I was talking with a pastor the other day about one of his worship leaders who has a hard time leaving old songs behind (as in “Shine, Jesus, Shine”). Apparently there are a few songs from the 80s that the worship leader still finds quite moving. Unfortunately, the pastor and many young members of the congregation don’t share his enthusiasm.

Our conversation led me to think of a few questions that might be asked in this situation:

Is it wrong to retire old songs?
If so, how do you know the right time?
Do we even need to be singing new songs?
What makes a song “old?”
Once a song is retired, should we ever bring it back?

Here are a few thoughts on this topic. Hope they’re helpful.

1. Most corporate worship songs won’t pass the “time test.” That’s okay.
Charles Wesley wrote over 6500 hymns in the 1700s. Three hundred years later most churches don’t sing more than 20-30 of them. Percentage-wise, that’s not very impressive. But in terms of effect, few hymn writers have had a more lasting or broad influence than Wesley (Although Isaac Watts, who only wrote about 650 hymns, has a much higher percentage of longevity.) It’s safe to say that in a hundred years we won’t be singing most of the songs we’re singing today on Sundays. Some will last one week, others for a few years, some for decades, and others will still be sung after we’re gone. All have a place in a congregation pursuing both old and new expressions – psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs – of God’s praise. (Col. 3:16)

2. Music can hinder or help the impact of truth on our hearts.
One of the primary purposes of singing as a congregation is to “let the word of Christ dwell in us richly,” (Col. 3:16). But if that word is wedded to poorly performed, unsingable, or distasteful music, people may never hear the word at all. On the other hand when the music is appropriate, enjoyable, singable, and well-played/sung, it can heighten the impact of biblical truth on our hearts. That means we need to give serious thought to whether or not the songs, arrangements, and musical settings we use are truly helping people sing biblical truths with passion. Churches can err in one of two ways. Either our music is so “relevant” that people don’t even notice the words, or our music is so foreign that people have a hard time connecting at all.

3. A song should be retired when the musical setting no longer inspires faith to sing the lyrics.
God intended music to affect us emotionally (Mt. 11:17; Job 21:12). When a tune or musical setting no longer does that, or affects us negatively, we can change the arrangement, alter the melody (if it’s public domain), or stop using the song. It’s a fact that we tire of some tunes more quickly than others. That doesn’t necessarily mean they were bad to start with. It just means they aren’t the “100 year” kind of melodies. Wise leaders are on the lookout for fresh musical expressions to complement those that have stood the test of time.

4. A song should be retired when there are better or just different songs you want to introduce.
More than a few times we’ve taught a song that seems like it will be around for a while. But when you teach around 18 new songs a year, as we do, there’s just no way to keep doing all of them consistently. So some of them are retired by default.

5. Music leaders are called to submit their musical preferences to their pastor and congregation.
I said in my book that my iPod isn’t the best place to start for choosing songs to sing on Sunday. What affects me personally may be vague, ineffective, or even offensive to others. We’re to use our gifts “so that the church may be built up” (1 Cor. 14:6). While there are good reasons to expand the musical palate of a congregation from time to time (to display the glory of God in a variety of ways, enable a broader range of emotional responses, and provide a fresh setting for lyrics), I shouldn’t insist a song still “works” when no one around me agrees.

6. Retired songs should be brought back based on their their lyrical, not sentimental, value.
To sing a song simply because it’s a “old favorite” can subtly emphasize our musical enjoyment more than our passion for Christ. It’s focusing on the “container” more than the “content” (an upcoming post). But there are times when an old, familiar song says exactly what you want to say, and people’s hearts are filled with faith as they sing it (even “Shine, Jesus, Shine”). In the not too distant past I’ve used “In my Life Lord, Be Glorified,””Oh, Lord, You’re Beautiful,” and a few older Sovereign Grace songs that seemed to fit the moment.

More could be said, I’m sure. What about you? How have you handled retiring songs?

Reposted with permission from WorshipMatters.com Written by Bob Kauflin.

Related posts:

1. WORSHIP NOTE – “Retire that Song?”
2. Worship Leaders: Play Songs Your Congregation Doesn’t Like
3. What Makes a Great Worship Song?

The room looks different when standing on the “stage.” (I don’t like that word, because nobody is performing on Sundays, but there’s no better word for it. Except platform. Let’s go with platform.)

The room looks different when standing on the platform. And the room is simultaneously brighter and darker when on that platform. Brighter from all those “stage lights” (there’s that word again) and darker from how everything dims and fades into the background because of those lights.

