Over the past few weeks I have been sharing the blogs that I read on a regular basis. Here is the final installment. Read the first and second parts of this series. Also leave a comment and let me know what you are reading.
Playing Outside of Worship Services
Last night we held our Xperience Night of Worship. We wanted a chance to play out of the usual Sunday Morning setting so we worked up all original tunes written by both myself and Kerri Crocker. We hope in the future to invite other artists, and or take our group and visit other churches. Included is the video of a worship song called “Awaken Our Hearts”. I will post others once I get them uploaded.
So where does your worship team play other than worship services?
Getting Along
Cat and Dog from russell martin on Vimeo.
I was going to put this video up as an example of how even though we are different we can still put aside our differences and get along. My wife told me that I shouldn’t do that because they are fighting with each other and that’s not an example of getting along. So I’ll leave it up to you.. what do you think?
The Blogs I’m Reading- Part 2
Last week I shared the first part of my list of blogs that come across my feed reader. All of these are websites that I read on a regular basis for inspiration, contemplation, devotion, randomness and humor. Here is the part two of my list.
Flickr- Shared Worship Background Graphics
What blogs are you reading that I should add to my list?
Sunday Setlist - 11/09/08
This week at worship we talked about making choices. The scripture was Joshua 24:1-3, 14-25.
Here are the songs:
Every Move I Make//David Ruis
Matchless//Aaron Shust
Blessed Be Your Name//Matt Redman
Fork In The Road//Russell Martin
Only You//David Crowder
To see other worship service recaps and setlists, visit “Sunday Setlists” at FredMcKinnon.Com
The Blogs I’m Reading- Part 1
Every day words of wisdom, words of inspiration, words of humor, words of instruction and some really random things come across my computer screen. I have some blogs in my blog roll but I thought I would share with you some of the ones you don’t see. Enjoy
A child of God educating other children.
All About Worship And Life by Wisdom Moon
Contemplations, Adaptations, and Revelations
Kem Meyer on Less Clutter & Noise
So what blogs are you reading?
Sunday Setlist 11/2/08
This week I had the priviledge to be a guest worship leader for the contemporary worship service at Lufkin FUMC. When I showed up on Sunday morning we ran through a list of songs I had chosen and everything went great. Big thanks to them for having me out.
Here was the list:
Everlasting God (Benton Brown and Ken Riley)
Blessed Be Your Name (Matt and Beth Redman)
Alleluia (Me)
Mighty To Save (Ben Fielding, Rueben Morgan) Has to be one of my new favorite songs.
Awaken Our Hearts (Me)
This is posted as part of Fred McKinnon’s Sunday Setlists
Free Backgrounds
I have shared some free image resources that I have found or created before. Here are a few more sites I have found that have photos and backgrounds free for you to use. Of course it is always fun to create your own.
Creative MYK- I have mentioned this one before but they have added a ton of stuff since last time. They have not only background slides but Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop files, jpegs and more. Make sure and check out my waterfall slides.
Flickr Shared Worship Background Graphics- This flickr group is designed specifically for worship backgrounds. I have also started my on Flickr site of backgrounds.
Simply Youth Ministry Background Freebies- These backgrounds are some they use for youth talks, worship services etc.
Tim Schmoyer of Life in Student Ministry always has some great giveaways. Freebie Friday #95 has some sky background pics from me, and freebie #43 is a set of powerpoint backgrounds from Stevan Sheets.
What other sites do you know of that have great free worship backgrounds?
Working With Youth Bands: Change it Up
Today in our youth band we were playing Blessed Be Your Name. Since we knew the song very well I decided to use the song for an experiment. I started the intro but was playing the song in 6/8 instead of 4/4. It took on a swing/waltz type feel. The band came in and played along. The drummer picked up the beat, the bass player automatically adapted his part and with a little help, the singers sang along. Why did I do this? I really don’t know. But I learned a few things.
1. Try New Things- We tend to get into habits of playing. We always play a certain pattern, riff, or solo. Changing the time signature forced us to try different things.
2. Out of the Comfort Zone- Playing something in such a different way forced the band to pay attention. they were not sure what’s coming next and had to be more alert.
3. Encourage Adaptivity- Playing in the different time signature also forced our group to adapt. The singers had to figure out how the words and syllables best fit playing in 6 instead of 4. Our drummer had to adjust his pattern to go with the new time.
4. Shake Up a Familiar Song- When we finished one of our singers turned around and said, “I am not sure what we just did… but I liked it!” We didn’t make a decision then but we just may do it that way sometime who knows?
So I encourage you to change things up. Try songs in new keys, time signatures or chord patterns. You may never actually use the song that way when you lead worship but it will help to stretch your band on their instruments and encourage them to not just focus on the way we have always done it.
How have you changed songs like this?
Favorite “Go To” Songs
Sometimes you have a worship set planned and rehearsed but something happens before time to lead. Maybe someone gets sick, or doesn’t show up. Whatever the reason you now have no time to rehearse but have to choose a setlist your team can lead, basically from memory with their eyes closed…
Give me three songs that are in that list…
GO…
