Free Backgrounds
Oct 30, 2008 Free Stuff, Media and Technology
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?
Tags: Background, Free, freebie, Photoshop, Powerpoint, Resource, resources, video, Worship, youth
Working With Youth Bands: Change it Up
Oct 29, 2008 How To, Youth Worship
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
Oct 23, 2008 Uncategorized
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…
Youth Worship: Making Your Job Easier
Oct 23, 2008 Youth Worship
This used to be the way I did things when I was leading the youth worship team.
1. Find a song that the youth wanted to do.
2. Type up the lyrics
3. Use my awesome ear training skills to figure out the chords
4. Transpose the key if needed for the vocals to sing
5. Rehearse with the band
6. Create a powerpoint slide from the lyrics
6. Repeat
I guess I have done it that way for the longest time because there was really no other way to do it. There were some song books that went along with some CDs but they usually contained the full piano sheet, not really easy to use for a guitar player. So I continued listening to songs, chording them out, and my computer began to become filled with pages of these creations. That was until now…
Now there are many resources that come out with everything provided for you. There are many out there from different companies. I started out using SPIN or Student Praise Interactive Network. They provide CD’s with split tracks along with lyric sheets, chord sheets, piano parts and powerpoint or media shout ready lyrics.
Recently I have started using Vertical Music Worship Tools. These provide pretty much the same thing like split tracks, lead sheets, guitar parts etc. They also include a DVD that contains videos of each instrument playing their part. This is great for demonstrating how to play a certain song on a specific instrument. This Vertical Music resource creates its arrangements from a specific artists CD. The most recent one I received were arrangements from Lincoln Brewster’s “Today is the Day” CD.
As I said before there are tons of resources like this that are now becoming available. The ones I mentioned are just the two that I have been most familiar with. I suggest these because while it is great to be able to sit and chord out song after song, is it really the best use of my time? There are still many opportunities for me to hone my ear training, music transcribing skills like when I am writing songs, or when those songs come along that I don’t have a resource for. By using these resources though I can drastically cut my arranging time down.
Oh.. I don’t have powerpoint lyrics or split tracks but I do have the lead sheets for several of my songs available for you to download. Check out all my free resources on my resource page or by clicking on free stuff
Tags: band, CD, Chords, Free, Free Stuff, guitar, How To, interactive, Media Shout, Powerpoint, Resource, resources, Songs, Team, video, work, Worship, youth, Youth Worship
Interactive Communion Service
Oct 21, 2008 Worship Planning
For the past year we have really tried to elevate and emphasize communion in our service. Every month we have tried something interactive or at least different. We have used the paper that dissolves in water and had the congregation write on the paper what they needed to let go of. The dropped the paper in, stirred and the paper disappeared. Our pastor has had the congregation repeat the Jesus Prayer. We have put up sheets of paper and asked them to write a thank you note to God, after taking communion. We have used a song of confession that I wrote for our congregation called “Awaken our Hearts“.
This week we went interactive again and set up two stations with rocks, basin and pitcher of water. We had the members come up and think about the things they cannot let go of, but need to. They held the rock over the basin of water and let it go, listening to their worries go with the rock.Then they go ahead and take communion.
We run a video during the first part of communion and have a song following so I was able to sit and watch people as they came to the rock station. Some of them walked up, grabbed a rock and tossed it in, seemingly with out any thought. However there were some for which you could tell this was a difficult, yet meaningful experience. I have been very excited to see the changes happening in our congregation and we have received many comments about how meaninful communion has been now.
So what do you use to make your services interactive?
Oh.. Since I am entering this on Fred McKinnon’s Sunday Setlist I should give you our list from Sunday.
We started the service with “Matchless”, the band really liked it I think. We followed with “Meet With Me.” After that we had our sermon and then used my song Alleluia for the offering. During communion two of our leaders sang “The Blood Will Never Lose It’s Power.” Our Song of Invitation was the Passion version of “Jesus Paid it All”
Over all it was a great Sunday..
Tags: band, Fred McKinnon, Free, interactive, Prayer, Setlist, Sunday, Sunday Setlist, video, Worship
Why I Should Write Songs for My Congregation?
Oct 17, 2008 Worship Planning
Right now on the shelf in my office sit over 15 songbooks with CDs of wonderful worship songs written by great songwriters and sung by awesome worship bands. For years while leading worship I would use songs like these written by worship leaders across the country, and the world. Songs like Open The Eyes of My Heart, He Reigns, Lord I Lift Your Name on High, and Every Move I Make became staples of my worship leading. Those songs have meaning because of where I heard them or what I was going through when they spoke to me, as they do for many people who sing them every day. But I bet they have more meaning to those who know the story behind the songs. Those for whom the song were written.
I am reminded of the song Heart of Worship and the story behind it. As I think of what that song means to me, I can’t help but think that it meant so much more for that congregation. I am also reminded of the Psalms. Song after song written for the people of God to sing. Songs that convey the thoughts, words and prayers of a people to God.
That is why I should be writing songs for my congregation to sing. I should be trying to capture the thoughts and prayers of our congregation in words and music. I should be trying to find musical and lyrical bridges that help our congregation to connect to God. I should write music that creates an unity and an identity of who we are. I should write songs that express the worries, fears and anxiety that we experience.
Maybe after being sung at our church the song will go on to be used by congregations and people around the world. Maybe we will use it for one Sunday and it will never be heard again. Either way, I should not hold back from writing those songs and putting them out there to be used.
Are you writing songs for your congregation? Why or why not?
