New Music for You

Just ran across this great cd produced by a church called Church of the Beloved, located in Edmonds? WA. It's free to download. Great original sounds here, on the first track, I think it's handbells I hear. Later on, some tracks sound like they were recorded in someones living room. Love this!

Download and thank them for their gift! www.belovedschurch.org/hope/getalbum.php

Music for Sunday March 29

Today at our worship services we looked at Matthew 20:20-28, continuing on our journey with Jesus to the Cross, identifying with the people he meets.



At 10:00, the High School Youth Band and choir played, and led us in worship. We've been working together to prepare for quite a while, and this was their first time to lead worship with the current group. In the last 4 months we added a bass player, who had never played bass (or guitar) before, and a drummer who started out as a keyboard player, and then taught himself how to play drums. They did great! The whole group sounded great, and the congregation were singing along with GUSTO (that's a technical term). What a blessing it is for congregations to see the youth leading worship. Pastor James preached a great sermon, for anyone interested it will be posted at our website in a few days- www.ilcdg.org

Songs Used-

Love is Here- by 10th ave North
Blessed Be Your Name- in G
You are Holy/Prince of Peace- in G
Every Move I make- in G

East to West- by Casting Crowns (performance piece)
Once Again
The Stand
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Over at Sanctuary1010 we had a guest band (5th Sunday's are always hard to cover), a group of students from Valparaiso University. Joel and his group were so willing to come out, and help us in leading worship, and even rehearsed at the church until 130am the night before! I really appreciate them being there! thank you Joel and band! Come back soon!
Although I wasn't at Sanctuary this morning, I heard that a fuse blew, I'm pretty sure this has only happened a few other times, in our 5 plus years in the theater, and I didn't hear if the problem was resolved (hope so).

Here is Joel's song list, I'm pretty sure, they did not do all of these songs.

From the Inside Out (pre-service- the fuse blew somewhere in the middle of this song)
Because of Your Love
Beautiful Jesus

possible songs for Face to Face ( looking through these songs, I see that Joel did a great job being thematic, as we were talking about Jesus as servant, and ourselves as servants. During Face to Face we had a station where you could come and have your feet (or hands) washed)
Give us Clean Hands
(Forever) The Nails in Your Hands
Washed by the Water (nice choice Joel!)
Unashamed
Jesus Paid it all

Love the Lord

I'm looking forward to hearing how this service went, in particular the foot washing station... wonder how many people just got their hands washed instead? I don't blame them! :)

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Interested in what songs other churches used this Sunday? Check out
www.fredmckinnon.com/myblog/2009/03/29/sunday-setlists-36/)

Singing at St Paul

Yesterday I had the opportunity to practice with Mia for a recording session next week. What a great afternoon of low key, low pressure, practice and worship. I am excited, but nervous about this opportunity. I get nervous about the quality of my voice, and my abilities to find (and key here- remember- harmony parts). But Mia makes the whole process simple, and comfortable.

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The church we were practicing at, St Paul, looks like it was built in the late 60's and is a cavernous space, surrounded in glass and light. Every time I'm there I wish there were 400 people in there with me, singing there hearts out, with the voices echoing throughout the room.

The banner below was created by a member of the congregation, who happens to be my son's tennis coach! Its beautiful!

Concert a Week - #1 (and 2)

A number of years ago, my sister and I attended a concert together, after which, we swore to each other that for that summer we would make plans to get together for at least one concert each week. 12 weeks later, we had certainly relaxed more, spent more time with our families, and enjoyed the summer weather, but had not seen even one more concert! In memory of that pact between Cindy and myself, I would like to try again.

One concert a week, 'that's not hard to do' you say? I challenge you too, to do the same and report back with me weekly. My goal of seeing 1 concert a week, will not be difficult in the respect that I live in an amazingly culture filled metropolis. I will try to vary the styles of music, trying to hear some genres that I wouldn't normally pick. I also will be trying to make as many of these weekly concerts, the ones with FREE plainly advertised. The real key will be finding, well, making the time.

Weeks 1 and 2 are already in the bag!

