Thanks to everyone for a stellar weekend again. I feel I must put in a quote from an Andy Park (Who wrote Unshakeable on the 2009 CD) interview that someone sent me before I begin. It changed my perception of worship experiences.
Q: What would you say is the most difficult aspect of being a worship leader? What can you do to overcome it or work through it?
Park: The most difficult aspect of being a worship leader is dealing with the reality of living "between the times." We live in the age in which Jesus has unleashed the authority of his kingdom on earth. We see the outworking of his power in many ways-broken lives are turned around and healed. In worship, the Holy Spirit brings peace, joy and a striking revelation of God's power and beauty. But we haven't arrived at the point in history when the blessings of the kingdom are with us in unlimited measure.
So here's the rub-the windows of heaven aren't always thrown open in our earthly worship times. In the best of worship times we see so clearly and drink so deeply of the wine of the Spirit! And many times we feel disconnected from God. When you've drunk deeply the sweet wine of heaven in worship, it's hard to be satisfied with a "grape juice" worship time.
To deal with this tension, I remind myself that worship is all about faithfulness-doing, praying and singing what I know is right-no matter how much of God I can feel at a given moment.
Wow. How easy it is for us to gauge a worship time by either how the congregation reacts or how we feel. Be encouraged by the fact that if you have worshipped in spirit and truth then you have done your job. Full stop. It is up to others and Holy Spirit to do the rest. If you didn't feel the rush of a good worship time, don't write it off.
Having said that, I think that both services were great to my ears this week. Personally the PM service's music worship was one of the greatest and most truthful sessions I have had in ages. Amazing.
AM service
Thanks first of all for all of those who filled in. And thanks to the data operator, first time at Yorkie, great job! Thoughful song choices. I think that it was a great sounding service (thanks to sound tech too!). What a challenging message from which to bring worship! I sensed that apart from the fact that the last song was a little less unknown to the congregation, that everyone had trouble singing the potent words. Good! Holy Spirit was stirring and making people feel uncomfortable.
In hindsight I think I would have played the last two songs in the practice first of all as they were the least known. And the middle two songs (Jesus Messiah and You Are My King) felt a little unsettled. The groove wasn't quite there. They both are songs that are at the cusp of the contemporary feel where the morning service sits. I am doing a lot of soul searching about how to resolve this recurrent issue.
I encourage you each to look back for a minute on your own part and check - did you worship in spirit and truth that morning?
PM service
What an inspired choice to lead from the piano. And no guitars??? And the team on the side of the platform??? Sounds a little like morning church!! But wow. What a sound. What I heard from this service was excellent musicianship being played for personal worship. You guys were obviously worshipping in the practice. Don't underestimate the power this has in the spirit realm. Keep it up.
Song choice was thoughtful also for this service. Thanks. A sensitive drummer, with sweet voices was a nice mix.
Thanks for a great Sunday. Love you all!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Church services for 13 September, 2009
What a way to complete the 40 Days of Purpose Campaign! It's got to be a great service if there is a jumping castle, free sausages, pizza, face painting and a petting zoo! The worship leaders were somewhat relieved to have so much going on that the onus was not on the worship team as much as other weeks. Thanks to two new worship leaders for great sessions of music worship in the services. Please don't take too much stock in the couple of hiccups along the way, they really aren't important at all. Learn from them for next time!
On that point, I must make a comment about signalling. It isn't necessary to do it all the time, unless the band or data operator looks at you and are not sure what happens next. Most people will know what happens from the practice. And band, make notes, just like the data operator. When you make the signals, make sure it's big enough for everyone to see. When you lead with a guitar, it is virtually impossible to signal with hands, so if you need to, do it vocally. Having said all that, it is really a small thing and if there are hiccups in this process, it doesn't matter. Just keep going!
10am service
The Stone's Been Rolled Away
Kids segment
Salvation Belongs to Our God
Welcome
Sermon part 1 / interviews
Sermon part 2
Blessed Be Your Name
How Deep the Father's Love
Sermon part 3 / communion
open mic
Sermon part 4 / offering
sermon part 5
Shout to the Lord
6pm service
Every Day
Kids segment
There's a Saving One
Welcome
Sermon part 1 / interviews
Sermon part 2
I Could Sing of Your Love Forever
From the Inside Out
Sermon part 3 / communion
open mic
Sermon part 4 / offering
sermon part 5
Look What You've Done
All in all great worshipful services. The sound of the drums are getting better and better. The rehearsal schedules and the leadership structure are also working well. Thanks for being excellent, all of you. And remember to keep up your own personal worship and discipleship. People are praying for you regularly.
Let me know what you thought of the services, comment below or send me an email! Also any contributions to the morning or arvo tea would be gratefully received. Thanks, love you all.
On that point, I must make a comment about signalling. It isn't necessary to do it all the time, unless the band or data operator looks at you and are not sure what happens next. Most people will know what happens from the practice. And band, make notes, just like the data operator. When you make the signals, make sure it's big enough for everyone to see. When you lead with a guitar, it is virtually impossible to signal with hands, so if you need to, do it vocally. Having said all that, it is really a small thing and if there are hiccups in this process, it doesn't matter. Just keep going!
10am service
The Stone's Been Rolled Away
Kids segment
Salvation Belongs to Our God
Welcome
Sermon part 1 / interviews
Sermon part 2
Blessed Be Your Name
How Deep the Father's Love
Sermon part 3 / communion
open mic
Sermon part 4 / offering
sermon part 5
Shout to the Lord
6pm service
Every Day
Kids segment
There's a Saving One
Welcome
Sermon part 1 / interviews
Sermon part 2
I Could Sing of Your Love Forever
From the Inside Out
Sermon part 3 / communion
open mic
Sermon part 4 / offering
sermon part 5
Look What You've Done
All in all great worshipful services. The sound of the drums are getting better and better. The rehearsal schedules and the leadership structure are also working well. Thanks for being excellent, all of you. And remember to keep up your own personal worship and discipleship. People are praying for you regularly.