Every so often I have the opportunity to stand on that platform and face the room. Despite the wash of light that hazes over, I can still see your faces. I can see old and new friends. Familiar faces. Faces that have quickly and effortlessly become my family of faith. I get to see you close your eyes or raise your hands or watch the screen as we sing songs together.

I get to see you slowly file through the line at communion, receiving grace soaked bread and juice. Then I get to see you head to the prayer chapel in the back corner and kneel before that mosaic cross, hands folded and head bowed. And I get to see you stand up, unprovoked, and sing “You Hold Me Now” with all your heart.

And I get to pull that tiny headphone out of one ear and listen – I ignore my own voice, shut out the rest of the band, and I get to hear you sing. I get to hear you lift your heart and voice to Heaven.

And, you may think that we’re up there on that platform helping you meet with God, but at the end of the day, it’s you – my beloved church family – that helps me meet with God.

Thank you for letting me, in all my faith’s failings, do church from the other side,
~ Mandy Thompson

Related posts:

1. I Am Not THE Worship Leader (and for that matter, neither are you)
2. Confessions Of A One Time Worship Leader
3. Worship is ALL about Singing

Share your worship confessionals, recaps, and setlists for the week of:

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Welcome to the 105th consecutive week of “Sunday Setlists”. The purpose of “Sunday Setlists” is to share a recap of your worship services. What songs did you use, what arrangements? What worked really well and what didn’t work as well as you’d like? What issues did you have preparing? What is the sermon series? How about creative elements used in the service? You don’t have to be the pastor or worship leader to participate. We would really love to get reviews from the perspective of those in our congregations each week.

Click here to receive an email reminder each week to participate.
Click here to view the archives of “Sunday Setlists” posts.

To participate:

1. Blog about your worship services this week. In that blog, mention that you are participating in “Sunday Setlists” at TheWorshipCommunity.Com and link back to this post.
(http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/sunday-setlists-105/)

2. If you don’t have a blog, leave your own recap right here by simply adding a comment to the discussion thread below.

3. Share your information (links, media, etc) and encourage others to do the same.

Oh … and whatever you do … don’t forget to leave a comment below! If you aren’t a member of TheWorshipCommunity.Com, you can register quickly, or just use the “Facebook Connect” login!

Share your Experience:

1. If you blogged about your worship recap, add the link in the “Mister Linky” below. Be sure that the link goes directly to the specific entry about this week’s “Sunday Setlists” post, and not to your blog’s homepage.

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Links: (add a link to your “Sunday Setlists” blog post below)

Related posts:

1. Sunday Setlists #102 – July 4, 2010
2. Sunday Setlists #103 – July 11, 2010
3. Sunday Setlists #104 – July 18, 2010

• Pursue God with all you got! The #1 trait to have in any calling is the pursuit of God. Always make time to pursue the caller in all circumstances. There will be struggle in any ministry, and we all need to develop the habit of seeking God’s face. If we pursue the calling more than the caller, we will burn out fast. So, stay focused on Christ.

• Give the calling time to develop. Think of a mother’s womb. A child needs time in a safe and secure environment to develop. In any calling, there is no need to immediately make it known. Allowing time to develop the calling, a) protects it from naysayers; b) grows confidence in doing God’s will, and c) allows God to confirm what he is doing. When the calling is ready, God will publicly make it known. In other words, people will notice without saying a word.

• Allow God to position you. No leader should position him/herself in any calling. It makes no sense to “wiggle your way in.” The Lord may surprise you with the route he chooses. As you pursue God, seek the discernment to know when to move and when to sit still. So, let the Lord position you, and let him lead step-by-step.

• Bloom where you’re planted. If you are not serving in your calling area, do not get discouraged. Every ministry is connected. The Lord will use whatever means necessary to make you great wherever he leads. Allow God to teach you wherever you are.

• Encouragement may come from the most unlikely places. As we grow in our calling, we’ll find times when we want to give up on it and be done. Then all of a sudden, something will happen (most likely from unexpected sources), and we’re all charged up again! Let’s not take encouragement for granted. Big or small, God knows what we need to keep us going.

• We all need mentors. There are two facets to this; sometimes we need to actively seek out mentors, and sometimes God sends them to us. If you are actively seeking people to be your mentors, please know what you’re looking for. Do you need a mentor in the skill set you need to grow in? Do you need a mentor to serve as an accountability partner? It’s always wise to surround yourself with an abundance of godly counsel. So as you pursue God, He will provide the insight needed in knowing whom He chooses as your mentors. So watch and pray.

