Message Series: Questions & Answers: Questions & Doubts We Encounter

Song / Version / Key / Leader
“This is Amazing Grace” – Phil Wickham – Key of E – Female 1 Lead (Multi-track song)
“Beneath the Waters (I Will Rise)” – Hillsong – Key of A – Female 1 Lead
“My Heart Is Yours” – Kristian Stanfill – Key of A – Male 1 Lead
“This I Believe The Creed” – Hillsong – Key of E – Female 1 Lead (Multi-track song)

Starting a new series to kick off the launch of our new semester of Connect groups, we stuck with really strong staple songs for our church. We have done “This Is Amazing Grace” many of times, but this was the first time we had played it along with a multi-track, which really helped beef up the sound so to speak. Our main reason was to make sure we had the synth lead line and other pads available with this track in order to best replicate the recording. It worked well and made a difference in the fullness of sound.

We then via pad transitioned to the key of A for “Beneath the Waters,” where we vamped on the intro progression while Pastor Devin welcomed the congregation and gave an invocation prayer prior to the song. For me, this song is more focused on the story of baptism, but the message of the bridge is so powerful as well as the sing-ability of the chorus, which made for a good mid-tempo addition to the set.

After ending with a down chorus, we remained in the key of A for one of our church’s favorite songs, “My Heart is Yours,” which our male leader led…very well I might add! We tagged “take it all, take it all, my life in Your hands” three times before letting it shimmer out and cueing the multitrack for “This I Believe.” The intro to this song is so recognizable and while we had only introduced it a few weeks back, our church already has gained so much familiarity and love for it.

I can honestly say not one of these songs did I feel people not fully engaged, which is saying a lot. Other than the feel and message of the songs in this set, this is the main reason why I chose this combination. I knew people can, do and love to sing them and that’s what really matters. When people engage, God inhabits the praises of His people. This brings us back to our purpose and goal: We want people to encounter God, experience His presence and hear His voice.