Sunday Afterthoughts May 9th

If you missed Element Church yesterday, I'm sorry.

God's presence was so strong and moving.

As you know we like to mix things up all the time around here. So we did just that. We stripped it down to a full acoustic worship set. It was beautiful. We rocked 4 acoustic guitars across the frontline with huge harmonies and moving creative elements. Added a new tag to the end of Nothing But The Blood which was a powerful moment. We opened and closed with the AWAKE MY SOUL tag from Mumford and Sons. Such a cool song.

The kicker of the day was having Jenna LaPierre paint throughout the entire worship service. The theme was Awakening. Check out Jenna's facebook for more information on purchasing the painting that came out of that time. They are auctioning it off for there missions trip.















There was such a specialness about meeting with Jesus yesterday.

But we won't stop there...this week we are busting out more Jesus Creativity. haha. This weeks worship set is brand new to Element. Never been done before. Don't miss it. Jesus is creative. Don't put Him in a box and say "there is only one way to worship". Great moves of God from all of history have happened with so many musical styles. So we want to still press the envelope on style. There is a huge culture out there that still have not heard of Jesus and His love for them. Don't ever settle. Be creative.

Pastor Jeff delivered a great word on Routine in worship.
Check it out here.

Set List:
Awake My Soul - Mumford and Sons
Your Grace is Enough - Chris Tomlin
Nothing But The Blood - Old Hymn
Hallelujah Our God Reigns - Hillsong
Awake My Soul (re-visited) - Mumford and Sons
Communion - Third Day

Til The End,
Adam

Sunday Afterthoughts 4-25

///Today was a great day at element. Pastor Jeff was on a much needed/deserved vacation to cancun. So pastor Andy filled the pulpit. He did a fantastic job and spoke boldly on Loving God with all our Strength. A great challenge to step into action with our faith.

///There was a great authenticity about worship today. The "energy" of worship in 3rd service was electric. So huge. Each service was a great time of worship though.

///We are absolutely loving the newest song by Corey Asbury called So Good To Me.

///I can't express how excited I am about our upcoming series in MAY called "OPEN" (noisy hymns, ego music, and how God sees your worship). We have some creative elements planned for the month. Jeremiah and I spent the last week in the Bakery Studio nailing down creative elements for one of the weeks. Pastor Jeff will be bringing the word strong. I'm very excited about the direction we are taking on worship. Buckle up!

Set List:
Rise and Sing - Fee
So Good To Me - Cory Asbury
Stronger - Hillsong
The Same Power - Hillsong

Sunday Afterthoughts April 18th

It has been a while since the last post. 5 months in fact. I am not promising that I am going to be more consistent, however due to the increasing interest in our elementer's wanting to know the names of the songs we sang for the last Sunday, I will be posting our set list here consistently each monday morning. And periodically some thoughts on worship, and my family. Amber and I are now only 14 weeks away from having a baby girl. So I am sure this will be used a lot more.

Set List:
The Time Has Come - Hillsong
So Good To Me - Cory Asbury
How He Loves - Kim Walker (version)
Yes You Have - Leeland

Sunday Set List

Solution - Hillsong United
Beautiful Jesus - Kristian Stanfill
Light up the World - Desperation Band
Give me your eyes - Brandon Heath
Go Tell It - Lee Mcderment

Sunday Set List

Bare Bones Sunday is what we called this past Sunday. We literally used ZERO volunteers. NONE. NO ONE. It was the WORST Sunday ever in the history of Element Church as far as presentation goes. No one greeted, no donuts, coffee, no ushers, no worship guides, no lyrcs on the screen, no screen at all, no theatrical lighting, no sound (I PLUGGED MY MIC AND GUITAR INTO MY AMP) and led worship, no First Impression people in the lobby, no door openers, no one in the parking lot. IT WAS HORRIBLE. FOR THIS REASON, we can't do anything without our volunteers. Our volunteers are priceless and they do a phenomenal job. It takes over 100 volunteers to pull off 1 Sunday morning. We didn't want to TALK about it anymore we wanted to SHOW it. The point was made.

