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
Sunday Setlist- 06/07/09
Jun 8, 2009 Worship Planning
This week was a sad yet joyous one for our church. Our associate pastor Frank Coats has been appointed to a new church in Houston. Today was his last Sunday with us. One thing Frank is known for is wearing bowties. So this week many members showed their love by wearing bowties of their own. We are sad to see him leave but wish him the best.
Here were are songs this week.
Everywhere I Go-
Today is the Day-
Come Ye Sinners
Child of God
Power of Your Name
Tags: blogs, Church, Setlist, Songs, Sunday, Sunday Setlist, UMC
Sunday Setlist 5/31/09
Jun 1, 2009 Worship Planning
Pentecost Sunday was great at WMUMC. It was my first week back after being out for two at College UM ARMY and Annual Conference. It was nice to be playing and singing with the band again. Here are our songs from this week.
Tell the World
Days of Elijah-
Revive Us Again-
It’s My Joy
Awaken our Hearts
Pentecost Video
This is part of the Sunday Setlists at Fred McKinnon’s blog.
Tags: Fred McKinnon, Setlist, Sunday, Worship Planning
Why We’re Not Going All Out For Easter
Apr 9, 2009 Worship Planning
I remember growing up how Easter Sunday was. It seemed like for that Sunday the church went all out. We had an orchestra, dancers, and big choir anthems. We had a lot of things that only happened on that Sunday. And then the next Sunday was back to “normal.” I have begun to wonder if that is a good thing or not. Is going all out and putting such an emphasis on Easter Sunday theatrics helpful or hurtful for those that come back the next week?
This year in our contemporary service we are not doing any big band numbers. Our stage will not be decorated that much differently than it is normally. Our band and vocals will be the same band and vocals that we have every week. Our worship songs will be ones focused on the resurrection, but the same ones the congregation has been learning and worshiping with for a while. And since we do communion on the 3rd Sunday of every month we are even keeping that the same. Communion on Easter?
So is this a bad thing? Does your church go all out for Easter? Why or Why not?
Contemporary vs Traditional? Enough Already!
Mar 24, 2009 Worship Planning
Part of me wonders why we are even still discussing this. The other part knows It will never go away. As long as we have churches we will be fighting the same battle and asking the same questions. So instead of giving my argument on the side of why we should worship one way or another I thought I would give a few suggestions on how to help bridge the gap.
1. Realize God doesn’t care. No there were no guitars or keyboards in the bible. But the fact is that there were no organs either. We need to realize that the instruments we use and types of songs are our preference, not God’s.
2. Understand we are all different. Different types of services meet different needs. Do you have one Sunday school class for everyone? Probably not. We need to understand that just as we learn in different ways, we worship differently.
3. Acknowledge others worship style is just as valid as yours. Just because someone else worships different than you, doesn’t make them wrong, and doesn’t make you right.
4. Worship together. We have two styles of worship but one of the best things we do is to worship together on occasion. We have done this two ways. First we have done some services that utilize elements from both the traditional and contemporary service. Second we have combined services but left the basic elements the same, dependent on the location. This has helped to introduce members to the other style of worship.
5. What’s contemporary now is traditional tomorrow. I have already seen that what we used to call contemporary has become the tradition in many churches. What used to be innovative is now predictable. In fact I could argue in some churches the “Contemporary Service” is more traditional than the “Traditional Service”. And now we even have “Emerging?”
So those are some of my suggestions. What ways does your church help bridge the divide between contemporary, traditional and other worship styles?
Sunday Setlist 3/22/09
Mar 22, 2009 Worship Planning
This was my first attemt at a video worship confessional. Check it out and let me know what you think.
To see what other worship services did this week make sure and check out Sunday Setlists on Fred McKinnon’s blog.