• Obedience is better than sacrifice. We can choose all day long to give up certain luxuries or pleasantries for the sake of God’s kingdom, but if we do not choose to obey, our sacrifices mean nothing. Always choose obedience over sacrifice.

• Check your faith condition. If God finally gives you what he promised, and then asked you to give it up, how would you respond? Remember Abraham. The Lord finally gave Abraham a son fulfilling a long awaited promise. Abraham worked hard as a dad to grow his son in the ways of the Lord. Then God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son. Abraham’s faith was that he knew God would provide another sacrifice even if it meant raising his son from the dead. How far are we willing to take God’s calling? Are we willing to kill the calling for he sake of obedience?

• Be flexible: Many times the Lord surprises us with where he takes us. If we are so hard focused on one aspect of our calling, we’ll miss what God is trying to teach us in another area. From what I’ve observed and learned from other leaders, God wants to make us well rounded for ministry. Yes, we may have a focus area, but the Lord still wants us to learn to care for his people, grow his church, and train others to do the same.

• Take cover! Your spouse has to be in full agreement and prayer support. Both spouses carry each other’s burdens in ministry so you must be in full agreement and in full prayer support. If you are single, you still need a spiritual cover. What spiritual authority is carrying the burden of your calling with you? If you do not have this, pray the Lord will send someone who will carry that burden with you.

• Always love! Paul said that we can have the faith that moves mountains, but we are nothing without love. Love the people that surround you. When all is said and done, love is the only thing that will remain forever. We can have hope the Lord will keep his promises for us, and we can have faith the calling will accomplish unimaginable things, but they will no longer be needed in heaven when the Lord takes us home. So, always love! Love is eternal.

Melanie Siewert is a Christ follower, wife to a wonderful man of God, and mother of two incredible boys. She has several years experience mentoring high school worship bands, and desires to continually write music for the Lord’s church. Her passion for music accompanies her passion for making Christ known.

Related posts:

1. Worship is a Risk
2. Worship Team Retreats: Why They’re Worth It!

As much as we want to be…or want people to think we are…we aren’t Bionic-Leaders, or Super Worship-Man, or Wonder-Woman-of-the-Word, we are all human; regular and broken, just like everyone else. As leaders, we feel the overwhelming burden and responsibility to ‘get things done for God’. His work is so incredibly important, and He does deserve us giving ourselves to Him, and giving Him our very best. But often times, you need to evaluate what “your very best” really is. My last full-time church staff job was incredibly consuming; there were seasons where I work 6-7 days per week, and 60+ hours a week. Granted this wasn’t constant, but it could last for 3-4 months at a time. In the midst of those times, I loved it; I loved putting in tons of hours, giving my blood, sweat, and tears to the cause of Christ, doing the very best I could, with what I was given, inside the scope of my responsibility. I took my responsibility there very seriously. But as I look back and think about the 5 years I was there, I have to ask myself, it those times, how effective was I? I was so determined to get stuff done, that I began to measure my results with quantity, not quality.

Rest. It’s so important. We all know we need it, but when was the last time you got at least 8 hours of sleep per night, for an entire week solid? I know I can’t answer that, because I can’t remember that far back. We all know in our minds that rest is important; some of us may even point out how even God rested when creating the earth. (Genesis 2:2). Yet, as we point that out, it’s 10:30pm on a Tuesday night, and we are still at the office, our families at home.

Think about a hammer. You see, there is something interesting about this tool; it needs negative energy to be useful. To be successful with this tool, you have to pull back. Have you ever tried to hammer in a nail, simply by pushing the hammer against the nail continuously? Silly thought, isn’t it? Everyone knows that you have to hit it, pull back, hit it again, pull back, hit it again, etc, etc. Have you ever considered that the word Retreat, a word we use a lot in church-world, means to ‘pull back’? When we work ourselves to the bone, trying to get as much done as we can, we are like a hammer being continuously pushed against a nail; we feel the pressure, and if we are strong enough, we might see a little success….but our success level would exponentially increase if we allowed ourselves to pull back….to retreat….and to hit it again.

Does a retreat mean driving far away somewhere and fasting for 4 days? Maybe, if that’s what you need. But a retreat can be as simple as taking the days off that you are allotted. Giving yourself a chance to pull back, recharge, and get ready to hit it again.

