Weekly Song Log Report - Compilation: 3-Dec, '23 to Present

 The purpose of this page is to keep us up to date on what songs have been sung and led by our congregation over the last 3 months/13 weeks, to show what new songs (to us, at least) have been introduced, what songs have been "brought out of the basement" so to say, etc.  It is also meant as an encouragement for us to continue in this work that we song leaders have in the Lord (1 Co 15:58).

Each week we will show updated lists, etc., showing us what we sang.  This will include a three-month snapshot, a 13-week service summary, and song stats for the previous 3 months.  These will be added each week to THIS blog page so we can continue to have the information available (and to save paper and printing costs).

It is the opinion of this writer that the ideal would be that we do not repeat songs too often, perhaps once every one-to-three months.  However, repetition may be unavoidable (we're learning a new song; a lesson has come up that demands we once again sing a song we sang last week; one of our song leaders knows a limited number of hymns).  As such, the Ephesian/Colossian Imperative overrides this writer's opinion: that we let the Word of Christ dwell richly within us, leading everyone to sing and make melody with our hearts to the Lord (with thanksgiving) with all wisdom to teach and encourage one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Eph 5:19; Col 3:16).  As such, as I always try to encourage us, I further admonish, "Teach the Word (2 Tim 4:2)" in song (~Eph 5:19, Col 3:16).

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From Sunday, 17-August, 2025: 

Brother Brandon Pool led our songs this Sunday morning. We began with #929 "Glorify Thy Name." To help us prepare to commune with our God, we sang #310 "In Gethsemane Alone." Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #682 “To God Be the Glory." For our invitation song, we sang #538 "Prepare to Meet Thy God." In closing, we sang #441 "My Latest Sun is Sinking Fast.”

Brother Loe Roznos then led our afternoon songs. Our first song was #738 "We Will Glorify." Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #415 "More About Jesus." For our invitation song, we sang #772 "Why Do You Wait?" after which we sang #685 "The Lord is In His Holy Temple" to prepare those who wanted to partake of the Lord's Supper that afternoon (whether in the auditorium or watching online and couldn't partake with us earlier in the morning). In closing we sang #888 "Thank You, Lord."

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From Sunday, 10-August, 2025: 

Brother Andy Basford led our songs this Sunday morning. We began with a medley of #990 "You are the Song That I Sing" and #961 "On Bended Knee." To help us prepare to commune with our God, we sang #523 "Our God, He is Alive." Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #842 “A Common Love." For our invitation song, we sang #243 "Home of the Soul." In closing, we sang #884 "Teach Me Lord to Wait.”

Brother Owen Landrum then led our afternoon songs. Our first song was #841 "Sing and Be Happy."  Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #219 "He's My King." For our invitation song, we sang #781 "Wonderful Story of Love," after which we sang #644 "T'is Set, the Feast Divine" to prepare those who wanted to partake of the Lord's Supper that afternoon (whether in the auditorium or watching online and couldn't partake with us earlier in the morning). In closing we sang #971 "Restore My Soul."

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From Sunday, 3-August, 2025: 

Brother Eli Roque led our songs this Sunday morning. We began with #993 "Firm Foundation." To help us prepare to commune with our God, we sang #996 "Wondderful, Mercifful Savior." Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #997 “Pierce My Ear" and #934 "Hosanna." For our invitation song, we sang #1009 "In Need." In closing, we sang #995 " Mansion, Robe, and Crown.”

Brother Andy Basford then led our afternoon songs. Our first song was #1730 "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" [Lower Lights] (a combination of the lyrics to "#730 with the same title and the music to #397 "et the Lower Lights Be Burning"). Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #643 "The Lord My Shepherd Is." For our invitation song, we sang #436 "Nearer, Still Nearer," after which we sang #732 "We Praise Thee, O God" to prepare those who wanted to partake of the Lord's Supper that afternoon (whether in the auditorium or watching online and couldn't partake with us earlier in the morning). In closing we sang #400 "Living by Faith."

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From Sunday, 27-July, 2025: 

Brother Jordan Pugh led our songs this Sunday morning. We began with #937 "I Stand in Awe." To help us prepare to commune with our God, we sang #950 "Lamb of God." Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #898 “Unto Thee, O Lord." For our invitation song, we sang #892 "The Steadfast Love of the Lord." In closing, we sang #867 "Humble Yourself.”

Matt Haynes then led our afternoon songs. Our first song was #22 "All the Way My Savior Leads Me," followed by #886 "Sing Hallelujah to the Lord." Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #708 "Walking in Sunlight." For our invitation song, we sang #520 "Only a Step," after which we sang #726 ":We Saw Thee Not" to prepare those who wanted to partake of the Lord's Supper that afternoon (whether in the auditorium or watching online and couldn't partake with us earlier in the morning). In closing we sang #40 "Be With Me, Lord."

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From Friday, 25-July, 2025: 

This day, West End held the Area Wide Singing for our area. After a few announcements and an opening prayer, brother Andy Basford started us off with #998 "May I Run the Race" and #1011 "Remember Me [Nehemiah's Song]." He was followed by brother Jeff Greene from the Lemay congregation who led us in #543 "Redeemed [Sweet Is the Song]" and #571 "Seeking the Lost," while also giving us some info about our next Area Wide Singing (on August 22, at the House Springs congregation). After him came brother Richard Notgrass to lead us in #757 "Where No One Stands Alone" and #150 "Follow Me." Brother Jordan Pugh then took over and led us in #660 "There Is a Habitation" and #866 "I Will Call Upon the Lord." After this, brother Ethan Landrum led us in #1013 "Jesus Is Lord [GABC Version]" and #756 "When We All Get to Heaven." Brother Brent Schaffer (from the Arnold congregation) then led us in #1009 "In Need" and #523 "Our God, He is Alive." He was followed by brother Nick Jones (from the Overland congregation) who led us in #238 "Holy, Holy, Holy" and #755 :When the Roll is Called Up Yonder."

At this point we recommenced with our earlier rotation with each one leading one song this time. Skipping Andy Basford (for the time being as he had the invitation song), Jeff Greene went next with #602 "Sweet By and By," followed by Richard Notgrass who led us in #125 "Do You Know My Jesus." Jordan Pugh then led us in #53 "At Calvary," then Ethan Landrum led us in #572 "Send the Light." Brent Schaffer then led us in #839 "When All of God's Singers Get Home," followed by Nick Jones leading us in #694n "To Canaan's Land I'm On My Way." Andy Basford then led us in our invitation song #667 "There is Power in the Blood."

Tabular stats for this period of singing should be viewable in illustrations for the following Sunday, July 27, 2025.

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From Sunday, 20-July, 2025: 

Brother Brandon Pool led our songs this Sunday morning. We began with #452 "While Hail on the Sea." To help us prepare to commune with our God, we sang #452 "Night with Ebon Pinion." Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #500 “O, Thou Fount of Every Blessing." For our invitation song, we sang #538 "Prepare to Meet Thy God." In closing, we sang #191 "Be Not Dismayed Whate'er Betide.”

Brother Joe Roznos led our songs for the afternoon. We began with #542 "Purer in Heart, O God." Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #892 "The Steadfast Love of the Lord." After the lesson of the hour, for our invitation hymn, we sang #870 "I'm Happy Today," followed by #866 "I Will Call Upon the Lord” to observe the Lord’s Supper for those who couldn’t partake of it with us in the morning. Our closing song was #891 "This is the Day."

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From Sunday, 20-July, 2025: 

Brother Brandon Pool led our songs this Sunday morning. We began with #452 "While Hail on the Sea." To help us prepare to commune with our God, we sang #452 "Night with Ebon Pinion." Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #500 “O, Thou Fount of Every Blessing." For our invitation song, we sang #538 "Prepare to Meet Thy God." In closing, we sang #191 "Be Not Dismayed Whate'er Betide.”

Brother Joe Roznos led our songs for the afternoon. We began with #542 "Purer in Heart, O God." Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #892 "The Steadfast Love of the Lord." After the lesson of the hour, for our invitation hymn, we sang #870 "I'm Happy Today," followed by #866 "I Will Call Upon the Lord” to observe the Lord’s Supper for those who couldn’t partake of it with us in the morning. Our closing song was #891 "This is the Day."

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From Sunday, 13-July, 2025: 

Brother Kevin Morkassel led our songs this Sunday morning. We began with #19 "All Hail te Power of Jesus' Name,"and #7"Abide with Me." To help us prepare to commune with our God, we sang #12 "At the Cross." Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #501 “O Worship the King." For our invitation song, we sang #613 "Take My Life and Let it Be." In closing, we sang #755 "When the Roll is Called Up Yonder.”

Brother Brandon Pool led our songs for the afternoon. We began with #124 "Did You Think to Pray?" Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #515 "On Zion's Glorious Summit." After the lesson of the hour, for our invitation hymn, we sang #382 "Kneel At the Cross," followed by #709 "'Tis Midnight, and On Olive's Brow” to observe the Lord’s Supper for those who couldn’t partake of it with us in the morning. Our closing song was #602 "Sweet By and By."

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From Sunday, 6-July, 2025: 

Brother Andy Basford led our songs this Sunday morning. We began with a medley of #17 "All People That on Earth Do Dwell," #64"Before Jehovah's Awful Throne," and 528 "Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow" (ALL of which share the same melody!). To help us prepare to commune with our God, we sang #217 "He Loves Me." Before the lesson of the hour, we sang another medley, this one combining #396 “Lift Him Up" and #297 "I Want to Be a Worker.” For our invitation song, we sang #662 "There is a Fountain." In closing, we sang #88 "Can He Depend on You.”

Brother Owen Landrum led our songs for the afternoon. We began with a medley of #866 "I Will Call Upon the Lord." Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #7 "Abide with Me." After the lesson of the hour, for our invitation hymn, we sang #810 "Jesus Loves Me," followed by #784 "Why Did My Savior Come to Earth” to observe the Lord’s Supper for those who couldn’t partake of it with us in the morning. Our closing song was #977 "The Battle Belongs to the Lord."

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From Sunday, 29-June, 2025: 

Brother Brandon Pool led our songs this Sunday morning. We began with #618 "Sweet Hour of Prayer." To help us prepare to commune with our God, we sang #688 "Thus Remember Me." Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #362 “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee.” For our invitation song, we sang #179 "God is Calling the Prodigal." In closing, we sang #450 "Nearer, My God, to Thee.”

Brother Andy Basford led our songs for the afternoon. We began with a medley of #932 and #933, both entitled "Holy Ground." Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #1059 "Break Thou the Bread of Life" (for which we did not stand until we got to the third verse). After the lesson of the hour, we sang #253 "How Shall the Young Secure Their Hearts?," followed by #1440 "My Jesus, I Love Thee” to observe the Lord’s Supper for those who couldn’t partake of it with us in the morning. Our closing song was #1004 "Ancient Words."

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From Sunday, 28-June, 2025: 

On this date, we held a memorial for the late sister Marilyn Notgrass.  Although all the songs were chosen by the Notgrass family, brother Andy Basford led the songs for it. We began with #11 "Above the ight Blue." Following the Obituary Reading, we sang #132 "Does Jesus Care?" After brother Jordan Pugh gave a message for the service, we sang "What Will Your Answer Be?" followed by #118 "Count Your Blessings." This was followed by memories brought up by part of the family and a PPTX slide show showing more memories while playing the following songs: #807 "Precious Memories," #638 "The Lord Has Been Mindful of Me," #894 "To Be Like Jesus," "God Will" [#145 in Songs for Worship and Praise], " My God is Real' [#999 from SfW&P], #885 "Something Beautiful," and "Make Me New, Lord Jesus" [#617 in SfW&P]. Before we were dismissed in prayer, a recording was played of the family singing together #999 "The Greatest Commands."

(Details from this service will be available in the tables for the following Sunday)

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From Sunday, 22-June, 2025: 

Brother Andy Basford led our songs this Sunday morning and afternoon. In the morning we began with the first five verses of #1008 "Creation to Creation" (to demonstrate how we [hopefully] managed to move further in our survey of the Old Testament).” To help us prepare to commune with our God, we sang the sixth verse of #1008 "Creation to Creation." Before the lesson of the hour, we sang a medley of #16 “All Creatures of Our God and King” and #468 "O, For a Thousand Tongues to Sing.” For our invitation song, we sang #613 "Take My Life and Let it Be." In closing, we sang #758 "When This Passing World is Done” (a classic hymn at many other congregations, and WE finally sang it for the first time!).

For our afternoon service, we began with #237 "His Grace Reaches Me." This was followed by #665 "Till the Storm Passes By." After the lesson of the hour, we sang #107 "Come Unto Me," followed by #328 "In the Hour of Trial” to observe the Lord’s Supper for those who couldn’t partake of it with us in the morning. Our closing song was #293 "I’ll Live for Him."

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From Sunday, 15-June, 2025:

Brother Ethan Landrum led our songs this Sunday morning.  We began with #663 "There is Sunshine in My Soul" followed by #660 "There is a Habitation." To help us prepare to commune with our God, we sang #644 "Oft We Come Together." Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #687 "T'is So Sweet to Trust in Jesus.” For our invitation song, we sang #653 "The Way of the Cross." In closing, we sang #684 "This World is Not My Home."

Brother Brandon Pool led our afternoon service, beginning with #618 "Sweet Hour of Prayer." This was followed by #757 "Where No One Stands Alone." After the lesson of the hour, we sang #50 "Have You Been to Jesus," followed by #764 "The Lord's Supper." Our closing song was #441 "May Latest Sun is Sinking Fast."

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From Sunday, 8-June, 2025:

Brother Ethan Landrum led our songs this Sunday morning, beginning with #543 "Redeemed [Sweet si the Song]" and #531 "Praise the Lord." To help us prepare to commune with our God, we sang #495 "O the Depth and the Riches." Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #572 "Send the Light.” For our invitation song, we sang #520 "Only a Step." In closing, we sang #595 "Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus."

