You can say it, I’m a slacker. I’ve been incredibly busy recently and the blog has suffered greatly. Sadly the lack of posts will likely continue for a few more weeks, but only for a few more weeks. I’m hoping to make it up to some of you by writing a double recap this week. That’s right, 2 churches, 3 services, 1 post! I can feel your excitement already.
I wasn’t at Mayfield UMC this Sunday. Instead I was at Matthews UMC in North Carolina leading their services for the weekend. Traveling around and leading worship is one of the greatest things I ever get to do. I love working with new people and worshiping with difference groups and churches. It was a very busy weekend, but a lot of fun. Here are the recaps from both churches:
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Matthews UMC, Matthews NC (Sat. 6:00pm, Sun. 9:40am)
It’s always an interesting dynamic when you go into a new place and work with a band that is not your own. It takes a lot of time and practice to become comfortable with personalities and playing styles, which was a luxury we certainly did not have. We had less than half an hour to rehearse the set before the first service on Saturday night. The nice thing about it was that almost everyone had been to the website I had created, downloaded the charts for the songs, listened to the posted recordings, and were ready to roll at the first run through. It is so important to provide good resources to your band. The better you are at this, the smoother rehearsals and services will run. I have constructed a private page attached to this blog that only my band has access to. Each week I post a band schedule as well as charts, iTunes links, and YouTube links to each song in the set. It’s an easy way to manage our group, but if you have the budget for it I would suggest something along the lines of Planning Center instead. Actually, I will whole-heartedly ENDORSE Planning Center. If you have the budget for it, get it. You’ll thank me later.
Anyway, here’s the set:
Mighty to Save (A) > I got to choose one song to teach the band and share with the congregation. It took me about 11 seconds to decide which song to choose. It’s a great congregational song with a catchy melody, powerful lyrics, a decent vocal range, and a repetative structure that makes it easy to teach. It’s also finally starting to get the respect it deserves.
Holy Spirit Rain Down (G) > This song was brand new for me this week. It’s a mid-90s tune from Hillsong and was definitely written on a piano (I lead from guitar) by someone with a flair for classical progressions. A D#dim7 chord in the key of G? really?! Anyway, hearing the congregation sing the chorus back to us on stage was a great moment in worship for me.
Sanctuary (D) > It happened to be confirmation Sunday, and every year the congregation sings sanctuary after confirmation is complete.
Your Love Oh Lord (G) > I got to do this as a solo. If you know me, you know I’m not a big fan of performing solos, but I do enjoy this song a lot. I have an arrangement that uses a slightly different rhythm figure and changes the dynamics between verses and choruses a bit. All in all a lot of fun to do with just an acoustic guitar.
Give Me Jesus (C) > We closed the morning with Give Me Jesus as a congregational response both to the theme of the message and confirmation. High note was an F#, which usually will make a congregation stop singing on the spot, but they pushed through and it was a powerful closer.
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Mayfield UMC, Mayfield OH (Sun. 9:30am)
Since I was busy leading the above set, Gabe led again at Mayfield. I’ve already ranted enough in past recaps about how much I enjoy Gabe’s leadership so I won’t go there again, but I do have to say that he’s come through for me a lot in recent months and I can’t express how much easier my life is knowing I have someone to turn things over to when I have to be away for a week. Here’s the set:
Everlasting God (B)
We Offer Christ (A)
I can’t comment specifically on any of the songs simply because I wasn’t around for the service, but Gabe said the set felt pretty good with few problems. The closing song, “We Offer Christ,” is a special song written by a local composer when our new building was constructed. Originally it was a piano/vocal piece, but Gabe led a full band arrangement. We’ll be bringing the song back next week as part of our combined worship celebration (instead of 3 services we do one large one) in honor of our retiring Senior Pastor.
For more worship action head on over to Sunday Set Lits.
Matthews, NC…why that’s just around the corner from me. Okay, it’s about four hours away, but welcome to the Tarheel State. Glad it went well for you. Sounds like you did your homework ahead of time to set yourself up for a good time.
I have only heard We offer Christ once before. Simple to sing to, if there were any musical issues I didn’t notice and I doubt if other non-musicians would have noticed. The thought that kept running through my mind was to use the chorus as a closing each week. Try to follow my ramble and forgive my incorrect terms. In some of the other church’s I have attended they have had a closing benediction song – sometimes with the congregation holding hands (not my thing, but ok). These sung benedictions really bonded many in the congregation together. Some of the sung benedictions I remember include the choruses of Bind us Together, Surely the Presence and the Spirit Song. We Offer is a great note to send the congregation out into the world. I do have misgivings that singing a benediction may not touch/effect non musical members of the congregation and it can get stale, but I also think it can be a great way to refocus the church on it’s mission each week. Just a thought. But what do I know, I spend my time in the basement oops lower level with the children. (haha)