Using Video- Incorporating Scripture in New Ways
Dec 31, 2008 Free Stuff, How To, Media and Technology, Worship Planning
Isaiah 60:1-6 from russell martin on Vimeo
Our contemporary worship service as well as our traditional service follow the lectionary. The lectionary usually provides four different scriptures for each Sunday that follow a theme. In the traditional service we have typically used one for the main scripture the sermon is based on, and then atleast two of the others are read or used as a responsive reading. Up until this point in the contemporary service we have only really used the one that the sermon is based on. I was trying to think of ways to incorporate more scripture in our service that fit the style of our service.
While I was at Youth Specialties in Nashville they used several scripture videos. (available on their resource page) The videos consisted of a moving background, generally a moving view from a car, or rollercoaster, or something like that, with the scripture laid on top and an audio loop in the background. The YS team used them very well for transitions during different parts of the general sessions.
So I thought I would try to create something in that same style. I took a section of video on a recent trip to Houston. Using Vegas Movie Studio I lightened, blurred, and added noise to the video. Then took the Old Testament reading for the week, Isaiah 60:1-10, and placed it on top. I then used Sonic Foundry Acid to make a short audio background loop and added it on.
So this is the result. I think we will play it after the offertory as a transition for the band to get off stage before the pastor and person reading the scripture for the sermon.
Oh.. if you use the lectionary in your church and you would like a copy without the little “Xperience Worship” tag on the end just leave me a reply and let me know. I can run it with out the tag and send it to you or upload it..
Tags: application, Background, band, CD, Church, Resource, resources, Russell Martin, Sunday, Team, video, Worship, youth
Using Video-Christmas Dinner in Fast Forward
Dec 29, 2008 How To, Media and Technology
This was my first attempt to do one of those cool fast forward time lapse videos you see around. I took a camera and set it on top of our china hutch before we ate our Christmas Dinner. Then I took the video and used Windows Movie Maker to speed up the footage. Cut it in a few places and downloaded the music from free-loops.com. What do you think? How would you use something like this technique in worship?
Sunday Setlist 12/28/08
Dec 28, 2008 Worship Planning
Most weeks at our church we have simultaneous contemporary and traditional worship services at the 10:30 to 11:30 hour. Periodically for special occasions we combine services into one location. This week we combined in the contemporary service. It was nice to see some people I don’t normally get to see on a weekly basis.
Songlist-
Go Tell it on the Mountain- Our drummer does a great job singing this song and the band loves playing it so I just let them go for it.
Angels We Have Heard on High- This is a calypso version that they were doing before I got here. With all these songs they stayed fairly true to rhythm and melody so they were different but still easy to sing along with.
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear-
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen- This version had kind of a night club bluesy type feel. Kerri did a great job on it though.
Our Great God- Ok so we took the words to the hymn “While Shepherds Watched their flocks by night” and put two verses in for one verse of “Our Great God” then did the chorus as usual. Great way to blend old and new, and now we can use “Our Great God” as a worship tune the rest of the year.
You can check out what other worship services were doing this week and for the 22 weeks before this at Sunday Setlist #23 on Fred McKinnon’s Blog
Tags: angel, band, Church, Fred McKinnon, Setlist, Songs, Sunday, Sunday Setlist, Worship
Iphone Apps for Musicians: Part 2
Dec 27, 2008 Media and Technology
Last week I sent you my first three favorite iPhone apps that I use in my music ministry. Here are three more.
You Version Bible- This bible app works well and offers a ton of bible translations. Most versions however are online so the app needs a connection of some sort either through the phone network or over wifi. They just began offering a few bible translations as downloads.
Pianist- Pianist provides a basic piano keyboard to play your favorite tunes. It allows you the ability to record your compositions and includes a metronome. I have used this more though for figuring out what key a song is that I hear on a CD or for simple things like that.
Piano chords-Ever forget a piano chord? This app makes it easy to play any piano chord. Just choose the root note from the keyboard and then one of 50 different types of chords and the chord is played and shown visually on the keyboard.
Iphone Apps for Musicians: Part 1
Dec 20, 2008 Media and Technology
In June Apple introduced their iPhone applications store. Since that time I have gone downloaded at least 100 applications that do different things. Here are my first three of the top 10 applications, free and paid, that I use on a regular basis in my ministry.