We had our Bi-lingual service that Sunday evening. Brother ??? led our Spanish hymns (from Cantos del Camino) and brother Andy Basford led our English hymns (from Praise for the Lord unless otherwise noted). We began with #3 "Santo, Santo, Santo"/ #238 "Holy, Holy, Holy," followed by #17 "En Momentos Asi"/#1012 "In Moments Like These" (from Bridges to Praise), and #241 "Grande Goza Hay En Mi Almo"/#663 ":There is Sunshine in My Soul Today." After a reading from scripture, we sang #86 "Como El Ciervo"/#843 "As the Deer" before the lesson of the hour. For our invitation hymns, we sang #220 "Cuando Andemos Con Dios"/#714 "Trust and Obey." Before communion, we sang #151 "Comprado con Sangre por Cristo"/#544 "Redeemed (How I Love to Proclaim It." In conclusion, we sanf #87 "Alabaré.

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From Sunday, 1-June, 2025:

We had our brethren from the Crieve Hall congregation lead our Vacation Bible School from Thursday through that Saturday. Meanwhile, they helped us by leading our service we only had to provide bodies to lead and pass the Lord's Supper) and leading our singing this Sunday morning was brother Phil Waggoner. We began with #523 "Our God, He is Alive" and #996 "Wonderful, Merciful Savior." To help us prepare to commune with our God, we sang two verses of #226 "How Great Thou Art" and #1014 "In Christ Alone." Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #730 "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" and 312 "I'll Be a Friend to Jesus.” For our invitation song, we sang #655 "There's a Fountain Free." In closing, we sang #995 "A Mansion, Robe, and Crown."

Brother Ethan Landrum led our afternoon service, beginning with #247 "Here We Are But Straying Pilgrims." This was followed by #288 "I Need Thee Every Hour." After the lesson of the hour, we sang #512 "O Why not Tonight" as our invitation hymn, followed by #268 "I Gave My Life for Thee." Our closing song was #756 "When We All Get to Heaven."

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From Wednesday, 28-May, 2025:

This Wednesday, we had a bi-lingual service to welcome our brethren from the Creve Hall congregation who joined us to host our VBS this week. After some announcements and a fisrt prayer, hermano Oscar Calderon led our hymns in Spanish and began with #241 "GRANDE GOZO HAY EN MI ALMA HOY" (all Spanish hymns are from our hymnal Cantos del Camino) while brother Andy Basford followed with the English version #663 "There is Sunshine in My Soul." After a reading from scripture and another prayer, we sang #86 "COMO EL CIERVO" and #843 "As the Deer." After another reading and prayer, we sang #137 "Cordero de Dios" and #950 "O Lamb of God." Following another reading and prayer, we sang #37 "A JEHOVÁ INVOCARÉ" and #866 "I Will Call Upon the Lord." With yet another reading and prayer, we sang #297 "CANTARÉ LA BELLA HISTORIA" and #301 "I Will Sing the Wondrous Story." After we gave an invitation, we sang #151 "COMPRADO CON SANGRE POR CRISTO" and #544 "Redeemed (How I Love to Proclaim It." In closing, we sang #87 "ALABARÉ."

(Charts that include these songs will be posted for our report for next Sunday, 1-June) 

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From Sunday, 25-May, 2025:

Brother Brandon Pool led our songs this Sunday morning.  We began with #9 "A Wonderful Savior." To help us prepare to commune with our God, we sang #1019 "I'm the One." Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #495 "O the Depth and the Riches.” For our invitation song, we sang #598 "Standing on the Promises" In closing, we sang #602 "Sweet By and By."

Brother Joe Roznos led our afternoon service, beginning with #434 "More Holiness Give Me." This was followed by #679 "They'll Know We Are Christians." After the lesson of the hour, we sang #680 "There's Not a Friend," followed by #685 "The Lord is in His Holy Temple." Our closing song was #891 "This is the Day."

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From Sunday, 18-May, 2025:

Brother Jordon Pugh led our songs this Sunday morning.  We began with #937 "I Stand in Awe of You." To help us prepare to commune with our God, we sang #1006 "How Deepthe Father's Love." Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #934 "Hosanna.” For our invitation song, we sang #883 "Seek Ye First" In closing, we sang #999 "The Greatest Command."

Brother Matt Haynes led our afternoon service, beginning with #982 "We Shall Assemble." This was followed by #867 "Humble Yourselves." After the lesson of the hour, we sang #853 "God is So Good," followed by #997 "Pierce My Ear." Our closing song was #1009 "In Need."

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From Sunday, 11-May, 2025:

Brother Brandon Pool led our songs this Sunday morning.  We began with #561 "Savior, Grant Me Rest and Peace." To help us prepare to commune with our God, we sang #511 "Oft We Come Together." Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #44 "Anywhere is Home.” For our invitation song, we sang #125 "Do You Know My Jesus?" In closing, we sang #66 "Beautiful."

Brother Joe Roznos led our afternoon service, beginning with #888 "Thank You, Lord." This was followed by #154 "Give Me the Bible." After the lesson of the hour, we sang #701 "Tomorrow May Be Too Late," followed by #875 "Rejoice in the Lord." Our closing song was #738 "We Will Glorify."

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From Sunday, 4-May, 2025:

Brother Andy Basford led our songs this Sunday morning.  After a reading of Psalm 16:5-8, we began with #70 "Be Thou My Vision." To help us prepare to commune with our God, we sang #150 "Follow Me." Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #40 "Be With Me, Lord.” For our invitation song, we sang #520 "Only a Step." As we had a baptism request in response to the invitation, we sang #85 "A New Creature," #454 "Nothing But the Blood," #463 "O Happy Day," #273 "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus," #717 "Victory in Jesus," and #714 "Trust and Obey" to close us out.

Brother Owen Landrum led our afternoon service, beginning with #971 "Restore My Soul." This was followed by #847 "Bind Us Together." After the lesson of the hour, we sang #7 "Abide with Me," followed by #197 "Have Thine Own Way." Our closing song was #781 "Wonderful Story of Love."

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From Sunday, 27-April, 2025:

Brother Brandon Pool led our songs this Sunday morning.  We began with #782 "Worthy Art Thou." To help us prepare to commune with our God, we sang #12 "Alas, and Did My Savior Bleed?" Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #154 "Give Me the Bible.” For our invitation song, we sang #529 "Out of My Bondage" and concluded with #441 "My Latest Sun is Sinking Fast."

Brother Owen Landrum led our afternoon service, beginning with #866 "I Will Call Upon the Lord." This was followed by #622 "Tell Me the Story of Jesus." After the lesson of the hour, we sang #810 "Jesus Loves Me," followed by #784 "Why Did My Savior Come to Earth?" Our closing song was #977 "The Battle Belongs to the Lord."

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From Sunday, 20-April, 2025:

Brother Andy Basford led our songs this Sunday for both the morning and evening services.  We began with #60 "After the Midnight." To help us prepare to commune with our God, we sang the third verse of #622 "Tell Me the Story of Jesus." Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #722 "We Have Heard the Joyful Sound," and #833 "Ring Out the Message.” For our invitation song, we sang #572 "Send the Light" (with the lyrics to the second half of each chorus changed to "Send the light, and let its radiant beams Light the world forevermore," the original lyrics by the composer) and concluded with #387 "Lead  Me to Some Soul Today."

For our afternoon service, we began with #991 "Safe in His  Arms," followed by #993 "Firm Foundation." After the lesson of the hour, we sang #992 "What a Day That Will Be," followed by #994 "That's Why We Praise Him." Our closing song was #995 "A Mansion, Robe, and Crown."

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From Sunday, 13-April, 2025:

Brother Brandon Pool led our songs this Sunday morning.  We began with #528 "Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow [Doxology]." To help us prepare to commune with our God, we sang #310 "In Gethsemane Alone." Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #788 "Wonderful Words of Life.” For our invitation song, we sang #23 "All Things Are Ready," and concluded with #785 "Wonderful City of God."

Brother Joe Roznos led our songs for the afternoon service. We began with #684 "This World Is Not My Home," followed by #680 "There’s Not a Friend." After the lesson of the hour, we sang #781 "Wonderful Story of Love," followed by #685 "The Lord is In His Holy Temple." Our closing song was #888 "Thank You, Lord."

From Sunday, 7-April to 9-April 2025:

Brother Andy Basford led the songs for the weekday sessions of our Gospel Meeting with the students from the Memphis School of Preaching. On Monday, after a first prayer, we began with #321 “If Jesus Goes With Me.” After the lesson, we sang #436 “Nearer, Still Nearer” for our invitation song, followed by #379 “Lead Me Gently Home, Father” as our closing hymn. On Tuesday, our first song (following our first prayer) was #971 Restore My Soul.” Our invitation song was #414 “Lord, I’m Coming Home,” and we were dismissed with #998 “May I Run the Race.” On Wednesday evening, after our first prayer, we sang #523 “Our God, He Is Alive.” Following the lesson, our Invitation song was #553 “Rise Up, O Men of God.” Our dismissal song was #127 “Down in the Valley.”

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From Sunday, 6-April, 2025:

Brother Andy Basford led our songs this Sunday morning, the first day of our Gospel Meeting with the students from the Memphis School of Preaching.  After a reading of Psalm 12:22; 13:14-15 and an explanation on the history of our first song, we began with #1111 "We Are Marching to Zion." To help us prepare to commune with our God, we sang #205 "Hand In Hand with Jesus." Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #461 "O For a Closer Walk with God" and #1018 "I Walk with the King" (not as a medley). For our invitation song, we sang #588 "Sinners Jesus Will Receive," and concluded with #372 "Just a Closer Walk with Thee."

Brother Brandon Pool led our songs for the afternoon service, our second session of the Gospel meeting with the MSOP students. We began with #501 "O Worship the King," followed by #345 "It Is Well with My Soul." After the lesson of the hour, we sang #595 "Stand Up for Jesus," followed by "'Tis Set, the Feast Divine." Our closing song was #441 "My Latest Sun is Sinking Fast" (Brandon pointed out that we likely hadn't sung this last song yet since we began worshipping at our present location; although we actually sang it last on July 21, 2023, that date was actually during our hosting of the Area Wide Singing that year, so it's [technically] a first time for us to sing this hymn).

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From Sunday, 30-March, 2025:

Brother Andy Basford led our songs this Sunday morning.  We began with a medley specially entitled "Ode to Prayer" which contained verses from #124 "Did You Think to Pray?" followed by #146 "Father, We Thank Thee," verses alternating between the songs. To help us prepare to commune with our God, we sang #328 "In the Hour of Trial." Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #215 "Hear Me When I Call." For our invitation song, we sang #612 "Take Me Life and Let it Be," and concluded with #320 "If I Had Wounded Any Soul Today."

For our afternoon song service, we had our Quarterly Fourth(?) Sunday Song Service, with a theme of "Songs of the Old Testament, vol. 1," where we sang songs that pertain to what we have read in the Old Testament this year so far. Each section of songs was preceded by a scripture reading and a prayer.  Kevin Morkasssel led us in #669 "This Is My Father's World," followed by #24 "All Things Bright and Beautiful." Andy Basford led us in #493 "O Perfect Love" and #128 "Eternal Father, Strong to Save."  Brandon Pool led us in #191 "God Will Take Care of You."  Kevin Morkassel then led us #190 "Great Is Thy Faithfulness."  For our invitation song, Brandon Pool led us in #538 "Prepare tto Meet Thy God." To prepare help us to observe the Lord's Supper, Owen Landrum led us in #368 "Jesus Paid It All."  In closing, Brandon Pool led us in #450 "Nearer, My God, to Thee."

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From Sunday, 23-March, 2025:

Brother Kevin Morkassel led our songs this Sunday morning.  We began with #200 "Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah," followed by 238 "Holy, Holy, Holy." To help us prepare to commune with our God, we sang #784 "Why Did My Savior Come to Earth?" Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #732 "We Praise Thee, O God," followed by #708 "Heavenly Sunlight."  For our invitation song, we sang #674 "There's a Great ay Coming," and concluded with #402 "Living for Jesus."

Brother Matt Haynes led our afternoon song service.  After a welcome and a going over of the order of worship, our first hymn was #866 "I Will Call Upon the Lord," followed by our first prayer and scripture reading. Before the lesson if the hour we sang #1022 "Listen to Our Hearts." Our invitation song was #29 "All to Jesus I Surrender," followed by our singing #996 "Wonderful, Merciful Savior" before we observed the Lord's Supper.  In conclusion, we sang #1003 "Hide Me Away, O Lord."

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From Sunday, 16-March, 2025:

Brother Brandon Pool led our songs this Sunday morning.  We began with #561 "Savior, Grant Me Rest and Peace." To help us prepare to commune with our God, we sang #688 "Thus Remember Me." Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #231 "Hilltops of Glory."  For our invitation song, we sang #382 "Kneel at the Cross," and concluded with #523 "Our God, He is Alive."

Brother Joe Roznos led our afternoon song service.  After a welcome, a going over of the order of worship, and our first prayer and scripture reading, our first hymn was #898 "Unto The, O Lord" before the lesson if the hour.  Our invitation song was #680 "There's Not a Friend," followed by our singing #382 "Kneel At the Cross" before we observed the Lord's Supper.  In conclusion, we sang #891 "This Is the Day."

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From Sunday, 9-March, 2025:

Brother Andy Basford led our songs this Sunday morning.  We began with a medley of #388 "Let Every Heart Rejoice and Sing" and #336 "Is it for Me, Dear Savior?"  To help us prepare to commune with our God, we sang #916 "Come, Share the Lord."  Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #400 "Living by Faith."  For our invitation song, we sang #37 "Angry Words," and concluded with a medley of #679 "They'll Know We Are Christians" and #873 "Love, Love."