Concert #1- Saturday March 14th- Concordia University Chicago Kapelle

Stacy our field worker from Concordia and her husband sing in this group, so I decided, hey, why not? I came in late to nearly standing room only in Concordia's large chapel. I ended up sitting in front of a couple students, who thought they were being quiet enough whispering (wasn't working), so at intermission I made my way towards the front. The choir was good, and sang many songs from memory. I always enjoy college choirs, for the female voices have matured, but still have a sweet tone, with little vibrato.

Favorites:

Lamentations of Jeremiah - Carl Schalk

In Paradisum - Edwin Fissinger ( a must hear! ps the video is not of Kapelle) www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FIeE3Uj_dE

Mude bin Ich - Thomas Gieschen

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Concert #2-Sunday March 22 - Kevin Radtke, tenor and Andrew Fleser, piano

Kevin is a son of the congregation, and the son of our amazing secretary Barb. The concert was performed from the front of the church, up the 3 stairs towards the Communion rail, where 5 strong men...er...people, including our amazing secretary Barb, had moved the grand piano. The second half of the concert was performed from the balcony with organ. Kevin has extensive training and experience in opera graduating with a Masters in vocal performance from Westminster Choir College, and agreed to come and perform for Immanuel's 100th anniversary concert series. I admittedly am not too familiar with opera, but really enjoyed Kevin's presentation, voice and expression. There was a great turn out for this concert, including a number of people from the community. Thanks Kevin, come again soon!

Favorites:

The Tree of Life (shades mountain) K. Lee Scott- (a beautiful hymn that I had not heard before)
Selection from Ten Blake Songs- The Divine Image - Ralph Vaughan Williams

Music for Sunday March 22

Today at both Sanctuary and Immanuel we identified with Nicodemus as a seeker from John 3:1-20. Jesus welcomes the seeker- we don't have to hide our doubts or questions we can meet Jesus in the light.




At 10:00 the Praise Choir and Joyful Noise children's choir joined worship leader Gina, in leading us in music.

Mighty to Save - I use the Laura Story version from www.praisecharts.com. I like this version because it fits our instrumental set up well

Worship set- the children's choir joined us in this worship set and sounded lovely singing out on the chorus of Here I am to Worship, I love the addition of children's voices singing along with familiar worship choruses. We began contemporary worship 12 years ago at our church, and so the kids in the choir have really grown up with this music, and sing these songs from memory (from their hearts), so beautifully, one can't help but be engaged in the worship.
I could Sing of Your Love Forever- in D
Here I am to Worship - in D
Amazing Love/You are My King - in D

Closing Song- although the kids did not sing from the front on this one, I heard them loud and clear from the pews. In fact the whole congregation really sung out on this song this morning. Praise God for that! I can't wait to reprise it on Easter Sunday, with full choir, and band!
The Wonder of your Cross- (we used the praise charts arrangements, but we transposed to G for our female worship leader)

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At Sanctuary- ( I was not at Sanctuary this morning but would have loved to be, as I love the songs We are Yours and Dwell, and would like to know how "a new Hallelujah" went since they introduced it for the first time)
We Fall Down
We are Yours
Dwell
Closing song-
A New Hallelujah

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Interested in what songs other churches did this Sunday? Check out
www.fredmckinnon.com/myblog/2009/03/22/sunday-setlists-35/

May the Word have the run of the house

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Colossians 3:16

Before telling us about the stuff we as musicians like to hear, Paul first tells us to keep the word of Christ in us. The Message translation even says that the word should "have the run of the house"

Practice on Thursday night was good... praise choir practiced for a half hour, then the band came, and practiced with the praise choir. Stacy, a church music student, and field worker from Concordia was our guest pianist, and did a wonderful job. Drummer Dan joined us, which is always nice since after twelve years of contemporary worship, we can count on two hands the amount of Sunday's we have had a drummer. We got through the songs in an efficient manner, and just as the choir was getting ready to leave for the evening, I grabbed a bible to pick a Psalm for a quick devotion, I paged through the Psalms looking for something short, found one, promptly closed the bible, with out reading it, and told the choir to join me in the basement to practice one last song for Easter. "um... Ellen" Janice politely said, "you were going to read a Psalm to us" I looked at the closed bible in my hand, and remembered the 'quick devotion' I was going to have, and realized how one tracked my mind was that evening and on so many other occasions. Forgetting a devotion here, not remembering to pray before worship there. Often I am so focused on the task at hand, I forget about focusing on the One who authors our tasks.

