cheval glasshttp://cynthiacullen.typepad.com/cheval_glass/Cynthia Cullen's weblog...a full length reflection of my animated journey.en-USSun, 22 Jan 2012 12:54:34 PSThttp://www.typepad.com/32.226713-80.743254http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/http://www.cynthiacullen.comhttp://cynthiacullen.typepad.com/cynheadshot09.pngCheval Glass - Cynthia Cullen's weblogChevalGlasshttp://feedburner.google.comSubscribe with My Yahoo!Subscribe with NewsGatorSubscribe with My AOLSubscribe with BloglinesSubscribe with NetvibesSubscribe with GoogleSubscribe with PageflakesCynthia Cullen's weblog...a full-length reflection of my animated journey.Doing a Worship Recordhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ChevalGlass/~3/R25iQmLpLH8/we-are-doing-a-worship-record.htmlHilton Head Island Community Churchcynthia cullenSun, 22 Jan 2012 12:54:34 PSThttp://cynthiacullen.typepad.com/cheval_glass/2012/01/we-are-doing-a-worship-record.htmlWe have begun rehearsals for our first worship recording at Hilton Head Island Community Church . It has already been such a huge team building time and has created such a spirit of unity among our musicians.

I've had the privilege of producing several records for churches including a live worship CD and video. However, the way this is coming together has been the best experience I've had in doing this at church. Here's what is working for us:

1) We are doing songs we love and that we know very well. We only have one original song and the rest are songs we love to sing at church. Because these songs are familiar, in a lot of ways, they have morphed into our own arrangements which allows some originality. This has made using all of our musicians a reality because everyone knows the material.

2) We are recording our rehearsals every week. This allows us to listen to our arrangements and tweak. We have broken the record into two parts based on the instrumentation. With four rehearsals scheduled, this gives us two rehearsals for each part of the record which is plenty of time to tweak and perfect our band parts and arrangements. I upload these recordings to Planning Center so everyone can listen and evaluate.

3) We have hired a producer. In the past, I've produced records that I have played and sang on as a musician. This time, I wanted to totally devote my energy to the arrangements, my parts, and to investing in the team experience. It's the best decision I've made! We've hired personal friends of mine that I have worked with before and highly respect from the recording world in Atlanta to produce.

4) We are recording everything at our church. This has greatly reduced the cost of this project. We've blocked out two full days for band tracking and two full days for vocals (three weeks after the band tracking days.) We are limiting overdubs and trying to get the best live take of every song. At this point, based on the rehearsal recordings, we think it will work.

5) We are breaking up the vocals between three worship leaders with BGV's, and yes...choir! I love big vocals on certain songs and I love the simplicity of a lead vocal and one or two background voices. This allows EVERYONE to participate and be a part of the experience.

6) We have been playing with a click track every week on Sundays. Because we do it every week, there is no pressure on the team during the recording process. They are used to it and it has become just a part of our weekly process.

7) We are working on this project during a "slower" part of the year. January and February does not hold a lot of outside pressure for us as a team and so this has been a great time of year to devote to this entire project. We will be done with everything on our part by the last week of February.

I'll be updating you all on our progress as we continue. We are half-way through our rehearsals and I'm already thrilled about how far along we are as a team!



























]]>We have begun rehearsals for our first worship recording at Hilton Head Island Community Church . It has already been such a huge team building time and has created such a spirit of unity among our musicians. I've had the...http://cynthiacullen.typepad.com/cheval_glass/2012/01/we-are-doing-a-worship-record.htmlSynergyhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ChevalGlass/~3/E9I-xStFScU/synergy.htmlcynthia cullenMon, 09 Jan 2012 19:38:28 PSThttp://cynthiacullen.typepad.com/cheval_glass/2012/01/synergy.htmlWe are in the middle of getting ready to renovate a 13,000 square foot warehouse for our future facility at Hilton Head Island Community Church. . My days and nights have been filled with design conversations with the team via email and texts, getting quotes from vendors, facility walk-throughs, and so much more. This is the third time that I have had the privilege to be a part of a new facility project as a church staff member. Every time is unique and exciting, but there are definitely some things I've realized during this design process that I believe make the difference.

1. Build a creative team of people around you who are not afraid to share every idea they have in their mind. Everybody has budget constraints. That is reality. However, if your team is always thinking about that, the "what if" ideas never surface. I've been amazed to see "what if" items turn into doable things because we were able to "tweak" the idea to make it a reality.

