Christmas Music - Sunday 12/06

I have been asked so many times where folks can get the Christmas music we used in services on Sunday 12/6 that I thought it might be easier to post it here. I hope getting these CD's will add to your Christmas experience this year.


"Christmastime"
We did a choral version of this modern carol written by Michael W. Smith and Joanna Carlson. It is not the same as what we performed but you buy Michael w. Smith's CD. The song is the title track.

"I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day"
This version came from one of my all-time favorite Christmas CDs. Jars of Clay do some very creative arrangemtns of the classics on this recording and breath new life into them. They also pull out some lesser-known, less overdone carols that are some of my favorites to listen to.

"O Holy Night"
Sorry folks, this was an original arrangement by Sound Foundation, FCCH's home-grown barbershop group. We may have to talk them into doing a Christmas recording sometime soon.


"The First Noel"
Leigh Nash from the band Sixpense None the Richer appears on the compilation CD, A Winter's Night. Her rendition of this Christmas favorite is by far the best track on the CD.

"O Come All Ye Faithful"
We did a classic arrangement of this song provided by
LifeWayWorship.com
You can get an mp3 of this version there for only 99cents.

Lessons from Mt Monadnock #1:TAKE a DAY of PRAYER

Last week I finally set aside a day for prayer and fasting. Finally, because Pastor Mike has been encouraging me to add this to my spiritual disciples for.....I don't know.....maybe 3 years. For some it might seem odd that the full-time Director of Worship has never taken a day and spent it praying. I get paid to sit around playing my guitar, reading my Bible and praying, right? Not so much. And for others it might seem awfully nice to get paid to take a day retreating to the peacefulness of nature, climbing a mountain, and enjoying some rare "alone time". The reality is that I am overwhelmed with the business of life, too. I struggle to find time for daily devotions. I am better at being busy than spending quality time with Christ. And often I feel like an under-achiever, spiritually.

So this year I decided to add a few Days of Prayer to my calendar - literally put them on the calendar so that I could vigilantly guard the day, and refuse to reschedule or put it off. And, believe me, I had to do just that. Several conflicts arose that I had to avoid. I had so many undone things on my "to-do" list that I was feeling guilty about going. And I even had to take some criticism on the chin for being selfish enough to take a day for "myself". But whatever... I was determined to see it through.

My goal was to intentionally take some time to listen to God, pray for the folks in my ministry and try to focus on some quality time with Christ. But initially I found it very hard to not think about all the things I "should" be doing instead of hiking a mountain. I was distracted by feelings of guilt about being on staff at church and never having taken a day of prayer. I was thinking I was maybe even a little arrogant to think I knew how to spend a day in prayer. My head was swimming until I simply prayed...

"Jesus, I don't know how to do this. Would you help me learn how to spend time with you?"

And then slowly, my head cleared and I started to look around me. And I heard His quiet voice start giving me word pictures from the experience I was having on the hike. Illustrations about our relationship, the journey of faith, life, leadership, calling and more that were painted from the scenery around me.

In the end, I was able to journal about twenty of them and I hope to blog about several of them. I know I am not the first person to use images from a mountain as metaphors for life. But what made them special was the way God was able to break through my cluttered head and gently encourage, challenge and renew me through them.

So LESSON #1 from Mt Monadnock: TAKE a DAY of PRAYER.

1. Book a day and stick to it
2. Go away to pray
3. Take your Bible, a book, a journal and a list of things/people to pray about

Look, I am as busy as anyone. I hold down 2 full-time jobs between working at church and working for Boston EMS at night. I have a wife and 4 busy daughters that never seem to get enough of my time. I have a to-do list at work and at home that never get completely checked off. I have friends I don't see enough, bills that pile up, and oh yeah...graduate school classes. So, I know busy. And I know how hard, maybe even crazy it is to even think about setting aside a whole day for prayer.

I also know that going to a mountain or somewhere else away from home, away from church and away from the computer in order to pray for a day is a must. Those places just offer too many distractions - good distractions, but distractions. I had to go away in order to be able to really spend extending time with Christ.

I also know how intimidating a Day of Prayer seems. What do you do all day? Do you have to have your eyes closed and your head bowed all day? What if you run out of things to say? Shouldn't I read about about how to pray for a day first?

So I decided to make a plan for the day, but also promised myself I would be flexible enough to change the plan as the day progressed. In the beginning I had a two hour drive where I listened to worship music and sang with the sunroof open. Once at the mountain I hiked for an hour, then journaled about the mountain images I really felt like God was giving to me. I hiked another half hour to the summit and then read my Bible for a while. Then I took out the list of all the folks in worship mistry I brought with me. I used my journal and wrote a 1-2 sentence prayer for each of them. Then I prayed through the list 2 more times. Then I hiked down the mountain for about 30 minutes, found a scenic spot and read a collection of sermons from a pastor in Wales. Then I descended the rest of the mountain just thanking God for the day, my life, family, ministry and future. In all, I spent 8 hours praying, listening, singing, reading, reflecting and journaling. I still can't believe it even as I write this out.