Take time to rest. It is so important. God’s work will never be complete, I don’t think. I mean, there is always someone else to needs to hear His name. There is always someone who needs to understand His Grace better. There will always be the need and desire for Christians to worship Him. We will probably never catch up, and that’s ok. To be most beneficial as leaders, worshipers, and servants of Christ, we need to find our pace…a realistic pace that produces results, as well as models the type of living that God would want us to live.

So, how do we change our lifestyles, so that we can get to this place of taking rest? Our Pastor instituted this plan with our staff at Canyon Ridge, that we all were mandated to participate in. His mandate to us was that we were to find a day, and make it our Sabbath. Since we all work on Sunday’s, the idea is to choose one of your days off, and make that you Sabbath, with the challenge being that for this one 24-hour period, you do not produce anything. At all. Nothing. That means don’t go to work. Don’t work from home. Don’t check your email. Don’t mow the grass. Don’t pay bills. Don’t clean. Don’t do anything. Rest. Relax. Golf. Whatever gives you life, in a relaxing kind of way. My days off were Monday and Tuesday. Monday was my do nothing day. Tuesday, I did the needed house-work and other personal things. It was amazing the energy and focus I had when I returned to work on Wednesday.

You aren’t a failure for needing to slow down. I believe that God will bless you for following the model He set for us, and I believe you will see a difference in your work, and with your family. Accept the time that has been given to you.

To retreat is to come back stronger than you left. It does not instill fear or shame, yet initiates anticipation and eagerness for what is to come.

Related posts:

1. Caught In The Show
2. Book Review: Taking Flight with Creativity
3. Worship Team Retreats: Why They’re Worth It!

Once again we’ve put together a great panel review from The Worship Community members forum members.

Background from (Chris Vacher) chrisfromcanada.com:Over the past year and a bit I’ve been spearheading this thing called WorshipRises (facebook|twitter). I’ve mentioned it a bunch of times on the blog and you may be familiar with it. Basically we’ve been gathering Canadian worship pastors/leaders together to develop worship resources for & from the Canadian church.

It’s been amazing to see the response to this thing so far – we’ve had 3 writing days attended by a total of about 50 worship leaders from every kind of church/worship expression you could imagine. Young, old, men, women, white, black, hispanic, conservative, charismatic – it’s been incredible. At our last writing day we were very fortunate to have Paul Baloche and Jared Anderson join the 32 worship pastors/leaders who were there in attendance.

Here are the reviews, thanks to all who contributed!

Eddy Mann

After a peaceful walk and a great breakfast this morning I settled in to listen to a new four song Ep entitled Worship Rises from a group of Canadian worship leaders and pastors. It’s their hope that this collection of songs will help the Canadian church establish their own worship voice.

I was taken by the opening song, Everlasting Light with its memorable phrase ” Oh how bright you shine” and the warm acoustic guitar on the verses. This was countered by a wonderful hand clapping energy in the chorus.

The pulsing Holy Are You God was the only offering with a female voice, but it speaks just as strongly as the others. This song also featured some nice male counter melodies on the closing chorus. A spiritually lifting and confessional song, that like the other three songs offered here, is sung [vertically] directly to God.

My favorite, in the tradition of guitar driven anthems, was the last song Worship Rises. I loved the power and fullness of the bridge and the repeated offering to God “All glory, power and praise may it rise up…” This will definitely make its way onto one of my music plans in the near future.

Though there’s nothing new here, there are four good, easily accessible, songs for corporate worship. Each song is scripturally sound and would compare favorably with any of today’s worship favorites.

Eddy is the Worship Leader at Gloria Dei Church in Huntingdon Valley, PA. As a songwriter he has composed for film and recorded various CD’s. He’s taught music and religion in the Lutheran educational system for over twenty years.

www.eddymann.com | www.eddymann.blogspot.com | twitter.com/eddy_mann

Mark Snyder

Worship Rises offers up 4 songs penned and recorded by various worship leaders from our neighbors up North. This project is a homegrown effort that began with a ‘songwriting day’ and grew from there, and represents the output of a long and fruitful collaboration process.

The highlight of this offering is the title track Worship Rises, which encourages us to offer our lives as an offering of worship. It is a driving rock anthem that definitely stands up to the latest offerings from the ‘bigs’. Melodically, it is diverse enough to translate into other styles such as a more gospel or country presentation. I could definitely see this song becoming a staple in contemporary worship settings.

Maker of My Heart offers us a nice built-in cry declaring “I’m alive in You…” and offers a very personal worship experience centering around how Jesus, who made our hearts now draws alongside us. It offers a more light rock vibe.