2. "There is more than one way to skin a cat." This phrase made popular by Mark Twain is so true. Every team I have worked with has truly always wanted the same thing: to create the best facility possible..to reach the most people we can...to be the best stewards of the resources we have been given by God. However, you have to be willing to see every option, hear every voice on the team, and be willing to be flexible. The goal is never to get everything YOU want. I believe the goal should be to make as many decisions as possible that benefit EVERYONE on the team. This is really hard to do, but the benefits are so worth it.

3. Surround yourself with people that are better at all of this than you. I'm so thankful for the team we have here to do this project. They are creative, professional, and so willing to do whatever it takes to do it right. Most of the team is contributing based on their own professional experience. These are the best people to have on the team! Their knowledge and insight is invaluable.

4. There is no room for ego or marriage to an idea. Everything has to be on the table. There are moments that a project manager has to finally make the call, but if 1-3 are happening, it is usually an easy decision.

I love being a part of a team to accomplish something bigger than ourselves. I love what everyone brings to the project and how the synergy of our ideas creates something that no one person could create on their own.

How does synergy work for you? Has it been a positive or negative experience?





]]>We are in the middle of getting ready to renovate a 13,000 square foot warehouse for our future facility at Hilton Head Island Community Church. . My days and nights have been filled with design conversations with the team via...http://cynthiacullen.typepad.com/cheval_glass/2012/01/synergy.htmlFamily Fridays...SAY YES!http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ChevalGlass/~3/cuhQNs7vpho/family-fridayssay-yes.htmlChildren and the ArtsFamilyFamily Fridayscynthia cullenFri, 06 Jan 2012 11:10:30 PSThttp://cynthiacullen.typepad.com/cheval_glass/2012/01/family-fridayssay-yes.htmlToday, I'm kicking off a new series here at Cheval Glass. There are so many challenges facing ministry leaders and none greater than raising children. Family Fridays will discuss our personal struggles, victories, and best practices. Please dialogue here with me and share your insights on family issues as it relates to being ministry leaders.

I feel like I say "NO" a lot as a parent. It really bugs me. I provide the structure and schedule for our family as a lot of moms do and the creative in me gets REALLY tired of having to always be the margin and boundary policeman for the Cullens!

Todd and I have Fridays off since our Sundays are so long.  We try to keep this day as free from routine and a schedule as possible so that we can just take a breath and truly have a Sabaath experience. So with my issues with saying "No" so much, I started a thing called "Say Yes Fridays." I make a conscious attempt to "say yes" to as much as I can on Fridays.  Being that my kids are seven and a half and almost five, they have not quite "caught-on" to this.  I don't make a big deal that it's "Say Yes Friday." I just have made a mental decision to do this on specific Fridays.

For example, I am headed to pick Sydney up from school very soon. It she gets in the car and asks me," Mom, can we get a Starbucks hot chocolcate?." My answer wil be YES! If Sean asks me for another cookie after he has already had two, I'm going to say YES!  This has made me feel so much more effective as parent to give myself permission to do this.

What is something that you do to give yourself permission to say yes? What is something you do to create "yes" moments as a parent?


]]>Today, I'm kicking off a new series here at Cheval Glass. There are so many challenges facing ministry leaders and none greater than raising children. Family Fridays will discuss our personal struggles, victories, and best practices. Please dialogue here with...http://cynthiacullen.typepad.com/cheval_glass/2012/01/family-fridayssay-yes.htmlFreshhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ChevalGlass/~3/0-qcGdUW6lw/fresh.htmlMirror momentscynthia cullenMon, 02 Jan 2012 20:03:28 PSThttp://cynthiacullen.typepad.com/cheval_glass/2012/01/fresh.htmlI love a new year. We always do a "Christmas Clean" every year around New Year's Day. We take down all our Christmas stuff, clean out our closets, get rid of stuff and clean like crazy!

I was thinking about these verses as I was cleaning out my laundry room (and yes, it really needed it!) Lamentations 3:22-24..."Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning;great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion."I'm so thankful for fresh grace everyday. I don't have to wait for a new calendar year to get a fresh start. God's mercy and compassion are new 365 days a year!

If you can, take the time to reach this message (http://www.spurgeongems.org/vols19-21/chs1122.pdf) from C.H. Spurgeon. This is an excerpt of one of my favorite parts...