Tags: band, CD, Church, Prayer, Songs, Songwriting, Sunday, Thoughts, Worship, Worship Leader
Sunday Setlist 10/12/08
Oct 15, 2008 Worship Planning
This Sunday clicked for some reason. It was one of those weeks when everything came together inspite of my planning. I really can’t put my finger on why it worked so well, I am just glad it did.
We started off with slightly altered version of Crossfire. Our drummer loves singing these old songs so we used it as our first tune while people were coming in the door. Gave the band a chance to let loose and just play. After announcements (do you do announcements in your church?) we sang Days of Elijah and Never Let Go. After a children’s sermon the Liturgical dancers danced to Kerri Crocker’s song “Echoes” seriously you have to check it out. For our invitiation I broke out the accordion and we sang a great version of Come Ye Sinners Poor and Needy (no, no one ran screaming from the building, although my wife told me to warn her when I was going to play accordion next time) was Come Ye Sinners. Like I said everything fit. We had several people that said it was the best we had sounded. I just hope we can figure out what it was that worked so we can do it again.
This post is also part of Fred McKinnon’s Sunday Setlist #12. Check it out and see what other churches are doing.
Tags: band, Church, Fred McKinnon, Kerri Crocker, Setlist, Songs, Sunday, Sunday Setlist, work, Worship
Just Can’t Take a Joke!!!
Oct 14, 2008 How To
Have you ever been reading the bible and come across a passage that told you to do something, and you thought there is NO WAY that this can be followed today? Here is one such passage for me
Ephesians 4:29 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
I mean come on.. seriously? How much of my day is spent either hearing, or saying things that shouldn’t be said. How many times do I sit around and joke about something with co-workers or my family? What about the times I join in a little gossip here or there.
I use this verse with a song I wrote called “Don’t Feed the Bears” I remember I wrote it while I was a youth director and I was constantly amazed at how much time was spent by my youth “Joking” about each other. They would talk about someone and then, usually if caught, would say “I’m just joking!”.
I ask this question in my set up for the song. “How would your day be different if you said nothing all day except words that built up those around you?” and then I ask “How would your day be if those around you only said things that built you up?”
You know if you really think about it, the verse doesn’t just talk about saying bad things or gossiping. But that the only things that come from your mouth should be words that build each other up.
I would hope that as an adult I would have grown out of it. I would hope that as members of a church that we would have stopped those childish ways. Unfortunately I think that we still have a long way to go. I know I do.
I think we should remember that the verse doesn’t just talk about when we gossip, or lie.. read this verse in the Message translation: (Emphasis is mine)
Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift.
Are there times when what we say may just be true, but not helpful? I think this is usually where the complaining comes in. It is very easy to sit around a table with your friends and find fault with someone, or something and then proceed to continue to talk about it. Is what you are saying true? Maybe. But does it do any good to sit around and complain about it? Not really. All you do is breed negativity that affects way more than you, or your group. What if instead you took the verse to heart and thought about “Saying only that which helps”, what if you treated each word you said as a gift. What if we didn’t complain? Here is a church that is doing just that which was brought to my attention by Russ Bowlin who recently posted about complaining.
Unfortunately I write this more as a confession of my own faults than a condemnation of others. I have been torn down by words, emails and idle conversations, but I have, and continue to catch myself doing the same things to others.What I want to do is to remind myself and others of the problem. The book of James tells us that the tongue is like a small flame that can cause a huge forest fire. Unfortunately fires are started every day, everywhere, and they can burn down families, friends, companies and yes even churches.
How have complaints, gossip and negative talk impacted your church?
What can we do as worship leaders to help combat this in our own churches?
What are ways your church is working to overcome this problem?
Please share…
Tags: blogs, Church, Gossip, Russ Bowlin, work, Worship, Worship Leader, youth
Simplify Media- You Gotta Try This!
Oct 10, 2008 Media and Technology
Right now I sit in my office listening to an itunes playlist. The cool thing is that I created the songlist on my laptop this morning, and my laptop is still sitting at my house. Yesterday I was traveling and listening to a playlist of possible Christmas songs on my iphone, but the list is on my Desktop at work. So how is this possible? Check out simplify media.
One of the cool features is you can invite up to 30 friends to share your playlist with. You aren’t sharing files, you cannot download others mp3s but you can listen to lists they make available. Anyone want to share?
Tags: Christmas, iphone, Songs, technology, work
Just a Glimpse
Oct 8, 2008 Youth Worship
For the past several years I have been working youth worship teams. Every year is different, mostly because with youth you have a constant flow of kids in and out. Some graduate, some get jobs and cannot particpate, and then there are some that join for the first time. Every year though with your group there comes a point where you hear it. What is it? It is a glimpse of what can be. It is when they aren’t just playing music but playing musically. It is when you see, that they see, that there is more to doing ths than just strumming, drumming, playing and singing.
Today we I saw it, and heard it. We came out of the chorus of “One Way” and into the bridge. The band dropped out, the keys kept playing and the singers came in on the words. The electric slowly built in, drums slowly got more intense and it just clicked.
2 minutes later the monitors weren’t working right, the singers didn’t understand their part, and it was time to go. The moment didn’t last long. It wasn’t all better after that time, but it did happen.
My encouragement to you is to listen to and identify those moments. Celebrate them and show the youth in the band what they sound like, so they can begin to hear what they sound like and strive for them.
Tags: band, drums, rehearsal, Team, work, Worship, youth, Youth Band, Youth Worship