-- We received over 90 interest cards for people to step up and volunteer.

Set List:
O Praise Him: David Crowder
Reign In Us: Starfield
Funny How: Adam Cruz
For Who You Are: Hillsong United

sunday set list 8-30-09

Salvation is Here - Hillsong United
You Never Let Go - Matt Redman
Till The End - Adam Cruz
I Am Free - Desperation Band

I introduced my new song "Till the End" to the band and they knocked it out of the park. Phenomenal job. Everyone added a creative flare to it and I think it connected well with everyone.

Sunday Afterthoughts 8-23

This week I wrote a new song based on the series we are in, called "Till the End". It was literally a download straight from heaven. I wrote it late one night and felt like it was my heart for this series. Jeff has coined the phrase "Till the End" throughout this series. So today Jeff talked about making it to the end in our Marriages. I had Amber sing the song with me at the end of service for a time for Couples to pray thru this idea. It was beautiful having her up there with me. I love my wife very much and I am committed "till the end" with her. I love being able to do what we love, together. (who knows maybe with enough prodding from you she will consider singing more on sunday's, hint hint). Regardless it was a really cool moment today to participate in that with her!

I love being a part of a church that is helping people experience life. I love that when I come in, I leave different. I love having a pastor that isn't afraid of man, but fears God and preaches what God says to preach. I love serving with a team that is WILDLY CRAZY ABOUT JESUS. It's contagious.

We had some 247 kids in our E:Kids ministry today. Absolutely in sane.
Had a packed house all 3 services

I love walking out into the lobby and feeling an intense BUZZ in the air of anticipation and passion for Jesus and what He is doing here at Element Church.

To say that I am incredibly STOKED for our next series "BE", would be an understatement. We have things planned at Element that have never been done before. EVER! YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS SEPTEMBER 6th! AT ALL! Make sure you do everything you can to be here at Element, and don't think you'll just listen to the podcast or check it out online. The rest of the weeks are going to be incredible as well as we take a look into what the church should really "BE"!

Jesus was worshiped today, the Word was preached and lives were changed. LOVE IT!

Had a GREAT night of Settlers of Catan at the Andrews house. I won!!! Cannot EVER get enough of that game. lol

Off to bed. Excited about Lead Team meeting with the guys tomorrow morning. Finishing up the book "IT" by Craig Groshel. Really good book.

Set List:
Today is the Day - Lincoln Brewster
Sweetly Broken - Brandon Heath
Came to my Rescue - Hillsong United
How He Loves - Kim Walker
Till the End - Adam Cruz

Till The End,
Adam

sunday afterthoughts

Today we started testimonies in our worship team small group time. I asked each person to share their story of coming to know Jesus. I shared mine and Amanda shared her's. Thanks for being brave Amanda. I am looking forward to hearing everyone's story. There is so much power in our story's. I love the POWER OF GOD in both sides, the one who experienced the party rebel life, and the one who stayed strong. There isn't a boring story when you are talking about Jesus rescuing us from hell. I love you guys. Thanks for your sacrifice in developing a healthy worship team.

It has been a worship filled weekend. Friday morning, I took a few team members with me to Sheridan, WY to lead worship for a big 30 HR Famine city wide worship night. It was a really powerful time. We did an hour and a half worship set and God's name was praised in that WYO theater. We were all beet afterwards. Got home yesturday and got up this morning to continue.

I have been looking forward to today for a while. We schedule out our set lists 6 weeks in advance. I knew that song wise this was going to be a powerful sunday. Partnered with Jeff's message on God's love, it was an intense day. The altar response 3rd service was just awesome. Each service was great but 3rd, there was a presence that took us to a whole new level. Jeff told me of several stories of people who found life today. I never get sick of hearing that.

We all need to be experiencing the love of the father. Love Jeff's line "if we are not experiencing the love of God who's fault is that our's or God's?" We choose to accept the love of God. He has already offered it.

I am so tired after this full weekend. But its so worth it. Wouldn't want to be doing anything else.