Holy are You God and Everlasting Light are the two tracks that round out this EP. Each offers us accessible choruses, plaintive melodies, strong lyrics, and smooth performances.

Overall, the production quality is top notch, as well as the vocal and instrumental performances. There are arrangements with counter melodies and descants which will provide options for variety in presentation.

This EP does not stray far from the tried and true path of most modern worship music. It definitely goes for accessibility, built-in cries, and personal experiences, and does not delve too deeply theologically. It delivers a package with great production quality, solid lyrics, and a great accessibility that belies its humble origins.

Mark Snyder is a small-group lay worship/songleader at PalmCroft Baptist Church in Phoenix, Arizona, and also served as a children’s worship leader for over 10 years at Calvary Chapel churches. As a songwriter, he has composed and offered many songs at the local church level. He works as a software engineer.

www.facebook.com/MarkISnyder

Melanie Siewart

This group of Canadian worship leaders in the Worship Rises EP GOT IT! They inspire me because they are worship leaders who got together, wrote songs, and recorded them. Personally, I share their vision of connecting local worship leaders to make an impact in their community. So, I’m excited and honored to have the opportunity to write a review for them.

The first song, Everlasting Light, reminds me of the Newsboys. Personally, I like the Newsboys because they have some of the best melodic choruses in Christian music, and their audience easily connects with their melodies. The same is true with Everlasting Light. The chorus connects well, both lyrically and melodically. I love the a-capella bridge with the clapping leading back into the chorus. I couldn’t help but picture a congregation participating with the worship in the song.

In “Maker of My Heart,” I love the chorus, “I am alive in you; I will survive in you” and the bridge “I’m not alone, I’m not abandoned; I’m not forgotten, I am yours.” For some reason, the bridge sticks out to me. How many times do believers find themselves in a situation where they feel like they’re alone, abandoned or forgotten? It’s always a refreshing reminder to know we still belong to our King despite our circumstances.

Holy Are You God is beautiful. The part I like the most is the counter melodies. While the female vocal sings “Holy are you God,” the male vocal sings, “I will lift up my hands.” Since I’m a sucker for effective counter melodies, I fell in love with it immediately.

Worship Rises is my favorite song in this set. It seems to summarize the other songs. The phrases “May our lives be to you, Lord, an offering” and “may our songs be prayers of praise before our King” share my heart in worship. As a songwriter, I constantly find myself seeking God’s face in crafting lyrics, and asking God if what I do blesses him. Thus, my heart connected with that prayer immediately.

All four songs in this collection reveal the group’s heart for worship. As a matter of fact, I found myself worshiping at first listen. I even had to let it soak in a while before I could begin writing this review. Yeah, I find it that good!! Every song is easily adaptable to most worship services, and I can see any of these songs used in most setlists. Kuddos to the Canadian worship leaders who put this together. I am blessed beyond blessed to be a part of a panel to review their musical offerings. May the Lord globally use them as a testimony to the heart of many believers in His church. Way to go, Worship Rises!!

Melanie Siewert is a Christ follower, wife to a wonderful man of God, and mother of two incredible boys. She has several years experience mentoring high school worship bands, and desires to continually write music for the Lord’s church. Her passion for music accompanies her passion for making Christ known.

Kim Castro

I consider myself blessed to be able to listen to and review the album, “Worship Rises”.  I am always encouraged when men and women and God are willing to put time and effort into a project that will bless others.  What better way than to lead people into worship with music?

“Everlasting Light” –This is a very catchy song with a great sound.  The rhythm and timing might be a little difficult for congregation singing, however.  I love the melody and bridge.    Upbeat yet not bubble gum pop.

“Holy Are You God”-Good for taking people to the throne…it reminds me of the angels and elders in Revelation.  Catchy, repetitive phrases make it easy to sing.  I appreciate that there are several vocalists in this song, each carrying a melody or harmony that blends into a pleasing whole.  This is not done often!

“Maker of My Heart”- This song brings in the congregation early on with the repeating phrases.  It’s an uplifting, hopeful song.  The chorus is easy to sing, catchy.  The lyrics are deep and heartfelt, and the theme is very accessible.

“Worship Rises”-I love how the song starts out a little empty instrumentally, then builds.  It’s very dramatic.  I also appreciate how this last song ties the entire set together.  This is a powerful worship song with a beautiful ending.

