLDIER

DOWNLOAD MP3

MARCHING IN THE LIGHT OF GOD

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OUR GOD, HE IS ALIVE

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MY HEART REJOICES

Chorus (2x)

      B       

My heart rejoices

F#

At the thought of

C#m        D#m     E           F#

Spending all my days with you

     B

My soul is singing

F#

As I bring

C#m        D#m     E           F# 

All glory and all praise to you

Verse 1

E

Holy Father

B

You are wonderous

E

I see your glory

F#

Every day   

E

Holy Father

B

You are awesome

C

You are perfect

F#7

In every way!

Chorus (2x)                                  

Verse 2

E

Holy Father

B

Grant me boldness

E

Teach me Father

F#

What to say

E

Holy Father

B

You are gracious

C

You have washed

F#7

My sins away

Chorus (2x)

Verse 3

E

Holy Father

B

Lord we thank you

E

All your works

F#

Will praise your name!

E

Holy Father

B

Holy Spirit

C

Blessed Savior

F#7

All the same!

Chorus (2x)

"Skillful yet Humble" - Music Ministry Devotional - 4/13/11

Last night before we started the rehearsal portion of our meeting, I led a little devotional for our worship team on humility.  As worship leaders it is important to ask ourselves "Why?".  "Why do I serve the church in this way?".  Many of us have a special connection to music - it helps us to connect to God and to one another in ways that nothing else can.  We feel the need to give back and serve because music is our passion - it is our gift.  God has given us a very special gift, and we recognize the need to share that gift with others to help them find strength in the Lord.

In 1 Chronicles 15, we see the Levites being assigned different responsibilities in regards to the ark of the Lord.  In verse 16 we see that David had the leaders of the Levites appoint singers to "sing joyful songs, accompanied by musical instruments: lyres, harps, and cymbals".  The thing that sticks out to me is in 1 Chronicles 15:22:

"Kenaniah the head Levite was in charge of the singing; that was his responsibility because he was skillful at it"

This scripture shows us that Kenaniah had a gift ! He was skillfull at singing, and was put in a place of leadership because of his ability.  As worship leaders, we all have an amazing gift as well ! However, skill, talent and natural ability are often accompanied by pride and arrogance.  As worship leaders, our goal is to lead people into the presence of God and to help to do our part in God's kingdom to help people become Christians - there is no place for pride or arrogance - we must work together with humility and love !

As always, we must look to Jesus' example.  In Mark 10:42, we see that Jesus did not come to be served but to serve !  He shows us a true example of leadership - not "lording it over", but rather laying our lives down to serve and help others

We closed out our devotional by reflecting on David's "Psalm of Thanks" in 1 Chronicles 16 ... Why do we sing ? Why do we serve ? ... To "tell of all his wonderful acts"(vs 9) ! to help people "Remember the wonders he has done"(vs 12) ! To "Proclaim his salvation day after day !!! (vs 23) !

Lets pray to have a ministry of humility, that works as a unit - skillful yet humble, loving and serving God's  people with the goal of helping lost souls come to Christ!

Amen!!!