Today, I was reading in Nathan's new blog, www.leadgracefully.com/blog/ and saw words that really spoke to me as I reflected on Thursday's practice. he says

"This week, lighten the load, pick some older songs and do a shorter set so that you can set aside 15 minutes of rehearsal to do a devo, scripture reading, prayer, etc. Let’s prayerfully fall on Jesus, being filled up in the Spirit before attempting to lead others to do the same. "

I believe that my not remembering to spend more time in the Word and prayer with the music groups, is a direct result of me not making the time to do so in my own personal life. Not only am I going to begin proactively securing this time for myself, I think I will also try to find people in our groups, to be devotion and prayer leaders, who would take on that role at practice and before worship.

May the Word have the run of our practices!!

I'm an idol watcher

Yes, I'm one of the 30 million or so American Idol watchers out there, although I will also admit, this is the first season, that I'm beginning to think, the contest is fixed... At any rate, I enjoy watching the contestants sing, and grow as singers throughout the competition, I also enjoy hearing what constitutes "good singing", or a "good performance" according to the judges. While watching, I often, very kindly of course, judge the contestants myself, listening for pitch problems, bad tone, rhythm issues, and the like. I even recommend watching the show to those involved in the praise choir, because I think it is a good way, to listen to a few different styles of pop singing, and to develop an ear for the sound of a pleasant voice, or a not so pleasant voice as the case may be.

A number of contestants in years past, including Jordan Sparks and Chris Sligh have been worship leaders in their home churches. This year, Danny Gokey, Kris Allen and Michael Sarver, all contestants in the top 11, are listed as worship leaders in their home congregations.

Results are tonight... I hope our worship leaders do well!

Computer illiterate

I consider myself ridiculoulsy incompentent when it comes to using computers. Its a wonder, that I can send an email, or even manage a blog. My 15 year old son came home from school the other day, and typed a few things on my computer, and managed to make a web page...with just a few #'s and /'s. Html is it? I don't know!

Even in college the idea of using a word processing program instead of a typewriter, yes an electric one, stressed me out.

Who would have known that technology would be such an important part of the effectiveness of a director of worship music?

What I would give to be able to navigate computer recording programs, or even comprehend the things I would need to purchase to make one useful to me. I have taken numerous workshops at worship conferences on the infamous "MIDI", and still think its something that you can buy and plug in to your keyboard. I am only slowly figuring out the free version of Finale, and just two days ago tested out Audacity, with which I amazingly did what I needed to do, but can now not figure out how to export my creation as an mp3 file.

Speaking of mp3, I bought an mp3 player...sansa something, recently, and have even downloaded some tracks (it's way to easy), but have still yet to even try the thing, and still insist on buying most of my music at local stores, in the hard copy form.

Last night I spent hours...hours trying to figure out how to "link" a page to a page on our church's website. I'm 99% sure this is a simple process, but I could not figure it out.

HELP!

2 things-

I believe I should be trying harder to seek out those in our church, who have gifts and talents in these areas. God has blessed us all with different abilities, and even a 10 year old could do better then me when it comes to stuff having to do with computers (have you seen those new Windows commercials?)

I know that many christian colleges and universities have music degrees that focus more on the contemporary worship angle now? I would have to assume that technology is a large part of these educations. As a member of the LCMS I can relate best to our Concordia University system, and am pretty sure, we do not have such a focus. I can imagine at least 2 semesters worth of tech material (including sound board operation etc), that would be extremely helpful to our future Directors of Music. I'd be the first to sign up for these classes!

By the way, I'm trying to figure out how to post a song directly into one of these posts. If you can help me learn how (okay), or just do it for me (much better), I'd really appreciate it!

