Rock Concert

Today a grandmother came to church with her granddaughter, whom she was visiting for the weekend. At one point during the service she turned to her granddaughter and said:

"This is just like being at a rock concert."

After a moment her granddaughter said: "Grandma, have you ever been to a rock concert?"

"Well no," she said, "but I imagine it must be just like this."

November 7, 2010

Today we did these songs:

Mighty to Save - Hillsong
Let God Arise - Chris Tomlin
Breathe - Kathryn Scott
Consuming Fire - Tim Hughes
At the Foot of the Cross - Kathryn Scott
Your Grace is Enough - Chris Tomlin

Props to the prop! Our mannequin friends impersonated the bad guy of bad guys today, Satan himself. Pastor Dan challenged us to a clearer understanding of hell and the implications of that understanding on every day life and evangelism.

Have a great week,

October 31, 2010

This week a few KPers joined our choir and orchestra and did a fifth Sunday special music worship. We had flutes, clarinets, a viola, a cello, a trumpet and a trombone. That with the choir made for a really cool worship set. They joined us for the first two songs (as you'll see indicated in the list below by an *), and then the band carried out the rest of the set. It was a blast to play and sing with all those folks. If you enjoy singing or playing an orchestral instrument, come join us. This is a no-audition choir and orchestra, and anyone in high school or older is invited to participate. The next special Sunday worship will be the fifth Sunday of May 2011, the 29th.

Here's what we sang:

*A Mighty Fortress - Lifeway Worship
*Forever - Lifeway Worship (much like Chris Tomlin's)
You'll Come - Brooke Fraser and Hillsong
The Solid Rock - Charlie Hall
Marvelous Light - Charlie Hall
Salvation - Charlie Hall

Have a great week,

October 24, 2010

Here's the set from the 24th:

Love the Lord - Lincoln Brewster
You are Holy (Prince of Peace) - Michael W. Smith
Great is Thy Faithfulness - our own version
Hungry - Kathryn Scott
Surrender - Lincoln Brewster
Salvation is Here - Lincoln Brewster

Blessings to you.

Sunday October 17, 2010

Depending on which service you were at, these are the songs you heard, the only difference being that we did not do the last song at the first service.

Enough - Chris Tomlin
Happy Day - Tim Hughes
You Gave Your Life Away - Paul Baloche
Sweetly Broken - Jeremy Riddle
In Christ Alone - Newsboys
Let God Arise - Chris Tomlin

Have a great week!

Church October 10, 2010

During first service yesterday something very powerful happened to me. Every week at KP is exciting and I always have a great time playing, singing, and being with friends. However, yesterday, while we were singing (I think it was during communion), I was watching everyone and it hit me with greater force than usual that I was in a room full of folks I know, whose lives have touched mine.
I saw kids that I've held and played with, families I've shared meals with, people I've laughed with. In short friends... family.
There were plenty of folks I still have not gotten to know very well too, and I look forward to getting to know them.
I guess friendship is just around the corner, but you just have to turn the corner; you have to go there. At KP, I know with certainty, that if you're looking for friendship, family, a deep connection, you'll find it. If you're not looking, it's likely to stumble into you, but it's much harder than if you are on the hunt.
If striking up conversation and making new friends doesn't come naturally to you; if interacting with strangers at church takes an effort tantamount to pulling out your own tooth, then just stand in the way of some interactions, loom nearer to a cluster of folks you barely know, and before you know it you'll be immersed in a pool of relationships and love. It's a bit mushy I know, and it's easy for an outgoing person to say it, but I do dare you to get out there and give it your best shot. The results will change your life.

Here's this week's set:
You'll Come - Hillsong
All Because - Fee
None but Jesus - Hillsong United
It is Well - a bit like Newsboys, but it's our own arrangement
One Pure and Holy Passion - Passion
Not To Us - Chris Tomlin

Have a great week.

