Koinonia Christian Campus Fellowship – UC Berkeley Club

This past week we also had our very first Koinonia Praise Night! We had a great time of worship, of being challenged by testimonies, and meeting a lot of new friends. Check out this video:

What an amazing weekend! You know now why Good Friday/Easter weekend is one of the highlights of the year for Gracepoint and Christians around the world.If you missed out, here’s a recap:

On Friday, we hopped in cars and drove over to Alameda’s Koffman Auditorium. This Good Friday’s theme was giving our burdens to Jesus. This was visually displayed by the mound of luggage that was piled on the stage leading up to the foot of the cross.

We were able to reflect on the burdens in our life that are piling up on us. The key verse for Good Friday was Matthew 11:28 when Jesus says:  “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” What wonderful news! It was a powerful moment to see the luggage full of our burdens, guilt and sins set at the foot of the cross.

Our Easter Sunday service was filled with a stage full of flowers which painted a picture of the joy of Jesus’ resurrection. After a moving skit and message by Pastor Ed, we were able to reflect on the names we call ourselves, and then the name that Jesus calls us. I felt overwhelmed with gratitude that God no longer sees me as the sinner I am, but instead as His child. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

We ended the service with a mega performance of the song “Hallelujah Chorus” performed by our very own (almost professional) orchestra and choir. Even if you have zero musical background (like myself) you could not help but have chills throughout the entire performance. I know everyone was thrilled when Pastor Ed said “That was just too good to only do once” and we were able to hear it again!

After the Easter service we celebrated by eating lunch together at the Central apartments where we feasted on yummy Vietnamese sandwiches. After lunch,  a group of us headed over to the Oakridge Care Center to visit the residents from our Valentine’s Day of Compassion.  They were so happy to see young smiling faces again. You could see that we had made their day just being there. Although we didn’t plan a program, we were able to sing a few songs with them: “The Milk Song”, and our all-time favorite “Your Love is Deep”. There is a line in this song that goes:

“Who can separate us? Who can separate us from your love? Nothing can separate us. Nothing can separate us from your love.”

Even though we’ve sung these words a million times, with the fresh perspective of the cross and Easter, I was amazed at the truth of these words. Nothing can separate me or the elderly residents from the love of God. The cross truly is an open invitation for everyone, no matter where you are in your  journey of life.

Performing the Hallelujah Chorus! A powerful performance that ended our special Easter Service.

2010 Easter Choir from Gracepoint Berkeley on Vimeo.

I’ve been on a hymn-kick lately (evidence: the play count on my “hymns mix” playlist), and wanted to give a plug for a few albums I have (re)discovered lately.  My musical tastes range, but I always come back to hymns.  They just don’t write lyrics like they used to…

I’m recommending the three albums I have been listening to the most.

1. Ginny Owens’ latest album Say Amen: Hymns and Songs of Faith, released in October 2009.  I think her album is the most varied in terms of arrangements.  A couple of soulful, jazzy songs (“Say Amen”); gospel choir sound (“Home in Me”); some more choral and meditative (“Beautiful Savior”); and other styles I can’t quite describe.  My personal favorite hymns on this album are “Do Not Pass Me By (Prayer of Bartimaeus)” and “Be Thou My Vision.”

2. Jadon Lavik’s Roots Run Deep, released in February 2008.  Love the acoustic guitar feel.  If you’re familiar with his other work, it’s consistent in the lilting, slightly bluesy/jazz feel (“Wondrous Love” is a perfect example).  He does venture into piano arrangements, such as the lovely “I Need Thee.”  A very ‘amazing’ rendition of “Amazing Grace.”  And one of my favorites on this album is his version of “Turn Your Eyes.”

*Not on this album, but a song that’s been stuck in my head lately is “Surrender” from his 2009 album The Road Acoustic (also highly recommended).

3.  Chris Rice’s Peace Like a River: The Hymns Project, going waaaaay back to October 2007.  I love Chris Rice’s musicality, similar in ways to Ginny Owens (maybe that’s why I like them both so much?).  They have actually collaborated on various Rocketown Records projects.

A lot of variety in styles on this album as well, though the overall feeling is airy.  Maybe ethereal?  Heavenly?  Not sure if it makes sense, but maybe if you give it a listen, you’ll know what I mean.  What would a Chris Rice vocal project be without a lot of tight harmonies!  I especially like “Before the Throne of God Above” and “O Love That Will Not Let Me Go.”  You might recognize the version of “Rock of Ages” since we’ve sung it at church.  And just to throw in something different, I’d like to highlight “O Freedom.”

Check out any or all of the above albums and let me know what you think!  I hope you’ll be blessed by the hymns.  I’m always looking for good hymn albums, so let me know if you have any recommendations as well.  What are you listening to these days?  Are posts like these useful at all to you?  Leave a comment!

I’m not sure what John Newton would think of this version, but Sang does a fine modern rendition of Amazing Grace – Sang Style.

btw, this is just one of the many kinds of things we do in the down-times while at our leaders’ Steve/Suzanne’s place.  Hanging out, talking, eating and beat boxing.  Just what normal ppl do.