Music for Sunday March 15

Today we were in the 3rd week of a series where we have been identifying with 7 people that Jesus meets on the way to the cross. Today listening to John 2:13-22 we identified with those in the temple, as having spiritual "blind spots" that keep us and others from having a relationship with Jesus.

Music at 10:00 service-
Kristin- worship leader, Frank on lead guitar, Scott and Kevin on acoustic ( Scott brought his new electric, and played rhythm with it on a few songs, Dean on keys

Call to Worship-
Hosanna/Praise is Rising - in E
Open the Eyes of My Heart - in E
prayer
Psalm 19/May the Words of My Mouth
Offering- Frank played a lovely arrangement of The old Rugged Cross
Communion-
The Lamb
In Christ Alone
Closing song-
Amazing Grace

Music at Sanctuary1010-

I played and worship led at Sanctuary this Sunday, just me and the piano

Opening worship set
Be thou My Vision- in C
Once Again -in C
When I survey the Wondrous Cross- in C

( I really liked this worship set and how the songs flowed together thematically, but I set them pretty low to accommodate my limited range, and it may have made it difficult for the congregation to sing. Be Thou My Vision has a large range in it, so its hard to find a comfortable key... key of D gets to high for me on that song, because it goes up to a D, which I find to be about the highest note that girls can sing comfortably, but its still a stretch. Putting Be Thou my Vision in C, puts the lowest note as a G.... to low! I usually improvise a little on the song and sing the G's as C's, but it didn't work today, as I heard everyone singing the melody anyway)

during communion we played a cd of David Crowders- The Remedy, and Deliver Me, both great songs.

After communion/Face to Face we prayed together using petitions asking God to help us find our blindspots in our homes/work/school/community/world. between each petition, we sang a chorus:

Overturn, overturn overturn my life so I might know you more
Overturn, overturn, overturn my life so I might serve you Lord

We closed out the service with an acapella verse of Amazing Grace.

Interested in seeing other churches worship sets for the week? Check out Fred McKinnon's blog where 60 or so other people have links to their weekly sets
www.fredmckinnon.com/myblog/2009/03/15/sunday-setlists-34/

In Harmony

Last night I had the pleasure of attending a harmony workshop put on as part of the Acoustic Roots Workshop series with Mark Dvorak www.markdvorak.com, and instructors from the Old Town School of Folk Music www.oldtownschool.org

If I lived close to The Old Town, and had the money and time I would indulge in many of their class offerings, including, but not limited to- the accordion. I don't have an accordion, but if you do, and want to lend me yours, let me know- I'll take good care of it!

The workshop was 2 hours of inspiring conversation and heartfelt singing from those gathered. I came away enjoying the event for the social aspect, but also with plenty of ideas to help teach harmony singing. In fact tonight at practice I used a little "drill" we used at the workshop last night. I asked the group to sing Amazing Grace vs1 only, from memory of course, and repeated it a number of times. The first time through I asked them to just listen, and then as the song went on, to sing out any harmony they heard (even if they didn't think it was right). It worked well.

Last night at the workshop we sang a song I had never heard before called "The Waters of Babylon" based on Psalm 137:1. it is written in a minor key, and sung as a round.

(part 1)By the waters, the waters of Babylon
(part 2)We lay down and wept, and wept for thee Zion
(part 3)We remember, we remember, we remember thee Zion

I am trying to figure out who wrote the song we sang last night, as I found a different version which is a fairly well known reggae song sung first by The Melodians, and covered by many since, including, Sinead O Connor and Sublime.

I finally ran across a version by Don McLean, apparently when he sings it in concert, the whole audience participates in the round... but I still can't figure out if he actually wrote the haunting melody. Then I found this video of the song being sung by a group of singers from Canada. Just in case you really like their sound, they also cover Beatles tunes :) :)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMhIgrjQjPQ

I think I'll try this out at Sanctuary some time

Retreating- Intercessory Prayer

My voice you shall hear in the morning, O Lord;
in the morning I will direct my prayer to You,
and I will look up.
Psalm 5:3

