Christmas Carolling 2009

Hi guys,

Christmas service and Starlight of Hope was awesome. Thanks to all of you who helped out and for those who came. More importantly, we have a few people who responded to the altar call. :) Praise God!

On the subject matter, the CDC Christmas caroling is happening this Christmas Eve. Below are the details:

Gathering place: Cornerstone Doulos Church
Time: 6.15pm
Dress Code: White (you can also wear Santa hats, reindeer hairband etc to spice up your costume)

Agenda:
7-8pm- Three apartments at Lagoon Perdana
8.30pm- Khang Zheng's house in Puchong
9.30pm- Jasmine Voon's house in Section 12, PJ
10.30pm- Sue Shen's house in SS2, PJ

Please do let Brandon know if you are bringing friends. :) See you there!

Everything Skit Cast Members (updated)

The youth have been working hard practising for the Everything Skit and dance for this morning's service and the Youth Event tonight. And they are awesome! Thought I'd share some pictures of the cast members. :P


Producer/Second-in-command: Danielle Yoo


Marcus as Jesus/Son of God


Khang Zheng as Boyfriend/Hot Stuff


Adriel Loke as Corporate Guy/Dude with Money


Xue Jen as Model/Sexy Girl


Eric Chia as Man in Hood/Final Tempter


Nicole Yoo as Drunkard/Beer Model


Joey Tan as Main Actress/Redeemed Girl


Director/Reindeer: Max Koh


Executive Producer/Big Boss: Ariel Yoo

(Videos to come soon)

Starlight of Hope and Christmas Service!

Practices for the Everything Skit have been running very well thanks to the dedication and hard work of the actors and team players. Good job guys! :) We'll have a full dress rehearsal before performing it on this Sunday's Christmas service (20 Dec 2009) at 11am and the Youth Christmas party, Starlight of Hope.



Here are the details for Starlight of Hope

Venue :
CDC (Above Klinik Permai)
1-27 & 1-29 Jalan PJS 9/1A
Pusat Perniagaan Lagoon Perdana
Bandar Sunday, 46150 PJ.

Dress code : Costume Xmas Outfit

RSVP : Alwyn Liang +6012 934 7120
Loh Khang Lei +6012 6955 807

Bring along an exchange gift of RM 5.
Bring along "UR" FRIENDS!

There'll be dinner (with turkey!) and Reverend Ronald Ooi will be sharing at the event. :) It's gonna be awesome so please do bring your friends as well.

Here are some pictures from the practices.


Eric Chia as one of the temptations.


The temptations.


Eric and Nicole having a break in the midst of practice.


Eric trying to get poor Joey to commit suicide.


Adriel and Xue Jen fooling around.


And our very own Marcus will play Jesus in the play.


See you guys there! :)

Take me in (Holy of Holies) - Isaiah 6

Hey peeps,

A happy December and pre-holidays to all of you! Believe it or not, we have reached the end of another decade! Yes, it's the end of the 2000s! Scary huh? I remember I was partying on the eve of 2000 like its the new century, and the whole scare about the Y2K bug. What a fuss was that. And that was the pre-9/11 days. Remember that?

Okay. I digress. This coming Sunday worship, Sister Christina will be introducing a new song titled Take Me In (Holy of Holies). So here's the link for the songs.

The first one is the version by Integrity which is probably the one she wants to sing.... but I really LOVE the version by Kutless. So, musicians on duty this weekend, do listen to the songs and practice yeah? Here are the chords and lyrics too. :)

Take me in (Slow version)


Take me in (Cool version) ;D


 

Take Me In (Holy of Holies) - Kutless            

                Em
Take me past the outer courts,
        C
And through the Holy Place
  D                                             
Past the brazen altar,
                        Em               D
Lord I want to see your face

        Em                        
Pass me by the crowds of people
         C
The priests who sing their praise
      D                                                                               
I hunger and thirst for Your righteousness,
               Am                   D
But it's only found one place

Chorus:
      Em                                         D        
So take me in to the Holy of Holies,
            Am7             D                      Em G
Take me in by the blood of the Lamb
       Em                                       D      
So take me in to the Holy of Holies,
               Am7                       D
Take the coal, cleanse my lips,
            Em
Here I am

"Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."

Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"
And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"
- Isaiah 6:5-8

Christmas Presentation and Carolling

Hi guys,

As some of you know, we will be doing a variation of the Everything Skit for the Youth Evangelistic Meeting (19th Dec) and Sunday Service (20th Dec).

To all of you who have come for practice this Saturday. Thank you. I think we have made good progress. :)

We'll be having practices again this coming Saturday (5-7pm) so please come and be punctual (note to self).

Please listen to the songs and remember your parts. :) And remember that we want to make this a really affective and moving presentation. It doesn't have to be perfect, but it has to be of good quality because we want to give a good first impression to visitors.

