Posted by joel on December 25th, 2009
It’s 6:00 on Christmas morning. A magical hour, with the Christmas tree ablaze and no sound except the furnace blowing, and the muted “tap, tap” of my laptop keyboard.
I can’t sleep, even though I only went to bed a few hours ago. The music from our Christmas Eve services at church last night are running through my head on a continuous loop; “Come let us adore Him!”
As I look around the tree at all of the presents I’m amazed again at how blessed my family is. Not because of the stuff, but because of the love and thought behind it. I’m thankful for the grace and caring that keeps this home intact and covered with love. I’m truly thankful for God for this moment.
My thoughts this morning have also turned to what other kids are waking up to this morning on Christmas here in Erie.
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Posted by joel on December 14th, 2009
Erie County PA 1895
If you were to look at a movie of my life 10 years ago, you would have seen me scrambling to make provisions for Christmas broadcasts and coverage of First Night-Erie and the Y2K date change as part of my management job at WCTL. At home I had two active elementary school-aged boys and a pregnant wife getting ready to deliver our Millennial Baby.
Let your lens widen out to the Erie community at large and you would have seen an optimistic community, ready to head into the new century tackling our challenges and accepting responsibility to make change. Soon after New Year’s, the region through the Economic Development Corp. of Erie County engaged Brian Bosworth to do a comprehensive 12-month study and propose a developmental strategy for the future.
The much-referred-to Bosworth Report was released on October 16, 2001 and it gave a frank assessment of where our region stood and where it needed to go. Plenty of Erie stakeholders were involved in providing input into his findings, delineated by a 13 point Executive Summary.
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Posted by joel on November 15th, 2009
Believe it or not, but this was my first chance to lead worship at our Erie site of McLane Church, which happens to meet Sunday evenings at 5:00 at The Cell Block, which is a very large bar. Thus the nickname, “church-in-a-bar.”
The great thing about that environment in the center of the city is the pallatable “turning back the darkness” experience that you feel as you worship the Savior. And indeed we did worship!
The small and stellar band:
- Ron Yarmin: Acoustic Guitar
- Brian Boleratz: Bass
- Brandt Fuller (Dir. of Worship): Acoustic Guitar/Vocals
- Joel Natalie: Worship Leader/Vocals
The familiarity of the set had them singing:
- Friend of God/Phillips, Craig & Dean
- Medley in E:
- Open the Eyes of My Heart
- Sometimes By Step (just chorus & alt chorus)
- Here I Am to Worship (chorus & bridge only)
- Wonderful, Merciful, Savior/Selah (a bit faster & fuller than recording)
- Revelation Song
Thanks for the privilege to be with everyone at “church-in-a-bar!”
Note: I am participating in the “Sunday Setlists” blog carnival at FredMcKinnon.Com.
Posted by joel on November 2nd, 2009
It technically isn’t “Taxation without Representation,” but it has been 14 years since a Republican sat on Erie City Council. So as one of the 25% of voters who live in the city and have an “R” after my name, it can be easy to feel disenfranchised by the those who are obligated to represent all of us. Often the values of limited government, low taxes, more efficency and less bureaucracy are not priorities by a local government comprised totally of elected officials from the Democrat party.
Most of the time, there are no Republican choices offered in city races, however this year we do have a real choice for City Council: Tim Butler. Tim has an excellent grasp of the challenges facing the City of Erie, and has a strong, effective agenda for taking on the problems head on. His experience as a local staffer for Sen. Rick Santorum shows that he understands the political landscape and can work effectively with all of the players.
Of course, we can vote for four council members in this general election. But with the lopsided registration tally for the Democrats, accompanied by great numbers of those that will just press the big Democrat button, it is very difficult for anyone outside the Dems to rank in the top four vote-getters to win a City Council seat.
That’s why I intend to, and want to encourage other city voters to vote only for Tim Butler for City Council. Those who wish Tim to win should not defeat their own efforts by adding to the vote totals of other candidates. Instead, “bullet vote” for Butler and no one else and give his fresh new voice a fighting chance…for a new Erie.
Posted by joel on November 2nd, 2009
Our band of musicians and vocalists once again had the wonderful privilege to lead worship at the Edinboro site of McLane Church this weekend. We continued our series on the Old Testament on Nehemiah, as Bill Cox preached a message on confession.
We welcomed visiting Spanish River Church worship leader Ashley Bowersox on vocals, who sang a stirring lead on “Amazed.”
We closed the service introducing the incredibly powerful song from Pastor Ross Parsley and New Life Worship titled “Overcome.” I get the feeling that this anthem will make a huge impact on our congregation.
Here’s the band:
- David Van Matre: Electric Guitar
- Brandt Fuller (Dir. of Worship): Acoustic Guitar/Vocals
- Brian Van Matre: Keyboards
- John Gersims: Drums
- Jared Leininger: Bass
- Ashley Bowersox: Vocals
- Joel Natalie: Worship Leader/Vocals
And the set:
- Let God Arise/Chris Tomlin
- Forever/Chris Tomlin
- Never Gonna Stop/Tommy Walker
- Amazed/Desperation Band
- Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)/Chris Tomlin
- Overcome/This Is My Story/New Life Worship\
This post is part of Fred McKinnon’s Sunday Setlist blog carnival.
Posted by joel on October 12th, 2009
It is always a privilege to lead worship at McLane Church, and the Edinboro congregation were engaged and were powerful participants in honoring God. Daryl Myer shared the third sermon in our series on Nehemiah, with a hard talk about opposition. It was a moving and exhausting weekend.
Thanks so much to the band:
- Andy Pamer: Electric Guitar/Vocals
- David Van Matre: Acoustic Guitar
- Brian Van Matre: Keyboards
- Peter Natalie (my bro): Drums
- Sherri Sullivan: Bass/Vocals
- Joel Natalie: Worship Leader/Vocals
Set list:
- All Because of Jesus/Casting Crowns
- All the Earth Will Sing Your Praises/Paul Baloche
- Here I Am to Worship/Tim Hughes
- Kindness/Chris Tomlin
- Revelation Song/Gateway Worship
- How Great is Our God/Chris Tomlin
Have a great week!
Note: I am participating in the “Sunday Setlists” blog carnival at FredMcKinnon.Com
Posted by joel on August 24th, 2009
It seems like I’m always saying it, but this weekend we had an incredible band of musicians leading worship at McLane Church. We did some powerful songs and congregational participation was strong. Bill Cox preached a very practical sermon on the spiritual discipline of reading the Bible. What a blessing to be a part of it!
The band that rocketh’:
- Andy Pamer: Electric Guitar
- David Van Matre: Acoustic Guitar
- Brian Van Matre: Keyboards
- Wendy Plyler: Grand Piano
- Ken Kibbee: Drums
- Grace Johnson: Vocals
- Joel Natalie: Worship Leader/Vocals
Set list:
- Everlasting God/Chris Tomlin
- Everyone (Praises)/New Life Worship
- Mighty to Save: Hillsong
- Revelation Song/Gateway Worship
- Word of God Speak/Mercy Me
- The Word is Alive/Casting Crowns (closing special)
How awesome it is to worship the Lord in community with folks in our region and around the world this weekend, including those in in the “Sunday Setlists” blog carnival at Fred McKinnon.com.
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