Retreat at Skyview Ranch

Skyview Ranch in Amish Country

Getting ready to launch Kaleo in Columbus

Well, I told you all that I was going to do a worship workshop this weekend, and one of the things we were going to cover was how to be ready for the unexpected. Well, I needed the lesson this week! I was going to do a concert at a women’s retreat on Saturday night, and on Wednesday the director told me that the worship leader they had for the event was really ill, and asked if I would just be able to do the retreat. I had Friday night free, so I went early and did their worship on Friday and Saturday and the concert. Unfortunately, I couldn’t stay for Sunday as I already had my own church that morning, and I was teaching the workshop, but they got someone to cover that, and God worked it out. So, there you go, worship workshop participants, it’s always good to be prepared so you can step into any situation! Teacher voice off. 🙂

Had a great time at the retreat, and the extra time really gave me a chance to get to know some of the women there, which was such a blessing! Came home and led church, and then came back and did the workshop that afternoon. We had a small group, but that was actually great because we could really work on the practicum, and I can definitely see God using these people in worship in the future, it’ll be fun!

I also got to lead worship for the launch of Kaleo in Columbus yesterday. It was so fun to get to see the excitement of the planners for the event. Kaleo is a women’s group organized to help support ministries in local areas, and they are under the Columbus Stewardship Foundation. They had over 100 women show up to support this opening event, and I think that’s pretty incredible for a launch, especially since it was a lunch during the work week! I’m expecting that God will do great things through them, and I was blessed to be there.

I will be offering a series of Worship Workshops this fall at my church in Columbus. If you are in the area, I’d love to have you come!

The first one is this Sunday, September 26th from 2-5 pm. The others will be at the same time on Sunday, October 17th, and Sunday, November 17th. They will all be held at Faith Covenant Church, 3607 Dempsey Rd., Westerville, OH 43081 and are free and open to the public. You can check out the church website here.

These are going to be casual and hands on. I will be talking about WHY we do worship, and also giving practical tools to help people lead better. Some of what we cover will be geared to the people who come, so bring your questions! In addition, we’ll be doing a practicum, planning and leading a set together. Bring your instrument if you’re an instrumentalist and your voices and we’ll have a great time! If you are interested in being trained for worship leading, or improving what you are already doing at your church, this is for you. Hope to see you there!

The new building for Living Waters Church

On the morning show with Scott Young at WTGN

Prayer at Union Chapel Church in Lima

This past weekend I got to go to New Jersey and sing at my uncle’s church. They were celebrating the official opening of their new building, and it’s beautiful. It was great for me because I don’t get to see that part of the family very often, so combining singing with family time is great. Also, I got to see a couple of my cousins, and that was wonderful. Please pray for my cousin, Amy, who is fighting breast cancer. She’s amazing, and it’s hard to see her struggling and to see her kids trying to understand it.

I got home in time to lead worship on Sunday, and then Monday I went to Lima, OH about 2 hours northwest of here to do a conference and some stuff at the radio station WTGN.

I really like Lima, I have to say. Everyone I meet there is just so genuine. Union Chapel Missionary Church was having a conference for three nights in a row, and I did the special music on Monday and Tuesday. The speaker, Mike Wingfield, was really compelling, and I was touched by the whole thing. This is not a large church, but they were packed out night after night, and people were just excited to receive the Word. It was a great time!

On Tuesday morning in between I got to hang out at WTGN quite a bit. I sat in on the morning show (the only bummer – how do these people wake up for this every day!? It was a good thing for me that no one cared how I looked on the radio!) with Scott and Bob and recorded a few things for later. I also got to go and meet the director of Teens for Christ – they are doing amazing work – and then I had dinner with the pastor of Union Chapel and his wife. They were lovely. Altogether a great trip. I’m headed back to Lima next month, so I’m looking forward to seeing some of them again!