But before that begins, during my drive to work this morning I was struck - I couldn't tell you why - by what a blessing it is to be a part of this team with you all. As I drove I thought back, trying to recall any infighting, bickering, ego-assertion, evidence of pride or self-centeredness, and I was happily overwhelmed to realize that I have never seen any of the above to a degree that even approached the need for intervention or correction. What an evidence of God's grace in the individual lives on this team! The willingness that you all have to serve with humility, to learn, to try new things, to consider your abilities as a means rather than an end - it's all very pleasant for me personally, and pleasing for our Father. Thank you all for displaying his gracious work so clearly!
As for yesterday - all in all I think it was a decent morning. Two new songs is always a tall order and I don't approach a task like that lightly. Both of those songs have blessed me greatly over the last two weeks during which I've listened to each easily over twenty times. As I've reflected on the lyrics and their simplicity and depth, it's been fantastic for me. But at the same time, I recognize that they are not the simplest songs to sing. They're a bit of a challenge - some awkward vocal jumps here and there. Intuitive they are not.
But, Pat and Kate - you did a great job picking them up. Teaching the songs to you seemed simpler than I expected it would be. Well done - you asked good questions for the sections that needed clarification and I think the results were solid.
As for the congregation - it's hard for me to read since I have a monitor in my ear. But it seemed as though, at the very least, the chorus of each song had caught on by the time that we finished. I heard some feed back that it seemed as though people were responding even if they weren't able to sing comfortably. That was encouraging. Visually, it looked as though people were processing the music but were responding to the lyrics positively.
I want to do both songs again this coming week and I think that we can fit them in. So, hopefully, that should solidify them somewhat.
I'd appreciate any thoughts on the songs that any of you might have.
Dick - we were in and out a few times. Not sure what the cause might have been, but we definitely weren't tightly synced - especially on the slower songs. If you have any thoughts about how I can more effectively establish the rhythm for you to pick up, leave a comment and let me know so that I can implement.
Vocalists sounded great - some fantastic harmonies thrown in to the mix.
I thought that my comments after the Scripture reading could have been tighter, more concise and to the point. Perhaps they were impacted by the late hour changes to the order that I made in order to amplify the theme of the morning and direct things along the lines that I thought the Spirit was leading. Whatever the case, I wasn't as prepared as I should have been and I think that's always evident. Ernie - you selected a fantastic Psalm, I was blessed as I read through it, the encouragement of God's faithfulness in times of trial. Unfortunately it didn't align easily with the theme that I thought should be prominent for the morning, which is why I changed it along with a couple of the songs that I had initially selected. I really appreciate your ministry in faithfully selecting passages from the Lord's word to minister to his people each Sunday morning. Ninety-five times out of one hundred I believe that they have been perfectly suited for the morning. And I believe that the Spirit has worked through them very effectively. I wonder if it might be possible to get them just a little bit earlier in the week. I know that you've been very busy and that has accounted for the timing. But changes and adjustments are so much simpler if we have 24 hours or more to work through them. Maybe we can have a conversation about how we might achieve a schedule that would work well on all sides. Let me know your thoughts when you have an opportunity.
Sound, from what I could tell, was solid. John mentioned to me that it can be difficult to keep my vocals at an even level if I move too much during the songs. It's a problem that I'm aware of - yes, I am aware of what I'm doing up there! Usually I judge the moment to determine if I think that the song can be carried without my directly singing into the mic. If I think that it can, I'll feel the freedom to step away and allow for some physical expression of praise. While the joy of leading and playing praise is one that I more than happily accept as a blessing, if there is one frustration that I feel at times, it is the restriction that I cannot lift my hands, cannot clap, cannot just join in with abandon. So, I take the moments that I can.
But that said - I want to be aware if that's not helpful. My primary role is not necessarily to personally praise directly. As leaders much of our praise comes in the form of leading others to praise without distraction. We praise our Father by enabling others to praise. So, on a Sunday morning, my primary task is not necessarily to personally engage fully in worship - it's to help the congregation do that. If I'm not doing that I need to be aware of it. So, if any of you have any thoughts about the pros and cons, the benefits of having a leader who displays physical expressions of worship or the drawbacks to having a leader who may display those expressions too readily, I would really appreciate the feedback. Just leave a comment so that we can discuss.
One or two additional thoughts -
I'm hearing feedback that the blog is a helpful tool for communication and for distributing information - and I'm glad to hear it! A couple people had some computer issues at the 11th hour this week that made it difficult to get all of the information. So, a thought on that - the primary reason that I put the order of worship together so early in the week is so that all of us have opportunity to review the music, learn what's new, re-familiarize ourselves with the old, and mull over instrumental parts, harmonies, arrangement ideas etc. If we do that we can come together on a Sunday morning with a bunch of team driven ideas already generated. That can only happen if we're all listening to the stuff all week long (including those people who may not be involved in a particular week). So, I'd like to ask that you all review the order and download the music immediately upon posting. Then commit to listening to it repeatedly and learning it cold by Sunday morning. It will enhance our practices and it'll bring more ideas to the table as we arrange. On top of that - it'll help teach the congregation new songs if there are people interspersed throughout who are already very familiar with the music.