Brother Jordan Pugh led our afternoon song service.  Our first hymn was #53 "Years I Spent in Vanity," followed by #234 "Higher Ground" before the lesson if the hour.  Our invitation song was #655 "There's a Fountain Free," followed by our singing #738 "We Will Glorify" before we observed the Lord's Supper.  In conclusion, we sang #756 "When We All Get to Heaven."

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From Sunday, 2-March, 2025:

Brother Brandon Pool led our songs this Sunday morning.  We began #542 "Purer in Heart, O God."  To help us prepare to commune with our God, we sang #997 "Pierce My Ear."  Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #781 "Wonderful Story of Love."  For our invitation song, we sang #179 "God is Calling the Prodigal," and concluded with #191 "God Will Take Care of You."

Brother Owen Landrum led our afternoon song service.  Our first hymn was #841 "Sing and Be Happy," followed by #219 "He's My King" before the lesson if the hour.  Our invitation song was #19 "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name," followed by our singing #618 "Sweet Hour of Prayer" before we observed the Lord's Supper.  In conclusion, we sang #971 "Restore My Soul."

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From Sunday, 23-February, 2025:

Brother Andy Basford led our songs this Sunday morning.  We began with a medley of #16 "All Creatures of Our God and King" followed by #853 "God is So Good."  To help us prepare to commune with our God, we sang #396 "Lift Him Up."  Before the lesson of the hour, we sang another medley of #649 "The Rock that Is Higher" and #234 "Higher Ground."  For our invitation song, we sang #389 "Let Him Have His Way with Thee," and concluded with #121 "Do All in the Name of the Lord."

Our next service was a bilingual service in the evening as we joined with the Spanish speaking members of our congregation to lift our voices in praise of the Almighty, with brothers ER* and Andy Basford leading us in Spanish and English respectively.  We started with a prayer, and then began our worship in song with #241 "Grande Gozo Hay en Mi Alma Hoy" from our Spanish hymnal Cantos del Camino (from which all of our Spanish hymns come) along with #663 "There is Sunshine In My Soul Today" from our hymnal Praise for the Lord in English.  This was followed by #86 "Como el Ciervo" and #843 "As the Deer."  After a reading from God's Word, we sang #58 "Gloria a Ti, Señor" and #929 "Glorify Your Name" before our lesson of the hour.  For our invitation song, we sang #233 "Dulce Comunión" and #394 "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms."  To prepare our minds for the partaking of the Lord's Supper, we sang #137 "Cordero de Dios" and #950 "Lamb of God."  In closing, as we typically ddo for these bilingual services, we sang #87 "Alabaré."

*Identity withheld due to age.

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From Sunday, 16-February, 2025:

Brother Brandon Pool led our songs for both services this Sunday.  For the morning we began with #70 "Be Thou My Vision."  Following that, we sang #268 "I Gave My Life for Thee" to help us prepare for Communion.  Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #761 "Where He Leads, I'll Follow."  For our invitation song, we sang #31 "Almost Persuaded," and concluded with #76 "Blest Be the Tie That Binds."

For our afternoon service, we began with #937 "I Stand in Awe"  Before the lesson, we sang #207 "Hark! The Gentle Voice."  For our invitation song, we sang #517 "O Why Not Tonight?" followed by #645 "'The Old Rugged Cross" to help us observe the Lord's Supper (particularly for those who couldn't partake of it this morning).  In closing, we sang #785 "Wonderful City of God."

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From Sunday, 9-February, 2025:

Brother Andy Basford led our songs for both services this Sunday.  For the morning, after a reading of 2 Timothy 1:8-12, we began with #291 "I Know Not Why God's Wondrous Grace."  Following that, we sang #495 "O The Depths and the Riches" to help us prepare for Communion.  Before the lesson of the hour, we sang a medley of #500 "O, Thou Fount of Every Blessing" and #36 "Amazing Grace."  For our invitation song, we sang #683 "Though Your Sins Be As Scarlet," and concluded with #237 "His Grace Reaches Me."

For our afternoon service, we began with a medley of #1277 "Never Grow Old/Never Shall Die" and #660 "There Is a Habitation." Before the lesson, we sang another medley of #11 "Above the Bright Blue" and #1005 "Don't You Want to Go To That Land?"  For our invitation song, we sang #992 "What a Day That Will Be" followed by verses 1 through 3 of #1440 "'My Jesus, I Love Thee" (four verse version) to help us observe the Lord's Supper (particularly for those who couldn't partake of it this morning).  In closing, we sang the final verse of #1440.

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From Sunday, 2-February, 2025:

Brother Brandon Pool led our songs this Sunday morning.  We began with #682 "To God Be the Glory."  Following that, we sang #452 "Night with Ebon Pinion" to help us prepare for Communion.  Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #226 "How Great Thou Art."  For our invitation song, we sang #800 "Zion's Call," and we concluded with #450 "Nearer, My God, to Thee."

Brother Owen Landrum led our evening song service.  We began with #975 "Thank You, Lord," followed by #843 "A Common Love" before the lesson of the hour.  For our invitation song, we sang #989 "You Are My All in All" followed by #644 "'Tis Set, the Feast Divine" to help us observe the Lord's Supper (particularly for those who couldn't partake of it this morning).  In closing, we sang #299 "I Stand Amazed."

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From Sunday, 26-January, 2025:

Brother Andy Basford led our songs this Sunday morning.  After a reading of various verses from the 147th Psalm, we began with #78 "Can You Count the Stars?"  Following that, we sang #1008 "Creation to Creation" to observe the story of God's plan for man's salvation as we have read in the Old Testament up to this point (thus singing verse 1) and to help us prepare for Communion (by singing verse 6).  Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #461 "O For a Closer Walk with God."  For our invitation song, we sang #714 "Trust and Obey," and we concluded with #372 "Just a Closer Walk with Thee."

Brother Brandon Pool led our evening song service.  We began with #951 "Majesty," followed by #236 "His Yoke is Easy" before the lesson of the hour.  For our invitation song, we sang #125 "Do You Know My Jesus?" followed by #709 "'Tis Midnight, And on Olive's Brow" to help us observe the Lord's Supper (particularly for those who couldn't partake of it this morning).  In closing, we sang #66 "Beautiful."

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From Sunday, 19-January, 2025:

Brother Brandon Pool led our songs this Sunday morning.  We began with #124 "Did You Think to Pray?" followed by #764 "When We Meet in Sweet Communion" to help us prepare for Communion.  Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #598 "Standing on the Promises."  For our invitation song, we sang #538 "Prepare to Meet Thy God," and we concluded with #602 "Sweet By and By."

Brother Owen Landrum led our evening song service.  We began with #975 "Thank You, Lord," followed by #842 "A Common Love" before the lesson of the hour.  For our invitation song, we sang #642 "The Lord's My Shepherd," followed by #511 "Oft We Come Together" to help us observe the Lord's Supper (particularly for those who couldn't partake of it this morning).  In closing, we sang #213 "He Gave Me a Song."

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From Sunday, 12-January, 2025:

Brother Ethan Landrum led our songs this Sunday morning.  We began with #315 "I'll Live in Glory" followed by #282 "I Know that My Redeemer Lives."  To help us prepare for Communion, we sang #12 "Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed?"  Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #40 "Be With Me Lord".  For our invitation song, we sang #584 "Softly and Tenderly," and we concluded with #7 "Abide with Me."

Brother Joe Roznos led our evening song service.  He began with #685 "The Lord is in His Holy Temple," followed by #622 "Tell Me the Story of Jesus" before the lesson of the hour.  For our invitation song, we sang #781 "Wonderful Story of Love," followed by #738 "We Will Glorify" to help us observe the Lord's Supper (particularly for those who couldn't partake of it this morning).  In closing, we sang #888 "Thank You, Lord."

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From Sunday, 5-January, 2025:

Services were cancelled due to the hazards of the winter storm that fell upon us over the weekend.  We hope you were able to join some other congregation virtually (via YouTube, zoom, etc.) and sing out to the Lord from the safety of your home.  

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From Sunday, 29-December, 2024:

Brother Andy Basford led our songs this Sunday morning.  We began with #19 "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name" followed by #951 "Majesty" to help us prepare for Communion.  Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #886 "Sing Hallelujah to the Lord".  For our invitation song, we sang #1018 "I Walk with the King," and we concluded with #991 "Safe in His Arms."

We had our final quarterly Fourth Sunday Song Service this Sunday afternoon.  With a theme of "Going Home" (closing out our study from our A Chapter a Day book with Revelation chapters 18 through 22, and looking forward to our future home in heaven), we began with a reading of Revelation 21:1-2 followed by Ethan Landrum leading us in #242 "How Beautiful Heaven Must Be" and Brandon Pool leading us in #785 "Wonderful City of God."  Our second reading was Revelation 21:3-4, followed by Brandon Pool leading us in #780 "Won't It Be Wonderful There?" and Ethan Landrum leading us in #456 "Sing to Me of Heaven."  Our third reading was Revelation 21:10-14 with Brandon Pool leading us in #660 "There Is a Habitation" and Andy Basford leading us in #333 "In the Land of Fadeless Day."  Our fourth reading was Revelation 21:21-25 with Ethan Landrum leading us in #378 "Just a Few More Days" and Owen Landrum leading us in #829 "Mansion Over the Hilltop."  Our final reading was Revelation 22:1-5 with Andy Basford leading us in #502 "O They Tell Me of a Home" and #527 "Paradise Valley."  After the invitation, Owen Landrum led us in #243 "Home of the Soul."  To observe the Communion, Andy Basford led us in #516 "One Day" verses 2, 3, and 4.  Incidentally, we closed with a medley (led by Andy Basford) of #516 "One Day," the 5th verse, and #1016 "When I Go Home."

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From Sunday, 22-December, 2024:

Brother Ethan Landrum led our songs this Sunday morning.  We began with #1023 "As the Deer Thirsts" (this was not only his first time leading this song, but it was the first time we had sung it outside of a camp or youth group setting) followed by #866 "I Will Call Upon the Lord." To help us prepare for Communion, we sang #203 "Hallelujah! What a Savior."  Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #1004 "Ancient Words".  For our invitation song, we sang #977 "The Battle Belongs to the Lord" (which was his first time leading it for us), and we concluded with #583 "Sing to Me of Heaven."

Brother Andy Basford led our songs for the afternoon as the elder's presented to us a recap of what we had done over the past year and to reveal the plans they have for us for 2025.  After letting us start with the prayer and the reading of God's Word, we sang a medley of #1059 "Break Thou the Bread of Life (3 Verses)" and #253 "How Shall the Young Secure Their Hearts."  After the presentation and the invitation was given, we sang #714 "Trust and Obey," followed by #293 "I'll Live for Him" to help us observe the Lord's Supper (particularly for those who couldn't partake of it with us that morning).  In closing, we sang #340 "Into Our Hands."

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From Sunday, 15-December, 2024:

Brother Brandon Pool led our songs this Sunday morning.  We began with #618 "Sweet Housr of Prayer" followed by #310 "In Gethsemane Alone" to help us prepare for Communion.  Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #370 "Jesus Shall Reign" (which was not only Brandon's first time leading it, it was also our first time singing it as a congregation according to my records [although someone did confide later that he remembered singing it years ago when he was much younger; good to find a "new-to-us" song!]).  For the invitation song, we sang #337 "Is Thy Heart Right with God?" and we concluded with #7 "Abide with Me."

Brother Owen Landrum led our afternoon hymns, beginning with #572 "Send the Light," followed by #585 "Soldiers of Christ Arise" before the lesson of the hour.  For the invitation song, we sang #213 "He Gave Me a Song," followed by #644 "'Tis Set, the Feast Divine" to help us observe the Lord's Supper.  In closing, we sang #345 "It Is Well with My Soul."

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From Sunday, 8-December, 2024:

Brother Andy Basford led our songs this Sunday morning.  He started by pointing out that he based his songs on Revelation chapter 3 where Christ through His servant John speaks to three of the Asian churches, and he tried to bring up songs for all three of them.  We began with #489 "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" (for Philadelphia)[this was the first time we had sung this for our services according to my records] followed by #9 "A Wonderful Savior" (for Sardis).  After we sang #994 "That's Why We Praise Him" before Communion, we sang a medley of #584 "Softly and Tenderly" and #529 "Out of My Bondage" (for Laodicea).  For the invitation song, we sang #763 "Why Keep Jesus Waiting," and we concluded with #553 "Rise Up, O Men of God."

Brother Joe Roznos led our afternoon hymns, beginning with #71 "Blessed Assurance" before the lesson of the hour.  For the invitation song, we sang #717 "Victory in Jesus," followed by #872 "I Am Crucified with Christ" to precede our observance of the Lord's Supper (for those who couldn't partake of it with us that morning).  In closing, we sang #891 "This is the Day."

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From Sunday, 1-December, 2024:

Our songs for this Sunday morning were led by brother Brandon Pool. We began with #561 “Savior Grant Me Rest and Peace,” followed by a first prayer, scripture reading, and #1019 “I'm the One” to prepare our hearts for communion. Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #798 “Yield Not to Temptation.” For the invitation song, we sang #655 “There's a Fountain Free” and we concluded with #48 “Anywhere with Jesus.”

For our afternoon service, brother Andy Basford led us in #322 “In Heavenly Love Abiding,” followed by #647 “The Love of God” before the lesson of the hour. For the invitation song, we sang #551 "Rescue the Perishing," followed by #359 "Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross." In closing, we sang #386 "Lead On O King Eternal."

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From Sunday, 24-November, 2024:

Our songs for this Sunday morning and afternoon were led by brother Andy Basford. We began with #362 “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee,” followed by a first prayer, scripture reading, and #12 “Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed?” to prepare our hearts for communion. Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #599 “Stepping in the Light.” For the invitation song, we sang #50 “Are You Washed in the Blood?” and we concluded with #667 “There is Power in the Blood.”

