Appreciating Your Worship Team- Ask for Feedback
Nov 3, 2009 How To, Worship Planning
Each year I have an end of year evaluation with my pastor and other church leaders. This is a great time to look back on the previous year, talk about goals and identify areas in need of attention.
This year I decided to go a step further. I sent a short survey out to my worship team. After all, these are the guys who are in rehearsals and leading worship with me week in and week out, and I really wanted to know what they were thinking. I will admit I was apprehensive about doing so at first, however now that we have gone through the process it is one that I plan to do every year.
The set up was simple:
1. I used google to create a form
2. I emailed the link out to the team members
3. As they filled in the sheet the answers were collected for me
Here were my questions:
1. Rate the overall musical quality of the worship Team (1-5)
2. How much do rehearsals prepare you for leading worship Sunday morning (1-5)
3. Rate the variety of music presented (1-5)
4. List up to three things you think the band has definately improved on in 2009
5. What are three things you would have liked us to have improved on but we did not?
6. If you were in charge, could do anything you want, what one major change would you make?
7. Give me your idea of something new we should try to do?
8. Can you commit to the worship team for 2010? Why or Why Not?
9. What else would you like to say?
Through providing this opportunity for feedback I was able to hear things that I might not otherwise and address them before problems arise. I am excited too about new suggestions that were given and am looking forward to implementing them in the new year.
I encourage you to find some way where you can receive honest feedback from those you work with on a weekly basis. Not only will it help you to stop possible problems, but it gives your team members ownership.
So.. how do you give opportunities for feedback?
Your comments are appreciated.
Tags: Appreciate, band, Church, email, evaluation, Family, Google, help, leading, Music, question, rehearsal, Sunday, sunday morning, Team, work, Worship, worship team
My Shared Items 11/02/09
Nov 2, 2009 Communication, Media and Technology, What I'm Reading
Each week I receive posts from over fifty different blogs. I collect and read them on Google Reader and thought you might benefit from some of the things I am reading. So here are some of my favorites from this week.
In Happy Hallow…. Harvest Festival, Michael Buckingham talks about ways to use Halloween as an opportunity, not a stumbling block. Yes I know it’s a little late, but file it for next year.
One of my favorite new blogs to follow is Michael Hyatt’s Blog. On 10/30 he shared a guest post from Margaret McSweeny on 12 Strategies for Leadership Success.
And finally TechCrunch, Pandora now offers integration with Twitter and Facebook
If you like, you can subscribe directly to my shared items on google reader.
Also if you have a blog to suggest, please put it in the comments below.
Tags: blog, blogs, facebook, Google, google reader, guest, late, Reading, Share, subscribe, twitter
Criticism and Praise
Oct 26, 2009 Communication, Devotions and Thoughts, What I'm Reading
I was reading through the google shared items of Michael Hyatt, and ran across an entry he had shared called False Praise and Distorted Criticism by Pete Wilson. Read the whole post, but I wanted to share one thing that the Pete said.
Don’t waste your time listening to false praise or distorted criticism. The praise will go straight to your head and the criticism will go directly to your heart. Both will lead you astray and both will damage the work God is doing in you and through you.
Wow, how true that is. I can point to many times in my life when false praise has blown my head up. I also look back at times where I let criticism crush me. At both points I was worrying about, or basking in what others said about me, and took my focus off of Christ and his work through me.
As Christians, we need to remember that our purpose and our worth comes from Christ.
Tags: asking, Criticism, Google, listen, praise, Reading, Share, Thoughts, work
Worship Planning with Google Wave
Oct 14, 2009 Communication, Media and Technology, Worship Planning
I was invited to a google wave “post” or “blip” or whatever it is called, where my friend was writing a blog post, and wanted some fresh eyes to read over it. He posted his thoughts and what happened next was amazing. About ten other people started sharing thoughts, finding spelling mistakes and making corrections, giving alternate ideas and collaborating on the post.
After watching this for a few minutes I wondered if it could be used for planning worship services? What would happen if someone could start a wave with the sermon and scripture, then let people from all over comment, make song suggestions, give links to videos or tell about a skit they wrote that would fit the topic?
Well let’s find out. First let me say that I know not everyone has Google Wave, and I know this process won’t fully work until it is available everywhere, so hurry up Google! But I think there are enough to give this experiment a try.