***

On another note, we are doing Christmas caroling again on Christmas Eve this year! :D YAY! Brandon Ho is in charge for caroling and practices will soon start after church Sunday services. So, clear your pipes and memorise those jingles because we are hitting the houses to spread the Christmas cheer.

On that note. Blessed December to everyone! :)

Five minute presentation for Christmas

Hello people,

As some of you know, the youth/creative team will present a short 5-minute presentation for Christmas service on 20 December 2009.

What I have in mind is a sort of dance presentation that tells of a story through a song. I am trying to write an original number for this presentation while Julie will come up with the choreography.

As such, this presentation will involve musicians, dancers, minimal props/costumes, and stage/sound assistance etc. It will be on a small-scale basis but I think it would be really exciting for us! ;)

To help get a better idea of what I am talking about, here's a dance presentation set to Lifehouse's Everything which has been getting quite a lot of hits on Youtube.



We will begin practice after youth meetings on Saturdays beginning on 21st November. We will discuss this further on this Saturday's youth meeting. :) If I can't produce an original composition by then, I'll find another song then.

Do let me know your thoughts/suggestions/ideas and how you want to contribute to make this presentation a success! :)

And above all, remember- we are doing this all for the glory of God.


In love,
Max Koh

Come, Christians Join To Sing Hymn

Hi, I will be singing this old hymn this Sunday too.



1. Come, Christians, join to sing
Alleluia! Amen!
Loud praise to Christ our King;
Alleluia! Amen!
Let all, with heart and voice,
Before His throne rejoice;
Praise is His gracious choice:
Alleluia! Amen!

2. Come, lift your hearts on high,
Alleluia! Amen!
Let praises fill the sky;
Alleluia! Amen!
He is our Guide and Friend;
To us He'll condescend;
His love shall never end:
Alleluia! Amen!

3. Praise yet our Christ again,
Alleluia! Amen!
Life shall not end the strain;
Alleluia! Amen!
On heaven's blissful shore
His goodness we'll adore,
Singing forevermore,
"Alleluia! Amen!"

-Max Koh

Glory, glory hallelujah (Original Song)

Hi people, I'm songleading this Sunday and I will be introducing a new song I wrote recently. Here's the chords, lyrics and video. Don't mind the poor quality. Just wanted to get it out there as soon as possible.

Glory, glory hallelujah (D) 
Written by Max Koh

Verse:
D                                       G        D
You placed a new song in my heart
Bm                                          G    G/F# Em  
Let newfound praises rise from  our   lips to You 

D                             G       D
You alone are mighty God
Bm                                            G     G/F# Em
And there is no one who compares to    You

Pre-chorus:
         A     D            G              Em
Not unto us, but unto Your name
            A         D               G     A 
Be all glory, power, and praise

Chorus:
D                     A
Glory, glory hallelujah
Bm                           G
Angels sing as we join this chorus
          Bm        G              A   G
Of praise rising up to You
D                              A
We declare Your might and power
Bm                              G 
Over all the earth, Your splendour
  Bm                            G    A  
You reign, You are glorified

D                     A
Glory, glory hallelujah
Bm                           G
Angels sing as we join this chorus
          Bm        G              A   G
Of praise rising up to You
D                              A
We declare Your might and power
Bm                              G 
Over all the earth, Your splendour
  Bm                           G         A  
You reign, You alone are God

 

Psalm 149:1 says “Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, And His praise in the congregation of the godly ones.”

Psalm 115:1 also says that “Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.”

Help needed for CDC Chronicles 2009

Hi all,

We have come to the time of the year again which only means one thing- CDC Chronicles! Well, ok. There's also Christmas and other jolly-ho stuff this time of the year.

Anywho, I am sounding the clarion-call for anyone who would like to help me in the publication of the CDC Chronicle 2009. I need people to write, contribute, edit, get stories, chase people and do some layout designing.

If you are interested, please let me know cause I will be having a meeting soon to discuss what we want in the CDC Chronicle. We hope to distribute the publication either on Watchnite Service or in the two weeks after.

Thank you!

Click on Rapidshare link here to download CDC Chronicle 2008.

- Max Koh

No food on stage (and other reminders)

Hi guys. Today Adriel found an empty can of Nescafe behind the drums. I would like to strictly remind all musicians that NO FOOD AND DRINKS are allowed on the stage. Let us remember that it is an altar where we usher God's presence to the church, and likewise.

Musicians and back-up singers are also reminded to please clean up after each practice and please help to tidy up the stage area. If you see papers lying around please pick it up and dispose it in the box. Please also tidy up the wires. And also help to tidy the projection table as well.

Also, after each practice please make sure all switches are off because we had to send the woofer for repair because someone forgot to turn it off. And it cost quite a bit of money.