This weekend's Music, Part 2

Then Sunday morning came, and an almost completely different KP band led us in worship to this set:

I Am Free - Newsboys
Revelation Song - Gateway Worship
At the Foot of the Cross - Kathryn Scott
That is Why - Joshua Franklin
From the Inside Out - Hillsong United
Happy Day - Tim Hughes

Hope you have a blessed and worshipful week,

This weekend's Music, Part 1

This weekend we hosted the Heartland Presbytery's meeting at Kaw Prairie on Saturday morning and afternoon.

One of the KP bands had the privilege of leading them in worship during the morning session. It was a great time of worship with our Presbyterian brethren.

Here's the music we did:

Majestic - Lincoln Brewster
Hungry - Kathryn Scott
Mystery - Charlie Hall
How He Loves - David Crowder Band
Let God Arise - Chris Tomlin

The names by each of the songs are not necessarily those of their authors, but those of the performers from whom we got our inspiration for this particular arrangement.

Thank you Heartland Presbytery for worshiping with us. It was a great honor.

Sunday September 12, 2010

Here's the set we did Sunday:

We Fall Down - Kutless
You are Holy (Prince of Peace) - Michael W. Smith
That is Why - Josh Franklin
Mystery - Charlie Hall
How He Loves - David Crowder Band
Blessed be Your Name - Matt Redman

Thank you so much to the band. You guys did a great job.

Listen to this week's sermon at www.kawprairie.org/messages, and watch video of it at http://www.truthcasting.com/player.aspx#showChannel=100000827

Crazy about Wild!

Wild is the name of our student program at Kaw Prairie. This past Sunday was the first night of Wild in this new year and it was incredible!

We meet on Sunday nights from 6 to 8pm and we do some music, games, teaching and small groups, all peppered with hysterical stuff happening all around you at all times.

This past Sunday was no exception. As a matter of fact, it was perhaps one of the most exciting nights of Wild I've ever been to. We've started meeting in the Gathering place, a smaller room on the other side of the building from the gym, and we've altered the schedule a bit. It all comes together for a night of fun, learning, friendship, and Spirit-filled experiences.

I want to take a minute to thank all the adults who volunteer in Wild, caring for students and taking the time to get to know them. I also want to thank the band members who do such a great job leading us in worship. Lastly, I want to thank all the students who attend for their enthusiasm, participation, and their friendship.

I'm looking forward to this next year of Wild and can't wait to witness how lives are changed with Jesus' love.

Olathe Parade

I just got done building the last few bits of the new float with Jon, and I'm so excited about the parade this weekend. The KP band will do a song or two through the Olathe Parade Saturday morning on a newly re-designed float. Our old float was awesome, and I'm sure you'd agree if you've seen pictures of it in this week's newsletter article, or on our website; but we just wanted to change things up and keep it fresh.

The new float does more to make the band visible in the hopes to lessen suspicions that we're just pretending to play or that we're playing guitar hero guitars :). I'm sure no one actually thinks that, but seeing the guitars and the drums right in front of you will definitely be a cool new feature. We've also created an array of speakers which will now be on the back of the truck spreading out the sound in a 180+ degrees around the float.

I guess in the end the band has to really rock to make it all count, but I've no doubt they will do just that. If you don't make it to many parades, I hope you'll come join us for this one. Our starting position is # 78. The Parade will start at 10:00. We will meet at Cedar St on the West side of Kansas Ave. Take K-7 South to Dennis Ave and then North on Kansas Ave to Cedar St. Set-Up Crew should arrive around 8:00 and Walkers around 9:30pm.

See you there!

Rockin'!

This weekend was really upbeat at KP. The set was stacked with some energetic songs and the band was stacked with some rockin' folks! Great job to everyone on the band.

The songs we did are:

Salvation: Charlie Hall
Salvation is Here: Lincoln Brewster
Mighty to Save: Laura Story
Here I am to Worship: Chris Tomlin
He Reigns: Newsboys
Sing, Sing, Sing: Chris Tomlin

Thanks for worshiping with us. See you Sunday.

August 29th Set List

We've arrived at this week. Finally!