Overall, this album took me on a journey of worship, praise, and contemplation with overtones of joy and hope.  I can imagine these songs sung and loved in any church that appreciates modern worship music.  The production was excellent, as was the musicianship.  Every aspect of the album was strong, from the songwriting to the vocalists and instrumentalists.  I will definitely be worshipping with this album in the future.

Kim Castro is a lover of Christ and family.  She is a worship leader and songwriter hailing from central California.  Her heart is to obey the Great Commission and to serve others as God leads.

Kim’s Music on Facebook

Worship Rises on iTunes

Related posts:

1. [Review] Perfect Love by Christ for the Nations
2. Review: We Are Alive, Elevation Worship
3. Review of GLORY IN THE HIGHEST- Chris Tomlin

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Welcome to the 104th consecutive week of “Sunday Setlists”. The purpose of “Sunday Setlists” is to share a recap of your worship services. What songs did you use, what arrangements? What worked really well and what didn’t work as well as you’d like? What issues did you have preparing? What is the sermon series? How about creative elements used in the service? You don’t have to be the pastor or worship leader to participate. We would really love to get reviews from the perspective of those in our congregations each week.

Click here to receive an email reminder each week to participate.
Click here to view the archives of “Sunday Setlists” posts.

To participate:

1. Blog about your worship services this week. In that blog, mention that you are participating in “Sunday Setlists” at TheWorshipCommunity.Com and link back to this post.
(http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/sunday-setlists-104/)

2. If you don’t have a blog, leave your own recap right here by simply adding a comment to the discussion thread below.

3. Share your information (links, media, etc) and encourage others to do the same.

Oh … and whatever you do … don’t forget to leave a comment below! If you aren’t a member of TheWorshipCommunity.Com, you can register quickly, or just use the “Facebook Connect” login!

Share your Experience:

1. If you blogged about your worship recap, add the link in the “Mister Linky” below. Be sure that the link goes directly to the specific entry about this week’s “Sunday Setlists” post, and not to your blog’s homepage.

2. If you use Twitter, use the #sundaysetlists hashtag. Your “tweet” will show in the box below soon. You can even tag videos or images with the #sundaysetlists hashtag.

3. Regardless, don’t forget to leave a comment in the discussion area. Subscribe to the thread so you can come back and see what others are doing.

Links: (add a link to your “Sunday Setlists” blog post below)

Related posts:

1. Sunday Setlists #102 – July 4, 2010
2. Sunday Setlists #105 – July 25, 2010
3. Sunday Setlists #103 – July 11, 2010

Review provided by Jesse Gordon. Thanks for taking the time to review for The Worship Community!

Last week, John Mark McMillan released “The Medicine”, his much anticipated new studio project.  While most everyone has heard “How He Loves”, I was anxious to hear what this new collection had to offer.  My initial impression was that this is an album that’s going to get a lot of plays on my iPod.

The album as a whole feels to me more like a collection of songs than an overarching narrative, although that doesn’t detract from the quality of the songs.  I found that the majority of the songs aren’t really appropriate for congregational singing, but there are 4 songs that I feel are ready to be sung corporately.  These are “Skeleton Bones”, “Dress Us Up”, “My Only”, and “How He Loves”.

The first of these songs is “Skeleton Bones”.  While I don’t think that the language would connect with a multi-generational congregation, it is definitely a song I would use when leading student and young adult services.  The stand out line for me is the refrain at the end: “Oh let us adore the Son of Glory drenched in love / Open up your gates before him, Crown Him, stand Him up”.

The second of the songs I would use in a corporate setting is “Dress Us Up”.  For me, this is the stand out track of the entire album.  Stylistically it sits right in line with a lot of modern worship tunes, feeling like U2′s “With or Without You”, and it’s definitely accessible to most bands.  I really think there is some excellent theology in this song.  The line that I think is most powerful is the second verse.  It says:

Dress us up in the blood of a son
Who opened up his veins so that we would overcome
Hell and the grave in the power of his love
After three dark days he showed us how it’s done
And he still does

While I don’t think it would be used for congregational singing, the song “Death in His Grave” is a powerful song recounting Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.  My immediate thought was to use this for a video or slideshow, or to reflect on during certain seasons of the year.  Here’s the chorus:

On Friday a thief, On Sunday a King
Laid down in grief ,But awoke holding keys
To Hell on that day, The first born of the slain
The Man Jesus Christ, Laid death in his grave

Overall, I really enjoy this album.  As I said before, I wouldn’t consider it as an overarching story or a full set of worship songs, but the songwriting is fresh, and the songs which have congregational potential are solid.  The music itself is great, specifically the guitar tones, and the group singing is always a plus.  As I said initially, this album will continue to receive a lot of play for me.