And please take good care of your own instruments. Guitarists are required to clean and wipe the strings before/after use. The batteries must be taken out of the cordless mike and be returned to the case at the soundboard area.

Soundboard people are reminded not to bring food there too and also to keep the place is tidy.

Sorry to have to announce it here but I need to drive the point home. Remember the place where me meet God is not a sacred place. If we were serving in the Holy of Holies with the Israelites, we would have probably be struck dead. Therefore, let us regard his place with reverence for our God is holy and perfect. And it is God's temple where we meet Him every Sunday.

Having said that, I know some of you do help keep the place tidy. Thank you. And I know all of you have been coming to serve diligently because you love God. And it's indeed very hard to say for sure who keeps forgetting to turn off switches and leaves things because so many people shares the stage. But it doesn't mean we can't contribute and keep the place tidy.

And it is still a joy to serve Him with all of you.

Blessings,
Max

Holy Spirit, Rain Down

This week, we have Kun Han and Jillian Quah songleading for church service. Please listen to this song. :)

Holy Spirit, Rain Down by Hillsongs

Holy Spirit, rain down, rain down
Oh Comforter and Friend
How we need Your touch again
Holy Spirit, rain down, rain down
Let Your power fall
Let Your voice be heard
Come and change our hearts
As we stand on Your word
Holy Spirit, rain down

No eye has seen, no ear has heard
No mind can know what God has in store
So open up heaven, open it wide
Over Your church and over our lives

Tim Hughes: Accept the Gift

Read an interesting post from Tim Hughes on his blog about the gift of Holy Spirit. Though I'd share (Bold emphasis mine).

John Stott writes, “What we need is not more learning, not more eloquence, not more persuasion, not more organization, but more power from the Holy Spirit.”

The day after my boy Simeon was born my parents came to visit. My Mum bought a present for our little girl Phoebe – a baby doll. On the packaging it said that when you squeeze baby Annabell she would giggle and laugh. Phoebe was beside herself with excitement. After taking an age to rip open the packaging we eventually got the doll out. Phoebe squeezed it, but rather than Annabell giving off a cute giggle – she began to scream and cry.

The doll terrified Phoebe. For days she would go nowhere near it. After a while we began to explain that babies sometimes cry and when they do you need to give them a cuddle to comfort them. Eventually Phoebe got the hang of it and pretty quickly they became the best of friends - inseparable in fact!

You see this doll, was a great gift, given in love, that was misunderstood, becoming a source of fear and confusion. For some of us maybe the Holy Spirit has become like this for us. We don’t understand him – so we keep him at arms length. We've seen people at meetings responding in strange ways to the Spirit and are determined that this will never happen to us and so we don't fully let him in. Perhaps we assume that the Holy Spirit is only for the super Spiritual and are convinced that we don't fit into that category. And so we carry on trying to make an impact in our own strength. But it just doesn't work.

Our Heavenly Father has a good gift to give us. He has sent us the Holy Spirit to come alongside us. One of the words used to describe the Spirit is Paraclete – one who comes alongside giving comfort, strength, guidance, focus, clarity and vision. Isn’t that what we all desperately need? Theologian Oliver O’Donovan defines it as, “One who stands beside us to help, not one who seizes control and runs our lives without consulting us.”


There can be a danger in the church that we focus on the manifestations of the Holy Spirit. What it looks like. How people respond. Sometimes we get so hung up on this stuff that we forget that the Holy Spirit is a person who comes alongside us – to enable, empower and bless us.

I'm tired of trying to run this race alone. I don't want to miss out on the gift of the Holy Spirit. Everyday I want to pray the ancient prayer of the Church - 'come Holy Spirit.' As John 6:63 reminds us, 'The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing.'

We have a choice. We can accept the gift that God is all too willing to bless us with. Or we can ignore this offer and continue on this walk of faith alone. Ultimately on our own the road will be exhausting, fruitless and frustrating. But with God's empowering Spirit it will be full of life and adventure. What's it to be?


"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (Luke 11:9-13)

I wonder what is it that often holds us back from following and keeping in step with the Holy Spirit, particularly as leaders of worship. How can we step out and grow in this stuff. Would love to know your thoughts.

More new links!

I have added more links on the sidebar for your use and reference.

1. Links- Song Chords & Lyrics

Find chords and lyrics for worship songs at these sites.

Chords of Worship and Worship Archive have a pretty good database with the former even offering videos, links, and MP3 downloads.
To automatically transpose the key of the song, PWArchive and lyric.jonloh.net allow you to do that just at the click of a button.

2. Instrument and Song Tutorials

These sites are useful for those learning new songs and improving their skills on their instruments.

