Creative Artists or Praise and Worship Cover Band?
Oct 28, 2009 How To, Worship Planning
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?
Tags: band, CD, charts, chord chart, Church, facebook, Free, late, listen, Music, praise, praise and worship, Reading, Recording, Resource, resources, sing, song, Thoughts, Worship
Do We Have Customers?
Oct 5, 2009 Communication
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…
Tags: Church, Communication, question, Resource, resources, Service, Thoughts, Win, work, Worship
Worship Service Brainstorm #3
Feb 15, 2009 Worship Planning
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.
Tags: Brainstorm, lessons, Resource, resources, Songs, Sunday, work, Worship, Worship Leader, Worship Planning, youth
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
I Missed My 100th Post
Nov 28, 2008 Uncategorized
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?
Tags: angel, Background, band, blogging, fork In the Road, Free, Free Song, Free Stuff, How To, Resource, resources, Team, Worship, youth, Youth Worship
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
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
Worship Service Brainstorm #2
Oct 5, 2008 Worship Planning
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.
Tags: Brainstorm, How To, Resource, resources, Setlist, video, Worship
A List of Free Worship Resources
Sep 5, 2008 Free Stuff
When I began this blog one thing I wanted to do was to provide worship leaders and churches with free resources to use in their services. Over the past year I have shared mp3 files of songs, PDF Chord sheets, powerpoint background files and photos free for such use. My hope is that this will grow into a place for many different people to share resources and materials. Recently I moved my from blogspot to my new home on wordpress ad when I did this not everything made it over in transition. So I have created a resource page. It contains a list of each resource I have offered so far.
You are free and encouraged to use any of the resources on this page. You may also share them freely with others. I just ask that you do not sell them or use them for commercial use. For more information check out the Creative Commons.
You are also free and encouraged to submit your resources for others to use. You can do this either directly or indirectly. First you can directly, send your file to me, I will host it, post it and share it. You will get a link to your blog or website and a huge thanks. Second you can indirectly send me a link to your blog page where you have your resource hosted. I will write a post linking to your blog or website and again you will get a huge thanks.
What am I looking for? Whatever you use that would be helpful for others. This could include but is not limited to photos, powerpoint files, songs, chord sheets, websites, drama plays, skits, and videos.
Tags: Background, blogs, Church, Free, Powerpoint, Resource, resources, Songs, video, websites, Worship, Worship Leader
Youth Worship: Worshipping without a band
Aug 11, 2008 How To, Youth Worship
Recently my friend Tim Schmoyer who blogs at Life in Student Ministry received the following email from a youth leader looking for some help. He asks:
“Do you know of any GOOD cd’s or dvd’s for sing-a-long praise and worship music for teens. We are a small group in rural Missouri. No praise band but we want to praise God during our meetings. I’d appreciate any help you have to offer. Thanks a million and God bless.”
Worship music is a very important aspect of any youth ministry I have been involved in. Sometimes we had groups that sang a few songs at the beginning or end of a youth group time, sometimes we had a band that played for a youth worship service or maybe just some guitars around the campfire singing favorite songs. But the question is what do you do when you do not have anyone who can play guitar, or who can lead songs? There are a few options.
Option #1CD/DVD resources- Many different companies now offer worship music on CD and DVD. Two of the main ones I have used before are Iworship and SPIN or Student Praise Interactive Network.
The Iworship DVDs included the songs being performed and video backgrounds with the words displayed. They even have a new cool product called IWORSHIP Flexx which allows you to easily move between verses, bridges etc. They also include split tracks so you can either worship and sing along with the vocals, or just have the background music play.
Student Praise Interactive Network is another great resource and the one I am more familiar with. SPIN sends you a package of resources in one disc. These include the split tracks for each song, lyrics formatted for Media Shout and Powerpoint, Chord Sheets, Lyric Sheets, and Piano Music. I really like this resource because it provides a great transition if you do find an guitar player, piano player or vocalist who can slowly work into leading worship for you. Since the piano and chord sheets go along with the CD, they can play along, and sing along while they learn and become more comfortable and confident.
Option #2 Find a Service Nearby- Although it does not meet a need for worship every week, on an occasional basis you may be able to take your group to a worship service somewhere else. Maybe there is a church or youth group in your area that does a weekly contemporary worship service. What a great way not only to worship as your own group but to join others in worship, maybe even from a different denomination. Also keep your eyes and ears open for concerts that may be coming to your area. Worship groups like Hillsongs, David Crowder, Chris Tomlin not to mention many others, all tour and offer great worship opportunities for your group to attend.
Option #3 Bring Someone In- Maybe there is someone in your area who leads worship who would be willing to come lead worship for you on a one time or regular basis. There are many beginning worship leaders who are just looking for opportunities to lead and would love to have the opportunity to share in worship with your group. Check with other churches in your area, or your denominational head office to find some names. There are also sites like indie heaven which have a collection of christian artists, and a way for you to search for some in your area.
Tags: Appreciate, Background, band, blogs, camp, CD, Church, guitar, interactive, Media Shout, Powerpoint, Resource, resources, Songs, video, work, Worship, Worship Leader, youth, Youth Worship