It was fantastic. I can't believe it has taken me 38 years of life, almost 20 years of relationship with Christ, and 7 years in ministry to take a day like this to pray. It won't take another 38 years to schedule another. Tuesday September 15th is already on my calendar.

Lastly..... don't forget the bug spray and sunscreen ;-)

A new goal for worship arts?

"Why not believe that one day the most critically acclaimed director in Hollywood could be an active Christian layman in his church? Why not hope that the Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting could go to a Christian journalist on staff at a major newspaper? Is is really too much of a stretch to think that the major exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art could feature the works of an artist on staff at one of our fine Christian colleges? Am I out of my mind to suggest that your son or daughter could be the principle dancer for the Joffrey Ballet Company, leading a weekly Bible study for other dancers?"

- Roaring Lambs by Robert Briner

FCCH Worship Ministry Update - 3/16/09

This update is intended for the dedicated worship ministry partners of FCCH.
I hope this is informative, helpful and encouraging to you all.

Celebrating Excellence! - Way to go Walter!

One of my core values is that "excellence honors God and inspires people". I apply it to my life and I apply it to worship ministry all the time. But recently a friend reminded me of the difference between excellence and perfection.


Perfection is trying to do everything under your own strength, with your own plan and not accepting anything but your intended outcome. Every detail has to be exact. And there is no room for failure.

Excellence is seizing every opportunity God presents to you and making the most of everything God has given you, to give Him glory. It means giving your absolute best, and letting God worry about the results.

Perfection is controlling. Excellence is liberating. Perfection focuses on us. Excellence focuses on Christ. Perfection is stressful. Excellence is exciting and dynamic. Perfection fears failure. Excellence finds God's glory in the unexpected.

So why clarify excellence? Because last weekend I saw it up close.

Walter Pope, a teen from my church, won the All-State Wrestling Championship. I had the privilege of seeing him win all 4 matches, including a triple overtime finals, to take the title. I had several people ask me why I would take 2 days off work, away from family and make 4 hour-long trips back and forth to the matches for a kid who is not a close family friend, and I only know casually from church.

Because what happened last weekend was special. It doesn't happen often. And it had nothing to do with wrestling.

You see Walter lives with a foster family from our church. His mom had to give him up because she couldn't care for him. He bounced around a bunch of foster homes until he landed with the Borghese family. This kid had every reason to be angry at the world, angry at God and no reason to believe in anything....especially himself. Walter should have been a statistic of the system.

But God loved Walter and offered him a different future...

The story is too long to tell all the details. Walter found a loving foster family, he found Christ, he learned to put God first, others second and himself third through the Ron Burton Training Village (a Christian sports camp), and he found a Church where he could grow in his faith and relationships that build him up.

This kid is thoughtful, respectful, kind and leads with a quiet strength that is inspiring. I spoke with his coach, teammates and a school administrator last weekend at the tournament and all of them spoke so highly of Walter, his influence on younger teammates, his positive presence at school, and the faith he displays.

Walter was even accepted into the Naval Academy Prep school next fall.....

So on Saturday night as Walter climbed the stairs to receive his first place medal on the biggest stage of Massachusetts wrestling, I didn't celebrate perfection....I celebrated excellence.

I celebrated the excellence of Christ, the excellence of his transforming power in the life of a young man, the excellent love of a foster family, the excellent commitment of the Ron Burton Training village, the excellent community of First Congregational Church of Hopkinton and the excellence of Walter who gives Christ all the glory.

Why did I go? I wouldn't have missed it for the world!

Way to be excellent Walter!

For more information about the Ron Burton Training Villiage and their amazing work in the life of underprivledged teenage boys, go to www.ronburtontrainingvillage.org

FCCH Worship Ministry Update 2/23/2009

This audio update is intended for the ministry partners at FCCH who faithfully give their time and effort to Worship Ministry.

bald was beautiful

So in my other life I am an EMT for Boston EMS, and this year the department instituted a new drug testing policy. Within a month of your birthday every year they collect hair samples to test you for illegal or controlled prescription medications.

No problem, because I have honestly never even tried a single drug. Sure, I have wandered from the straight and narrow in many other ways that I am not going to disclose here (my pastor calls that discretionary transparency). But I have never once used anything outside of codeine. I would love to say it comes from a strong moral fiber that has coursed through my veins since birth. But the truth is I have just never had any interest.

So anyway, they had us attend a class that explained the new policy and told us that if we didn't have hair on our head they could collect samples from other areas like our beard, arm pits, legs etc. Perfect, because it has been like 10 years since I started shaving the noggin' and I'm a little scared what my head would look like if I tried to grow anything again.

So I go to the test and the nice lady informs me that my beard is too short and my arm pits and legs aren't dense enough to collect the required 3 samples. Aren't dense enough? What do you mean it's not dense enough?

I can't believe it. I have never, ever not even once tried drugs, ever! And yet I think I just kind of failed a drug test. This isn't happening.

The result? I am given a letter informing me that I cannot trim, cut or shave any hair on my body until further notice or put myself at risk of disciplinary action, even termination of employment.
This isn't happening!