"What a poor thing I am. How little Grace I have. How weak in prayer. How slow in service. How frequently depressed. How easily tossed to and fro. How shall I hope to hold on to the end? Where is the answer to it—“I shall be anointed with fresh oil.” I am poor, but I shall receive my daily pension. I am weak and I have no strength in reserve, but my strength is laid up in God!" - C.H. Spurgeon, FRESH GRACE CONFIDENTLY EXPECTED NO. 1122


]]>I love a new year. We always do a "Christmas Clean" every year around New Year's Day. We take down all our Christmas stuff, clean out our closets, get rid of stuff and clean like crazy! I was thinking about...http://cynthiacullen.typepad.com/cheval_glass/2012/01/fresh.htmlGoodbye 2011http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ChevalGlass/~3/pW0ST9em8W0/goodbye-2011.htmlcynthia cullenSat, 31 Dec 2011 14:21:55 PSThttp://cynthiacullen.typepad.com/cheval_glass/2011/12/goodbye-2011.htmlNew-Year-in On this New Year's Eve, I'm breaking my "blogging break" with my personal recap of 2011. This past year brought challenges as well as many celebrations. For me, I felt as if every swing of emotion that is possible for me, I experienced this year. Needless to say, I have enjoyed my week of "staycation" this past week! In a nutshell...

  • My brother-in-law, Jonathan, celebrated a year of being cancer free.
  • We took our first week-long family vacation to Disney with Sean and Sydney and my extended family this summer...had a great time and lived to tell about it!
  • Sydney was baptized in July of this year.
  • In August, Todd and I entered a new world as Lead Pastor and wife (First Lady to those of you who like that!) of a thriving young church on the brink of a new facility in March 2012. There has been so much for us to learn and to face that is totally brand new for us in our marriage and in our ministry together.
  • I began 2011 as the Worship Arts Director for LowCountry Community Church and its two campuses (Bluffton & HHI)  and now I am the Worship Arts/Communications Director for Hilton Head Island Community Church (formerly the Island Campus of LCC).
  • We are celebrating a beautiful transtion this Fall as a new church and are so thankful for our mother church, LCC, and all its continued support as we have entered this new season as sister churches in the Lowcountry.
  • I learned to play the electric guitar this year thanks to the loving gift of a new guitar from the WAM at LCC.
  • Did I mention we transitioned into a new church this fall? Just checking...
  • I am entering my 20th year of being a part of a Worship Arts Staff at a local church. I have discovered some fatigue this past year and much needed "replenishment" from God in my life as I continue to serve Him.  I am looking forward to taking a one-month sabbatical in June 2012.
  • I had several close friends this year experience personal crisis. Romans 12:15 has had a new meaning for me this year.
  • This is my last year with a preschooler...I can't believe how fast time has flown.

I'm looking forward to 2012. I'm ready to see what the New Year holds for me and my family. There's so much excitement with our new facility and a Winter Worship record for our church in the works. I feel very blessed to have survived 2011 in some ways and I'm thankful to have a new year and the freshness that it brings.

So I will be here a lot more in 2012. It was a good break for me in 2011. I pray your New Year holds great promise and fresh grace for all that life has for you! Happy New Year!

 


]]>On this New Year's Eve, I'm breaking my "blogging break" with my personal recap of 2011. This past year brought challenges as well as many celebrations. For me, I felt as if every swing of emotion that is possible for...http://cynthiacullen.typepad.com/cheval_glass/2011/12/goodbye-2011.htmlHold on to Jesushttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ChevalGlass/~3/JqwLlB4bk10/hold-on-to-jesus.htmlcynthia cullenSat, 29 Oct 2011 16:43:54 PDThttp://cynthiacullen.typepad.com/cheval_glass/2011/10/hold-on-to-jesus.htmlIt was such a privilege to share this song with my church family last Sunday. This is our song, HHICC. Please forgive the imperfections.  It was my first time performing it for anyone other the family and it was the band's first stab at it (nice guitar, Rog!).  You can pick up a great recording of it this spring when our first Worship record comes out. More details on that to come!

Thanks for all your kind words about the song. I hope it will be an encouragement to you today.

Hold on to Jesus

 


]]>It was such a privilege to share this song with my church family last Sunday. This is our song, HHICC. Please forgive the imperfections. It was my first time performing it for anyone other the family and it was the...http://cynthiacullen.typepad.com/cheval_glass/2011/10/hold-on-to-jesus.htmlSunday Recaps...the past two weekshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ChevalGlass/~3/raUaMXc2o_U/sunday-recapsthe-past-two-weeks.htmlHilton Head Island Community ChurchWorship servicescynthia cullenMon, 19 Sep 2011 10:24:55 PDThttp://cynthiacullen.typepad.com/cheval_glass/2011/09/sunday-recapsthe-past-two-weeks.htmlIt has been a whirlwind the last couple of weeks as we have made this transition to Hilton Head Island Community Church. It has been exciting and exhausting...there, I said it. There is so much excitement and momentum that it's been overwhelming at times to decide what are the best choices for us here and now. Our fall is filled with great opportunities for people to connect with God, others, and the community. Our prayer as a staff team has been that people will jump in with both feet and not sit on the sidelines. We are already seeing it happen and we are so thankful!

