This has certainly been a difficult week. One of my faithful Worship Team members went home to be with the Lord after a very brief battle with cancer. I have been working with worship teams for nearly 25 years now and this is my first experience with this kind of heartache. Kathy played the violin and was an extremely talented musician and very godly woman. Our first rehearsal without her was very difficult. We had to live what we sing and declare to our congregation every week, to worship in spite of our current situation knowing that God is in control and that He loves us and will always be faithful. The songs we sing every week carry these truths but for some of us that reality and struggle doesn’t always hit that close to home.

The Lord used the song “Unfailing God” to comfort us and bring peace to our hearts. The congregation immediately embraced this song as well and the glory of the Lord and the power of the Holy Spirit quickly filled the auditorium. Leading our congregations in cooperate worship is more about the living and less about the singing.

Years ago, when I first started leading worship, I typically went into each weekend rather unprepared.  I guess my thinking was that flying by the seat of your pants was somehow more spiritual than planning a set list.  I had the misunderstanding that flow in a worship set means no structure.  I have come to learn that my thinking was way off.  I have found that the better prepared and rehearsed we are, the more freedom we have to be creative.  When we feel ready and confident, we simply play better.  Think about it, what is more spiritual, having no set list and waiting until the last minute to hear from God or taking the time to pray ahead of time and hear from God.  God can and will give you wisdom in advance of the weekend service.  My day for putting together a set list is Wednesday.  That gives me the time to think through background graphics, send the set list to the musicians scheduled and make sure they have the sheets in advance of rehearsal.  You also can check with the lead Pastor or whoever is speaking that week to see what songs will help reinforce the message.  The bottom line is that good flow in a worship service doesn’t just happen.  Good flow is a product of being well prepared and well rehearsed.

Something that we do quite often when learning a new song for our worship repertoire is first getting a copy of the new song in audio format (mp3, CD, etc) to the instrumentalists and vocalists on the worship teams.  Then they have the chance to be prepared to play the song including specific beats/rhythms, riffs, runs, etc.

We also many times will introduce the song to the congregation in the same way that it is played on the CD including those beats, riffs, runs and such.  We try to do the song very closely to what it sounds like on recording (at least for the first time) rather than putting our own spin on it.  Then after we’ve taught it one or two times to our congregation we can start putting our own arrangements together for it.

I find that doing this helps our musicians and vocalists grow by giving them more techniques to use in their own toolbox, helps them to be in sync with the team and learn what that feels like, and helps us as a team learn how to arrange the whole (rather than them seeing only their part).

One additional thing we do with new songs is playing them two weeks in a row or twice in the same month at the least.  The first time someone hears something they are learning, by the second time you do the song- they can start worshipping with it because its starting to become familiar.

Its not rocket science, but it works. What do your teams do to introduce new songs?

Welcome to our Worship Compass BLOG & webpage. Click on this link to connect to the LIVE GodTV webstream of the “Angel Mission Benefit Concert” and the “I Love America” celebration from James River Assembly in Springfield, MO. Go to: “www.5dollarwater.com” for more details about the event, a schedule of the concerts and for information about Angel Mission.

Have a happy 4th of July as you celebrate the freedom we have as Americans and reflect on what Jesus accomplished on our behalf to give us the ULTIMATE FREEDOM!

(LIVE WEBSTREAM LINK WILL ACTIVE at 5 PM ON FRIDAY, JULY 3.)

LINK TO GodTV WEBSTREAM:
god.tv/angelmission

Times of discouragement can come easily sometimes for those of us in the ministry. This post is edited and reprinted from my personal blog from August 2007.

Keep Your Chin Up

My grandfather used to tell me that all the time. What I know now is that he, of all people in my life had a unique perspective and ability to say that to me. He was a man who never complained, never talked badly about anyone else, and always could find something encouraging to say, even when he was giving a lecture.

You see, my grandfather graduated class of 1928 from a small high school outside Birmingham, Alabama. Shortly after he got out of high school, the nation was deep in the grip of what we now know as the Great Depression. You know the stories, you’re aware of how tight money was, how scarce jobs were. So my grandfather learned a trade; he became a welder, a good one. How did he do that? He kept his chin up. He and my grandmother were married in 1931. A tough time to start a family. How did they do it? He kept his chin up.

We hear the word “entitlement” in our culture all too often and for the most part it carries a bad connotation, that somehow we deserve a path that is easy. My grandfather never felt he was entitled to anything. He worked hard and trusted God and sought to please Him first and knew that everything else would take care of itself. He knew that a life that pleased God first was a life that would prosper, despite what others felt about it. But many of us allow the slightest setbacks in our lives cause us to let our chins drop. Could it be that because of the sacrifice of so many to give us the life and culture we enjoy today, we ourselves feel that sense of entitlement to an easy life?

Let’s face it, when we are in the people business, in the ministry, there are people who are not always going to like what you do and how you do it. The songlist was not to their liking, the guitars were too loud, you should do more hymns, you should do fewer hymns. You know what I’m talking about. Because we have a need, as artists, to be appreciated, it’s easy to switch our focus from pleasing God to pleasing people. Marshall Shelley, in his book, “Well Intentioned Dragons” talks about the issue of ministering to and with difficult people in the church. I recommend that you read it!