Set List Sunday May 10th:
All Who Are Thirsty (just the chorus) - Brenton Brown
Open Up The Gates - PlanetShakers
The One Who Loves Me - Adam Cruz
Indescribable - Chris Tomlin
How He Loves - Kim Walker


resting,
adam

sunday afterthoughts

"i feel lost" was the text i received from Jeff at 6:30am sunday. lol.
Jeff hasn't preached in 2 weeks. Its been healthy for everyone, but buckle up cause the fire is coming next week. Can't wait.

Curtis closed up our Generations series and did an outstanding job.
Loved his main idea:
"God is not something to believe in He is SOMEONE to EXPERIENCE".

We are launching Life's Toughest Questions next sunday. This is going to be a great series.

We had our smoothest/fastest sound-check/pre-service rehearsal ever yesturday. I think we knocked it out close to the actual set time. It was really good. THANK YOU BAND AND TECH GUYS FOR COMING IN READY AND STRONG. MADE FOR AN AWESOME SUNDAY MORNING.

Looking forward to the week ahead. Got some creative juices flowing in my head for upcoming series graphics, videos, set designs, possible NEW ELEMENT T-SHIRTS, new videos and random graphics. I really feel like I am headed to the next level in some things.

Alright out to lead team,

Worship Set for Sunday April 28th:
Counting On God: New Life Worship
Marvelous Light: Charlie Hall
The Glory of it All: David Crowder
My Glorious: Delirious

Sunday AfterThoughts!

Sunday was awesome! There is nothing like a facility that is jammed packed with people. Shoulder to shoulder, can't even move, bringing in more seating, and creating overflow in a lobby. LOL. That explains what happened sunday!

Then 9 people get saved! COME ON CHURCH! I love it. Jeff had them be bold and stand up and the church erupted in tears and praise. It was really powerful!!

This was an awesome opening of our new series Sunday School. In this series Jeff is unpacking some of the major bible stories in a whole new way! Week one was awesome and I am looking forward to the rest. ESPECIALLY EASTER! You dont want to miss what we have planned for easter!

Dont forget that we are moving to 3 services this sunday. The new times are 8:30, 10:00, & 11:30am!

Alright and I promise that there will be a website this week! We have been working hard, hit a few snags, and had a bit bigger project than expected in some areas. But it looks amazing and its coming!! Ill announce that today or tommorow!!

OH YEAH & my creative team knocked it out of the park with our set design this series. Simply brilliant. Great job, very creative. You guys rock.

Alrighty I am off to the gym!

Sunday Set List,
Beautiful One - Tim Hughes
My Glorious - Delerious
Reign in us - Starfield
Hosanna - Hillsong United
----
Adam

Sunday AfterThoughts!

Today I wore flip flops!!

This is my favorite season. I love flip flops. And it was a busting 60 degrees today, so I started early.

We had some hickups this week with the worship team. But they did awesome. Adjusted well. And God was worship. I really felt like today everyone was connecting. I love seeing physical demonstration of what God is doing in peoples hearts during worship.

Jeff closed the Wild Goose Chase series today with a passionate, fire-up, finale. I love being behind a man with so much vision and executing passion for a church and its impact in a city. COME ON CHURCH! Its game time!

We have SO many things happening here at element, there is buzz in the air.
1) We are launching 3 services in 2 weeks
2) We are launching our new series Sunday School
3) We are launching our brand new website by the end of this week
4) We are dropping 40,000 easter eggs from a helicopter April 4th
5) We are doing an easter service in a way I am sure will surprise you all!!

I love this church!

Set List for 3-15-09
Everyone (praises) - Desperation Band
Blessed be your name - Matt Redman
Beautiful Jesus - Kristian Stanfill
Mighty to Save - Hillsong United
It is well


Buzzing
adam

sunday afterthoughts

awesome day yesturday. 2nd week of 21.

-- Jeff talked about our devotional life in a very challenging way.

-- "why do we call them devotions if we aren't devoted" - so good

-- 670 people today. Lots of new faces. Full room. SO GOOD!