September 11 was the 10 anniversary of the attacks on the WTC, Pentagon, and Flight 93. It was also our first Sunday as HHICC. It can be difficult to celebrate and to reflect, but I feel that we did create a service that allowed for both to co-exist. Here was our service order:

"Counting on God" - New Life Worship

Welcome - Announcements

"Everlasting God" - Lincoln Brewster version

"Your Love Never Fails"  - Jesus Culture

VIDEO - "FREEDOM " (This was a piece that our video editor created at the church I was serving as Worship Arts Director in Atlanta when 9-11 happened. Thanks to NorthStar Church and James Milans for the use of this video.)

MESSAGE - "I DREAM OF A CHURCH"

"Revelation Song"

"Our God"

Todd was able to talk personally about our response to 9-11 as a family in that we were called to go to NYC to be a part of a church plant from 2005-2007 that was based out of an initiative called "New Hope New York"  because of the attacks of 9-11. With that, Todd shared how we as new church on the Island are going to be a place where those who suffer can find rest, relief, and redemption.

Yesterday, we picked up again with our series "Old School" looking at the lives of Old Testament characters. Todd talked about what our response should be to suffering, especially if we don't feel we deserve it. Here was our service order:

"Marvelous Light" - Charlie Hall

Welcome/Announcements

VIDEO - PROMO - VIBE MESSAGE SERIES  (Vibe is our middle and high school ministry - this is the video series they will be doing this fall.)

"Your Love Never Fails"  - Jesus Culture

Scripture Reading - Psalm 96

"No One Like"  - Tad Tatum (NewSpring Church)

VIDEO BUMPER - OLD SCHOOL

Message

"Grace Flows Down" - Chrisy Nockles

"Blessed Be The Name of the Lord" - Redman

Join me at the Worship Community for more recaps!


]]>It has been a whirlwind the last couple of weeks as we have made this transition to Hilton Head Island Community Church. It has been exciting and exhausting...there, I said it. There is so much excitement and momentum that it's...http://cynthiacullen.typepad.com/cheval_glass/2011/09/sunday-recapsthe-past-two-weeks.htmlSunday Recap - The Benefit of God's Characterhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ChevalGlass/~3/-JNagV2u5Qk/su.htmlHilton Head Island Community ChurchWorship ArtsWorship servicescynthia cullenMon, 29 Aug 2011 17:59:07 PDThttp://cynthiacullen.typepad.com/cheval_glass/2011/08/su.htmlWe wrapped up our Splendor Series this week with "The Benefit of God's Character." We focused on how God's faithfulness through the ages is what guarantees His faithfulness for all time. I really felt that during this time that we are making this transition into becoming Hilton Head Island Community Church, I want our worship times to be familiar and epic. Big songs that remind us of God's faithfulness and familiar to us so that we can sing them without worry about words or chords. The band had a great time this week, I sensed, because they were familiar with the material and it gave us the opportunity to linger in different places like during "Sing Sing Sing" and "Agnus Dei." The congregation sang so well and really participated! We were at capacity in our Worship Center in the 2nd service. It was really hot, but exciting! Here was our setlist... (Click on the song to take you to a youtube video and more info on dowloading it for yourself - that was for my @hhichurch peeps!)

"Salvation is Here"

"Sing Sing Sing"

Welcome/Announcements

"Mighty to Save"

"Agnus Dei"

VIDEO: MESSAGE BUMPER - THE PROOF

Message

Spoken Word - Written and Performed by Gloria Moss

Dimiss

You can watch Gloria's piece here...

The Benefit of God's Character from HHI Community Church on Vimeo.

It was a wonderful experience to have someone like Gloria who is gifted in writing and performing to deliver this piece. The video doesn't do it justice (shot on my iPhone!) but it was truly a beautiful way to wrap up this series. I wish this series was two or three weeks longer. It has been SUCH a wonderful series to pray through and plan with our team.

Check out more recaps at the Worship Community!