Our soul has an enemy. One who would love to destroy us. Basic military strategy mandates that to see the enemy, we have to be looking for him. With our chin up. Not with our heads hung in defeat.

Psalm 3 reads this way:

O LORD, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.” But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. To the LORD I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me. I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side. Arise, O LORD! Deliver me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. From the LORD comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people.

My grandfather understood this passage. I watched him all my life as he allowed the Lord to be his strength. I know he had the chance to be discouraged many times. He managed a team of welders and pipefitters and I know he had to make some unpopular, hard decisions. Leaders have to do that sometimes. When we lead to please God, He will be pleased.

Great depression may come your way. Great hardship may be in your future. But . . . the Lord brings His glory and He can give you the strength to Keep Your Chin Up.

So often as lead worshippers we can get caught up in the ‘performance’ side of what we do. Is the band clicking? Are the vocals on? What we need is to take a step back, take a breath and remember that we are called to love. Love the people we serve and serve with. Show God’s love to His people through our worship.

I recently came across a paraphrase of 1 Corinthians 13 that hopefully will give each of us a little perspective.
“And now I want to show you the way that is better than talent– the best way. If I speak in tongues and sing like Darlene Zschech, but don’t love my team members or the people in the congregation, I’m just making music– and though that’s nice, it’s just not the best way. Love is patient- (playing various instruments together takes time and work!). Love is kind- (my words have the power to unite us or divide us). It doesn’t boast, isn’t proud- (it doesn’t matter who has the most or least talent). It isn’t rude, isn’t about me and isn’t easily ticked off. But when it is, it doesn’t keep score. It just forgives and understands. Love never fails. When the amp isn’t hooked up and I can’t hear in the monitor, when my voice cracks and we lose the beat, love goes on.”

This was written by Holly Pentz of New Covenant Assembly of God in Montgomery, PA.

God bless you as you serve God through serving and loving His people.

Amy Foster

Technology is a wonderful thing, isn’t it? If you’re like me you have several pieces of technology that let you make phone calls, send emails, keep up with your friends on various social networks, watch an endless array of videos of all kinds and see what hundreds of your friends are doing at any moment. Needless to say, it is easy to find ourselves addicted to being overinformed and overstimulated. I love technology and have to confess, at times, I spend way too much time with it.

Our culture dictates a fast paced life. We spend our days running from meeting to meeting, appointments, rehearsals, songwriting, scheduling people, working with pastors, and then add family responsibilities to that! We can easily find ourselves scheduled morning til night almost every day. We have been given the great privilege of leading people. As leaders, it is very important that we position ourselves, on purpose, in a place where we can hear from God. Whether it is a song list choice, or a personnell issue, we need his direction.

I have become very fond of Eugene Petersen’s Message paraphrase of the Bible. Psalm 46:10 (MSG) brings the context right where we live . . . “step out of the traffic, and take a long, loving look at Me, your High God”.

Step out of the traffic! Just the thought of it makes me both nervous and excited. There is a certain comfort zone that we create by being heavily scheduled. Sometimes we just don’t know what to do when the noise of the world goes away and we are left to contemplate. But that’s just where He wants us to be. Still. Quiet. Listening. One of my mentors in the ministry taught me a valuable concept . . .”sometimes the very best answer to a very important request is NO!” Solitude requires discipline. But it is worth it!

Social networking has a buzzword phrase on which that premise seems to be built . . . “what are you doing right now?” The important thing is to ask the Father that question; often, and then take time and wait for His answer.

Step Out Of The Traffic.

We’re excited to announce a couple of events for the PennDel Music Network in 2009:

WORSHIP LEADER ROUNDTABLE RETREAT – Sept. 28 & 29 (location TBA)

This will be a great time to connect with other worship leaders and music ministers for a time of growth, refreshing and building relationships.  Mark your calendars now and plan to be a part of this event.  More details will be posted here, on Facebook and via email.

CHURCH MINISTRIES LEADERSHIP TRAINING SUMMIT – Sept. 26 (Monroeville) & Oct. 3 (Reading)

Geared toward the training volunteer leadership in the church, this event will feature 4 breakout sessions focusing on some key practical and logistical challenges of local church worship team ministry.  Bring your whole worship team for a great day of team-building and growth.

WATCH HERE AND ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE FOR MORE DETAILS.

Our first ever Northeast Worship & Media Conference (hosted by the PennDel Music & Worship Network) held in Sept., 2008 was a great success with excellent attendance, quality exhibitors, top-notch clinicians & guest artists and some dynamic times of worship.

We knew immediately that this would become a recurring event, it was just the frequency that had to be determined.  The leadership has determined that the investment of time, energy and volunteer efforts will be maximized if we make the full-scale conference an “every 2 year” event. This will also give us the opportunity to implement 2 other new events in 2009 that will meet some unique needs — a retreat geared toward worship leaders and a training summit for worship team members that will be held in 2 different geographical locations across the district.

View the previous post for preliminary details on these events and keep watching HERE and on our FACEBOOK page for more information on these events.