Fork In The Road Music » Resource

Creative Artists or Praise and Worship Cover Band?

Russell Martin — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:17:14 +0000

I was reading through various friends facebook updates when this one by Chuck Harris caught my attention:

“The church does not prize originality, but rather cloning, it does not prize freedom, but control.” Leonard Sweet.

It got me to thinking about how we approach worship music in the church. Do we foster an atmosphere of creativity and unleash our members to use their talent in unique and creative ways, or do we throttle creativity by insisting on playing a piece just as it was recorded by the latest worship band? I admit it is much easier to do the second. I also think that we are encouraged to do so by artists and publishing companies because they make it so easy. You can find now an extensive library of resources where the worship tunes have been charted out to mimic their recording. It is easier to learn the music when CD’s can be listened to and are available for easy reference. I wonder though if it has not just made us a praise and worship cover band. Although it is easier, is it best?

I had been thinking on this topic even before I read the quote above. One of our band members, who had been thinking along the same lines, asked if we could try an experiment. He said that we should pass out a chord chart to a song, and let us come up with the arrangement before listening to it on the CD.

I really want to get your thoughts.

What are the benefits of using CDs and pre-written charts?

What are the benefits of doing your own thing?

Which do you use more often? Why?

What are other ways you can foster creativity with your band?

Do We Have Customers?

Russell Martin — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 03:12:09 +0000

I have worked in churches for over 15 years now and I will have to say it is definitely a unique “business” to be in. In fact, I just described the problem. Is the church a business? We have bills to pay, employees to provide for, buildings to maintain. There is a budget, income and expenses.

If the church is a business then do we have customers? If so who are they? Are our customers those who are already in the pews and on the roster? The ones who are faithful in attendance and give to support our ministries. Are our “customers” those who are in our community un-connected to any church, or not even knowing who Jesus is?

Furthermore, should we gear our resources, worship services, communications, programs etc to those who are already here, or to those who are unreached? On one hand if you do not take care of those who are already in the church, supporting the church, then they may not stay and support. However are we really fulfilling our mission to make disciples if we do not expect, plan for, and actively pursue those who are un-churched, non-believers?

Or is even the right question to ask?

I’d love your thoughts…

Worship Service Brainstorm #3

Russell Martin — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 05:28:59 +0000

A few months ago I proposed an idea to help worship leaders brainstorm and give ideas for worship services we were working on. The Worship Service Brainstorm is an opportunity for you to help out, give suggestions and ideas, and to gain some ideas and resources.

This weeks worship service brainstorm comes from John Hagge at oursaviorlcms.org.

Here is the information he is working with so far

Date of Service- 3/29/2009

Possible Scriptures: None as yet however given the thought from below it would be from Proverbs or the lessons of the day – series B Jer. 31:31-34 Heb. 5:1-10 & Mark 10:32-45

Title or Topic- Unkown as of yet

Songs- Unknown

Other Elements- I really had hoped to have more info but I plan to discuss this with our youth on Sunday morning and giving them some assignments. BUT one idea that our youth board had was to have (as the sermon) a skit that is a spin off of the TV are you smarter that a fifth grader; only our “show” would be “Are you smarter that a Confirmand?”

So what’s next? Leave your suggestions. Maybe you have a song that would go well, or you have done a skit that would work. Leave links to items posted on your own blog or others. Just get the dialogue going and lets help each other out.

Using Video- Incorporating Scripture in New Ways

Russell Martin — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 06:09:28 +0000

Isaiah 60:1-6 from russell martin on Vimeo

View on Youtube

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..

I Missed My 100th Post

Russell Martin — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 06:45:08 +0000

Apparently I missed one of my first milestones in the life of Fork In The Road Blog. Two posts ago was my 100th blog post. I guess that would make this 102. In this brief time of I have learned much about blogging and have apparently written some things that others have learned from and enjoyed. Here are my top 10 viewed posts so far.