Because of Your Love: Paul Baloche
Salvation is Here: Lincoln Brewster
Hosanna (in the highest): Hillsong United
The Heart of Worship: Matt Redman
From the Inside Out (with the choir and orchestra): Hillsong United
Forever (with the choir and orchestra): Chris Tomlin

To listen to Pastor Dan's messages or watch them on video visit www.kawprairie.org/messages. Both links can be found there.

You gotta listen to the Numb3rs series. I guess all his messages are good (and I really do think that; I'm not just brown-nosing), but this one is particularly interesting to me because I'm learning lots of theology I'd not been exposed to before. That is normally a good thing for me :)

August 22nd Set List

Almost there:

He Reigns: Newsboys
Shout to the Lord: our own arrangement
Hungry: Kathryn Scott
Surrender: Lincoln Brewster
From the Inside Out: Hillsong
Salvation is Here: Lincoln Brewster

August 15th Set List

Getting closer:

Majestic: Lincoln Brewster
Sing, Sing, Sing: Chris Tomlin
Mighty to Save: Hillsong
Consuming Fire: Tim Hughes
How Deep the Father's Love: Kelly Minter
You Never Let Go: Matt Redman

August 8th Set List

I'm catching up here:

Salvation is Here: Lincoln Brewster
Revelation Song: Gateway worship
At the Foot of the Cross: Kathryn Scott
Mystery: Charlie Hall
Never Let Go: David Crowder Band
Happy Day: Tim Hughes

August 1st Set List

A bit late, but here it is:

Hosanna (in the highest): Hillsong United
Here I am to Worship: Chris Tomlin
It is Well: our own arrangement
That is Why: Josh Franklin
None but Jesus: Hillsong United
Let God Arise: Chris Tomlin

There may be several different versions for each of these songs, and these names are not necessarily those of the authors, but if you look in your favorite music store you'll probably find this one and some of the other versions too.

VBS 2010

We've been having a blast leading worship for the Kiddos at VBS. We started Sunday night and have been going every night since. Must of the music we've done has been from Group Publishing, who wrote our VBS materials.
One of my favorites is a song in a minor key with an Egyptian sound to it. It's pretty fun and has been a fun challenge for us major-scale junkies.
Rock on VBS! And Rock on Mrs. Nancy. You're doing a great job with the kids as are all the VBS Staff.

The day of lost things

Today three folks have come by the church looking for stuff. We've all been in search mode all day.

Someone lost a phone; another lost a notebook. I seem to have lost my mind. No big deal

New stuff happening all the time

Yesterday Courtney sang with us for the first time at KP, and she did a great job. It was very inspiring to hear her sing and to work with her. Thanks Courtney!

We also had the privilege of hearing Pastor John Rutsindintwarane. He shared the pulpit with our Pastor Dan and shared about the work of the Church in Rwanda. It was a very exciting day. I think Pastor John was hoping for a bit more responsiveness from the audience at KP. He would often say things like: "Can you hear me?" I thought he might have just wanted some "Amens!" We'll have to work on that KP. Nothing wrong with some Amening!

Here's the set from Sunday:
Revelation Song- as done by Gateway Worship
Beautiful The Blood- as done by Fee
You Gave Your Live Away- as done by Paul Baloche
Your Never Let Go- as done by Matt Redman
Let God Arise- as done by Chris Tomlin.

Have a great week!

Wow!

Sunday was so much fun. I'll have to admit, I really feel like I wasn't there at all. Last week I was with our youth group (WILD) on their mission trip in Lake Traverse, South Dakota. We had a great time, but I was pretty tired when I got home.
We rolled into town Saturday afternoon, which gave me just enough time to get home, change the flat tire on my wife's car, shower, and get to the church or rehearsal. It was a long day, but man was it worth it.
The band just really put a lot of heart into the music on Sunday morning. We had fun, and really dove into worship. We felt the Spirit move in our humble expression of worship, and our pastor really hit the nail on the head with his message on Romans.

