Restoring Kingdom Builders

Imagine that you have been asked to produce four Sunday worship services.

You are free to choose the venues, musicians, vocalists, songs, preachers, and anything else to glorify God and transform lives.

You have an unlimited budget – and the Lord has agreed to resurrect any dead believer you want, just for one service.

Go!

Let me first choose my favorite venues.

Too many modern worship facilities are comfortable but lack atmosphere.  I want church buildings with atmosphere.

*Holy Trinity Brompton in London.  Since the British are skittish about taking photos inside their worship centers, I can only show you an exterior shot of the building, and there’s little special about it.  But the church has taken a classic Anglican sanctuary and made it as contemporary as possible.  One of the most moving services I’ve ever attended was the Sunday that their associate pastor preached on Joshua taking the land as a metaphor for rebirthing a decaying Anglican church in Brighton.  I felt like moving to Brighton just to be a part of it.

Holy Trinity Brompton, London

*Hollywood Presbyterian Church.  My father-in-law taught Sunday School there for a while, and my good friend Ken got married there, both during the tenure of Lloyd Oglivie.  The building is magnificent inside.  A horrific conflict decimated the congregation a few years ago, but the worship center is awesome.

Hollywood Presbyterian Church

*St. Paul’s Cathedral, London.  This is the mother church of the Anglican Faith, the church where Prince Charles and Lady Diana got married – and the church the Nazis bombed but couldn’t destroy.  I’ve been there on several occasions, and upon entering the building, I can’t help but weep, it’s so magnificent inside.  Although tourists aren’t allowed to take photos inside the worship center, here’s a photo of the church’s exterior along with a photo from the Golden Dome on top:

View of London from the Golden Dome, St. Paul's, London

I realize that’s only three worship centers, but I’m a bit stumped on this one.  I’ll include one more if the Lord brings one to mind.

Next, let’s choose the worship band.

I’m going with Delirious as the church house band because they brought rock into modern worship.

But they have room for a couple extra guitarists, so I’m selecting Phil Keaggy and The Edge as well.

As far as vocalists, Bono gets to trade off with Martin Smith of Delirious.  (We’ll let Bono sing his favorite song, “Amazing Grace.”)

(For those who have had the privilege of attending a U2 concert, their last set usually feels like a worship service anyway, often ending with “40,” their version of Psalm 40.)

And George Beverly Shea gets to sing “I’d Rather Have Jesus” one more time.

Other vocalists include Joanna Hogg from Iona, Kim Hill, and Chuck Girard from Love Song:

Chuck Girard and Unknown Fan

The hymns will be “How Great Thou Art,” “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” “Holy, Holy, Holy,” “Abide with Me,” “Crown Him with Many Crowns,” “O God, Our Help in Ages Past,” “At the Cross/When I Survey,” and “Be Thou My Vision.”

The praise songs will be “Lord, I Lift Your Name on High,” “My Glorious,” “There is a Redeemer,” “God Will Make a Way,” “Breathe,” “Our Lives are in Your Hands,” “Sometimes Alleluia,” and “What a Friend I’ve Found.”

Those are the venues, the musicians, vocalists, and songs.

Who would you select to lead worship?

Which songs would you want done?

I’d love to hear your selections!

In my next article, watch for the four preachers who have been selected for Christian All-Star Month.  You might be surprised!