Youth Worship: Worshipping without a band
Cardboard Testimonies
Free Stuff: Angel Background
Free Backgrounds
Resources
Music Ministry
Removing Distractions
How to- Make Your Own Worship Background
Free Song: Awaken Our Hearts
What To Do With a Youth Worship Team

Do you have a post on Fork In The Road that was extremely helpful or inspiring for you?

Free Backgrounds

Russell Martin — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 05:25:46 +0000

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?

Youth Worship: Making Your Job Easier

Russell Martin — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 07:01:48 +0000

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

Worship Service Brainstorm #2

Russell Martin — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 01:20:56 +0000

Last week I started a series called Worship Service Brainstorm. The idea is that you send in your service idea, scripture, topic etc and we will brainstorm and give ideas, videos, song suggestions etc. It is a great way to find some resources you may not have known about before, and a great way to share your own resources with others. Here is this weeks service.

Service Date- October 26, 2008

Sermon Title- How To Live 120 Years

Main Scripture- Deut 34:1-12

Ok.. so where would you go with this?

To submit your own worship service brainstorm click here and fill out this simple form. I will post it up here so others can send in their ideas.

Worship Service Brainstorm #1 Intro

Russell Martin — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 03:57:56 +0000

One of the coolest things I have done is to sit down with a team and brainstorm about ideas for a worship service. To take a topic or scripture, or point and find creative ideas that help others experience God in a new way. I have done this before in a small team within my own church and it works very well. But I could not help but wonder what would happen if the collaboration not only came from a small group in one church, but from many people around the world. Thoughts and ideas could come not only from one worship tradition but from many traditions, denominations, even countries. As I kept thinking I thought about how to create it so that someone could post the beginning ideas for their service, and then others could suggest songs, videos, skits, stories, other scriptures and worship experiences that could help. Then others could be encouraged and get ideas to use in their own services. Kind of like a global worship planning session.

So here is how it could work.

1. Click here and fill out this simple form which asks some basic information about what service you are planning. Or post your service idea on your own blog and comment here with a link.

2. I will create a post each week for the services and put them on forkintheroadmusic.org

3. Read the post and then share your ideas. Link to ideas on your own blog, or share thoughts about the service that you have. Suggest songs, videos or skits that would be helpful. Please don’t just tell us about a great resource, link to it so we can find it easily.

See, that’s pretty easy. Hopefully we can share tons of ideas and thoughts.

To get started here is the Scripture, Sermon topic and our tentative Songlist for October 12th. What do you suggest?

October 12 -Mt 22:1-14 – Will We go to the Wedding Banquet?
You are Good
Come Ye Sinners*
You are God *
Never Let Go
Crossfire
Echoes- Kerri’s Song
Oh, one final thought. After your service is over then head on to the Sunday Setlists at Fred McKinnon’s site and share how things went.

Sunday Setlist 9/28/08

Russell Martin — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 05:37:42 +0000

This week was really nothing out of the ordinary. We have begun trying to do songs more frequently so that the congregation can learn and participate better. Before I came the idea was to do new songs that were cool, now we are focusing on congregation participation and songs that fit the theme or message if possible.

This week’s message was “Regarding Others as Better Than Yourselves” Philippians 2:1-13

We started off with the song Map from Kerri Crocker’s last CD. It really didn’t match the theme completly but the band has kept saying they want to do more orignal songs so we put it in. After that we had our welcome and announcements and then did Let it Rise and Open The Eyes of My Heart, the harder Sonic Flood type version. For offertory we used Grace Like Rain, our invitation was Crowder’s Only You and then we closed with the band jammin to Let it Rise while everyone left.

Last week Kerri and I sat down and put together tentative songlists for the rest of October. Our pastors preach from the lectionary, so since we chose songs to try to compliment that I will put those up for other churches which may do the same. Look for that later in the week.

This post is also part of Fred McKinnon’s Sunday Setlist Blog Carnival. Check it out and see what other churches are doing.