RussHutto.com

Fred’s got a post series going over at his place asking folks to chime in about their 2009. I figured I’d jump on board and invite you to as well: http://www.fredmckinnon.com/myblog/2009/12/28/2009-review-part-1-best-and-worst-happening/

My first Best & Worst is “Happenings” – what are the best and worst happenings of 2009 for me?

Best:

I have a few, but I’d say the top 3 are:

1) The Big Move:

We made a move from Valdosta, Ga to Brunswick/St. Simons Island area. My wife got a great new job and I began a season of sabbatical from full-time staff ministry life. I’m working as a graphic designer in the print world and loving every moment of it. It’s a whole new world! I’m able to volunteer at church (with my music) and I’m absolutely loving this feeling of giving (that isn’t attached to my paycheck).

2) Attempting to Write 50 Songs:

Well, I didn’t achieve that goal, but the very fact that I attempted it and wrote a good bit of songs/music is GREAT! You can listen to some of my results here: http://twt.fm/RussHutto

And though I’m a little bummed that I didn’t reach 50, I am stoked that I’ve written/arranged more music this year than in any other previous year of my life!

3) Camping With Friends!

We had a great time camping. This was just a few weeks ago. There’s nothing better than hanging with good friends and family! I love these kinds of trips and since this is really the only one we took this year, I’d have to say that it was one of my best happenings of 2009!

Worst:

I don’t feel like I had a lot of “bad” happenings this year, but I’d probably say the worst part of my 2009 is directly tied to my “best” happening.

Though moving to the Golden Isles is one of the best things this year, it also came with one of the worst:

Leaving behind my family at House of Joy. I still keep in touch. But there’s a certain bond that develops when you lead worship with people and do life together. I love those folks! In fact, I tried to convince them all to move with us!

Excited to be leading worship again. It’s been since August since I’ve led.

This is a pre-post. We’ve already had rehearsal, but not service yet.

Today is the last Sunday my parents will be at The Sanctuary in Jefferson, Ga. God has made some incredible moves and the church will be merging with a church called Hope Crossings. For the last 5+ years, my parents have paved the way for this awesome change and will be stepping out of the way to let the other pastoral family come in and lead the new church!

They are excited about what the future holds both for themselves and for the new church!

My parents are so amazing. I’d like to publicly honor them here on the blog and let the world know that you won’t find two more incredible pastors. They have poured time and energy into the lives of hundreds of people over the years, encouraging, edifying, and equipping the saints for the work of the ministry and I am so proud of them.

You won’t find better examples of Christ-like humility and a willingness to serve. You won’t find better examples of Godly parents. Of course, I’m a little biased, but I mean every word.

There’s been ups and downs and lots of hurts along the way, which is unavoidable when you spend your life pouring out your own life into others.

But there’s also been joy and accomplishments. Some outward, but many more seeds planted and watered, only to blossom and grow into plants long after.

I love you, Dad & Mom!

Setlist:

1) Glory to God Forever (Fee): Key G. Was planning to do this in A, but forgot my capo so I just rocked it in G. Good range for the team. Worked out great.

2) Psalm 93 (The Lord Reigns) (Hutto – me): Key G. This is a brand new one that I wrote just last month. I wanted to share it in a corporate worship setting and it’s gone over very well. It’s catchy and singable. One of my favorite originals at the moment.

Listen to my scratch demo: http://twt.fm/337786

3) How Great is Our God (Tomlin): Key G. After introducing a new original I always like to follow it with a good solid familiar song that people know and love. It’s a great way to bring people back in, especially if people aren’t catching on to the new one, which isn’t really a problem with the new one today, it’s going over well. But still that’s my formula (if you will).

Great to be worshiping with a band and team in another part of the state this morning, and knowing that we’re all lifting our worship at different times this weekend. Awesome when you think about how many voices are raised (as one) each week in praise and worship to our God!

Join us in sharing what your voices were singing this week at Sunday Setlists.

So I’m still behind on my goal to write 50 songs this year, but I’m still writing!

This is a song with lyrics based on Psalm 147.

