Archive for March, 2008
Childlike Faith
If you missed it, this past Tuesday our Singles Pastor, Joel Thomas,
started a new series at 7|22 on childlike faith entitled Now & Then.
Joel is getting a little help from his son for the series…
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/v/I7LXgGGNPuA 425 355]
You can watch Part 1 at www.722.org and for those of you who are
following the blog from out of town, you can now watch 7|22 LIVE on
Tuesday nights on the website.
If you’re here in Atlanta, don’t miss Part 2, Tuesday night at 7:30
right here at Buckhead Church.
Jeff Henderson
Behind the Scenes-Good Friday 2008
Ever wonder what goes into planning a service like Good Friday? Here’s a little behind- the-scenes glance for you . . .
Meetings, meetings, meetings . . .
In January, planning began with a creative meeting where a small group of dreamers put their dreams on the table. First, we created a purpose statement for the service and identified people who might be impacted. Then, we started talking. The only rule was: there are no rules. “All ideas are welcome, forget logistics, and dream big!” Tons of ideas came out of this meeting. For Good Friday 2008, the paintings idea started in this meeting, as well as the overall structure: no speaker, band in the back of the stage, Scripture as the guide.
Next was an even smaller meeting where those ideas were hashed out a bit. “What is possible? What sticks? What will have lasting impact? What will make the service personal?” All of these questions were used when we whittled down the idea pool.
And finally, in yet another meeting, we began to lay out the service. Decisions were made as to what the elements should be and how things would flow. We used a series of boards so we could literally see the service take shape on cards. 
LOTS of changes happened from the initial concept. In fact, we were changing things a few days before the service. The Service Programming team grabbed onto projects and tasks like set design, song selection, videos, communion, and graphics; and we started implementing.
Holy Week
Good Friday rehearsals began at 3 p.m. The artists were ready, the stage was set, and the musicians were prepared. But even with so much preparation, there was still the feeling of “Is this going to happen?” I love that feeling. No matter how much work we put into it, dependence on God is exactly what we needed to feel at that moment. Rehearsal was bumpy. Computers crashed; technology challenged us. Change this. Shorten that. Is everyone on board? Yes. No time to pause. The doors opened . . . God showed up.
It is Finished
It’s str
ange to evaluate a service like Good Friday. As a producer I often find myself asking, “Should we have done that? Did that work? What about that song?” But this year I was challenged to instead ask myself, “Did I walk away thinking about Jesus, or did I walk away thinking about the service?” For me, even after being entrenched in planning for three months, I sat looking at the final painting with Jesus on my mind, not lighting cues. Our hope, as a Service Programming team, is that you feel closer to God because of the Good Friday service . . . that is our ultimate payoff.
Amber Blossom
Associate Service Programming Director
Video Update
For a sneak peak about what’s happening at Buckhead over the next two weeks, please watch this quick video.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/v/_GHD9Gw0uyw 425 350]
Here are some links that provide further information:
http://www.buckheadchurch.org/grouplink
http://www.buckheadchurch.org/invite
http://www.722.org/
Jeff
Ask Andy
In a few weeks, the Buckhead staff along with our colleagues at North Point and Browns Bridge will host a conference for church leaders called DRIVE. It will take place at our Alpharetta campus on Monday, May 5 – Wednesday, May 7. The conference’s website is amazing, particularly the Ask Andy part. Click here: www.driveconference.org, enter the site and then click on Ask Andy.
If you’re in need of a good laugh today, you’re welcome.
Real Men Cry
One of the many people who stood up to accept Christ here on Sunday was an 11-year-old young lady named Hannah. She was on the second row with her Dad, Reide, for the 6 pm service. I was speaking with them afterwards when Hannah said, “Dad, are you crying?”
“This is one of the happiest days of my life,” was all he could get out. So there we were, a smiling, beaming Hannah with her Dad and me – two grown men who now had tears in our eyes. I’ve decided that when it comes to celebrating a life shaping, eternity-changing decision like Hannah’s, crying is accepted. In fact, when it comes to something as incredible as this, I bet even John Wayne would have cried. If not, he was probably a wimp.
Jeff