That means for the next several weeks maybe even months I have to cease and desist my dome grooming.

I thought I had come to grips with my male pattern baldness and moved on. But now all those painful emotions are returning with a fury. And what's worse is my neck itches more than anything has ever itched on my body ever!!!!

So in the coming weeks if you notice a new mountain man leading worship or you see my children run from the scarey hairy man they are not acknowledging as their father...
Don't worry. It's just Baird you friendly, drug test failing, hippie.

Lord, why do I have to learn humility over and over and over again?

Say You're Sorry

What do you do when you find out you have hurt a friend unintentionally?

How do you heal a wound you have caused?

Say you're sorry.


The other night I enjoyed an evening of ministry prep with a friend. We talked and laughed and had a really great time as we rehearsed and tweeked equipment and got things ready for an upcoming worship service. It had been a while since we had spent time together, so I really enjoyed catching up, talking about our kids, sharing recent embarrassing moments. He empathized with with me over the recent death of my father-in-law and listened intently as I talked of my trip to California. I soaked in his unique perspectives on ministry and encouraged him in his struggles at work.

It was a great time. It really was.

But as we were packing things up for the night he shared that he was glad we spent time together for another reason. He too knew it had been a while since we had talked or hung out and we weren't lead worship together as often as we had in the past. He had been hurting as a result. He had worried he had done something wrong. He was wondering if our friendship had changed. He was struggling with his place in ministry. He was wondering if he was really part of a family or a maybe just a hireling being replaced.

One of the toughest things about leadership for me is making time for personal touches. It is so hard to spend time with the friends you have in ministry amidst trying to get everything done. And balance that with your priorities at home with your wife and kids. And sometiems you feel like your family thinks you choose ministry over them while your ministry friends think you don't have time for them. What you want to be a win win often feels like a loose loose situation. And I'll be honest and say that even though I am a people person and love relationships, when there is a task to be done I often default to the task and can unitentionally neglect the relationships and people helping me accomplish the task.

So what do you do when you find out you have hurt a friend unintentionally?
How do you heal a wound you have caused?

Say you're sorry.

Day 1 - Personal Best 1

So I sit down with a cup of coffee today and decided to have a little quiet time with God. Molly and Hannah snuggle up next to me on the couch and ask me if I am gonna read my Bible. When they realize they can join me, they dash for their little picture Bibles and begin to imitate me.

"What are you doing now dad?" I tell them that I am going to read my Bible for a few minutes, then I am going to sit quietly for a few minutes to think about it, and then I am going to pray for a few minutes - telling Jesus again that I love Him, that I need His help today to learn more about Him, to make good choices and that I look forward to opportunities to tell somebody about Him (maybe even 2 little girls with picture Bibles and smiles that melt me like buttah)

Cute daddy moment over...

I turn to Haggai because I was talking with my friend Jose on Monday night about it. The whole book is only 2 pages....perfect.

So the Israelites have come from home Babylon (thank you Cyrus) and have started to rebuild the Temple that was destroyed. But they have not finished it because they have all gotten distracted by their personal responsibilities and commitments. Haggai steps up with a message from the Lord that He is really disappointed that they have neglected to finish rebuilding and put their selfish interests ahead of Him. That's putting it nicely.

So I sit there and I think. I remember this story. The people get their act together and finish the Temple, even though it pales in comparison to the former Temple. So what do you want me to get out of this God? I know everything is Scripture is useful for teaching. But what do you want me to learn? Surely not every single word has to have a personal impact everyday? (these were my actual thoughts... I know what your thinking, boy is he in for it) Then I re-read the part where God is encouraging the people since they are discouraged by this new less-glorious Temple.

"The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former... and in this place I will give peace"

And it hits me.... That's me! He's talking about me!

Follow me...
The Temple was the dwelling place of the Lord, which was replaced by Jesus, the fullness of God dwelling in a single man, which made it possible for me (and you) to become the human dwelling place of His Holy Spirit; all the glory of God, poured out for and into me. I am the promsed, more glorious dwelling place of His peace!

Then comes the conviction. "Baird, so why do you neglect my house for your own selfish interests? Why don't we spend time like this....every day? Why do you neglect our relationship?"

Confession...
I have become haphazard about my quiet times with God. Sure I study and read books about Christian things, sure I lead worship and talk about spiritual things with others, sure I pray with my girls and model Christ for them, sure I am on staff at church...
But my quiet times have been at best a convenience for me. I am a "Martha", running around trying to make everything perfect for Him, but I am also a post-exilic Jew, worrying about my crops and neglecting the building of His Temple, which is my personal relationship with Christ.

This wasn't just a revelation toady. I have been wrestling with this over the past few weeks. Today just nailed it for me. So no more casual devotionals, no more whenever I can fit it in, no more running around doing stuff for God and neglecting the growth of my relationship with Him.

Today is Day 1 of daily, quiet times with my first love, Jesus.
My personal best is 1 day in a row.

Thanks Haggai. Thanks Jose. Thanks Chuck Booher and Tony Wood. Thanks Jesus.