This past Saturday we held a worship musicians retreat for all 10:00 and Sanctuary instrumentalists and vocalists. Nathan, worship leader at Sanctuary led the retreat, and it was a wonderfully relaxing and enlightening morning. I really appreciated Nathans insight on a number of things, that I have continued to think about. Nathan brought up the idea of each worship team having a prayer intercessor who on Sunday morning would be a part of the band, praying on behalf of the band, the pastor, the congregation and the worship time. Being born and bred Lutheran, this idea of a "prayer warrior" is a bit foreign to me... I imagine a woman with long flowey hair, lots of jewelry, wielding a sword, speaking in tongues, and generally making me feel uncomfortable

I attended a worship service with a prayer intercessor for the first time about 5 years ago in Edmonton, Alberta in the coldest month of Jan, at the worship conference, Break Forth. www.new-creation.net The prayer leader was a man, without jewelry, or long flowey hair, he did not speak in tongues, and the only think he held was a bible. He sat on a stool with the band, and read from the bible and prayed. After a few songs he invited the worshipers to come up if they had prayer requests. Before long, more and more people kneeled at the bottom of the stage, waiting to be prayed for. I myself felt a strong desire to go up to the front, but I couldn't even will myself...the idea of exposing my need for prayer- eegads!

At Sanctuary over the last 5 years, we have often had prayer stations with 1 or 2 "prayer leaders" available to pray with those who care to, but never someone praying throughout the whole service for us. One argument, I have heard against having a prayer intercessor is that they may leave the congregation feeling that they don't need to, or don't have the skills to pray for themselves and the worship service, because someone else is doing it for them.

Either way, I think it would be nice to have someone dedicated to praying for us throughout the service. I'd like to see where we can go with this
And by the way, after 5 years of having prayer leaders at Sanctuary that we could pray with, I have yet to feel comfortable going up and exposing that need...

Music for Sunday March 8

This past Sunday at both campuses, we talked about Peter, and his "waffling" We also looked at Mark 9:24 "Lord i believe, help thou my unbelief", a prayer I appreciate and use.

I played keyboards at 10:00 and sang with Phil who was worship leading. We had a new drummer who was planning on coming, but after a hard rain, he had water in his basement, and could not make it. Right before the service started I looked out into the congregation and saw Byron...what do ya know, Byron agreed to play at the last minute. A little unconventional, but good times were had, and good music was made.

Music At 10:00-
Come Now is The Time to Worship- in C
My Savior My God-in C
Your Grace is Enough- in D
Lord Have Mercy by Steve Merkel (we used vs 1 of this as a confessional response of sorts after the sermon- Pastor had the congregation kneel for the first time through, then they stood for the second time through)
The Wonder of Your Cross- in A

Music at Sanctuary-
Lord I Believe- Dan took the passage from Mark 9:24, and wrote a chorus with it. The chorus was interspersed throughout the service as so:

Lord I believe
congregation reads Matthew 14:25-31 silently
We Fall Down
congregation reads Matthew 16:13-17,21,23 silently
O Lord Your Beautiful (vs 1 and 2)
congregation reads Luke 22: 31-33, 54-62
Lord I believe

later in the service we used the chorus again
Lord I believe
Apostles Creed
Lord I believe
Benediction
All I Need Is You by Marty Sampson

An Introduction

What does it take to create a missional music ministry? I work as music director at a wonderful Lutheran church in the suburbs of Chicago. I spend most of my time planning and coordinating people for a weekly contemporary worship service, and a second off campus, "postmodern" style worship. I love choosing music, and creating worship services that will engage the congregation, and help them to truly meet Jesus face to face.

Recently I have been thinking more about how we as church musicians can take our music "out of the Sanctuary" and into the streets. What does this mean? I'm not sure exactly. What I'm pretty sure it doesn't mean, is the idea of putting a band together to go play christian rock at a local festival or band shell, or inviting people from the neighborhood into our church to hear our bands play on Sunday morning. These are fine ideas in themselves, but... I'm still thinking.

What I hope to record in this blog, is the typical "going ons" and planning process of my typical church musician week, with the ongoing prayer that God direct me and those involved in the music ministry to continue to grow in servanthood and love for our community and world around us.