-- You need to know how blessed you are to have such an awesome tech team and worship team (not boasting of myself). They put in so much time to provide you the best worship possible. We have made some huge headway in our sound for that room.

I love being your worship pastor.

Set list from Sunday:
Solid Rock - New Life Worship
We Lift You Up - New Life Worship
Hungry - Vineyard
Better is one day - Matt Redman
Everything - Lifehouse

YOU CHOOSE RESULTS

FAST SONGS:
SALVATION IS HERE
COUNTING ON GOD
HAPPY DAY

MEDIUM SONGS:
YEARN
MIGHTY TO SAVE
GLORIOUS ONE

SLOW SONGS:
THE STAND
CAME TO MY RESCUE
FROM THE INSIDE OUT

Again I will pick 5 of these songs to build a set list with. You'll have to wait till sunday to know which five. Thanks for participating.

You Choose Update

Only 16 hours left.

Here are the Current standings for you choose!!

FAST SONGS:
Happy Day
Salvation is here
Love the Lord

MEDIUM SONGS:
Yearn
Mighty to Save
Hosanna

SLOW SONGS:
The Stand
At the Cross
Came to my Rescue



VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE.

Vote here!!

sunday afterthoughts

Ill begin with, what I thought was the coolest part of the day. Jeff actually did an altar call and 10 people came forward. SO GOOD!

Wow what a week it has been. I want to say thank you to our worship team. They have poured some incredible hours into rehearsals lately. Not only thursdays but tuesdays and several weekends. They sacrifice a lot so that we have good music at element. Thanks you guys.

Rockin around the tree on Tuesday, can't wait. Its going to be a great time.

YOU CHOOSE UPDATE:
I will be pulling the vote at 11:59pm Tuesday the 23rd. Results will be posted christmas eve the 24th. Again I will pick 5 of the 9 songs.
Here are the current standings:

FAST SONGS:
Happy Day - 53 votes
Salvation is here - 47 votes
Love the Lord - 36 votes
Close in contest:
Solution - 35 votes
Counting on God - 30 votes

MEDIUM SONGS:
Yearn - 67 votes
Mighty To Save - 63 votes
Hosanna - 41 votes
Close in contest:
Glorious One - 33 votes
Madly - 31 votes

SLOW SONGS:
The Stand - 57 votes
At the Cross - 53 votes
Came to my rescue - 49 votes
Close in contest:
From the inside out - 49 votes
God of this city - 35 votes

Make sure to grab "21" invite cards, to invite people to our next series. This series has the potential to ROCK YOUR WORLD if you let it. I am already having my world rocked. Please make sure your friends and family get here for "21".

Set list sunday december 21st:
Sing, Sing, Sing - Chris Tomlin
O come let us adore him - New Spring Church Version
God has come - New Life Church
Spring of Life - Kristian Stanfill
Mighty to Save - United
I celebrate the day - relient k

---adam

sunday afterthoughts

well today wasn't as weird as last week, however I do have to admit it is taking some adjusting with our new facility. I love it and especially love not setting up and tearing down each week, however its just taking some adjusting.

a (-34) degrees was the temp today. It was cold. When we got there at 7 this morning it was 55 inside. I wasn't sure I would even be able to play guitar because my fingers were so cold.

The band rocked it today. We wrote a new version of Joy To The World that was a lot of fun.

Jeff has done a fantastic job with this series, honestly, when we had come up with the series idea I thought it was great but we didn't have 4 topics. We knew a couple issues we wanted to address, but nothing was nailed down. All that said, the topics and delivery has been amazing. Deep issues are being drawn out that I had no idea were going to be so impactful.

We ended todays service with a response time, (so nice to actually be able to do that), we had 3 tables setup with bowls and incense (symbolic of burning). Jeff talked on Family but more than that on forgiveness and invited people to let go of hurts by family or close ones in your life. We had them write down there hurts on paper and place them in a bowl. I sang "Carried to the Table" by Leeland and it was a very special time.

