Music Director: Regina Oettinger
Email: regina@montananazarene.org
Praise Team Schedule Special Music Schedule
December -- George & Kristi Armstrong, Michelle Williams
January -- David Grimes, Amber King, Amanda Armstrong Jan. 1 --
Jan. 8 --
Announcements and Upcoming Events
Band Practice: every Sunday morning at 8:45
Praise Team Practice: every Sunday morning at 9:00
Choir Practice: Dec. 4, 7:00 p.m.
Choir Practice: Dec. 7, 7:00 p.m.
Choir Performances at Live Nativity: Dec. 9-11 (every hour)
Choir performance: Dec. 11, 10:40 a.m.
Dress Rehearsal: Dec. 14, 7:00 p.m.
Christmas Musical: Dec. 18, 10:40 a.m.
Candelight Service: Dec. 21, 7:00 p.m.
Band Practice: every Sunday morning at 8:45
Praise Team Practice: every Sunday morning at 9:00
Choir Practice: Dec. 4, 7:00 p.m.
Choir Practice: Dec. 7, 7:00 p.m.
Choir Performances at Live Nativity: Dec. 9-11 (every hour)
Choir performance: Dec. 11, 10:40 a.m.
Dress Rehearsal: Dec. 14, 7:00 p.m.
Christmas Musical: Dec. 18, 10:40 a.m.
Candelight Service: Dec. 21, 7:00 p.m.
Weekly Word on Worship
This is a really hard “devotional” for me to write. I should be writing something inspiring about giving thanks. However, it has never been my intent to just write something frothy that tickles your ears each week. That’s why I only write when God has shown me something in His Word that He wants me to share.
I have been studying the book of Amos in my devotions, mainly because I did not know much about that particular book. I didn’t think that a lot of it would be relevant to my life. (insert heavenly laughter). I’m not going to make you read the whole book so let me summarize some of the main points up to chapter 5, where I am currently studying. Basically the Israelites are living pretty well. They have very comfortable lives, but it’s because they have been ignoring or outright oppressing the poor.
They talk about looking forward to “the day of the Lord” as if He is going to rescue them, but not realizing that day will mean sure and unavoidable judgment for them (5:18-20). And then we get to the passage that stopped me in my tracks and cut me to my core. Verses 21-23 read like this:
“I hate, I despise your feast days,
And I do not savor your sacred assemblies.
Though you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings,
I will not accept them,
Nor will I regard your fattened peace offerings.
Take away from Me the noise of your songs,
For I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments.”
Those are very strong words from God Himself. It reminds me of another passage in Isaiah 29:13, “Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me.”
Now this may seem like an “anti-worship” message but it really just means that worship has to begin in our hearts first. Is our heart right with God AND others? Are we loving others the way Christ has commanded us to do? If not, He doesn’t want to hear the noise of our songs, but that’s just what it is to Him. Noise.
Let me share what Bible teacher Jennifer Rothschild said about this passage.
[The Israelites] were crushing it when it came to religion and totally blowing it when it came to relationships with God and others. Relationship with God prompts just action.
Israel’s worship and obedience were the fruit of a rotting grave when God desired the fruit of true worship and obedience–a mighty river of justice and righteousness flowing over and through His people.
God wasn’t saying He hates ceremonies, gatherings, and music! Of course not. Yet God will not regard hands raised in worship when they are stained with injustice. God refuses sacrifices from those who do not practice righteousness.
We cannot let our rituals be placed above relationships. Verse 24 gives a beautiful word picture. “Let justice run down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream.” Is our river clogged? Do we need to remove the debris of bad attitudes, impatience, annoyance, and frustration so that righteousness can flow freely?
Oh, Lord, You have shown us what is good, what is right, and what You require. That is what we want, nothing less. May we act justly. May we love mercy. And may we walk humbly with You all of our days. Amen.
This is a really hard “devotional” for me to write. I should be writing something inspiring about giving thanks. However, it has never been my intent to just write something frothy that tickles your ears each week. That’s why I only write when God has shown me something in His Word that He wants me to share.
I have been studying the book of Amos in my devotions, mainly because I did not know much about that particular book. I didn’t think that a lot of it would be relevant to my life. (insert heavenly laughter). I’m not going to make you read the whole book so let me summarize some of the main points up to chapter 5, where I am currently studying. Basically the Israelites are living pretty well. They have very comfortable lives, but it’s because they have been ignoring or outright oppressing the poor.
They talk about looking forward to “the day of the Lord” as if He is going to rescue them, but not realizing that day will mean sure and unavoidable judgment for them (5:18-20). And then we get to the passage that stopped me in my tracks and cut me to my core. Verses 21-23 read like this:
“I hate, I despise your feast days,
And I do not savor your sacred assemblies.
Though you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings,
I will not accept them,
Nor will I regard your fattened peace offerings.
Take away from Me the noise of your songs,
For I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments.”
Those are very strong words from God Himself. It reminds me of another passage in Isaiah 29:13, “Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me.”
Now this may seem like an “anti-worship” message but it really just means that worship has to begin in our hearts first. Is our heart right with God AND others? Are we loving others the way Christ has commanded us to do? If not, He doesn’t want to hear the noise of our songs, but that’s just what it is to Him. Noise.
Let me share what Bible teacher Jennifer Rothschild said about this passage.
[The Israelites] were crushing it when it came to religion and totally blowing it when it came to relationships with God and others. Relationship with God prompts just action.
Israel’s worship and obedience were the fruit of a rotting grave when God desired the fruit of true worship and obedience–a mighty river of justice and righteousness flowing over and through His people.
God wasn’t saying He hates ceremonies, gatherings, and music! Of course not. Yet God will not regard hands raised in worship when they are stained with injustice. God refuses sacrifices from those who do not practice righteousness.
We cannot let our rituals be placed above relationships. Verse 24 gives a beautiful word picture. “Let justice run down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream.” Is our river clogged? Do we need to remove the debris of bad attitudes, impatience, annoyance, and frustration so that righteousness can flow freely?
Oh, Lord, You have shown us what is good, what is right, and what You require. That is what we want, nothing less. May we act justly. May we love mercy. And may we walk humbly with You all of our days. Amen.