]]>We wrapped up our Splendor Series this week with "The Benefit of God's Character." We focused on how God's faithfulness through the ages is what guarantees His faithfulness for all time. I really felt that during this time that we...http://cynthiacullen.typepad.com/cheval_glass/2011/08/su.htmlSunday Recap - Are we Listening?http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ChevalGlass/~3/KhC6gowGVTQ/sunday-recap-are-we-listening.htmlHilton Head Island Community ChurchWorship ArtsWorship servicescynthia cullenMon, 22 Aug 2011 10:21:11 PDThttp://cynthiacullen.typepad.com/cheval_glass/2011/08/sunday-recap-are-we-listening.htmlSplendor Logo  We are in week two of a three-week series called "Splendor." We are taking the massiveness of God and breaking it down into three specifics that we can connect with as Christ-followers. Week one was "The Beauty of God’s Creation." This week, it was "The Blessing of God’s Covenant" and Todd talked about how God communicated to His people under the Old Covenant and now how He speaks under the New Covenant. Our take-away was the importance of creating space in our lives for God to speak...for us to create margin and silence to hear from Him.

Here was our setlist:

"Friend of God" - Israel Houghton

Welcome/Announcements - We introduced our new Family Pastor. Rob Minton and his family!

"Chosen Generation" - Chris Tomlin

Scripture Reading - Psalm 116

"Here is our King" - David Crowder

VIDEO:MESSAGE BUMPER - God Speaks

MESSAGE

"Running" -  Gateway Worship - V, C,V, C, C

Time of Prayer - Todd gave everyone just a few moments of quiet to listen to God - not to talk to Him or request anything - just listen - I underscored on keys....

"Running" - Full version

Dimiss

I purposely made the last song very repetitive and longer than normal to give everyone time to not worry about words and to also be still and listen. It was very different, but I felt it really communicated the point.

Debbie and Daniel Cort led worship with me as well as Randy and Macy. We are so blessed with gifted artists at HHICC! Our tech team did a great a job and most of all, we just really have a WONDERFUL time together using our gifts and being in community.

Read more recaps at the Worship Community!


]]>We are in week two of a three-week series called "Splendor." We are taking the massiveness of God and breaking it down into three specifics that we can connect with as Christ-followers. Week one was "The Beauty of God’s Creation."...http://cynthiacullen.typepad.com/cheval_glass/2011/08/sunday-recap-are-we-listening.htmla new chapterhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ChevalGlass/~3/LPwZq7l18MU/a-new-chapter.htmlChurch plantingHilton Head Island Community ChurchHilton Head Island LifeLeadershipLowCountry Community Churchcynthia cullenSun, 14 Aug 2011 14:17:30 PDThttp://cynthiacullen.typepad.com/cheval_glass/2011/08/a-new-chapter.htmlMy silence the last month here at cheval glass is not reflective of a boring summer...to say the least. The last couple of months have been filled with chapters closing, new ones opening, and great opportunities for the future.

Our Lead Pastor, Jeff Cranston, and our Elders came to a unanimous decision with Todd's support about the future of the Hilton Head Island Campus. After the growth of the last four years, our financial stability on our own since May 2010, and the amazing Miracle Offering that was given in May from our Campus toward our new facility, it was announced that the Island Campus where Todd and I have been serving the past four years will become its own independent church on Sunday, September 11, 2011. I have been serving as the Worship Arts Director over both of our campuses - Bluffton and Hilton Head Island - for the past 18 months. With this transition, I will be returning to the Island and overseeing Environments and serving as the Worship Leader for the new church, Hilton Head Island Community Church.

CLICK HERE to read the amazing letter from Pastor Jeff and to hear Todd's announcement. They did such an incredible job sharing this with our church!

This morning, Todd and I led the service at our Bluffton Campus and were able to share with our "mother" congregation about the transition and to express our gratitude for their prayers, support, encouragement, and generosity these past four years.  I have loved getting to know our Bluffton Worship Arts Team over the past 18 months and they have been such a blessing to me this past year, especially in establishing our Worship Community - a.k.a. - Worship choir.  Eric Abney, who I hired in March to work alongside me, has become the new Worship Arts Director at LCC and I know he will do an AMAZING job in this role. We will continue to share resources between our teams as sister churches and we have linked our PCO accounts so we can share volunteers and resources more easily. Eric and I will also rotate leading worship between our churches periodically.

I look forward to sharing here at cheval glass about our journey in this new chapter as we see what God has for us. We are going to change the tone of 9-11 this year...it's going to be about celebrating a new day and new opportunities for the Kingdom of God on Hilton Head Island...here we go!


]]>My silence the last month here at cheval glass is not reflective of a boring summer...to say the least. The last couple of months have been filled with chapters closing, new ones opening, and great opportunities for the future. Our...http://cynthiacullen.typepad.com/cheval_glass/2011/08/a-new-chapter.html