Remember to go to www.elementweb.net/youchoose and vote for your ideal set list for December 28th. You have until TUESDAY December 23rd. Again we pick 5 of the top 9 songs to build a set list. Here are the current standings:

FAST SONGS:
Happy Day
Salvation is Here
Counting on God
Close Behind:
Let Your Kingdom Come
I will never stop


MEDIUM SONGS:
Mighty to Save
Yearn
Glorious One
Close Behind:
You never let go
Here I am to worship

SLOW SONGS:
Came to the Rescue
The Stand
From the inside out
Close Behind:
At the Cross
God of this city

Please pray for safe travels for Jeff and his family as they travel to the funeral of Sabrina's grandmother.

Our next series is going to be one not to miss. More details coming THIS SUNDAY!

Set List sunday December 14th:
Counting on God - New Life Church
Joy to the World - Hillsong United
O Come let us adore him - Third Day version
Here is our King - David Crowder
Your Name - New Life Worship
Carried to the table - LEELAND

---Adam

sunday afterthoughts

yesturday "was", period. It happened. I felt like I was in an entirely different church leading worship. It was amazing and awkward at the same time.

10 people got saved yesturday. I told my wife, "that is the greatest way we could have entered the new facility".

I love this church and being used by God in what He is doing here.

Remember to go to www.elementweb.net/youchoose to vote for the set list on the last sunday of the year.

Also make sure to get your tickets for Rockin Round the Tree. Our Christmas EveEve service. YOu won't want to miss it. Tickets are almost gone. We are out of first service and half way thru 2nd service.

Set List:
Counting on God - New Life Worship
Gloria - Mercy Me
Glorified - New Life Worship
Maker of Heaven - New Life Worship
Wrap me in your arms - Lisa Gungor
Permanent - David Cook

YOU CHOOSE

Alright the votes are coming in quickly. If you have not voted go to www.elementweb.net/youchoose and put in your choice. A lot of you are only picking 3 songs total. You need to choose 3 songs from each category. You have until the 22nd to vote. We will choose 5 songs from the top 9.

Here are the current standings:
Fast - Happy Day with 8 votes
Medium - Mighty to save - 11 votes
Slow - How Great is our God - 10 votes


Waiting
Adam

sunday afterthoughts

Sunday was beautiful in so many ways. I took 4 team members from the worship team down to the ENTER worship conference in Colorado Springs for the weekend. You can read all our posts about that below. I told my wife after service today that as we were worshipping I was seeing so many of the things we talked about from the conference take effect, or I just saw why or how they worked. It was a neat experience for me.

We didn't hold a thursday night rehearsal this week which made me very nervous, and yet the band rocked. For not rehearsing you guys did an amazing job.

Curtis knocked it out of the park yesturday. I thought he did a great job on personal evangelism. Make sure to listen to that if you weren't there.

I love worshipping with all of you.
adam

set list sunday
Solution - United
Let your kingdom come - adam cruz
the stand - united
rescue - Jared Anderson
Go tell it - Lee Mcderment

its been to long

sorry it has been busy lately, I havn't had time to update at all.

We have had some great things happening around element lately. 496 today. I heard we had 3 chairs left in 2nd service. We really need to get into that next location so that we can continue to grow.

Jeff and I talked after church today and he shared some incredible stories with me about things God is doing in people. AWESOME. Our Launch Anniversary is coming and you do not want to miss it. Talk about some good God stories.

Jeff brought it down today. If you missed his message, you SO NEED to go listen to it. My favorite line that has convicted me: "stop trying to be like someone else, and start striving to look like Jesus and you will become everything you are supposed be". My Paraphrase, but close. Also gave a huge challenge to be in the word.

Halfway thru the series LOST. You will not want to miss our last week. Its going to be powerful.

Alright off to have some dinner with my wife,

Set List - Sept. 14
Not to Us - Chris Tomlin
Glorious One - Kristian Stanfill
O Lord Most High - Joel Hatcher
Better is One Day - Matt Redman
Pleasing to You - Jared Anderson