Here's the set we did:
Enough - as done by Barlow Girl
Everything Glorious - as done by David Crowder Band
How Deep the Father's Love - as done by Kelly Minter
Mighty to Save - as done by Laura Story
How Great is Our God - as done by Chris Tomlin
Sing, Sing, Sing - as done by Chris Tomlin

Fifth Sunday

Yesterday was a really exciting day. The fifth Sunday orchestra played and the the choir sang. They did a great job. It's always a lot of fun for me to work with them and to spend time with all those people preparing music.

My prayer is that it was fun for those participating and for the congregation who shared those songs with us.

It's a lot of work putting those together. People who have not played their instrument, or who have not sung in public for some time, work really hard to prepare for that worship service. We pour over the music, make decisions about it, tweak the arrangements (if necessary), learn the little details of our service order, etc.

At the end of the day it seemed like the work was every bit as rewarding as the delivery.

Next time we do Fifth Sunday band will be in August. We have three months to prepare for that, so here's the deal:

If you play or sing, you've got to contact me immediately and get on the list. Music will be selected soon and we'll get started with rehearsals as soon as the end of June or early in July.

It's an honor to lead others in worship and at KP we are blessed to be a part of this ministry.

Tech jobs

The wisest thing ever said about tech jobs at church is: "You don't know those guys are there until something goes wrong."

Isn't that the truth.

You don't notice what's being done behind the scenes. You come in and the lights are on, the music is playing, the words are on the wall, the pastor's preaching, life is good.

However, when something doesn't go quite right, then you ask yourself "who's messing that up?"

At KP, that doesn't happen very much. Our tech guys put a lot of effort into making sure that the technology is aiding us in worship, not standing in our way. However, we're not pros. Our equipment does stuff we don't know how to us, and some of what we do know we just learned.

Still, our team does a great job, and they do it with a great attitude.

For me it's a lot of fun working with those people. Maybe it's because I really like geeking out on tech stuff. I'd like to believe it's because I care a lot about the experience for people and so I guard it carefully, but I'm pretty sure the geek factor is bigger.

I'm posting this for two reasons: one is to tell you how great our team is. Seriously people, our tech guys are a blast to work with and they are really invested in their stuff.

The second is to let you know we have a few empty slots on the team and could really use some new team members. So, if you like operating a camera, if you're familiar with presentation software, or if you know much about stage lighting, there's a place on the team for you.

Email me at germanp@kawprairie.org, or just stop me at church some time.

Easter

It's been a long time that I posted our sets, but I really wanted to mention Easter.

It was a great day of worship at KP this Easter. The service was well laid out and people were just ready to come into worship. It was natural and genuine to just enter into the Lord's presence and spend time with Him.

Here are the songs we did:

The Solid Rock as by Charlie Hall
Mighty to Save as by Laura Story
Grace that is Greater as by Bart Millard
The Wonderful Cross as by Chris Tomlin
Sing, Sing, Sing as by Chris Tomlin

We're Home

Last night we finally made it home after can only be described as a saga.

Now, don't misunderstand, it wasn't a disaster, by any means, just a saga. We had times of fun, of concern, or spontaneity, of joy, of fulfillment, of sadness, of humility, of exhaustion, of uncertainty, and of many other feelings.

You already know much of the story or can read it on this blog. The latest chapter was just the trip home.

After dedicating the house we built in prayer with the family, we handed over the keys and made for market. There we bargained for a few souvenirs and then headed right for the border. The crossing there was by far the most painless thing of this whole trip. It was simply a let down from what we'd built ourselves up for.

The road after that was long, but at least it was somewhat predictable. We stopped in Camp Verde, Arizona to visit Crusty's Pizza (Yum!) and then hit the road again until we reached Gallup, New Mexico, where we spent the night.

The next morning we said goodbye to our friends from Wichita (who had a shorter road trip ahead of them) and took off a little after 7am, local time.

Everything was going as well as could be "predicted" and then we had to kick it back into spontaneous mode. When we crossed into Kansas, and thanks be to God it wasn't until that point, we encountered the winter storm you are now watching outside your window. It was about 9:30pm. We had about 200 miles in front of us but we could not drive more than 35mph. On top of that we found out that all the hotels in the area were booked solid from travelers getting off the road. So we could either sleep in the vans for a few hours and hope the storm would let us enough that we could resume travel by daylight, or we could just inch away at the road before us until we reached our warm beds. We chose the latter after a considerable amount of thought (and knowing the prayers of our friends at home were being lifted up).