I could definitely hear a big group of people singing, not necessarily a choir, but just a big group of friends hanging out and singing some worship to God. The chorus especially.

It’s kind of a come and join me as WE sing kind of a song. I hope it feels inviting to you. My goal was to write a song that people could sing individually that drew people in to sing along with them. Part of that relies on a good hook (which this may or may not be) but I think the other part might be conveyed in lyrics that invite people to sing along. Literally.

I played/recorded this scratch version in Drop C (Capo 1). So you’re actually hearing the key of C# (not D). I could probably crank it out in D if I wanted to, but I had kind of felt like taking the chorus up an octave with a full band arrangement eventually and D would require power vocals. However, I didn’t get to arranging it for full band so the skeleton of the song remained in Drop C (Capo 1).

I’d also love to replace my voice with a lovely ladies voice on the last choruses. My falsetto is ok, but would be perfect for an alto.

It Is Good by russhutto

It Is Good (Psalm 147)
2009 Russ Hutto

Intro: Bm9 G Bm Bbmaj7
Bm9
Great is the Lord our God
Bbmaj7
There is none like Him
Bm
He knows the number of stars
Bbmaj7 G
For he has named them

(repeat)

Em                   G                          D
Oh, come and sing with me to the Lord
Em                G                     D
We’ll sing our melodies to the Lord
A                       G
From our hearts, from our hearts

D                                                        G
It is good to sing our praise to the Lord
Oh it is good
Bm                                                     G
It is good to sing our praise to the Lord
Oh it is good

Bm     Bbmaj7

Bm
Awesome in power and might
Bbmaj7
No one can fathom
Bm
He hangs the clouds in the sky
Bbmaj7 G
For he has made them

(prechorus)

PDF Chart

Got to play on the team at St. Simons Community Church this morning. Really enjoyed it. I played some on acoustic guitar and some on keys (string pads while Fred jumped on the piano).

Met a few new singers and as always enjoy playing with the rhythm section there (Rick, Kimbo, Gary).

Also, snuck into FamJam for a few minutes. It was awesome! It’s a once a month children’s service geared towards kids AND their parents. The energy was great. The production was top notch. The production crew was right on. And the FamJam performers were very funny! Great stuff.

1) Gloria (MercyMe). Key D. Pretty straight forward arrangement.

2) Glory To God Forever (Fee). Key A. I hadn’t played or sung this song before coming to SSCC and heard it for a while and it never really clicked with me. However, after actually playing it a few times, I really enjoy it. Great tune. I just play it in G (capo 2).

3) O Come All Ye Faithful (Carol). Key G. Getting close to Christmas! Todd led out and did an awesome job!

4) Agnus Dei (MWS). Key G. Great song. Loved our arrangement.

5) Hosanna (Brooke Fraser). Key E. Believe it or not, as popular as this song is, I’ve never played or sung it. We had a young lady (from the youth) lead out on this one and it was great!

6) Glorious Impossible (Joe Beck, Carl Cartee, and Wendy Wills). Key E. Enjoyed playing this service closer. Jumped back on guitar for this one. Todd did a great job leading this one.

John Blankenship gave a great message today.

I also had the privilege of participating in the InsideOut (youth) band Wednesday night too. Played keys. It was fun.

To see what other worship leaders/teams/worshipers are doing be sure to particpate in Fred Mckinnon’s Sunday Setlist carnival.

This month’s wallpaper is based on Psalm 147:4.

He determines the number of the stars;
he gives to all of them their names. (Psalm 147:4 ESV)

This is an “astrophotograph” by Brian Combs, a lawyer from Milledgeville, GA who photographs star clusters, nebulae, galaxies, etc. as a hobby. In my 9-5 job I lay out ads and articles for a publishing company that publishes hometown magazines in markets all across Georgia and Texas.

I had the privilege of laying out this interest article on Brian. The astrophotographs were amazing. I asked him if I could feature his work in my wallpapers, and he said yes, so here it is!

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To view more of Brian’s astrophotography and to purchase prints of HIS work visit BCAstropics.com