For our afternoon service, we began with #180 “God is Love,” followed by #999 “The Greatest Command” before the lesson of the hour. For the invitation song, we sang #131 “Face to Face,” followed by #516 “One Day” to help prepare to observe the Lord’s Supper. In closing, we sang #544 “Redeemed.”

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From Sunday, 17-November, 2024:

Brother Kevin Morkassel led our songs this Sunday morning.  We began with # 200 "Hallelujah! Praise Jehovah" followed by # 238 "Holy, Holy, Holy" to precede our time in prayer. To prepare us to commune with the Lord, we sang # 784 "Why Did My Savior Come to Earth?" Before the lesson of the hour, we sang # 732 "We Praise Thee, O God," followed by # 708 "Heavenly Sunlight." For our invitation song, we sang # 674 "There's a Great Day Coming" and concluded with # 402 “Living for Jesus.”

For the afternoon, brother Brandon Pool led our singing, beginning with # 542 “Purer in Heart, O God.” Before the lesson of the hour, we sang # 953 “Lord, I Lift Your Name on High” (which, while it was the first Brandon had led it for us, it was only the second time we had ever sung it[!!]. For the invitation, we sang # 179 “God is Calling the Prodigal,” followed by # 688 “Thus Remember Me." In conclusion, we sang # 378 "Just a Few More Days."

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From Sunday, 10-November, 2024:

Brother Andy Basford led our songs this Sunday morning.  We began with a medley of # 702 "Trials Dark on Every Hand" and # 178 "God Holds the Future in His Hands." To prepare us to commune with the Lord, we sang # 328 "In the Hour of Trial." Before the lesson of the hour, we sang # 546 "Ready to Suffer," and (to keep it from being "Ready to Suffer" what we sang before the lesson) # 138 "Farther Along." For our invitation song, we sang # 884 "Teach Me Lord to Wait" and concluded with # 280 “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow.”

For the afternoon, brother Owen Landrum took the reins to lead our singing, beginning with # 200 “Hallelujah! Praise Jehovah.” Before the lesson of the hour, we sang # 213 “He Gave Me a Song.” For the invitation, we sang # 282 “I Know that My Redeemer,” followed by # 511 “Oft We Come Together." In conclusion, we sang # 583 "Sing to Me of Heaven."

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From Sunday, 3-November, 2024:

Brother Brandon Pool led our songs this Sunday morning.  We began with # 434 "More Holiness Give Me." To prepare us to commune with the Lord, we sang # 645 "The Old Rugged Cross." Before the lesson of the hour, we sang # 595 "Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus." For our invitation song, we sang # 255 "I Am Resolved" and concluded with # 801 “America, the Beautiful.”

For the afternoon, after our first prayer and scripture reading, brother Andy Basford took the reins to lead our singing, beginning with a medley of # 568 “Savior Teach Me” and # 853 “God is So Good.” For the invitation, we sang # 67 “Bring Christ Your Broken Life,” followed by # 495 “O the Depths and the Riches." In conclusion, we sang # 190 "Great Is Thy Faithfulness."

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From Sunday, 27-October, 2024:

Brother Andy Basford led our songs for both services this Sunday.  After reading from Hebrews 9:15 and 10:23-24 (to demonstrate, as we read this week through our study of A Chapter a Day, the promises we can be assured of through our Lord), we began with # 598 "Standing on the Promises." To prepare us to commune with the Lord, we sang # 203 "Hallelujah! What a Savior." Before the lesson of the hour, we sang a medley of # 68 "Because He Lives" and # 400 “Living by Faith.” For our invitation song, we sang # 588 "Sinners Jesus Will Receive" and concluded with # 261 “I Am Thine, O Lord [Draw Me Nearer]”

For the afternoon, after our first prayer and scripture reading, we began with a medley of # 136 “Faith of Our Fathers” and # 684 “This World is Not My Home.” For the invitation, we sang # 587 “Soul, a Savior Thou Art Needing,” followed by # 726 “We Saw Thee Not” for us to observe the Lord’s Supper. In closing, we sang # 785 “Wonderful City of God.”

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From Sunday, 20-October, 2024:

Brother Andy Basford led our songs this Sunday morning.  After reading from Hebrews 2:11-12 (to demonstrate, as we read this week through our study of A Chapter a Day, that the Lord sings in the congregation with us), we began with # 336 "Is it For Me?” To prepare us to commune with the Lord, we sang # 996 "Wonderful, Merciful Savior." Before the lesson of the hour, we sang a medley of # 246 "I Am So Glad" and # 473 “O, How I Love Jesus.” For our invitation song, we sang # 701 "Tomorrow May Be Too Late" and concluded with # 776 “Will Your Anchor Hold?”

For the afternoon, brother Kevin Morkassel led our singing. We began with # 134 “Faith Is the Victory,” which was followed by # 708 “Heavenly Sunlight.” For the invitation, we sang # 380 “Just As I Am,” followed by # 268 “I Gave My Life for Thee” for us to observe the Lord’s Supper. In closing, we sang # 297 “I Want to Be a Worker.”

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From Sunday, 13-October, 2024:

Brother Brandon Pool led our songs this Sunday morning.  We started with # 618 "Sweet Hour of Prayer" preceding our first prayer.  Before the Lord's Supper, we sang # 784 "Why Did My Savior Come to Earth."  Before the lesson of the hour, we sang # 783  "Will You Not Tell it Ttoday?"  For our invitation song, we sang # 53 "At Calvary" (which, according to my records, is the first time he has led that for us) and concluded with #191 “Be Not Dismayed Whate'er Betide."

For the afternoon, brother Andy Basford led our singing.  After he went through some precursory announcements and the order of worship, we opened with our first prayer, followed by singing a medley of # 863 “I Love You with the Love of the Lord” and # 250 “How Sweet, How Heavenly."  Following this, we had our scripture reading and the lesson of the hour.  Our invitation hymn was # 37 "Angry Words,' followed by our communion hymn # 997 "Pierce My Ear."  In closing, we sang # 150 "Follow me" (which was a last minute request).  Andy mentions that he began searching for these songs (trying to find ones that fit with the book of Philemon, but not finding them in the PftL index or the Excel spreadsheet from James Tackett at paperlesshymnal.com) by simply Googling them.  Fortunately, some Baptist organizations have done lessons on Philemon and used some songs for their services, among which was # 76 "Blest Be the Tie That Binds."  Fortunately for Andy (and his OCD issues with leading songs that have already been sung in the last three months), he was able to use some other indices and Google Sheets that he has developed to perform a reverse look-up of hymns and what subjects they might cover.  In fact, he found # 76 under the headings of "Fellowship, Human" and "Love for One Another," and also found all the other songs he led with the exceptions of # 150 (which as stated before was a last minute request by one of the members) and # 997 (which seemed to fit the book of Philemon because, perhaps, Onesimus did finally show himself useful to his master and might have been willing to perform the tradition of having his ear pierced through the front door with an awl [Exodus 21:5-6]; also the second verse of the song talks about how Christ has "paid the price" for us, ransoming us with His blood, thus it seemed to fit for the Lord's Supper as well).

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From Sunday, 6-October, 2024:

Brother Andy Basford led our songs this Sunday morning.  After reading from Psalm 40:1-5, we began with # 215 "Hear Me When I Call".  To prepare us to commune with the Lord, we sang # 345 "It Is Well with My Soul." Before the lesson of the hour, we sang # 213  "He Gave Me a Song."  For our invitation song, we sang # 29 "All to Jesus I Surrender" and concluded with #757 “Where No One Stands Alone."

For the afternoon, brother Owen Landrum led our singing.  We began with # 975 “Thank You, Lord,” which was followed by # 842 “A Common Love.”  For the invitation, we sang # 989 “You Are My All in All,” followed by # 511 “Oft We Come Together” for us to observe the Lord’s Supper.  In closing, we sang # 299 “I Stand Amazed.”

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From Sunday, 29-September, 2024:

Brother Brandon Pool led our songs this Sunday morning.  We began with #583 "Sing to Me of Heaven" (which according to my records marks the first time he has led that hymn for us), followed by #511 "Oft We Come Together" which we sang to prepare our hearts to commune with our Lord.  Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #300 "I Will Sing of My Redeemer," followed by #368 "Jesus Paid it All" which we sang for our invitation hymn.  In closing we sang #7 "Abide with Me."

Later in the evening, we had our thirteenth bilingual service with our Spanish speaking brethren.  We began with a reading of 1Corinthians 13 by brother NR*.  We then began singing, first in Spanish (as led by brother ER* from the Cantos del Camino hymnal), then in English (as led by brother Andy Basford from the Praise for the Lord hymnal).  We began with #241 "Grande Gozo Hay En Mi Alma Hoy" and #663 "There is Sunshine in My Soul Today."  After a prayer, we sang #37 "A Jehová Invocaré" and #866 "I Will Call Upon the Lord," followed by #137 "Cordero de Dios' and #950 "Lamb of God" which we sang before partaking of the Lord's Supper.  Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #86 "Como el Ciervo" and #843 "As the Deer."  After the lesson, we sang #220 "Cuando Andamos con Dios" and #714 "Trust and Obey" for our invitation hymns.  As we had a couple respond to the invitation, wishing to put on the Lord by immersion in water, we sang our first two songs again.  After each baptism, our Spanish minister led us in #157 "He Decidido Seguir a Cristo"/#272 "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus."  As we waited for our new brother and sister in Christ to come back from the baptistry, we sang #30 "Gracias, Dios" and #888 "Thank You, Lord."  In closing, as we typically do for our bilingual services, we sang #87 "Alabaré."

I bring this up not out of criticism but to suggest that we go back to some of our old ways where we kept a list of songs for baptisms in the podium up on the stage (I do believe we had similarly dedicated folders on the laptops in the A/V booth).  I would suggest we have some in both English AND Spanish in case this happens again (and may it continue to happen to the glory of our Lord!).

*Due to these people being of a young age, I am withholding their names to offer some protection to their identities.

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From Sunday, 22-September, 2024:

Brother Andy Basford led our songs this Sunday morning.  We started with medley of #937 "I Stand in Awe" and #940 "I Sing Praises."  We then sang #226 "How Great Thou Art," the third verse only, to prepare to partake of the Lord's Supper.  Prior to the lesson of the hour, we continued where we left off and sang the final verse of #226, which was medleyed with #746 "When He Comes in Glory."  For our invitation hymn we sang #131 "Face to Face," and concluded with #274 "The Lily of the Valley."

For the afternoon service, we had our quarterly Fourth Sunday Song Service, the theme being "Survey of Psalms" where we looked at certain Psalms in the Old Testament and sang hymns that match up with them.  Brothers Brandon Pool and Kevin Morkassel alternated to lead the first six songs, beginning with a reading of various verses from the 18th Psalm and Brandon leading #866 "I Will Call Upon the Lord," including three more verses we do not typically sing (as only the first verse is available in our Praise for the Lord hymnal).  After a reading of Psalm 25:1-3,7, Kevin followed by leading #898 "Unto Thee O Lord."  We then read Psalm 42:1-3,11, and sang #843 "As the Deer," followed by Psalm 46:1-5,10-11 and #6 "A Mighty Fortress."  Our next reading was various verses from Psalm 104 in conjunction with singing #501 "O Worship the King," after which we read the 148th Psalm and sang #200 "Hallelujah! Praise Jehovah."  Kyle Crews then gave a brief presentation about the Psalms and gave our invitation, our invitation song being #1021 "Create in Me a Clean Heart" (in conjunction with Psalm 51:10 which we did not read) led by Joe Roznos.  Brandon Pool then led our communion hymn (for those who couldn't partake of it with us in the morning), #299 "I Stand Amazed."  In closing we read Psalm 118:14; this was an error due to bad listing on Andy's part; although it is a great verse ["The Lord is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.'], we were supposed to read verse 24 ["This is the day which the Lord has made; Let’s rejoice and be glad in it."] to match with Joe's closing song of #891 "This is the Day."

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From Sunday, 15-September, 2024:

Brother Brandon Pool led our songs this Sunday morning and afternoon.  We began with #345 "It Is Well with My Soul," followed by #511 "Oft We Come Together" to prepare our hearts for the Lord's Supper.  Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #642 "The Lord's My Shepherd," followed by #312 "I'll Be a Friend" for our invitation hymn (which was a first time for Brandon).  We closed with #7 "Abide with Me."

For our afternoon service, we began with #744 "While On the Sea," followed by #781 Wonderful Story of Love" to precede the lesson.  Our invitation hymn was #755 "When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder," after which we sang #452 "Night with Ebon Pinion" for those who wished to partake of the Lord's Supper (who did not with us earlier this morning).  Our closing song was #450 "Nearer My God to Thee."

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From Sunday, 8-September, 2024:

Brother Andy Basford led our songs this Sunday morning.  We started with a medley of #876 "Jesus, Name Above All Names" and #436 "Nearer, Still Nearer."  To prepare our hearts for the Lord's Supper we sang #1006 "How Deep the Father's Love."  Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #998 "May I Run the Race" (but we sang the second, then first and third verses to keep the sequence of the original hymn from which this was adapted, "May the Mind of Christ My Savior"), followed by #255 "I Am Resolved" for our invitation hymn.  As we were going through a survey of the book of Philippians, it seemed appropriate to dismiss by singing #1002 "Finally, Brethren."

Brother Owen Landrum led our songs for our afternoon service.  #348 "Jesus is All the World to Me" was our first song, followed by "Listen to Our Hearts" to precede the lesson (this song currently has a de facto number of #1022, although it is currently not printed in our Bridges to Praise supplemental hymnal [hopefully, we will incorporate this when we undergo our first expansion for this work!).  Our invitation hymn was #730 "What a Friend We Have in Jesus."  To prepare to observe the Lord's Supper, particularly for those who weren't able to partake of it with us that morning, we sang #742 "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross," and in closing we sang #44 "Anywhere Is Home."

