Introducing New Music to Congregations

If you are like me, you spend a great deal of time praying, selecting appropriate and inviting worship music, narrowing down the selections, and finally introducing them to those whom you lead in worship. It IS a distraction for your congregation when you "spring" a song on them that few have heard. While a new song in the rotation can breath "new life" into the service, it can also alienate people and cause a bit of anxiousness.

Here is a tip:

4 weeks leading up to introducing a new tune, play a recorded version during "walk-in" time each Sunday. (Between Sunday School and Worship Service, etc. prior to service starting.) People will hear it and become subconsciously familiar with it. They probably won't have the words memorized or even know the name, but it will be less of a shock for them and a nice subtle segue into even a completely different song or style that you will be introducing. Another great benefit... you may receive feedback from it from those in the congregation such as, "I loved the song that was playing before church this morning" or a response I once got (lol), "since when do we play that rap music before church" (it wasn't rap... it had a beat and this person probably just didn't have any other way to describe it.)

Just a tip I have learned from experience! Have a great day.

Dan

Moving from Traditional to Blended

Great article that a friend of mine wrote. I can identify with all of these, having led two churches from Traditional to Blended(or contemporary-ish) services. I would have written my own list, but I couldn't have stated it any better than this.... enjoy!

The following list, although not exhaustive, details lessons we have learned through this process:
Take Your Time. This should come as no great surprise, but putting it into practice is another thing. Although we thought we were moving at a good pace, we were not. Key church leaders must take time to communicate why changes are being made and how those changes will be implemented.
Do Your Homework. We may think we know everything about leading a church, but sometimes we miss the obvious. For example, I missed understanding the music philosophy taught by past church leaders and its influence.One of my predecessors had voiced a strong conviction about not using any instruments other than organ and piano in worship. Needless to say, people who had grown up under his leadership had a hard time accepting a full orchestra, especially the drums and electric guitars.
Know Where You Are HeadedMany wonderful church members have little frame of reference outside their own church. Some may fear that a change in worship style would not be consistent with their theology or comfort level. Worship leaders must take time to educate and to explain where any change is leading.
Work to Earn TrustThe religious, political, and business scandals of past decades seem to have led to an inherent distrust of leadership in general. Though many in leadership positions call this attitude unfair (and it is), it remains a reality. Trust comes out of respect and relationship. Once trust is earned, leading change becomes more manageable.
Expect ChallengeIt would be naive or perhaps foolish to not expect challenge or criticism during a time of change. People grieve loss, not change. This should give us a better understanding during transitional times.Try to discern between legitimate concerns and petty complaints. Listen to those who come in a spirit of concern. Use that time to teach and explain why you’re making certain changes and heading in a new direction.
Transition Is a Process, Not an EventMany who answer the call to ministry want to see things happen fast. This is a good quality when casting vision, but not if change is expected overnight. Be patient. Wait on God. Wait on your people. Let God lead the change.
Call the Right PersonnelDo not overlook this. Many talented people do a phenomenal job leading music, but not everyone has the ability and temperament to lead change. Make sure any individuals or groups leading change are big-picture people who see the many facets of the church, not just the worship side.
Don’t Compromise QualityA familiar criticism of contemporary music is that it’s not “real music.” Though I understand the gist of such criticism, it is not always true. Perhaps some churches have helped perpetuate this criticism by lowering standards when singing or preparing for contemporary pieces. Make sure that whatever you do, you do all for the glory of the Lord. Give Him your best, regardless of the style.
Understand Technical IssuesWe added two large IMAG (Image Magnification) screens in our new worship center. This element alone brought tremendous new challenges to worship planning each week! Don’t forget that for every new application, someone who knows how to put it together must be behind the scenes. A bad production is worse than no production. (See lesson 8)
Be Prayerful and CarefulNever forget it is God’s church, and Jesus is the head. Don’t become trapped into thinking you have to find and follow the latest trends. Pray about the direction you should go, and let God affirm that direction. He’ll speak to people and help them understand the change. While methods come and go with every generation, the message never changes. Don’t attempt to lead a church through any change until you and your leadership have spent time in prayer.
Remember that though risk is always present, the reward of seeing lives changed by the gospel is worth all the work and worry that accompanies any change.

Interactive Worship Stations

I've been thinking for a while now about how to more comfortably allow people to participate in worship. As a worship leader, sometimes you look out into the congregation and see people who maybe aren't connecting in a vocal or physical way. That doesn't, however, mean they aren't worshipful.

As I've spent a great deal of time speaking to people on how they worship, etc... I've found that some say:

1.) I am uncomfortable singing.
2.) I am uncomfortable raising my hands or dancing, or whatever physical form of worship is going on around them.

Why can't we be innovative as worship leaders and come up with some innovative ways for this group of people to be interactive in worship (if they choose).

Some ideas I have had are:

SIN & PRAISE BOARDS
1.)Place two coruplast boards up front of the auditorium on easels. One white and one black.
2.)The white board is the praise board. The black board is the sin board.
3.)Have black markers at both boards for people to write. (The black will show up invisible on the black board.)
4.)As the praise band plays a song related to forgiveness of sin and praise for the grace extended to us as sinners.... people would feel free to move about the auditorium and pray (for themselves or with others). As they feel led, they come to the front and write the weeks praises on the white board and give up their sins on the black board.


