Category Archives: Worship Leading

Song Service: Opening Songs

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So I was perusing through our repertoire and noticed we lacked a diverse selection of songs to open service. I really feel the need to do some songs that are more up tempo (The anti “Lead Me to the Cross” 60-95 BPM songs)

I’ve really been impressed in prayer that for our local congregation to try and embody verse 4 of Psalm 100

1 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. 2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

I’d love to get some fresh ideas for songs to open service with. Some I’ve been thinking of using are:

  1. Because of Your Love (Brenton Brown / Paul Baloche)
  2. Lift Your Praises to the Lord (Re-Writing the chord structure)
  3. My Savior Lives – ( New Life Worship )

I also have an original work or two I’ve been slow cooking. One is called “You Unending Love” it is a song about not forgetting that everything good we have in our lives comes from God alone.

What songs do you open service with? Have there been any songs that you have done that were particularly effective to get the congregation singing? Leave the song title, writer(s) and key in the comment section below.

Thanks!

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10 Things the Forge conference lacked

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This past weekend I attended “The Forge Conference” in Ocean Grove NJ.

From their website:

The Forge Conference is a melding or forging of two visions God gave to:
Doug Gould, Joel Klampert, Adam Fagan Kela, and Jack Osteen.

Vision one is creating a worship and tech training conference that is small and reasonably priced for teams to come to as well as instilling into attendees the true heart of worship.

Vision two is creating a conference that is designed to make people in ministry get real and get deep. It is a conference that is more like a retreat and deals with the heart issues in ministry and teaches people in the trenches how to make Christ center within the context of relationships.

Those two visions put together creates a conference/retreat that serves the local small church and builds Christ’s church through an atmosphere of Unity in a way that has never been done before.

The Bottom Line is: Training, education, stretching, healing, relationship, unity

Ok, let me get right to the point – What this ‘conference’ lacked:

Continue reading →

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Sunday Set list 8/8/2010

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Corinth Community of Churches Riverside Worship

Set 1

  • Today is the Day
  • Holy is the Lord
  • Hosanna

Set 2

  • Mighty to Save
  • Open the Eyes of My Heart
  • Forever

Set 3

  • Offering
  • Amazing Grace / My Chains are Gone
  • Blessed Be Your Name

Set 4

  • God You Reign
  • Glory to God Forever
  • Everlasting God

Due to some last minute changes, I had the opportunity to share my testimony between the first and second worship set. Although moderately nerve-wracking, to be able give my testimony during an event such as this morning was a gift from God.

Hopefully I was able to share my testimony in such a way that those who came were blessed.  We all need to realize that No matter where we find ourselves in life, God is for us and desires to strip us of our shame in order to have a relationship with us.

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Worship Team – Required Reading

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I’m currently trying to put together a list of required reading items for our worship team.

So far I have the following title that applies to all members

For those who operate in a capacity that more directly defines the direction of the ministry (Worship Leaders, Songwriters, etc.)

I’m considering the following titles as well

Do you have required reading for your team members? Can you recommend any that should be read?

If you would, let me know in the comments below. And thanks in advance for contributing!

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Sunday Set list – 08/01/2010

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today was an awesome day of worship. God really moved in miraculous ways. One comment from someone today as to how there was a unique presence of the Lord and that we weren’t “singing alone, alluding to heavenly hosts participating. Several first time guests.

Corinth

Musicians

  • John Byron – Bass
  • Dan Byron – Drums
  • Bill Kunkel – Keyboards, Vocals
  • Ben Neary – Acoustic Guitar, Vocals
  • Terry Smith – Electric Guitar, Vocals

Songs

Worship Service

  • Blessed Be the Name of the Lord
  • Above All / You Gave Your Life Away
  • Glory to God Forever

Altar Call

  • Worshipping You
  • Hiding Place

Queensbury

It was such a blessing to look out at the congregation in Queensbury and see new and established people all really worshipping the Lord with all their being!

Musicians

  • John Morrow – Drums
  • Bill Kunkel – Keyboards, Vocals
  • Terry Smith – Vocals
  • Shelly Smith Vocals

Songs

Worship Service

  • Glory to God Forever
  • God You Reign
  • Hiding Place
  • He Reigns

Altar Call

  • Worshipping You
  • Amazed
  • Amazing Love (You are My King)

I’m participating in the “Sunday Setlists” at TheWorshipCommunity.com

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Glorious – Paul Baloche

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11 “Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods?
      Who is like You, glorious in holiness,
      Fearful in praises, doing wonders? (Exodus 15:11, New King James Version)

We’ve recently been singing a song from Paul Baloche and Brenton Brown entitled ‘Glorious’. When I first heard it, I didn’t really grasp the depth of the song. The more I heart it and/or sing it the more the message begins to communicate to my soul.

One of my favorite lyric in the song goes:

Look beyond the tombstone
See the living God
See the resurrected
Ruler of my heart

No one else above Him,
None to match His worth
The hope of His returning
Fills the universe

Our God is a God of hope. Since through His sacrifice on the cross and death was defeated we have a LIVING hope in Jesus Christ for this life, and our eternal life to come!

If you haven’t given it a listen, I’d highly recommend it.  Let me know your thoughts about the song in the comments below.

If you are interested in learning to play it yourself, I just (as in 10 seconds ago) found this video on how to play it by Mr… Baloche himself. A PDF of the Lead sheet if you would like it.

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The Power of Pairs

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Recently I’ve been thinking about how the music ministry is not a one man show. The Lord brought the scriptures to my mind how he sent out the disciples two by two. There was Elijah and Elisha, Moses and Aaron, Paul and Silas, etc.

While trying to see what others have received on the subject, I stumbled upon an excellent article regarding “The Power of Pairs”.  Below are some borrowed, some original thoughts on the subject.

I’ve been transitioning our worship team to try and get into a mindset where we put together our worship set together. This is a stark difference from the days of old where the worship set would be dictated.

A recent email I sent out to the worship planners (formerly called worship leaders)

Disciples were sent out in pairs to do ministry. Planner/Assistant planner works as a check-and-balance concept.

Assistant planner will work with the Lead Planner to put together the worship "music" set. Pray with together, meet once prior to the worship set (ideally mid-week before the set-list is published) to bounce any insight, concerns, "oh-remembers", etc.

In Matthew 18:20, Jesus is saying that "two or three" is best. He is saying that when two or three Christians are working together for him in unity, his Spirit will be with them in all his fullness. They have the total power of God. Therefore, two or three people moving in the power of the Spirit is as good as it gets. If we really want to know the presence of Jesus we must get together in twos or threes. This is why pairs are so important. By not understanding the importance of pairs, we have been missing out on the blessing that Jesus promised.

This removes the one-sided nature of things, I’m not seeing the Lead planner as someone who says "I say this and everyone else follows or else", but more of the Acts 15:28 "Seems good to us and the Holy Ghost". When there is two or three of us involved in decisions, things end up more edifying.

Working together is biblical concept and a requirement to be working with God

For we [Not I; emphasis mine] are laborers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.

It seems good to us and the Holy Ghost. Acts 15:28

We are efficient

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work. Ecc 4:9.

We are protected

Though one may be overpowered two can defend themselves. Ecc 4:12

We are not without help in a time of need

If one falls down his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up. Ecc 4:10.

We have biblical companionship

If two lie down together they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone (Ecc 4:11).

We are constantly being put ‘back on track’

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Heb 10:24

 

What are your thoughts on this? I’d be interested in getting your input below.

Blessings!

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