NOTE: This post continues my on-going Mission Trip 2012 series.

August 5th marked my second Sunday leading worship in Eastern Europe as part of my Balkans Missions trip.

Casa Inchinarii (House of Worship) in Timisoara, Romania is a warm and friendly church led by Pica Mengher, a wonderful pastor and musician. Pica is author of the new book “La Carma Inchinarii (Steering Through Worship)” and one of the Directors of the School of Worship where I’ve been teaching.

We slammed it out last year with their highly skilled and rockin band. This time around I felt it would be nice to try something acoustic, unplugged and more collaborative.

[UPDATE: See videos from the service here. ]

My thinking was influenced by our visit from the Toronto Mass Choir. Pastor Richard Brown  gave a powerful teaching on “TransCultural Worship.”

One of his points:

The church must grow in our ability to reach out to the multi-cultural people in and out of church.

Worship is not a music activity. It is a function of the heart. It must reflect the place and the people who do it. 

[Worship should express] all of who we are and who we are made to be. All should be brought into the worship / service of God.

You bring who you are. There is no right or wrong.

Some cry, some dance. We should not judge how people worship. You bring your culture into your worship experience and it brings glory to God.

Our worship team was ethnically represented by Hungary, Romania, Macedonia, Bulgaria, and ta da – America.

I shared as the service started the idea that our worship today would be “leiturgia” – “the work of the people.”

We then read Ephesians 5:19 to worship with “psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord.”

We entered His courts with praise with these songs in English.

  • Lifting My Hands Up In the House of God
  • Your Love Never Fails
  • Our God
  • Shekinah Glory

Then we transitioned to a time of deep adoration by turning off the lights and lighting candles.

Georgi explains the lighting of candles.

Georgi, one of our students,  explains the lighting of candles. “Jesus is the Light of the World”

We continued worshiping in “the beauty of holiness” in Romanian, led by Beck and Ana.

  • Iubesc Prezentza Ta (I Love Your Presence )
  • Ai Biruit (You Have Overcome) – original song by Beck Corlan
Beck and Anna lead us in deep worship in Romanian

Beck and Anna lead us in deep worship in Romanian

Then Randall Morgan shared God’s heart for the nations, sharing his story, encouraging us to love one another, and leading us into communion.

 

Randall Morgan shares the word and leads us to communion.

Randall Morgan shares the word and leads us to communion.

Then we “sang a hymn” continuing our worship in Romanian with these songs:

  • Agnus Dei
  • How Great Is Our God (chorus only)

Finally we ended on a celebratory note with:

  • The Jesus La La Song
  • Aceasta E (A New Anointing / This is The Day)
We celebrated with The Jesus La La Song

We celebrated with The Jesus La La Song


Some of the feedback was – “unique, refreshing, flowing.”

For me, it was a joy to spread the service among so many people.

I was a little sick that weekend and spent the rest of the day in bed.

This post is part of the Worship Community Sunday Setlists, see what others are doing here: http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/sunday-setlists-211/

NOTE: This post is part of my on-going Mission Trip 2012 series.

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