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
Sunday Setlist 8/30/09
Sep 1, 2009 Worship Planning
I have tried several ways to do my Sunday Setlist. This week I thought I’d try something different. I took my iphone and made a short audio recording of the recap. Then I emailed that to my posterous account. I think it worked pretty well.. what do you think? Play Sunday Setlist
If you can’t here our songs were-
Open the Eyes Of My Heart
Friend of God
Anyone But You
Father of Lights
Be Glorified
To see other’s Worship Setlists head over to Sunday Setlist on Fred McKinnon’s site.
Tags: Sunday Setlist, Worship Planning
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
Sunday Setlist 3/29/09
Mar 29, 2009 Worship Planning
Our worship service went great this week. I tweeted at the beginning that I could feel the excitment and engergy in the crowd even as they were entering in the doors. We had a good crowd, full stage and great songlist. Really had no hitches with A/V or anything else. We missed having Kerri but loved having our new vocalist with us. It was just a good Sunday. My prayer is that it was good for other people because they learned something new, or drew closer go God in some way. Those things I really cannot tell from the stage but continue to pray is happening each week.
Here is our list (Links go to Itunes)
Open The Eyes of My Heart- Sonic Flood
Everlasting God- Lincoln Brewster
You Never Let Go- Matt Redman
My Savior Lives- New Life Worship
My Hope is You- Third Day
So that’s what happened with us. What happened in your worship service? Read others and share yours at Sunday Setlists on Fred Mckinnon’s Blog.
Have a song you’ve written and would like feedback or input? Share it on the Online Songwriter’s Showcase. Last week we had 4 entries.. check them out and leave your own.
Tags: Fred McKinnon, songlists, Songwriting, Sunday Setlist, Worship Planning
What I’m Singing for the Next 6 Weeks
Feb 17, 2009 How To
Yes you read the title correctly. I just finished our songlists through the end of May. I can tell you though that it has not always been this way. There was a time when my songlist compiling was a week by week, even night of basis. Before you say “Hey that’s how I do it, whats wrong with that” I’ll say nothing at all. There are many ways of choosing songlists. But let me tell you some of the advantages of doing things way ahead of time.
1. My band stays informed and in the loop- By doing songlists several weeks ahead of time it gives my musicians and vocalists a chance to be constantly working on upcoming music. They can find the songs that may be difficult and begin putting extra time in. As a band we can work on more difficult music that is coming up several weeks out.
2. It gives us a longterm view of song use- Ever get into a rut? Have those songs that keep popping into your lists because they are easy and the first thing that comes to mind when you are needing just one more song? When we sit down and grid out 6 weeks worth of songs we can look for things like that. We can see what songs we are using more often, and what songs may be appropriate but we may have forgotten about.
3. It helps us think about other parts of the service- When we know what we are singing that is one aspect of worship planning that is taken care of and we don’t have to worry about. We can then turn attention to visuals, graphics, decorations, videos, sermon helps, special music and other things that will help the worship service.
xperience_songlist_2009_march_may
Tags: band, songlists, Songs, video, work, Worship, Worship Planning
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
Worship Service Brainstorm #1 Intro
Sep 29, 2008 How To, Worship Planning
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.
Tags: Brainstorm, Church, Fred McKinnon, How To, Resource, Setlist, Songs, Sunday, Sunday Setlist, Team, Thoughts, video, work, Worship, Worship Planning
3 Things to do to engage your youth in worship
Sep 5, 2008 How To, Youth Worship
Here is a list of three things you can do to help engage your students in worship.
1. Make every Sunday “Youth Sunday”- Many churches set aside one week where the youth take over the church. On that particular Sunday the youth get to be ushers, greeters, choir, read scripture and even sometimes give the sermon. What would happen of the youth knew they were encouraged to participate every week? Find ways that they can help with all aspects of the service all year round. Make youth part of your usher team, worship band, choir or media ministry all throughout the year.
2. Let them know they are not just the future of the church- The reality is the youth are as much the church now as anyone else. 1 Timothy 4:12 says “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. ” Telling the youth they are the future let’s them know they should wait till they grow up to take part in the church an worship services. The youth have so much to contribute right now. Knowing that they are the church empowers them to use their gifts now to glorify god and build up the body of Christ.
3. Give them input into the content- Youth know what speaks to them. They know youth. Having a youth on your worship team or planning team will help to bring in elements and ideas that help them to connect with God in a real meaningful way. You may also find that what speaks to them also speaks to adults, just we never would of thought of the idea, or would be too afraid to say it. Having youth on your worship planning team is another great way to engage them in worship.
These are three ideas but I know there are hundreds more. In what ways does your church help to engage youth in worship?
Tags: band, Church, Sunday, Team, Worship, Worship Planning, youth