Guitar toolkit- Guitar toolkit features many tools that I need on a regular basis. It features a Chromatic Tuner, Chord Finder, Metronome, Tuning Tones and Scales, and supports different tunings, 12 string, bass and will reverse for left handed players. I tend to use the tuner and metronome feature the most.
IDicto recorder This recorder is great for capturing song ideas on the fly. Simple to use by just pressing record and letting it run, you can also transfer the files to your computer.
Air sharing Do you have chord sheets saved as PDF or word files? Use Air Sharing to store them on your phone so you always have them with you. It connects over a shared wireless connection.
Stay tuned for my next three favorite applications coming in Part 2
What are some of your favorite applications?
Tags: application, apps, Free, guitar, iphone
Two Free Cross Backgrounds
Dec 17, 2008 Free Stuff, How To, Photos and Backgrounds
Here are two cross backgrounds that you can use for worship slides, web pages or whatever. The original photo of the “message cross” is the big white cross at Peace Chapel of Lakeview Methodist Conference Center where I have spent many many weeks leading music for youth camps. The original picture for “Hanging Cross” was an out of focus “mistake” that turned out to make a good background. It reminded me that even an out of focus photo can be redeemed and used for good. Enjoy.
Tags: Background, camp, Free, Free Stuff, Photoshop, Worship, youth
Choosing Songlists: Christmas Vs Advent?
Dec 16, 2008 Worship Planning
It seems every year that I come across the same delimma when choosing songs for this season. It stems from the fact that what the stores and media call the Christmas season is, for our church, Advent, or the 4 Sundays immediately before Christmas Eve. Most of the traditional carols that people expect to hear, that are coming over the store intercom systems, are the songs that tell of Christ’s birth like Silent Night, Away in a Manger, and O Little Town of Bethlehem. However during that time we really should be singing songs that talk about the anticipation of Christ’s coming like O Come O Come Emmanuel.
This year we tried to at least not give in to the carols until the 3rd Sunday of Advent. Up until then I kept doing mostly our regular worship songs. I like worship songs that hint at or lead us to Christmas like “Here I Am to Worship.”
Light of the world
You stepped down into darkness.
Opened my eyes, let me see.
Beauty that made this heart adore You
Hope of a life spent with You
The third week we did our Sunday of all Christmas music. We had the children’s choirs, liturgical dancers, special soloists and Christmas songs. Our list included Christmas Eve Sarajevo with the dancers, Born in Bethlehem by Third Day with the kids singing the first verse, O Come All Ye Faithful, What I Want for Christmas, Welcome to Our World, Christmas Time is Here, and God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.
So here are my questions. Do you not worry about liturgical seasons and just sing all the carols you can in December? What songs did you do during this season? What songs did you do during advent?
How Do You Record a Worship CD?
Dec 11, 2008 How To
Ever since I have been at our church we have had the idea to record a worship CD. We are wanting to do something as a praise team using both original and already recorded worship songs that our congregation has grown to love. So what advice, tips or tricks do you have to share with us? Here are a few of my questions.
1. How do you get the permission to use someone elses songs? What was the process
2. How did you record? Live or Studio? Did you go somewhere or do it at your church?
3. How did you balance recording a CD and your normal responsibilities leading worship at your church?
I know there are many talented worship leaders out there who have gone through this and who can share there insights. Hopefully your comments will not only answer some of our questions but will be helpful for others who are looking into this process too. Thanks in advance.
Tags: CD, Church, Recording, Songs, Team, Worship, Worship Leader
Sunday Setlist- 12/07/08
Dec 9, 2008 Worship Planning
For some reason this week I felt like I just needed to get through. Maybe it was because I woke up feeling dead tired, maybe it was because we were a little less familiar with our song list than we usually are, or maybe because we were missing a drummer and lead vocalist. Unfortunately I let it distract me. I need to work on that.
Well here were the songs that we did this week.
In the Light
O Come All Ye Faithful
Our Great God
Offering
Here I Am to Worship
Next week we will have our Xperience Christmas Music Sunday and we have worked on some really cool songs. I just hope we can get them all worked out and thoroughly rehearsed before then.
This is part of Fred McKinnon’s Sunday Setlist on his blog at Fred McKinnon.com.
Tags: Christmas, Fred McKinnon, Setlist, Songs, Sunday, Sunday Setlist, work, Worship