Tags: application, CD, Fred McKinnon, Setlist, Sunday, Sunday Setlist, video, Worship
Sunday Setlist- 3/15/09
Mar 21, 2009 Worship Planning
Yes I know I am almost a week late in posting this. Oh well.. maybe since I can’t be first, I’ll be last.
Last week we had special guests leading worship. It was our youth band. I am so honored to have the priviledge of working with this group of talented young musicians. They have worked hard all year to lead music during our youth program and for youth worship services. So when the opportunity arose for them to lead we let them have an opportunity to lead in our morning contemporary worship service. As I expected they did an awesome job.
Here were our songs:
One Way
Today is The Day
Counting on God
How Great is Our God
Blessed Be Your Name
You Never Let Go
We also took communion and had a new family join.
That’s what we sang. Check out what other churches did for their Sunday Setlists.
Tags: band, Church, Setlist, Songs, Sunday, Sunday Setlist, work, Worship, youth, Youth Band, Youth Worship
Recording Equipment: What Do You Suggest?
Mar 9, 2009 Uncategorized
I have been thinking lately that I would like to set up a small studio at the church. I am not looking for something too complicated but would like to be able to record our instruments into separate channels on Sunday mornings so they could be mixed to create a balanced recording.
I know there are many of you out there with alot of experience in this area so I would love for you to answer some of these questions. I am sure others reading would benefit from your years of experience too.
So here are your questions.
If you were going to set up a small studio how would you do it?
What equipment would you include? Computer software?
Interfaces?
What are some things to watch out for?
Finally what other questions would you ask?
Leave your answers in the comments, or if it is easier write your own blog post and leave the link in the comments.
Sunday Setlist 3/8/09
Mar 9, 2009 Worship Planning
This was a good week at our Xperience Service. We had a full service, a new family joining, great message. Here are our songs.
Today is the Day - This was our first song from the CD of the same name to introduce. We used it as our opening song and since it was new they really didn’t sing along, but it got nice applause so I think they liked it. It was also my first time to play electric guitar in the service. I have always played acoustic but didn’t feel right doing acoustic guitar on this song.
Every Move I Make- Ok… this one might be out of our list for a while. Kind of fit the sermon for today so wee used it but I think a break from it will allow us to do it later. The version I originally learned is the one I linked to from one of my favorite groups, Smith Band who led music at Metro Bible Study in Houston for several years.
So Good- This has been a favorite in the service since before I was here.
Awaken Our Hearts- One of my favorites that has become favorites for others too. This is actually my first entry on the “Online Songwriters Showcase” I’d love feedback.
I Stand Amazed- We introduced this one late last year and it has become one that the congregation latches into and sings strongly. I don’t know why but it works. We used this for our invitation.
That’s what we sang. Check out what other churches did for their Sunday Setlists.
Tags: band, CD, Church, Free, guitar, Setlist, Songs, Sunday, Sunday Setlist, work
Sunday Songlists- 3/1/09
Mar 5, 2009 Worship Planning
This past Sunday was an interesting one. I thought that the band and vocals sounded great, were tight and was over all an awesome Sunday. Unfortunately there were many other events this weekend that hindered our Sunday morning attendance. I do have to give props to our ladies who do the stage decorations each week. When I arrived at the church 3 years ago all we had was the black curtain background. This Easter will mark one full year of using colors in different ways to decorate the stage. They don’t really use elaborate props but have come up with a quick and easy system to add some color and a different focus depending on the week. Hopefully Ill put a post up next week showing how we do our stage.
Songlist (Planning Center)
Everlasting God
My Hope is You
Your Love is Amazing (Halleluiah)
Here I Am to Worship
Praise to the Lord the Almighty (from the Wow Hymns)
In the Secret
This Sunday Setlist is posted as part of Fred McKinnon’s Sunday Setlist #32. Come on and see what other churches are doing each week, and share your own Sunday experiences.
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Tags: Background, band, Church, fork In the Road, Fred McKinnon, Setlist, songlists, Sunday, Sunday Setlist, Worship