Two additional items came up this week related to this work.  1) It has been brought to my attention that there seem to be some glitched in the links provided in the WeSongs "App" that we use to turn in our song lists and gather other data to help with that.  I am addressing that issue as best I can as this week begins, although I think it has something to do with a new feature that I have created to help with our singing, which leads us to: 2) I have created a page that collects the data we give as to what songs we plan to lead on a given Sunday and provides links (where available) to some YouTube and Spotify files that play those songs.  I believe this would be beneficial for us song leaders so that if we come upon a song we plan to lead, but are not as familiar with as we are with some of the ones we commonly lead, we can brush up on it by listening to it.  It would also help the congregation so that they can brush up on them beforehand, especially if there are songs either being introduced for the first time or it has been a while since we last sung them (it would also be good for any visitors we may have who are not familiar with some of the songs we may typically sing).

I will do my best to keep you updated on these issues and try to resolve them as best I can.

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From Sunday, 1-September, 2024:

Brother Brandon Pool led our songs this Sunday morning.  We began with #124 "Did You Think to Pray" prior to our first prayer and scripture reading, followed by #764 "When We Meet in Sweet Communion" to prepare us to partake of the Lord's Supper.  We then sang #288 "I Need Thee Every Hour" before the lesson of the hour.  For the invitation song, we sang #517 "O Why Not Tonight?" (which was his first time leading it for us according to my records, possibly because he hasn't had an opportunity to lead it in an evening setting) and we were dismissed by singing #553 "Rise Up, O Men of God" (his first time leading this song as well).

Brother Joe Roznos led our afternoon song service, beginning with #937 "I Stand in Awe," followed by a word of prayer, some reading of God's Word, and our singing of #622 "Tell Me the Story of Jesus" before our lesson of the hour.  For our invitation song, we sang #680 "There's Not a Friend [No, Not One]," followed by #217 "He Loves Me" (a first time for him to lead this hymn).  In closing we sang #891 "This Is the Day."

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From Sunday, 25-August, 2024:

Brother Andy Basford led our songs this Sunday morning.  After a precursory reading of the 100th Psalm, we began our song service with a medley of #190 "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" followed by #853 "God is so Good".  We then sang #265 "I Love Thee So" to prepare us to partake of the Lord's Supper.  Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #785 "Wonderful City of God.  For the invitation song, we sang #414 "Lord I'm Coming Home," and we were dismissed by singing #243 "Home of the Soul."

Brother Joe Roznos led our Sunday evening songs.  He began with #200 "Hallelujah! Praise Jehovah," followed by #125 "Do You Know My Jesus?" before the lesson of the hour.  For the invitation song, we sang #382 "Kneel At the Cross" (which is the first time we have recorded for Joe to lead this one!).  We then sang #822 "Heaven Came Down" for us to observe the Lord's Supper (especially for those who couldn't partake of it with us that morning) and we closed with #888 "Thank You, Lord".

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From Sunday, 18-August, 2024:

Brother Brandon Pool led our songs this Sunday morning. Our first song was #124 “Did You Think to Pray?”  We then sang #1019 “I’m the One” to prepare to commune with our Lord.  Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #989 “You Are My All in All.”  For our invitation song, we sang #744 “What Will Your Answer Be?” and we were dismissed with #743 “We’ll Work Till Jesus Comes.”

Brother Owen Landrum led our afternoon hymns, starting with #934 “Hosanna,” followed by #200 “Hallelujah! Praise Jehovah” before our lesson of the hour.  We then sang #415 “More About Jesus” for our invitation song, and #644 “‘Tis Set, the Feast Divine” as a prelude to our observing the Lord’s Supper (particularly for those who couldn’t partake of it with us that morning).  In closing, we sang #809 “Jesus Loves the Little Children.”

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From Sunday, 11-August, 2024:

Brother Ethan Landrum led our songs this Sunday morning and evening.  We began with #238 "Holy, Holy, Holy" followed by #850 "Father I Adore You" as our opening songs (although we had two songs with which to start off, they were not sung as a medley).  To help prepare our hearts to partake of the Lord's Supper, we sang #12 "Alas and Did My Savior Bleed" (which marks Ethan's first time leading this hymn for us) [NOTE: he had originally requested to sing verses 1, 2, and 5, and apparently he was ready to song refrains after each of those verses; for some reason, the presentation was programmed with verses 1, 2, 3, AND 5 with the chorus following the fifth verse only; for this reason, it seems a good time to remind everyone to check the presentation before you go to lead your songs and make certain your instructions are understood].  Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #532 "Praise Him! Praise Him!"  For the invitation hymn, we sang #971 "Restore My Soul," followed by #855 "God's Family" with which we closed our morning service.

For our afternoon service, we began with #755 "When the Roll is Called Up Yonder."  To preclude our lesson of the hour, we sang #473 "O How I Love Jesus" (which marks his first time leading this hymn for us).  For our invitation hymn, we sang #454 "Nothing But the Blood," followed by #444 "Nailed to the Cross" which we sang to observe the Lord's Supper, particularly for those who couldn't take it with us that morning).  In closing we sang #847 "Bind Us Together" (which marks his first time leading this hymn for us as well; bear in mind, he may have led this at some previous meeting, such as a youth gathering, at an earlier time; this simply marks the first time he has led it with us).

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From Sunday, 4-August, 2024:

Brother Brandon Pool led our songs this Sunday morning.  We began with #501 "O Worship the King"  and then sang #511 "Oft We Come Together" to prepare our hearts for the Lord's Supper.  Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #438 "My Hope is Built on Nothing Less" (which marks the first time we have recorded him leading this), followed by our invitation song #655 "There's a Fountain Free."  In closing we sang #76 "Blest Be the Tie."

Brother Andy Basford led our hymns for this Sunday afternoon.  Our first song was #822 "Heaven Came Down," followed by #85 A New Creature" before the lesson of the hour.  For our invitation song, we sang #766 "Whiter Than Snow," followed by #559 "Safe in the Arms of Jesus" for our observing of the Lord's Supper (for those who couldn't partake with us that morning).  In closing, we sang # 676 "He Keeps Me Singing."

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From Sunday, 28-July, 2024:

Brother Andy Basford led our songs this Sunday morning.  We began with #283 "I Know That My Redeemer Lives ('Twas Wonderful Love)"  and then sang #68 "Because He Lives" to prepare our hearts for the Lord's Supper.  Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #97 "Christ the Lord is Risen Today" followed by our invitation song #701 "Tomorrow May Be Too Late."  In closing we sang #386 "Lead On, O King Eternal."

Brother Brandon Pool led our hymns for this Sunday afternoon.  Our first song was #951 "Majesty" [which is our first record of him leading that for us], followed by #138 "Farther Along" before the lesson of the hour. For the invitation song, we sang #31 "Almost Persuaded," after which we sang #644 "'Tis Set, the Feast Divine" to observe our afternoon communion.  Our final song was #561 "Savior Grant Me Rest and Peace."

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From Sunday, 21-July, 2024:

Brother Ethan Landrum led our songs this Sunday morning.  We started with #501 "O Worship the King."  Then, to prepare our hearts for the Lord's Supper, we sang #621 "Ten Thousand Angels."  Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #585 "Soldiers of Christ Arise" (which is the first time we have recorded of him leading it for us).  For the invitation song, we sang #667 "There is Power in the Blood," and we closed with #231 "Hilltops of Glory."

Brother Andy Basford led our hymns for this Sunday afternoon.  After mentioning that he looked for the songs he chose under 1 Corinthians 12 in his indices, he mentioned that 1Co 12:3 listed what our first song was which we sang, #861 "His Name is Wonderful.'  Afterwards, for our lesson of the hour, we sang #847 "Bind Us Together Lord."  For the invitation song, we sang #250 "How Sweet, How Heavenly," followed by #916 "Come Share the Lord" to observe the Lord's Supper.  In closing we sang #855 "God's Family.

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From Friday, 19-July, 2024:

This date was our turn to host the St Louis Area Wide Singing.  We had 66 people from various congregations around the area, including the fourteen men who led our songs which were:

• Jeff Greene (Lemay)
• #543- "Redeened"
• #571- "Seeking the Lost"
• Andy Basford (West End)
• #1016- "When I Go Home"
• #1277-"Never Grow Old, Never Shall Die"
• CM*
• #312- "I'll Be a Friend to Jesus"
• #237- "His Grace Reaches Me"
• JstM*
• #776- "Will Your Anchor Hold?"
• Pat Jeffries (Arnold)
• #26- "An Empty Mansion
• #660- "There Is a Habitation"
• Eli Readnour (Arnold)
• #1007- "A Shield About Me
• #1006- "How Deep the Father's Love
• Jordan Pugh (West End)
• #200- "Hallelujah! Praise Jehovah"
• #866- "I Will Call Upon the Lord"
• Ethan Landrum (West End)
• #1004- "Ancient Words"
• #438- "My Hope is Built on Nothing Less"
• Paul Meacham (Arnold)
• #1018- "I Walk with the King"
• #785- "Wonderful City of God"
• PWvr*
• #820- "He Bore it All"
• #836- "The Great Redeemer"
• Ryan Weaver (Collinsville)
• #716- "Walking Alone at Eve"
• #602- "Sweet By and By"
• Brent Schafer (Arnold)
• #515- "On Zion's Glorious Summit"
• #523- "Our God, He is Alive"
• JthM*
• #708- "Heavenly Sunlight"
• #839- "When All of God's Singers Get Home"
• Dennis Dodd (Pacific)
• #756- "When We All Get to Heaven"
• Andy Basford (West End)
• Invitation Song: #998- "May I Run the Race"

As you can see, there were quite a few selections from our self-published Bridges to Praise hymnal (better than last year when only ONE song leader led songs from it).  This is reason enough for us to consider what other selections we should consider for an expansion of this work.

The singing almost took us to 8:30 before we could break for refreshments.  For this reason, for future gatherings, it may be good to assess at the beginning of the event whether or not we should limit each leader to one song before rotating through for second songs, limit them to two verses each, etc.  Also, it would be good for whoever is hosting to have several things printed out beforehand to be announced at the beginning and perhaps reminders at the end.

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From Sunday, 14-July, 2024:

Brother Brandon Pool led our songs this Sunday morning.  We began with #542 "Purer In Heart O God," followed by #12 "Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed?" to observe communion.  Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #246 "I Am So Glad" (which was his first time leading it for us).  For the invitation song, we sang #538 "Prepare to Meet Thy God," and we closed with #436 "Nearer, Still Nearer."

Brother Joe Roznos led our hymns for Sunday afternoon.  #870 "I'm Happy Today was our opening hymn, followed by #595 "Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus" before the lesson of the hour.  For the invitation, we sang #337 "Is Thy Heart Right with God," followed by #738 "We Will Glorify" for our afternoon observance of the Lord's Supper (if anyone needed/desired to partake).  In closing, we sang #891 "This is the Day."

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From Sunday, 7-July, 2024:

Brother Andy Basford led our songs this Sunday morning.  As he learned that the morning topic was about unity in the church, it seemed appropriate to begin with #180 "Come Let Us All Unite to Sing [God is Love]."  Also, to prepare our hearts for communion, we sang #482 "O Listen to Our Wondrous Story."  Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #624 "The Church's One Foundation."  For the invitation song, we sang #760 "Who Will Follow Jesus?"  In closing, we sang #890 "The Family of God" [He had originally intended to sing a medley of this song with #855 "God's Family," but we had already run pretty far past our usual dismissal time of 11am, so he left it at singing #890, with the single chorus we have in our hymnal, twice].

He also led our afternoon hymns.  Having learned the topic was "built around Noah and the Ark," he considered leading #400 "Living by Faith;" however, we had already sung that two weeks prior (and if there's anyone who's picky about giving each song a rest for one to three months, it's Andy!), so he did a reverse look-up for that song and came up with other hymns related to "Living By Faith."  As such, we began with #442 "My Faith Looks Up to Thee," followed by #129 "Each Step I Take" before the lesson of the hour.  As an invitation song, we sang #613 "One Step at a Time," followed by #237 "His Grace Reaches Me" before we observed the Lord's Supper.  In closing, we sang #462 "O For a Faith that Will Not Shrink."

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From Sunday, 30-June, 2024:

Brother Brandon Pool led our songs this Sunday morning starting with #70 "Be Thou My Vision."  To prepare our hearts for communion, we sang  #688 "Thus Remember Me."  Before the lesson, we sang #937 "I Stand in Awe," followed by our sermon and the invitation song #772 "Why Do You Wait?"  Our closing song was #665 "Till the Storm Passes By."

Brother Ethan Landrum led our afternoon hymn, beginning with #234 "Higher Ground," followed by #220 "He Lives" to prelude our sermon.  For the invitation, we sang #236 "His Yoke Is Easy," and then #310 "In Gethsemane Alone" before we observed the Lord's Supper.  In closing we sang #231 "Hilltops of Glory."

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From Sunday, 23-June, 2024:

Brother Ethan Landrum led our songs this Sunday morning beginning with #9 "A Wonderful Savior," followed by #752 "When My Love to Christ Grows Weak" to prepare for communion.  Before the lesson, we sang #400 "Living by Faith."  As an invitation song, we sang #40 "Be With Me, Lord," and we concluded with #708 "Walking in Sunlight."

Brother Owen Landrum led our songs for Sunday afternoon.  We opened with #943 "I :Love You Lord," followed by #842 "A Common Love" to prelude our lesson of the hour.  For the invitation song we sang #714 "Trust and Obey," followed by #742 "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" which we sang before observing communion for those who couldn't partake with us earlier in the day.  In closing, we sang #977 "The Battle Belongs to the Lord."