SIN SHREDDER
This one works similar to the idea above, except tables could be placed around the auditorium for people to write their sins on. As they feel led they could make their way to the shredder and shred them for good. Just how Christ blots out our transgressions. Also set up a microphone for people to spontaneously speak praises to the Lord while all this is going on. All the while, the worship team is singing or playing a relevant song.

What ideas do you have?

What Churches are Singing

This month... the top five songs in churches are:

How Great Is Our God

Blessed Be Your Name

Here I Am To Worship

Mighty To Save

Open The Eyes Of My Heart

Who are you exalting?

9 And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 “The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 ‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ 13 “But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ 14 “I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” LUKE 18:9-14

As worship leaders, in the spot light, and holding a number of others attention.... let us be humble and know who must increase and who must decrease.

The Worship Community

I found a neat forum where anyone involved in worship production can read, ask questions, comment, discuss, study... just about anything to do with worship. Check it out! I've been having lot's of fun there.

http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/

Church Marketing

What if Starbucks marketed like your church? Would it look something like this?



I found this on blog that I read every now and then. It really made me think.

Do these five things!

1 Chronicles 16:8 Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.9 Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works

1.) Give thanks the Lord

2.) Call upon His name

3.) Make known His deeds among the people

4.) Sing to Him

5.) Talk about His wondrous works

As a worship leader or member of a worship team, make these 5 things the ingredients of your day.... EVERY DAY! It's the recepie to a healthy worship life. Naturally, there is more involved than just this. I challenge you, however, to work these 5 things into your every day life. See if you can tell the difference as the weeks go by, as you lead worship. You will be a better worship leader because of it!

Word Like Fire

"Is not My word like fire?" declares the Lord......

A new friend of mine, and fellow church musician/leader/ songwriter, Joel Hinck has a website that I want to recommend. Joel says on his website, "I decided to quit my job and commit totally to doing what I knew God was calling me to do. " God had been calling Joel to write Christian music. I know many of us could learn a valuable lesson from that simple statement. COMMIT to doing what God wants us to do. Is His word not like FIRE? I know when He speaks to me it certainly is!

Let's support Joel in following God's command for his life and visit his ministry at http://www.wordlikefire.com/ , check out what the Lord has laid on his heart. I've listened to a lot of what is offered for musical selections and believe you will be blessed by it too. Who knows, you may find your worship set for Sunday on the site. Some great stuff at a minimal expense.

Check it out! http://www.wordlikefire.com/

TEAM

Teams are organisms in themselves. They start in infancy and hopefully grow into a fully functional, usable, and profitable bodies within the church. There are various types of teams, each with their own purpose. If you are reading this, however, you are most likely part of or leading a "worship team." Your team may still be in it's infancy, others may be full grown, and some may be in old age. Where ever your team is in maturity and growth, I want to challenge you to asses the health of the "team" or body. Just because you are full grown doesn't mean you are in good health just the same as being in your infancy doesn't mean you aren't perfectly healthy. I've seen 70 year old men in better health than some 25 year olds. The same can be said about your worship team. So this is about HEALTHY teams not success or numbers or anything like that.

Answer the following on a scale of 1-5. If certain areas score low from several team members, it could be time to do a "check up" and find opportunities to build individually and as a group.

SCORING
5 = Strongly Agree. Fully operational and exceeds the description.
4 = Agree Operational and meets all or nearly all aspects of the description, but not ideal.
3 = Slightly Agree Operational, but incomplete. Partially meets the description.
2 = Slightly Disagree Nearly operational, but some way to go. Doesn't yet really meet the description.
1 = Disagree We have started on this, but there is a long way to go. The descriptors do not apply.
0 = Strongly Disagree Nothing has been done - this does not apply at all to our team.

Purpose / Direction
a. - The team has a clear mission/purpose, known by all team members.
b. - The team has a vision and success criteria which are challenging, meaningful and exciting to the team.
c. - The team understands how the work of the team fits into the larger picture.

Team Leadership
d. - Balances appropriate direction with support and openness.
e. - Discusses key issues with the team.
f. - Delegates responsibility and leadership to individuals in their area of expertise.

Understanding Differences
g. - Team members understand what their roles are, and where these overlap with other team members.
h. - Team members are clear about what is expected of them individually by the rest of the team.
i. - Team members are clear about what individual strengths each member of the team brings.

Processes
j. - Team meetings are effective.
k. - The team has found and implemented better ways of working.
l. - The team has an efficient process to solve problems and take decisions.
m. The team has sufficient resources (people, money, time) to do its work.

Communication
n. Everyone feels their ideas and input are listened to by the rest of the team.
o. Differences and conflicts are resolved openly and constructively.
p. Members' interaction is open and honest.

Relationships
q. The team's different experiences, skills and gifts are accepted and used.
r. There is trust and openness between team members.
s. New members feel valued and quickly become productive members of the team.
t. The team takes responsibility for its successes and failures, and avoids blaming other people or groups.

I've used this with worship teams at conferences and various consulting opportunities. If you can spend some time on this, an all day session or a series of "enrichment classes" with your team.... I know you will see results happen quickly. I first began using this when I was the pastor for education & students at a very established large church who's teams within the education department were established, experienced, equipped, and STAGNATE. The church had been there for 100 years and had a lot of great things going for it. Healthy team participation wasn't one of those things. You can be a church plant or the oldest church in town... taking assessments of where everyone on the team is can and WILL prove itself to be an excellent tool in serving others and Christ.