We got home at 3:30am this morning, never more excited to be dealing with snow in the middle of the night, a night we could now finish in our own homes.

If you want to hear more stories about our trip, just stop one of us at church. It was a great blessing and privilege, despite of all the changes and adjustments. I'd do it again in a heart beat.

Thanks to all the KP community who supported us and prayed for us. It wasn't for us, and we keep none of the attention. It was for the King, Jesus, and to Him be the glory and honor, Amen.

We're Back Posting!

Another day in Mexico, and an exciting one at that.

Let me first recap yesterday after the post.

In one work day we marked out the foundation, poured it, assembled the walls, erected them, put up all the bailing wire, put on all the tar paper, put on the roof pieces and covered half the roof with plywood. That’s a lot in one day.

After that we went back to camp, with a quick stop at a very American Circle K station along the way, and had the most delicious Chili ever. We has Fritos and dogs to go along with them too. Yum! There’s just no other way to say it.

Today we went right to task finishing the roof (plywood, rolls of shingles, and tar), we put up the chicken wire, hung the door, installed the windows, and as I write, the first coat of stucco is drying. That was all before lunch.

This afternoon we’re going to put on one more coat of Stucco and then it’s off to the beach. You hear me right, the beach. If you’ve not looked on a map, we’re in Puerto Peñasco, Mexico, a prime vacation spot for folks in Arizona. It’s a beach town and we get to partake in the parte’ just a bit.


View Larger Map

There is, however, something far more important to report on.

The kids in the neighborhood have all really warmed up to us and there are never less than 4 kids working alongside us. Christina and her little brother have definitely made a nice spot for themselves in our hearts.

Julio, the third child of the family we’re building for, and his siblings, have all found their way in there too.

This is the part you’re going to be jealous of. Today the family fixed us Tamales. That’s right! Home made, made in Mexico, while hanging out in Mexico, tamales. We just ate a lunch of those and let me tell you: they were amazing!

The family has been so warm and gracious; they’ve really welcomed us and been so sweet to us.

I guess one of the hardest things about all of this is that it’s very easy for us to get a savior complex and feel that we’re real super heroes coming down here to save the day. We’re not! That’s just the truth.

Yeah, we (and our church) made some sacrifices to get here, but we’re nothing but hands and feet. We’re not saving anyone or anything. We are following the footsteps of the Carpenter who taught us to care, who taught us to give, who taught us that it’s not about us.

I’d like to believe that He’d be proud of the structure we’ve built. But of one thing I am almost sure, He’d be proud of the not the house, but the home we’re helping to build.

Now Lord, knowing that some plant and some water, may you bring the increase as you nurture this beautiful home in Your love and Grace. Amen.

Wow.

It's been such an amazing trip.

You're not going to believe this but I'm sitting at an Internet Cafe in Puerto Peñasco, Mexico, on my way back to the work site. Internet access here is $1 for an hour. Fortunately my trusty mac book is with me. Otherwise I could use one of the PCs here.

The work is going very well.

We crossed the border early in the evening last night and drove about an hour to the site of our camp. In the distance we could see the beach resorts standing several stories above the landscape and could picture hundred of American tourists just having a good time.

We started setting up our camp, the KP team as well as the team from Haverhill Christian Church in Augusta, KS, which turned out to be quite a task to accomplish in the dark when half of your team hasn't ever set up a tent at all.

They all did beautifully.

At our campfire talk that night Jason, our leader from Haverhill, reminded us of something that really kind of rocked me. The spring break crowd at the beach just a couple miles away was setting one example for the people of Puerto Peñasco; we, however, were being called to perhaps set a different example. Now, the folks on vacation here cannot be lumped into one category, that wouldn't be fair, but the fact is that we were called here for something entirely different, and there are folks who will not leave the most positive of impressions while partying on the beach. We were called here to leave not our impression, but the mark of the love of Christ, in the shape of framed walls, and concrete, and tar, and chicken wire.