I have created a wave for a service we are doing on November 8th. If you have wave add me to your contact list and I will invite you to the wave.
My contact is rgmmusic@googlewave.com
Tags: blog, Google, LInks, Music, people, planning, scripture, Service, song, Thoughts, video, Wave, work, Worship, Worship Planning
Instrumental Reflection #9- It Is Well With My Soul
Oct 7, 2009 Free Stuff, Instrumental Reflections
Sometimes these reflections are hard to come up with. Unfortunately this weeks came too easy, but for a difficult reason .
My sister’s best friend was supposed to be married in a few weeks. A few days ago her fiancee went to sleep and never woke up. I cannot even begin to imagine what she and the family are going through. I cannot think of any words to say. When I found out the news this one song rushed into my head and has not gone away.
This reflection is not only for her, but for all who are going through tough times.
Click to listen. Right click and choose “Save as” or “save target as” to save to your computer.
- It is Well With My Soul
by Horatio G Spafford - When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.- Refrain:
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
- Refrain:
- Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul. - My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! - For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul. - But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul! - And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
If you would be interested the family has set up a pay pal account which will be used to defray funeral expenses and to pay bills, etc. that may need to be covered. Any gift would be appreciated.
Also I will pass on any comments or words of encouragement you leave in the comments.
1. Go to paypal.com
2. Press Send (to send money)
3. Enter davidrosbrough@gmail.com in the to box and then enter your email address in the from box
4. Enter amount desired.
5. Scroll down and click on “personal” and “gift”
6. Press continue and follow instructions
Did you enjoy this Instrumental Reflection? Check out the other instrumental reflections in the suggested sites below. To get them delivered to your inbox Subscribe to forkintheroad by Email
To listen click play!
Tags: angel, Appreciate, choose, Click, computer, email, encouragement, Family, Google, Grief, help, Hymn, Instrumental, listen, mp3, Music, peace, piano, praise, reflections, song, Songs, Sorrow, subscribe
Wave Winners
Oct 5, 2009 Communication, Media and Technology
Congratulations to those who responded in my Google Wave Contest, and will be receiving a Google Wave nomination. I want to say thanks to each of you who left comments Congratulations!
I will be sending an email to the address you left in your comment to find out what email you want the wave nomination sent to.
Two Ways to Get A Google Wave Nomination
Oct 1, 2009 Free Stuff, Media and Technology
Thursday when I received my Google Wave invite I did what came natural. I posted it up on twitter. What happened next suprised me. All of the sudden twitter and facebook I had about 45 responses from people asking for me to give them one of my invites. Some of the eager responders were my friends; others I had never even heard of.
So today I thought about how to use my invitations wisely. Since Google Wave is a collaborative tool I thought it best to find those with whom I share something in common and could collaborate; worship leaders, youth directors etc… I thought it would also be fun to give a few out randomly. So here it is.
First- Leave a comment on this post saying how you see Google Wave being a tool for ministry. How would you use it? What ways would it benifit different areas? I’ll choose 3 and send you an invite.
Second- Leave a review for “Unfailing Love” CD on Itunes, or Amazon.com . Then copy it and post it as a comment on the post entitled “Unfailing Love Cd Available. I’ll collect the names, choose 2 at random and send you an invite.
I will choose the winners on Monday morning at 9:00 a.m.
One more note.. I still have a few more to give away after that so you also can just ask me. Find me at the following
twitter.com/rgmmusic
facebook.com/russellmartinmusic
Tags: Google, Invitation, Nomination, Wave, Win
Instrumental Reflection #8- Lazy
Sep 30, 2009 Free Stuff, Instrumental Reflections
The 8th installment of Instrumental Reflections brings a piece that is perfect to play behind a prayer time, prayer walk or even to help you relax and go to sleep. I called it “Lazy” and it sound just like that. The song is about 3 minutes long but I looped it once. You should be able to loop it and have it play continuously in your MP3 player, or on the computer.
I hope you enjoy
Click to listen. Right click and choose “Save as” or “save target as” to save to your computer.
Did you enjoy this Instrumental Reflection? Check out the other instrumental reflections in the suggested sites below. To get them delivered to your inbox Subscribe to forkintheroad by Email
To listen click play!
Tags: choose, Click, computer, email, Google, help, Instrumental, listen, mp3, Music, Prayer, reflections, song, Songs, subscribe, walk