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From Sunday, 16-June, 2024:

Brandon Pool led our songs this Sunday, both morning and afternoon.  We began with #618 "Sweet Hour of Prayer, followed by #752 "When My Love to Christ Grows Weak" to prelude our partaking of the Lord's Supper (and very efficiently sung with only the 1st, 4th, and 5th verses).  Before the lesson of the hour we sang #632 "The Gospel is For All," with #529 as our invitation hymn.  In closing, we sang #798 "Yield Not to Temptation."

For our afternoon services we began with #19 "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name."  Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #48 "Anywhere with Jesus," after which we sang #337 "Is Thy Heart Right with God?" for the invitation.  We sang #310 "In Gethsemane Alone" to observe Communion, and dismissed with #134 "Faith is the Victory."

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From Sunday, 9-June, 2024:

Due to a late, almost last-minute cancellation, Andy Basford led our song service this morning.  Not certain how to contact the visiting speaker of the hour, Andy opted to redo a song list he had led about three years ago about this time: #362 "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee" for opening, #495 "O The Depth and the Riches" for the Lord's Supper, #127 "Down in the Valley" before the lesson, #449 "None of Self and All of Thee" for the Invitation hymn, and #924 "I Am Mine No More" to close us out.  For future reference, it may be good for us to require that, if you are slated to lead singing but cannot make it, you would do well to produce a list of songs anyway (and whoever uses that list may revise it if he so desires).  For that matter, the importance of having at least one emergency song list should be reiterated.

Our evening service was a shared bilingual service with our Spanish speaking brethren.  Eli Roque and Andy Basford rotated in leading #166 "ESTE ES EL DÍA"*/#891 "This is the Day" and #237 "ESTAD POR CRISTO FIRMES"/595 "Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus" as opening hymns.  We sang #164 "SUBLIME GRACIA"/#36 "Amazing Grace" before the Lord's Supper and #149 "EN PECADOS Y TEMOR"/#421 "Love Lifted Me" before the lesson of the hour.  Our invitation songs were #220 "CUANDO ANDAMOS CON DIOS"/#714 "Trust and Obey," and as we typically do, we dismissed with #87 "ALABARÉ."

*Hymns in Spanish come from our Spanish hymnal, Cantos del Camino; hymns in English come from Praise for the Lord.

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From Sunday, 2-June, 2024:

Our service this Sunday morning was led by some of our brethren from Creve Hall (after leading our VBS services the previous three days).  Phil Waggoner began with #585 "Soldier of Christ Arise" and #297 "I Want to Be a Worker."  After our first prayer and our scripture reading, he led us in #995 "A Mansion, Rob, and Crown,"* and before we took the Lord's Supper we sang #1014 "In Christ Alone."  After communion, Conner Glasscock took the reins leading us in #111 "We're Marching to Zion" and #430 "My Name is In the Book of Life."  For the invitation song, we sang #207 "Hark! The Gentle Voice," and we closed with #350 "Jesus Hold My Hand."

*This is an unusual way that we have ordered our service, but I find no problems with it.  However, because of this, a couple of other services that were differently ordered, and to offer more leeway in setting a service in order, I want to make some revisions to our Sunday Song List eForm.  If you have any suggestions, please let me know so I can consider them and attempt to incorporate them into the new document.

Our afternoon services were led by Andy Basford, beginning with #55 "Beyond This Land of Parting," followed by #275 "I Love to Tell the Story" which preceded our lesson.  Our invitation song was #613 "Take My Life and Let it Be" followed by #52 "Blessed Be the Name" which we sang to help us observe the Lord's Supper.  In closing, we sang #191 "God Will Take Care of You."

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From Sunday, 26-May, 2024:

This Sunday was the beginning of the Memorial Day weekend, and of course with an event such as that, there's going to be a lot of people travelling.  As such, I highly recommend having a couple of emergency song lists in case you are chosen at 9:57am some Sunday morning because the one who was originally selected could not make it, nor did they enter a song list ahead of time  (that may be something else to take into consideration: if YOU know you're not going to be there, you might be able to help out by leaving some songs behind).  Thus, I recount our songs for this past Sunday:

Brandon Pool led our songs this Sunday morning and afternoon (given notice the evening before).  Our morning service began with #124 "Did You Thing to Pray?" followed by #784 "Why Did My Savior Come to Earth?" to prepare our hearts and minds to partake of the Lord's Supper.  Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #801 "America, The Beautiful" (which, incidentally, was found in the scriptural index of our songbook Praise for the Lord under Acts 14:17; although Brandon didn't know that Jordan was going to focus on Acts 12, he did well looking through Acts 12 through 16 since that is what we were all studying in our A Chapter Per Day studies this last week!).  For the invitation song, we sang #50 "Are You Washed in the Blood?" and we closedd woth #7 "Abide with Me."

For the afternoon service, we began with #982 "We Shall Assemble" [Brandon wanted to lead the one verse two times, but that did not come through clearly on the Sunday Song List eForm; I will attempt to make the readout and other related features of it a little more user friendly to prevent something like that happen again].  Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #236 "His Yoke is Easy."  For the invitation song, we sang #337 "Is Thy Heart Right with God?" followed by #742 "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross."  In closing, we sang #44 "Anywhere is Home."

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From Sunday, 19-May, 2024:

Jordan Pugh led our songs this Sunday morning.  We began by singing #975 "The Battle Belongs to the Lord."  Prior to us partaking of the Lord's Supper, we sang #764 "When We Meet in Sweet Communion" (also appropriately entitled "The Lord's Supper").  Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #595 "Stand Up, Stand Up For Jesus," followed by #598 "Standing on the Promises" for our invitation song after the lesson.  We closed with #949 "He Has Made Me Glad."

Our afternoon service was led by some of our younger men (Christians from preteen to teenage years) with NR* leading the first three songs prior to our observance of the Lord's Supper: these songs were #627 "The Glory-Land Way," #829 "Mansion Over the Hilltop," and #684 "This World Is Not My Home."  After observing the Lord's Supper (for those who couldn't partake of it this morning with us), SMa* led us in #824 "I'll Fly Away."  After the lesson of the hour, we sang #995 "A Mansion, Robe, and Crown" for the invitation song.  In closing, we sang #975 "Thank You, Lord."

*Due to these people being of a young age, I am withholding their names to offer some protection to their identities.

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From Sunday, 12-May, 2024:

Brandon Pool led our songs this Sunday morning and afternoon.  We began with #501 "O Worship the King," followed by #268 "I Gave My Life for Thee" as prelude to our Communion.  Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #989 "You Are My All In All" (this is a tough song to lead as it is written with the sopranos and altos singing one part and the tenors and basses singing a separate part in the second and third verses, as much a challenge as #999 "The Greatest Commands").  For the invitation, we sang #683 "Though Your Sins Be As Scarlet."  To conclude our worship in song, we sang #595 "Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus" (keeping very well with the thought of our message that morning).

For our afternoon service, we began with #732 "We Praise Thee O God" (which is the first time Brandon is recorded to have led it for us).  Before the lesson of the hour, we sang #642 "The Lord's My Sherpherd."  For the invitation, we sang #382 "Kneel At the Cross," followed by #709 "'Tis Midnight, And On Olive's Brow" to help us observe the Lord's Supper.  In closing, we sang #345 "It Is Well with My Soul."

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From Sunday, 5-May, 2024:

Joe Roznos led our songs this Sunday morning and afternoon.  He started us off with what is now #1021 "Create in Me" (this is #17 in the GABC songbook, and this is the first time we have sung it since that songbook was first introduced to us [outside of some youth rallies we've had over the years]).  To prepare us to partake of the Lord's Supper we sang #866 "I Will Call Upon the Lord."  Before the lesson we sang #970 "Step by Step."  For the invitation we sang #717 "Victory in Jesus."  In closing we sang #891 "This is the Day."

For the afternoon service, we began with #937 "I Stand in Awe," followed by #419 "Lord We Come Before Thee Now" to preempt the lesson of the hour.  For the invitation we sang #744 "What Will Your Answer Be" (interestingly enough, for both invitation songs, Joe led us in all the verses followed by each chorus [!!]).  To observe the Lord's Supper we sang #934 "Hosanna."  In closing we sang #841 "Sing and Be Happy."

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From Sunday, 28-April, 2024:

Andy Basford led our songs this Sunday morning.  We started by singing a medley of #940 "I Sing Praises to Your Name" and #160 "Glory to His Name."  Prior to communion we sang #682 "To God Be the Glory," and before the lesson of the hour we sang #531 "Praise the Lord" (verse three reads "Praise the Lord for He is glorious..."!).  For the invitation song we sang #131 "Face to Face" (besides being aligned with John 17:24, it also talks about how "a blessed day is coming, When His glory shall be seen").  All of these songs mentioned glory in some way or another (as we see Jesus speaking about Him glorifying the Father and the Father glorifying Him throughout our study this week in John chapters 12 through 17).  Our lesson's focus was on John 17, and thus we closed with a medley of #679 "They'll Know We Are Christians By Our Love" and #873 "Love, Love," all coinciding with the conclusion to Jesus' prayer in that chapter when He prayed that we may be one just as He and the Father are one.

Owen Landrum led our songs for Sunday afternoon.  We began with #288 "I Need Thee Every Hour" and sang #833 "Ring Out the Message" before the lesson of the hour.  For the invitation, we sang #870 "I'm Happt Today" and sang #622 "Tell Me the Story of Jesus" to help us observe the Lord's Supper.  In closing we sang #495 "O the Depth and the Riches."

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From Sunday, 21-April, 2024:

Brandon Pool led our songs this Sunday morning and afternoon.  We began singing #756 "When We All Get to Heaven," followed by #217 "He Loves Me (Sanderson)" (which was his first recorded time leading that hymn) to preempt our observance of the Lord's Supper, and #434 "More Holiness Give Me."  In keeping with our lesson covering John 12:28-29 (and likely by request of our speaker), we sang #929 "Glorify Thy Name" for our invitation song, and concluded with #450 "Nearer, My God to Thee."

For our afternoon service, we started with #874 "Jesus is Lord," followed by #622 "Tell Me the Story of Jesus."  For the invitation, we sang #800 "Zion's Call," followed by #452 "Night with Ebon Pinion" to prepare us to observe Communion.  In closing, we sang #743 "We'll Work Till Jesus Comes."

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From Sunday, 14-April, 2024:

Andy Basford led our songs this Sunday morning.  His opening songs were a medley of #774 "While on the Sea" and #128 "Eternal Father, Strong to Save;" for the Lord's Supper, we sang #484 "O Sacred Head;" before the lesson of the hour we sang #118 "Count Your Blessings," followed by a reading of Psalm 44:24-26 to precede #757 "Where No One Stands Alone;" after the lesson, as an invitation song we sang #40 "Be With Me, Lord;" in closing we sang #321 "If Jesus Goes With Me."

Brandon Pool led our songs for this Sunday afternoon.  We began with #782 "Worthy Art Thou;" before the lesson of the hour we sang #511 "Oft We Come Together;" for the invitation we sang #655 "There's a Fountain Free;" before the Lord's Supper, we sang #644 "'Tis Set the Feast Divine;" and we closed with #561 "Savior Grant Me Rest and Peace."

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From Sunday, 07-April, 2024:

Andy Basford led our songs this Sunday morning and afternoon.  He will be the first to tell people that all of the songs that were chosen came about by having a discussion with brothers Matt and Jordan about what they were planning to preach about that day.  Most of them were songs that they suggested, but some came from ideas they tried to convey and another song came to mind (#702 "Trials Dark on Every Hand" was a perfect example; they had never heard the song, by the idea of "we will understand it better by and by" kept coming up, even when they meant #138 "Farther Along").

For the morning, we sang #298 "I'm Not Ashamed to Own My Lord" (which was Matt's main theme then), for the Lord's Supper we sang #621 "Ten Thousand Angels," before the lesson we sang "Where He Leads, I'll Follow," for the invitation song we sang #762 "Where He Leads Me I Will Follow" (both songs came up during the brainstorm, and Andy decided to use them together [he had done this one other time in September of 2018{!!}]), and we closed with the first three verses of #726 "We Saw Thee Not."

For several of these songs (as well as some that were sung that afternoon), we sang all verses but only sang the chorus or refrain after certain verses.  Andy has had issues with this in times past when his memory kicked in, ignoring instructions he gave to sing the chorus only after the first and last verse, and started singing a chorus when we were supposed to be singing the next verse; so he incorporated some stuff he had seen at Polishing the Pulpit 2023 where some song leaders actually had symbols (e.g.-- stop signs, yield signs, etc.) and memos at the end of various verses to remind people (and likely the song leader) what was supposed to be sung next.  He wanted to use these during the morning service, but they weren't incorporated until the afternoon service.

For the afternoon service, we sang #138 "Farther Along" (the first time Andy has led that song since we began worshipping at our present location), #702 "Trials Dark on Every Hand before the lesson of the hour, #645 "The Old Rugged Cross" for the invitation song, #384 "Lead Me to Calvary" for our observance of the Lord's Supper, and we closed with #875 "Rejoice in the Lord Always."

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From Sunday, 31-March, 2024:

Brandon Pool led our songs this Sunday morning.  He led us in #238 "Holy, Holy, Holy," #310 "In Gethsemane Alone," #297 "I Want to Be a Worker for the Lord" (a first time  leading that for us, #179 "God is Calling the Prodigal" and closed out with #783 "Will You Not Tell It Today?"

Owen Landrum led them this Sunday afternoon.  The songs he led us in were #572 "Send the Light," #200 "Hallelujah! Praise Jehovah," #273 "I Know the Lord Will Find the Way for Me," #359 "Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross," and #436 "Nearer, Still Nearer."  All of these were first time songs recorded for brother Owen although they're likely ones he has sung with the rest of the congregation for years, he just finally got to lead them!).