The work today has gone very well and everyone is working really hard.

As I write, the concrete foundation that we poured this morning is drying and almost all the outside walls are up and squared. The roof parts will go on next, then we'll cover the roof and eventually we'll start the stucco phase on the outside walls. Of course, most of what I just described won't get done until tomorrow since it's already almost 5 here and we'll be going back to camp soon.

I wish I could write more but I have to get back to camp.

"Not from sorrow, pain or care, freedom dare I claim. This alone shall be my prayer to Glorify Thy Name!"

Change of Plans

So this mini saga continues...

Yesterday we woke up in Amarillo, TX, happy as could be that we'd have a relatively short drive ahead of us and we could take it easy and enjoy a bit of Amarillo.

Some went to breakfast; some went to Starbucks; some went to Wal-Mart. We also skyped into both church services at Kaw Prairie to pray with and greet the church there (which kind of reminds me of Paul writing letters to the churches. I bet if he'd known about Skype he'd be jealous). That was a really cool thing.

We could see the church worshiping, we laughed with them, and we prayed with them. It felt a little like being on Oprah, but I liked it way more.

So we head out of town and head for Cadillac Ranch, a little piece of land just west of Amarillo where they buried a line of old Cadillacs in the sand and allow people to come by and spray paint them. That was a totally amazing experience and we had so much fun finding poses for pictures in and around the cars.

I'd be showing you pictures of all this but the 13 people who brought cameras knew they wouldn't have a computer to download their pictures to so none brought their USB cables.

I guess they hadn't heard a Mac was coming on the trip :)

Well, the really exciting stuff is what comes next.

As soon as we were done at the Ranch, we got a call from our partners from Wichita saying to us that Amor Ministries was recommending we do not go to Ciudad Juarez. In the days leading up to this there had been a shooting there, which I'm sure you saw on the news, that killed three Americans.

The most relevant reason, however, why they thought we should not come through, was because just down the street from our camping site, a fight had broken out at a party on Saturday night and a Mexican national had been shot and killed. No harm has come to anyone with Amor, and the violence at this party had nothing apparently to do with the overall conflicts going on in Juarez, but with an incident that close to the camp, they thought it best to send us elsewhere.

This, by the way, is one of the reasons we trust Amor, their attentiveness, and their judgment when it comes to looking after the teams.

So we had a few options, but really only one possible one: to go to Arizona, cross over at Lukeville, AZ, and head to Puerto Peñasco, Mexico, and build a single unit there.

This morning we woke up at the Super 8 in Flagstaff Arizona. What we thought would be a short day of travel yesterday turned into a 9-hour road trip which we are now recovering from (the waffles at the Super 8 really help with that).

Later this morning we'll be going to Lukeville, crossing in to Mexico, and heading right down to work as soon we can get to it. Long live the concrete volcano.

After we leave this hotel it will be harder for me to blog, but I'll try to get on here as often as I can.

You'll see tons of pictures when we get home, or you may see some sooner if we can get our hands on a USB cable :)

Thanks again for your partnership, support and prayers.

Amarillo, TX

We arrived in Amarillo, Texas, around 8pm tonight, had dinner at a local place, and are now settling down for bed time.

Got a complicated schedule tomorrow including skyping into KP, doing laundry, working out, and making it to church, and that's all before lunch.

It's been a while

I haven't blogged in a while, but now I find I must.

I'm just south of Wichita, KS, with the KP team that's going to build a house in Mexico.

We could not be more excited about this opportunity. We're thankful, and humbled by this whole thing.

At this point there's not much to say. The road has been good to us. Lunch was tasty. We're making good time at this point.

In about 2 hours we'll be stopping at the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial for a few minutes and then we'll head out to Amarillo, TX, where we'll spend the night.

We don't know what we'll do in Amarillo, but there is a lot of talk about leaving our mark at Cadillac Ranch.

Thanks so much for your prayers and support. We'll post more pictures and news as we have it and as we find hotspots.

Rock it!