BIO: Jesse Gordan is an almost 24-year-old, soon-to-be seminary student who loves to lead and sing with my church family.  I’ve been in music ministry in non-vocational but consistent roles for about 9 years either as the worship leader or a member of a band.  I enjoy the book of Hebrews, guitars, coffee, a good book, and robust dialogue a.k.a. a good debate.

Blog: jessecoffee.blogspot.com | Twitter: @jessebgordon | Facebook: facebook.com/jessecoffee

Related posts:

1. Review: Year of Grace with Robin Mark
2. Review: SOJOURN – Over the Grave: the Isaac Watts Project Volume One
3. Review – Jared Anderson

In my last article, I covered a lot of color theory, with a lot of book-smart information. Hopefully, you have had a chance to experiment with some of those theories….hopefully, with some great results. This article is a bit of a sequel to that article….but the kind of sequel where you didn’t need to see the first one, to get the second one. Here, I would like to continue talking about lighting in worship, and specifically how using intensity (Brightness) can help your overall goal.

House Lighting

House lighting is somewhat of a thorn in my side. During worship, or specials like songs, dramas, videos, etc….I would prefer to have the house lights all the way off. My Fire Marshall disagrees. Every place is different, and some of you may have the blessing of not having to deal with your FM. If that’s the case, good for you….but keep in mind that safety is still our responsibility, even if we don’t have a city official checking over our shoulder. House lights are used for 2 things….to see where we are going, and to see each other. Depending on the quality and coverage of your particular system, these suggestions may vary, so test it out, and see what works for you. I like to live by the rule of lower is better, especially during a particularly worshipful moment. The higher the house lights are, the more you can see (duh)….which means you can see the kid play with his GI Joe…you can see the husband checking football scores on his iPhone….you can see the old man asleep in his wheelchair…..you can see the people scurrying in late. You can see everything while you are ‘trying’ to worship. Lowering the house lights during these times helps to focus people’s attention on the stage, by eliminating the potential distractions around them. At CRCC, we did our walk-in look at 100%. Once the first song started, we bumped down to 90%. With the start of each song after that, we bumped down another 10%, until we were down to 70% or so. This is nice and subtle, and helps keep the way lighted for the stragglers coming from their cars during the first couple songs. House lights are necessary operational lights…not theatrical lights…..so don’t flash them, or other crazy things like that. Nice slow 4-5 second fades look real nice on House Lighting systems. There are some churches that never go above 60%, and that’s when the Pastor is teaching. If that works for you, that’s cool…just remember every system is different. If you look at the picture below carefully, you can see how the crowd is lit up with a deep red, to match the feel of the stage. If the house lights were at full, I wouldn’t have been able to achieve this effect:

House lights don’t have to be house lights

“Huh”, you say? Just as a matter of creativity, remember that house lights exist primarily, to see where you are going, and to see each other. That doesn’t automatically mean you have to use the house chandeliers or cans or whatever your house lighting system is. You CAN be creative with that as well. Check out this picture below from an Easter service I did at CRCC. All of the house lighting was what you see on the wall behind the gentlemen in the picture (yes, he’s wearing a Kilt. No, I don’t know why). Color splash on the walls and a breakup gobo proved to be a great way to light the house, while still keeping a creative mood:

Stage Lighting

Just like your house lighting system, your stage lighting system can become a very effective tool if you use the intensity of those lights in a logical and practical manner.
Not every light has to be on all the time. Likewise, not every light that is on, should be on at 100% intensity. White lights will ALWAYS wash out whatever colors you have on stage. Always. No seriously. They will. So if you are trying to use colors, keep your white lights down. During worship, cover your stage with tons of color. Slap it on as thick and rich as you can. Then, add in the white front light a little at a time, just until you can see the facial features of the people on stage. This method will help you achieve the design you desire….lighting to color, and lighting to see. Also, try only using the white lights to light the specific areas on the stage where people are. If you can shutter off, or focus a light so that it doesn’t splash all over the place, that will help your color saturation stay high. Try using zones on your stage, and setting up your lights to light just those zones. See the picture below for examples of keeping the white light under control.

Also consider that in stage world, a blackout is never a blackout. Typical theater practice is to use a deep blue color to signify a “black” stage. I try to never use a total blackout, unless it is specifically requested or needed for a specific reason.