New Song Cafe- Contains videos where the songwriters themselves (Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, delirious?, David Crowder) teach you how to play their songs. A personal favourite! 
Guitar Praise- This is a pretty cool blog that teaches you how to play songs from Planetshakers, Hillsong, Desperation Band etc for electric guitar, acoustic and bass. Includes videos and tabs and theory and technique tutorials.
Psalm 150 Project- A tutorial site for piano and guitar.

3. Links- Worship Resources

Here you find sites with a lot of general resources to help you in your worship ministry. A personal favourite is blog.worship.com. 

Also there are links to worship blogs by CDC worship team members. At the moment, there are mine and Enoch. Any new additions? :) Okay, will update with more links another time.

-Max K

"Because of your unfailing love, I can enter your house; with deepest awe I will worship at your Temple." Psalm 5:7

Matt Redman: Worship Songs Aren't For Blokes (or Cina-men in our case)

Matt Redman's comment really made me think. Is that why we find less men singing in our church services? Your thoughts?

"The church has been under-fathered and over-mothered." - Matt Redman

Shallow Entertainment or Jesus Encounter?

Worship leader Tim Hughes (of Here I Am To Worship fame) shares some thoughts on Worship Central blog:

"The church that can't worship must be entertained. And men who can't lead a church to worship must provide the entertainment." A.W. Tozer.

This is quite a challenge - especially as we all prepare to lead worship this Sunday. Are we going to pull out the classics, and try and force people into a time of worship? Are we going to rely on our own strength to make something happen? Or, are we going trust and follow God to lead us in a beautiful, deep and meaningful encounter of worship.

John 6:63
"The Spirit brings life; the flesh counts for nothing."

Perhaps the best thing we could do in terms of our preparation for leading worship is to spend some time in God's presence, seeking Him and asking that He may fill us up with the Holy Spirit and use us in power to bring glory to Him.

Let's go for it. Who wants shallow entertainment when we can give people Jesus!

Also, look to the right for links and resources.

Acoustic Day

Hey guys, today's acoustic worship was great! Thanks to all of you who did such amazing jobs like Enoch with his violin (awesome as usual), Mathew with his bass, Gabriel who toned it down a bit on the drums, Khang Zheng on acoustic guitar and his sister on keys. Not to forget Esther and Krystal who lend their vocals too. And the PA people at the back.  

Some people commented that they liked the change of pace and we will try more exciting stuff like this in the future. Maybe a bluegrass/country or big gospel choir week for a change? And a day with violins, double bass, cellos, banjo, mandolins, timpani and stuff? ;P

Okay. Ambitious much. Anyway keep up the good work and I'm happy to serve God with all of you.

In Christ,
Max


"Oh happiness, there's grace enough for us and the whole human race."
- Oh Happiness, David Crowder*Band

I Stand Amazed

Hi guys, take note that I'm singing this song for this week's Sunday service. :) And it will be acoustic week. See ya at practice.

How marvelous (I stand amazed)

Capo 1:

Verse 1:
G
I stand amazed in the presence
D C G
of Jesus the Nazarene
C G
and wonder how He could love me
D G
a sinner condemned unclean

Chorus:
G
How marvelous, how wonderful
D
and my song shall ever be
G D/F# Em
How marvelous, how wonderful
C Em D G C G C
is my Savior's love for me

repeat VERSE 1

repeat CHORUS

Verse 2
G
He took my sins and my sorrows
D C G
He made them His very own
C G
He bore the burden to Calvary
D G
and suffered and died alone (repeat VERSE 2)

repeat CHORUS 2x

Verse 3
G
When with the ransomed in glory
D C G
His face I at last shall see (break for crowd scream)
C G
'Twill be my joy through the ages
D G
to sing of His love for me, everybody singing

repeat CHORUS 2x

How He loves us

his particular song has been spreading around and touching people's hearts. It must be the really poignant lyrics and the testimony behind the song.

The song is written by Pastor John Mark on the day after his best friend passed away. The Pentecostals of Alexandria did a cardboard testimony of the song, and I'd thought it was pretty touching seeing people come out with their own real teatimonies of God's love. Perhaps we can do it one day in CDC? :)

Here's one from Hillside Christian Church.

How He loves us

He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realise just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us so,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all

He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.

And we are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If his grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
And heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way…

Max.

Hello.

Hello people. This is a resource blog for Cornerstone Doulos Church (CDC) worship team and ministry. You can find chords, helpful tips, songs, music sheets, and other stuff to help you in your worship ministry to serve God and His church.

While this blog is developed for the intended use of CDC worship team and ministry, we welcome feedbacks and would like to connect with friends from other places as well. And that includes YOU! :)

Our service here is grounded on Romans 12:1.

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship."
Romans 12:1

Thanks for visiting, and watch this space for more things to come.

In Christ's love,
Max K