One final thing - I got a few emails from people with questions about the order, singers, technical problems, etc. Please - post those thoughts and questions as comments here on the blog. There's a decent chance that other people are wondering the same things. If we can answer all of the stuff that's out there at once, it would be great. And if no one is thinking of it at the moment, perhaps it will spark a discussion about something that we all need to think about. So, my request is this - unless the question/request/comment is extremely personal in nature, I'd ask that rather than sending me an email you post the question/comment on the site. From here on out, I may reply to your email asking you to do that rather than answering the question. Then, once posted, I'll reply. Let's take advantage of all of the opportunities the blog offers.
Thanks again everyone - it's a joy!
tw
8 comments:
Whoa! Two comments. I can do this! Some of my comments to Brooke are obvioulsy a response to you as well. I hope I can get the download thing worked out but Chad won't be home until the weekend so I may not have as much time with the music as I would like. I assume I am on again for this week, but if I am wrong, just let me know.
A comment on the new songs. I found the first one very difficult to sing as a congregational song. But I would like to hear it as it was recorded. The sheet music was actually a little different from what we were singing, not just rhythmically but also the melody. I would like to hear where the discrepencies were.
I really enjoyed the second one inspite of my initial resistance to changing the Fanny Crosby tune to very familiar words. I love those words. It went well with the verse and was easier to catch on to the melody than I thought it would be at first.
My suggestion for consideration is to perhaps only introduce one new song at a time especially since these were not the easiest songs. Having said that, I have not gotten any feedback to know how people in the congregation felt about it.
Tim, Thank you for the obvious thought that you put into the song selection, the theme, and the words that you share.
I am finding that it is possible to have my own heart in a place of worship eventhough I am trying to be mindful of all the things we have gone over in practice.
It was great to sing with Kate and be able to harmonize with her. John, thanks for working with me on the monitor, it was helpful to hear Kate as well as I did.
Thanks all!
Pat
wow Tim and Brooke...
this indeed is an excelent tool ...
i think that feedback(positive or negitive) is crucial in order to stir growth...
thank you for your willingness.
Good thoughts, Pat - thanks.
I definitely agree that - at least the vast majority of the time - one new song at a time is the way to go. Every now and then I think we can stretch people without over stretching. This week might, however, have been over stretching.
"You are good" is, like you said, an odd congregational song. And it probably will not become one that we use on a regular basis. But before writing it off entirely, I think it might be worthwhile to give it another shot and see how it goes. I'd appreciate those those that you have about how we may have been changing the melody - I've been known to change things without realizing it in the past. So, if you nail down those differences, let me know. I'm aware of on slight change that I made and it's one that I think we'd end up keeping because, I think, it simplifies a bit.
John Roberts had posed the idea that it might be worthwhile to rewrite the melody just a bit to make some of the jumps a bit easier to reach. Not sure if we want to go down that road, but it's worth considering.
Any other thoughts?
Hello second commenter! - Ernie, is that you????
Hi all,
Thanks for your ministry Sunday. Excellent!
The quality has been soild week after week.
I mentioned to TW that the new song may have been a little difficult because of those unexpected note directions, but perhaps with singing it two or three times...
TDB--your meditation around the Lord's supper was simply wonderful. Thanks once again.
Steve's thoughts connected to the video were very good too.
I confess that when Gregory shared, my inner longing was for us to bust loose with praise! looking forward to this week's upbeat syle. It seems to me that mellow has been somewhat dominant of late. Am I right?
Thanks all. It's simply great having the quality and the growing passion in our music that you all bring.
And TW, who can say enough about how much we appreciate you?
TMS
TW, Brooke and "all the gang", it is a pleasure to mix for you. Seeing your dedication and sacrifice week after week is inspiring. You all make it a fun,and joyful experience that I look forward to every week. To me, it's not a labor or a task to get up early on Sunday mornings,it's getting to do what I love and enjoy. You all make it that for me by your example of being willing and cheerful servants of our Lord. Thank you,
JR
Yes, I noticed the outta syncs esp coming outta the chorus into the verses. Had to back off to get back on groove. I had even written a note during practice not to push on My Savior and U R My King . Not sure what was up there....listen more intently. How deep also was still off despite TW and I practicng a steady 4/4.....and then my earphones were on the big tom. Grace, download familiarization, perseverance, concentration are in order going forward.
Good thoughts Dick -
It should be noted that while I noticed the out of sync moments, I don't think that they were long enough or obvious enough to have been much of a distraction for many people in the congregation.
Dick - I appreciate the humility to consider what may or may not have been happening. And I appreciate your commitment and your desire to practice at home and to devote yourself to ministry in this area. I'm very thankful to have you on the team.
You should feel the freedom as we're practicing to say "hey TW, i'm having trouble picking up the beat, could you emphasize the downstrokes." If you toss that feedback my way, I'll try to alter my strum patterns to accentuate the downbeats more dramatically. We may have to take it week by week with certain songs.
We've been really solid of late, so even if this week wasn't ideal, I feel very good about our general progress.
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