The only possibly negative thing that might be brought up is about using the microphone at the pulpit.  When our preachers and guest speakers are delivering the Word, they are typically wearing a wireless microphone and may move the microphone that is mounted to the podium away.  When we get up there to lead the invitation song, it behooves us to move that microphone back to where we can sing and speak into it and be heard by the folks in the auditorium and those who are listening via the live stream on YouTube. 

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From Sunday, 24-March, 2024:

Joe Roznos led our songs this Sunday morning.  We started off singing #685 "The Lord Is In His Holy Temple" then, following our first prayer and scripture reading, sang #934 "Hosanna" (a first for him[!!]) to prepare for the Lord's Supper.  We also sang #873 "Love, Love, Love, Love" and #674 "There's a Great Day Coming" before the lesson and as invitation respectively.  We then closed with #234 "Higher Ground," another first for Joe (granted, he's likely sung these new songs several times before with the rest of us, this was simply his first time leading them).

We also had our Quarterly Fourth Sunday song service for March, the theme being "Think on These Things," taken from Philippians 4:8, Philippians 2:5-7, and Colossians 3:1-4.

Our first challenge was finding songs dealing with all of the good qualities Paul lists for us to think of in Philippians 4:8.  Ron Morrow led us in #59 "Break Thou the Bread of Life" for "whatever is true" (verse 2: "Bless Thou the truth, dear Lord...").  Ethan Landrum then led us is #253 "How Shall the Young Secure Their Hearts?" for "whatever is honest [noble] (verse 2: "Thy Word is everlasting truth...," equating "honesty" with "truth").  Owen Landrum then led us in #687 "'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" for "whatever is just" (this was likely closer to a joke since the word "just" appears frequently in the first two verses).  He then led us in #542 "Purer in Heart, O God" for "whatever is pure" (both of these songs were firsts for Owen).  Joe Roznos then led us in #137 "Fairest Lord Jesus" for "whatever is lovely."  Ethan Landrum then led us in #722 "We Have Heard the Joyful Sound" for "whatever is of good report (and how can you have a better report than "Jesus Saves!!"?).  Andy Basford then concluded out thoughts from Philippians 4:8 by leading us in #1002 "Finally, Brethren," a hymn reciting that verse.

Our next topic was to "Let This Mind Be in You" (Phlp 2:5-7) specifically the mind of Christ.  Andy then led us in the second and third verses of #998 "May I Run the Race" (a hymn which, he described, was adapted from the original hymn "May the Mind of Christ My Savior" by Kate Wilkinson).  Ron Morrow then led us in #76 "Blest Be the Tie that Binds," continuing with thoughts of the unity that Christ has with the Father.

We then had our invitation along with our invitation song of #538 "Prepare to Meet Thy God" led by Brandon Pool.  He also led our pre-communion song of #12 "Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed."

After we observed the Lord's Supper, Brandon Pool closed us out with a medley on heaven (this is the first record I have of him leading a medley, by the way!) as our thoughts concluded with the topic of "Set Your Mind on Things Above" from Col. 3:1-4.  He led us in #502 "O, They Tell Me of a Home" (a first for Brandon!) and #450 "Nearer My God to Thee" (after all, you can't get closer to God than in heaven, correct?).

All in all, we handled this service quite well (and hopefully everyone was encouraged and still taught one another [Eph 5:19 and Col 3:16]).  Several people had songs they led for the first time, and we even had someone attempt a medley.  Bear in mind, or course, it is not always necessary to lead new songs; it is good to lead "from your wheel house" with songs with which you are more familiar.  Although it can be good to expand your wheel house, don't do so at the expense of leading the best way that you can.  At the same time, medleys can be a good thing to incorporate in the times you have to lead songs (although he wasn't singing when he wrote his letters, there are several instances where Paul wove some of the Psalms together into complete thoughts, especially in Romans 3:10-18 where he quotes from six different Psalms as well as a refence to the prophet Isaiah!!).  We have precedent, but it is not a requirement.  So be careful when you do lead a medley.  Make certain that whatever hymns you combine really do go together in as many ways as possible (they're in the same key [or flow well going from the key of one song to the key of another], they have similar thoughts, etc.; leading #841 "Sing and Be Happy" along with #774 "While on the Sea" would pose many challenges that may be better left alone in order to lead other more appropriate songs with separation).

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From Sunday, 17-March, 2024:

Brandon Pool led our songs this Sunday morning and afternoon.  For the morning he led #70 "Be Thoui My Vision," #688 "Thus Remember Me" (for the Lord's Supper), and #207 "Hark! The Gentle Voice."  For our invitation song, he led #272 "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus" for the first time, and closed with #76 "Blest Be the Tie that Binds." For the evening, we opened with #588 "Sinners Jesus will Receive" which Brandon led for the first time.  Before the lesson, he led us in #781 "Wonderful Story of Love."  The final songs were #95 "Burdens Are Lifted at Calvary" (for the invitation), #299 "I Stand Amazed" (for the Lord's Supper), and #191 "Be Not Dismayed Whate'er Betide" (to close us out).

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From Sunday, 10-March, 2024:

Andy Basford led our songs this Sunday morning and afternoon.  His first song was #122 "Dear Lord and Father of Mankind" and was introduced by mentioning how Jesus prayed OFTEN during His walk on this planet (found in a reference to Lk 6:12).  #90 "Christ, We Do All Adore Thee" was sung before the Lord's Supper (a brief song, appropriate to praise our King while acknowledging what He did on the cross).  Although #833 "Ring Out the Message" immediately seems appropriate to sing before a lesson starts, it was also found in a reference to Lk 2:10-11 [although we did not look at the birth of Christ during the lesson, it was part of what we had read that week from Luke chapters 2 through 6].  #23 "All Things Are Ready (Come to the Feast)" was actually requested by our speaker Jordan Pugh for that morning and, since he dealt with how Jesus was tempted during His time in the wilderness, it seemed quite appropriate.  Originally, Andy was going to lead #532 "Praise Him! Praise Him!" as a closing song (especially since our reading in A Chapter a Day and the third verse of that song make reference to Jesus fulfilling His role as Christ being "Prophet and Priest and King").  But Jordan brought up that one of the problems the people of Israel had during the Old Testament period was that they wanted the promises of God, but not His presence.  And we often find ourselves in times like that ourselves.  As such, in an almost last minute decision, Andy switched the closing song to be #321 "If Jesus Goes With Me".

It is interesting to note that Andy's songs for the Afternoon service were also found in reference to various passages from Luke chapters 2 through 6.  His opening song, #376 "Joy to the World" was referenced to Luke 2:11,15-18; although this is often sung during the Christmas season celebrating His birth, it seems more appropriately written as a song of praise to a King Who is already present.  #634 "The Great Physician" was sung before the lesson and after a scripture reading of Luke 5:31-32 (and was referenced from Luke 4:18).  The invitations song, #584 "Softly and Tenderly" was referenced from Luke 5:32.  For our afternoon observation of the Lord's Supper, we sang #203 "Hallelujah! What a Savior" (no major references to Luke, just a good song to sing to help prepare our hearts).  And to close out our service, we sang #386 "Lead On, O King Eternal" which was referenced from Luke 5:11; it had also only been sung ONCE BEFORE (in June of 2007[!!]), but the tune is simple enough and we seemed to pick it up fairly well (so hopefully we can begin to make it more a part of our repertoire).

While we do have a fairly good index in the back of our hymnal Praise for the Lord, there is a more extensive one that has been released by James Tackett who publishes The Paperless Hymnal (and its other derivative works).  It is an MS Excel spreadsheet that is linked on the Paperless Hymnal home page under the heading Song, Scripture & Topical Index and can be downloaded from there as well as the link that was just provided here (Andy's experience has also allowed him to download it onto his Google Drive where it is saved as a Google Sheet and can be manipulated in various ways to find certain topics or scripture references for various songs).  Hopefully you can find this useful as well in selecting your songs in the future.  

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From Sunday, 3-March, 2024:

Joe Roznos led our songs this Sunday morning.  In the morning he led us in #531 "Praise the Lord," #875 "Rejoice in the Lord Always" (to precede our Communion), #622 "Tell Me the Story of Jesus" before the lesson, #242 "How Beautiful Heaven Must Be" for invitation, and closed with #891 "This is the Day.  For our afternoon service he led #125 "Do You Know My Jesus" for invitation, #872 "I Am Crucified with Christ" for Communion, and closed with #888 "Thank You, Lord."  It is noteworthy that his first two songs were #298 "I'm Not Ashamed to Own My Lord" and #870 "I'm Happy Today," both of which he led for the first time.  As has been mentioned before, it is good to draw from one's wheelhouse, but, if you can expand upon it, do so when possible! 

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From Sunday, 25-February, 2024:

Andy Basford had the duty this Sunday morning.  He began by mentioning that all of the hymns we would be singing were centered around what we had been reading over the past week (with the help of our book A Chapter a Day: Keeps me on the Lord's Way by David Sproule, II) from the book of Mark, chapters 8 through 12.  

His first two songs were #344 "Jesus Calls Us" and #505 "Open My Eyes That I May See" to coincide with Mark 10:49-51 when Jesus called blind Bartimaeus to Him to see what he wanted (Andy typically leads two songs at a time in a medley format with no break between them; although he announced both numbers before starting, there was a pregnant pause between the two; he mentions that normally he brings songs together into a medley if they are either written in the same musical key OR if there is a smooth segue between them somehow; there was no such commonality between these two songs, so he stopped to give us the key of the second song).

Our next song, preceding our time of Communion, was #150 "Follow Me," singing the first two verses and reminding us that in Mark 10:21, in several places throughout Mark 8 through 12, and in fact throughout the Gospels are many instances where Jesus told someone, and still tells us today to follow Him.  After Communion, however, Andy reminded us that in Mark 10:39, Jesus talked to James and John about the cup of suffering from which He would soon drink and that they (and all of His disciples) would also soon be drinking.  We then went back and sang the 3rd verse of #150 with the realization that this is not "just a cup of water" that we are called to drink!  He then followed with #934 "Hosanna" so that we could sing along with the crowds in Mark 11:9,10 on the road to Jerusalem.

For an invitation song after the lesson, we sang #449 "None of Self and All of Thee" (although he did not mention this, it does tie in with Mark 8:34).  We then closed with #653 "The Way of the Cross," remembering how Jesus invited the rich young ruler in Mark 10:21 (and others in various passages) to take up their crosses and follow Him.

In the evening, we held our twelfth bilingual service with our Spanish brethren [hermanos].  Although the songs were chosen by brother Elías Roque, our song leaders Eli Roque (leading the hymns in Spanish) and Andy Basford (leading the hymns in English) did an adequate job (remember Luke 17:10!).

Here are the hymns we sang:

• "Grande Gozo Hay En Mi Alma"/"There is Sunshine in My Soul Today" (#241 in Cantos del Camino, #663 in Praise for the Lord)
• Lectura/Scripture: Juan/John 17:20-21
• "A Jehováh Invocaré"/"I Will Call Upon the Lord" (#37 CdC, #866 PftL)
• "Cordero de Dios"/"Lamb of God" (#137 CdC, #950 PftL)
• Cena del Señor/Lord's Supper
• Ofrenda/Offering
• Como El Ciervo"/"As the Deer" (#86 CdC, #843 PftL)
• Lección/Lesson
• "Cuando Andemos Con Dios"/"Trust and Obey" (#220 CdC, #714 PftL)
• "Alabaré (#87 CdC)
• Oración de Despedida/Last Prayer

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From Sunday, 18-February, 2024:

Brandon Pool led our songs for this Sunday morning and afternoon.  Our morning songs, #618 "Sweet Hour of Prayer," #764 "The Lord's Supper/When We Meet in Sweet Communion," #425 "Master the Tempest is Raging," #529 "Prepare to Meet Thy God," and #436 "Nearer, Still Nearer," were definitely in his "wheel house" and, considering our topic of Mark chapters 3-7 (which included a new look at Jesus' stroll on the tempest), were appropriately chosen.  Our afternoon topic (or more appropriately the presentation on a prospective future trip for the congregation) was likely a little more challenging for which to choose songs, but Brandon did well.  Although most of the songs were again from his "wheel house," including #226 "How Great Thou Art," #495 "O the Depth and the Riches," and #523 "Our God, He is Alive," he did lead two songs for the first time ever (at least according to my records): #501 "O Worship the King" and #125 "Do You Know My Jesus?"

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From Sunday, 11-February, 2024:

Brandon Pool filled in for an ailing Andy Basford this Sunday morning.  He  started us off  with #124, "Did You Think to  Pray," to precede our first prayer.  The rest of his selections dealt for the most part with Christ on the cross: #752 "When My Love to Christ Grows Weak," #300 "I Will Sing of My Redeemer," #380 "Just As I Am," and #7 "Abide with Me."

Owen Landrum took the reins Sunday afternoon with the following songs: #394 "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms," #237 "His Grace Reaches Me," #312 "I'll Be a Friend to Jesus," #408 "Low in the Grave He Lay," and #337 "Is Thy Heart Right with God."

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From Sunday, 4-February, 2024:

Matt Haynes led our singing Sunday morning.  He  opened with #886, "Sing Hallelujah to the  Lord," and preceded  our  observance of  the Lord's Supper with #53, "At Calvary."  Before the lesson he led #937, "I Stand in Awe."  Considering all we have been reading so far this year in our A Chapter a Day series, #886 & #937 are great ways to list the Lord up in praise for all He has done for us[!!].  Our invitation song was #950, "Lamb of God" (although it is typically led for communion, this was requested by the speaker for our invitation) and our closing song was #977, "The Battle Belongs to the Lord.