Let me know what you thought of the services, comment below or send me an email! Also any contributions to the morning or arvo tea would be gratefully received. Thanks, love you all.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Church services for 6 September, 2009
aNY DONATIONS FOR THE AFTER REHEARSAL MORNING / AFTERNOON TEA WOULD BE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED!
Happy Fathers' Day! What a busy week with celebrating our dads and with the last installment of the 40 Days of Purpose, Evangelism. It also had a launch of a new initiative in a mission discipleship training for young adults, and a mission spot with Sampan!
All in all, what a quality week worship-wise. Thanks for the great song choices and the quality music and tech.
Remember to use the new OOS formats to make production notes. Although we did it in the morning, we still forgot to repeat the chorus in the first hymn. But we'll get used to the new format.
And although it takes getting used to, the drum screen has only been a positive from within the congregation. I'd love some feedback especially from the drummers as to how it is and how we can tweak it. I think playing with sticks is the way to go, it gives a better sound, and the volume is controlled by the soundie. The night service was such great drumming! You cut sick in there. I hope that it didn't get too loud in there for you?
Vocals, remember to warm up. You have time when you arrive, and please spend some time singing before you come. It helps sound-wise to no end, let alone looking after your voice too!
Data and sound wise, the services in general will be getting more and more complex. Thanks for your work so far, and I encourage you as you get more and more to do. We will use the screen in more segments throughout the service.
10am service
Praise the Lord, the King of Heaven
Sing to the Lord
Amazing Love (You are my King)
Fathers' Day video / announcements / mission spot
He Knows My Name
Jesus Messiah
Prayer / Communion
Sermon
For the Cause
Thanks to those who filled in. On Thursday, I had a keyboardist and a drummer for the band! And we did well with what we had on Sunday. I seem to remember that we missed a couple of things that we rehearsed in the practice. I would encourage the worship leader to just go ahead and do what was planned. The band and backups are there to follow you. And others, try to remember what we do! I was thinking of putting some chairs up on stage also for the singers, as it is a long time on your feet. I will then take them away for the service.
Please let me know your thoughts on the service, particularly the spiritual aspects.
6pm service
Mighty to Save
Jesus Messiah
You Said
Fathers Day Video / Announcements / Mission Spot
From the Ends of the Earth
Prayer / Communion
Sermon
How Great is Our God
Thanks for such a quick practice! And such a quality sound. It was mixed well, and such good quality musicians (seriously not talking from bias, being related to half the band!) Worship leader, you didn't say anything at all, and that was ok! The music spoke for itself. I would have had more harmonies, (I know that you were down one singer) so I encourage you to branch out more here. Although you started with more mid-tempo songs, and really had no fast in-your-face songs it worked really well. Perhaps this congregation is one who resonates well with these kind of songs more than the other more "up" songs. What do you think?
Thanks for you all. You are all ace. Be good.
Happy Fathers' Day! What a busy week with celebrating our dads and with the last installment of the 40 Days of Purpose, Evangelism. It also had a launch of a new initiative in a mission discipleship training for young adults, and a mission spot with Sampan!
All in all, what a quality week worship-wise. Thanks for the great song choices and the quality music and tech.
Remember to use the new OOS formats to make production notes. Although we did it in the morning, we still forgot to repeat the chorus in the first hymn. But we'll get used to the new format.
And although it takes getting used to, the drum screen has only been a positive from within the congregation. I'd love some feedback especially from the drummers as to how it is and how we can tweak it. I think playing with sticks is the way to go, it gives a better sound, and the volume is controlled by the soundie. The night service was such great drumming! You cut sick in there. I hope that it didn't get too loud in there for you?
Vocals, remember to warm up. You have time when you arrive, and please spend some time singing before you come. It helps sound-wise to no end, let alone looking after your voice too!
Data and sound wise, the services in general will be getting more and more complex. Thanks for your work so far, and I encourage you as you get more and more to do. We will use the screen in more segments throughout the service.
10am service
Praise the Lord, the King of Heaven
Sing to the Lord
Amazing Love (You are my King)
Fathers' Day video / announcements / mission spot
He Knows My Name
Jesus Messiah
Prayer / Communion
Sermon
For the Cause
Thanks to those who filled in. On Thursday, I had a keyboardist and a drummer for the band! And we did well with what we had on Sunday. I seem to remember that we missed a couple of things that we rehearsed in the practice. I would encourage the worship leader to just go ahead and do what was planned. The band and backups are there to follow you. And others, try to remember what we do! I was thinking of putting some chairs up on stage also for the singers, as it is a long time on your feet. I will then take them away for the service.
Please let me know your thoughts on the service, particularly the spiritual aspects.
6pm service
Mighty to Save
Jesus Messiah
You Said
Fathers Day Video / Announcements / Mission Spot
From the Ends of the Earth
Prayer / Communion
Sermon
How Great is Our God
Thanks for such a quick practice! And such a quality sound. It was mixed well, and such good quality musicians (seriously not talking from bias, being related to half the band!) Worship leader, you didn't say anything at all, and that was ok! The music spoke for itself. I would have had more harmonies, (I know that you were down one singer) so I encourage you to branch out more here. Although you started with more mid-tempo songs, and really had no fast in-your-face songs it worked really well. Perhaps this congregation is one who resonates well with these kind of songs more than the other more "up" songs. What do you think?
Thanks for you all. You are all ace. Be good.
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