Intensity can also be used to mood, just like color can. A guy sitting on a bench, lit with a white light at 100%, doesn’t say “A Park, at night”. However, that same bench lit in blue at 100% with 2-3 lights, and then a white light at 20%, does convey that idea much more clearly.

Lastly, keep in mind that some colors are inherently brighter than others. If you were to take a par can, and insert a yellow gel, and then take a second par, and insert a blue gel, the blue would be 2-3 dimmer than the yellow. This means one of two things needs to happen…you either need to add 3-4 extra blue lights to balance the intensity, or lower the intensity of the yellow light. See the balance in intensity between these lights:

There are several emotions or ideas you can convey by using intensity. If you change your thinking about the way you use your lighting, and try some new things, I believe you will find that you can create some great worship environments.

As always, if you have any questions, feel free to light me up at adamogden@hotmail.com.

Related posts:

1. Lighting Color Theory
2. 10 Tips for Worship Leaders: How to Enhance On-Stage Presence

From Kelly Gabriele serving in Little River, SC

QUESTION:Our Praise Team Is Fully Stocked?
Our Praise Team is fully stocked at this time. What do I do about other musicians and singers who might be interested? While I want to reach out to new talent that may be in our church, at the same time we have a worshipping, wonderful, dedicated team with all the players and singers we need right now. Our service is growing by leaps and bounds… we are SO blessed. I think I am afraid of looking closed minded and closed hearted toward others who might be interested in joining. And if you tell me to start a Praise Choir I’m going to run away– that really frightens me! But then again, it may be time to “build a bench”–or should I leave well enough alone?
RICK MUCHOW:

Many churches would love to have this “problem.” This is a great time. You must feel very encouraged. The question here is really about stewardship.

Why is God giving us all this talent? This is a common predicament for those who find themselves in a position of great wealth. Believe it or not, there are some people who don’t want to steward great wealth. With it comes great responsibility. It takes a lot of work and effort to manage great resources of any kind.

In my position as my church’s Worship Leader, I’ve always thought of myself as the manager of God’s musical resources within this church. I take this responsibility very seriously, realizing that all these people belong to God. He created them for a purpose. There is a fine line between our perceived needs and the church’s needs. My goal is to help people fulfill their place in ministry. I am not familiar with your exact situation or season, but I would encourage you to examine your paradigm here.

Let’s look at Romans 12-1:8 (NIV.) Every believer in the church has a contribution to make in the body of Christ. Romans 12:1 says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.” This verse is about the life of worship and about using our gifts. Everyone needs to worship with their life. Part of that worship is using our gifts for the glory of God, to fulfill the Great Commission and the Great Commandment.

Verses 4-5 tell us, “Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”

In verses 6-8, we are told 7 times to “let him.” Starting with verse 4, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”

When I try to put myself in your place, I think God would be asking me to “build the bench.”

Let’s talk about building the bench. The bench is not the place where people never play. The bench is the place where they are ready to use their gifts at a moment’s notice. The bench has great benefits. For the inexperienced player, the bench allows them to train with the rest of the team. The bench also allows the team to share the load, avoiding burnout and injury. Finally, the bench provides a sense of teamwork, community and family.

Romans 12 is an example of how God wants us to include everyone into active service. God created each of us to use our gifts for Him. As a leader, our task is to try to figure out the puzzle and make a place in which each gifted person can serve.

If your team is “full”, here are some ideas. As we teach Biblical principles of teamwork, servanthood, and family, we are reminded that there is a place for everyone to serve in the ministry of the church. We willingly let another person use their gifts even when it means we have to share opportunities and responsibilities.

Start a new service time or form a team who can help other churches which have a smaller talent pool than yours does. Increase the number of people you use at a given service, for example start an orchestra or choir. (It’s not as scary as you might think!) Try a new rotation that allows more teams to serve in your existing services, for example each team serves every other week while rehearsing every week with the whole team together. Another idea is to promote existing team members to leadership positions allowing new leadership to take on the added responsibility of expanding your team.

How many musicians do we need at the church? According to Romans 12, when someone has a gift in the church we are to LET THEM use it. It is our responsibility to create the ministry climate that allows every member to incorporate their unique contribution to the body of Christ. This approach takes more work up front but is absolutely worth the investment.

Related posts:

1. Ask Rick: Our Praise Team is “Fully Stocked”
2. Worship Team Self Evaluation
3. Worship Team Retreats: Why They’re Worth It!