Andy Basford led our afternoon hymns, beginning with #553, "Rise Up, O Men of God," a song which we had never sung prior to this day but, fortunately, one with which we seemed very familiar (much like the time one song leader led #649, "The Rock That Is Higher;" we'd never sung it before, but we sang it like we were all familiar with it after all[!!]).  This was followed by #613, "Take My Life and Let it Be."  Our invitation song was #50, "Are You Washed in the Blood of the Lamb," with instructions given prior to the afternoon's lesson that we would sing all four verses with the chorus following the first and last verses.  Unfortunately, his mind obviously wandered as he led the song as we sang the chorus after the second verse as well; apparently he picked up on his mistake and made certain we sang the chorus only after we sang both the third and fourth verses [note 1*].  To prepare us for the Lord's Supper, we sang #115, "Crown Him with Many Crowns."  Besides the fact that we do not sing this song very often at all (only six times since May of 2019), Andy began it in a rather uncomfortable pitch.  He did his best after the first verse to correct it [note 2**] and we proceeded better for the rest of the hymn.  We then closed with #824, "I'll Fly Away," (a song I understand he received by request).

*Note 1: Some congregations put small "sign posts"  on their PowerPoint hymn slides, sometimes including notes to go to the next verse, go to a different hymn, or even simply "Stop here" (I witnessed this at Polishing the Pulpit 2023 as well).  If you are going to go different ways than we typically do for certain songs, it may be wise to incorporate the use of such warnings, not only to alert everybody singing in the auditorium but to remind you as well.

**Note 2: It has been mentioned in several articles throughout the brotherhood that many times, if a song is begun in the wrong key/pitch, you should simply "roll with it" and sing the rest of the hymn in that wrong key (especially sing many times when people stop and say "We need to change the pitch," they wind up leading it in the same key as before anyway).  If it is a bad enough start (as Andy mentions, the hymn is written in the key of E; he had a "senior moment" and began to lead it in A-flat[!!]), be as professional as you can a try to achieve the correct pitch ex post facto (after the fact).  More importantly, it may be wise to copy down what keys your hymns should be led in on whatever notes or song lists you take with you to lead your songs.

For better or worse, let us always learn from how we lead the congregation in whatever songs we sing.

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From Sunday, 28-January, 2024:

Jordan Pugh got to lead our singing Sunday morning.  He   led  us in #867, "Humble Yourselves in the Sight of the Lord," #975, "Thank You, Lord [Jernigan]," #866, "I Will Call Upon the Lord," #255, "I Am Resolved" (we're a full month into the new year and somebody finally leads it!!), and #660, "There is a Habitation."

Brandon Pool led our songs in the afternoon including #542, "Purer in Heart, O God," #9, "A Wonderful Savior," #179, "God is Calling the Prodigal," #384, "Lead Me to Calvary," and #999, "The Greatest Commands."

It is always good to lead from one's wheelhouse, as these brothers did.  And if you can work to expand your wheelhouse, as brother Pool has been doing with #999, do so with the best of your ability!

v

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From Sunday, 21-January, 2024:

Joe Roznos got to lead our singing this past Sunday morning and afternoon.  Among the songs he chose was #982, "We Shall Assemble." which he led for us for the first time ever; everything else was in his wheelhouse, but I wouldn't expect anyone to always try to lead songs out of their wheelhouse or ability.

That being said, I musty also note that, among the songs he has led in the past are 42 other songs that he has only led once over the course of just over six years.  In fact, all of us are have a group of songs we have all led only once, and I would encourage any of you to seek out that list (I can print thar out for you whenever you request) and see if you can try to lead them again some time (with the exceptions of either ones that you KNOW did not go so well, and also any that you have discovered may be weak, in error, or in some other way lacking in scriptural integrity). 

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From Sunday, 14-January, 2024:

Brandon Pool took the helm this past Sunday morning and afternoon.  As always, he did a fine job selecting hymns, whether they fit with the topic that Jordan preached for us or were simply good for us to praise God with and to teach & exhort one another.

I will bring out two major points of interest I found in his selection: 

1. If you have heard him lead over the years, then you know that every song he led was in his personal "wheel house."  However his leading of #419 "Lord We Come Before Thee Now," which is a old standby for this congregation (and likely for many in the brotherhood), was a first for him to lead (at least for us as a congregation).
2. Also, even though he has led almost all of these hymns before, he got some gold points (from me, anyway) because NONE of the songs he selected have been sung over the last three months.  As I have stated before, I believe it is good policy to try to not repeat the same hymns over and over again if at all possible so as not to diminish their message by over-repetition.  It is a good policy, but not a mandatory one.  Not everyone is as well versed in a plethora of hymns as Brandon and I are.  If you can only lead a handful of different hymns, then lead them to the best of your ability that we may bring glory to God.  And, as I have stated before, sometimes a topic comes up that demands a certain hymn be led to help further bring it to our minds for us to meditate upon.  If that hymns was led last week, do it again if need be.

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From Sunday, 7-January, 2024:

We took advantage of Ethan Landrum's being home for the holidays and had him lead us in both our morning and afternoon services.  He began with #883, "Seek Ye First," and with #872, "I Am Crucified with Christ."  I would like to make a special note of two things with these first two songs:

1.  As I am the one who created the eForm by which we all can electronically enter our planned songs for some future service, I can often get a look ahead of time as to what is planned to be led and sung.  Whenever I see that someone has TWO songs they are leading for opening, I look forward to it and hope that they may be sung as a medley (I don't like seeming to be the only one who does this!!).  However, I noticed when they were led that they were in two different keys which could have made the transition difficult.  Besides, making medleys is NOT something we are required to do (although Paul gives some great examples of combining parts of Psalms together, especially in Romans 3:10 and following, he doesn't always combine them in that way [this also gives a good argument against any who may hold to the idea that you MUST lead every verse of every song you lead; if that were the case, Romans 3 would have been a LOT LONGER than it is, combining Psalms 14, 53, 5, 140, 10, 36, and even Isaiah 59 {!!}]).
2. As I have opportunity to see ahead of time what you guys plan to lead, I appreciate it when you post your selections no later than the night before.  It gives me an opportunity to post them on the West End Songs Facebook page where anyone who happens to follow it may be able to see what we're singing that morning (and if you're leading something we've never sung before, I can pass on a link to some audio file, something from YouTube, Spotify, etc., where folks can listen to it ahead of time).
• I would also like to make note that I also follow a page on Facebook called Church of Christ Song Worship Leaders (Acapella) and typically every week there's a post that asks, "What did you sing with the church today? Share the list from today, including the name/location of your congregation," along with some other details such as new songs or even songs that we "shook the dust off of" that we hadn't sung in a while.  I am more than willing to post the songs that I lead, but am hesitant to bring up others' lists (with the exception of when we have a special song service with multiple leaders).  I do not list people's names, but if you are alright with me listing your songs for such posts, let me know.

Ethan's choices after these two songs were #784 "Why Did My Savior Come to Earth?", #810 "Jesus Loves Me," #800 "Zion's Call," and #824 "I'll Fly Away."  As you can see, all the songs had the number EIGHT in them (although with a little digging, he could have found #820 "He Bore it All" or #859 "He Paid a Debt" so that they'd all BEGIN with the number eight [!!]).  There's a couple of song leaders from earlier days who used to do that a lot, gathering songs together that were all in the same hundreds series.  This shows creativity, especially if there's an over arching theme in the content of the hymns.  Hopefully it's not distracting to anyone else, so doing it infrequently is likely a good policy.

For our afternoon service, he led #851 "Jesus Is Well and Alive Today" (a hymn we haven't sung for a couple of years, good to shake the dust off that one!), #726 "We Saw Thee Not," #687 "'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus," #511 "Oft We Come Together," and #788 "Wonderful Words of Life."

With "We Saw Thee Not," I noticed in the eForm, he had selected to sing all four verses.  When he got up to lead, he told us we would sing the 1st, 2nd, and 4th verses.  However, all four verses were in the PowerPoint file and were sung.  I find it embarrassing when something like that happens and as such I make two recommendations: 1) if you're going to make a change like that, let the folks in the AV Booth know about it ahead of time (in fact, inspecting the PowerPoint file before you go to lead is a worthwhile thing to do as well, and if you can make any corrections or modifications that may be needed, try to do so then).  And 2) if something like that does happen, let it go, go with the flow, and let's simply make certain we're still giving glory to God as we lead worship.

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From Sunday, 31-December, 2023:

Matt Haynes took the reins for this final Sunday morning of 2023.  His first selection, #867, "Humble Yourselves," was noteworthy because he used verses we have in the Gateway Area Bible Camp hymnbook where they incorporate lyrics from the first and last verses of "Amazing Grace" (# 36 in our Praise for the Lord hymnal).  As of yet, we do not have PowerPoint slides (from the Paperless Hymnal, made "in house," or otherwise) that contain those verses, although that would be a good project for the next expansion of our supplemental hymnal Bridges to Praise.  This could also serve as a good reminder that if you have songs like this for which you desire to make modifications, please let Andy know ahead of time (although he could create one via a music transcription program he has recently acquired, he could also make a "stop gap" version, which could take considerably less time, by using the current files we have and placing different lyrics over the ones displayed on the existing file).

Andy Basford and Brandon Pool led the songs for our latest Quarterly Fourth Sunday song service (on the fifth Sunday, no less!!) as we meditated on "Thoughts of Love to Close the Year."

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From Sunday, 24-December, 2023:

Ethan Landrum is back (for the holidays!).  His first and third songs, # 376 ("Joy to the World") and # 301 ("I Will Sing the Wondrous Story"), were first timers for him (at least according to my records).  And although the other three are songs that he  has led before and have been led & sung other times over the last three months, they fit with brother Jordan's lesson that morning very well!

Jordan Pugh led five songs for us in the afternoon service.  Of course, # 977, "The Battle Belongs to the Lord," was quite appropriate for Jonathan's lesson, but all of his song  choices fit very well.

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From Sunday, 17-December, 2023:

There are several things of note for our report this week, and a few of them I consider rather important.  I'll try to make certain you see what they are, but let's get started....

Owen Landrum led us in five songs for our morning service (and his first Sunday morning service doing so[!!].  I personally found his selection intriguing.  Singing #619, "Take Time to Be Holy," before our first prayer and #310, "In Gethsemane Alone," were both quite appropriate.  #287, "I Love the Lord," was not inappropriate to lead before the lesson, though perhaps unexpected as we just finished partaking of the Lord's supper.  #929, "Glorify Thy Name," as invitation and #744, "What Will Your Answer Be," as a closing song seemed reversed (and in fact I had texted him to verify that he had entered everything in the correct order, and he assured me that he had!), but following Matt's lesson they both seemed more than appropriate in their sequence (so I apologize if ANY OF THIS sounds critical)!  The only potentially negative thing I will bring up is something all of us need to work on: when the preacher moves the microphone away from him before his sermon, you need to make sure you refocus it in your direction so we can hear you for the last songs.

Andy Basford led us in five songs to help us focus on the theme, "Through the New Covenant," which the elders used to introduce our plans, works, etc., for 2024.  Although #154, "Give Me the Bible," and #253, "How Shall the Young Secure Their Hearts," could've been simply pulled out from the subject index in the back of the hymnal, it was interesting that he also chose three other hymns from our supplemental hymnal Bridges to Praise.  Although he could have chosen #59, "Break Thou the Bread of Life," from Praise for the Lord with both of its verses, he likely chose #1059 from BtP to lead us in the third verse of the song.  

His selection of this song, as well as #994, "That's Why We Praise Him," and 1004, "Ancient Words," brings up something we all need to look out for: upgrades to our AV booth have brought some new challenges to our selection of songs, particularly as all things going on the screen are going to be displayed in 16x9 format (versus the old 4x3 format by which we have displayed everything since we began worshipping there in 2007).  If we choose from the Praise for the Lord hymnal, there are NO issues: all 990 songs have been upgraded to the new format.  Songs from Bridges to Praise are a different story.  Several of them, like #992, "What a Day That Will Be," were part of our original collection of hymns from the Paperless Hymnal that were not published in our physical PftL hymnal.  These still need to be reorganized and collated on our laptop so they will be ready for us to select them.  Others, like #998, "May I Run the Race Before Me," or #1008, "Creation to Creation," were original songs or modified arrangements of other hymns and were made from scratch.  There is another category of hymns from BtP where we received the song files from sources other that the Paperless Hymnal or being created from scratch (#995, "A Mansion, Robe, and Crown," and #1016, "When I Go Home," are examples of these).  The final point is this: for the next few months, as we continue reorganizing and making these modifications, be cautious which songs you choose from Bridges to Praise.  DON'T STOP choosing them; but be prepared in case one of your selections is not yet available.

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From Sunday, 10-December, 2023:

Joe Roznos led us in 5 songs for our morning service.  He kept things "short and sweet" as he usually does and gave plenty of time for the preacher to deliver the Word to us.  He also led # 841, "Sing and Be Happy" for the first time for our congregation (it is unknown if he has ever led it for other gatherings, but it was a first for us).

As Joe had to go to work afterwards, Brandon Pool managed to fill in for him for the evening service (this is a good time to bring up that, in our WESongs "app", when you go to submit songs there is a new option where you can enter song lists for future times; these could be used as emergency lists, in case something like this occurs again; but these could also be kept as a library of lists under various topics or simply for future use [under this method, it would especially be good for those men who wish to contribute to our song services, but are more hesitant to lead publicly]; I hope you folks can use this new feature soon!).  He, too, did an excellent job of selecting songs and, in fact, led us in # 203, "Hallelujah! What a Savior" for the first time among us.

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From Sunday, 3-December, 2023:

Brandon Pool led us in 10 songs this week (5 each service) and did quite well in keeping with the lessons that brothers Matt and Jordan brought to us.  It is always a blessing when we can arrange for the themes of our lessons to match the themes of our song service, so if you have the opportunity to do so, strive for such a goal.

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