Twitter
Email Subscribe
Posts by mandyt:
Holy Days: Ash Wednesday And Lent
February 23rd, 2011
Part of Holy Days – A series of articles dedicated to our Christian/Hebraic holidays and observances.
Hi. My name is Mandy. And I’m a 30-something guitar-playing worship leader & creative church staffer at a contemporary church and I love the ebb and flow of the Christian Calendar year.
Now, everybody say “Hi Mandy.”
Glad we got that out of the way. And what better time to confess my affection for the Christian Calendar than with my favorite holy day right around the corner. Read the rest of this entry “
Can They Trust Us? Leading Relationally
December 13th, 2010When they walk into our congregations on Sunday mornings, many will size us up. Not on a musical scale, but on a relational scale. Their stares may not be because the coffee hasn’t kicked in yet. It may be because they’re trying to figure us out. See what we’re about.
It takes more than impressive musicianship to earn the trust of a congregation. Believe me: they can see right through us. They can see if we genuinely care about them–if we’re interested in who they are, not just if they sing with their eyes closed–if we have their best interest at heart–if church music is primarily about making good music, or if it’s about engaging our hearts with God.
Church From The Other Side: When The Worship Leader is Led By The Congregation
July 26th, 2010
Reposted with persmission from MandyThompson.com
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.
Worship and Counseling
December 13th, 2009Bob Kauflin (of Sovereign Grace Ministries) recently engaged in an interesting conversation with David Powlison (of the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation) to discuss the powerful connection between Worship and Counseling among the Body of Christ.
As Kauflin so eloquently states, “Leading worship is a pastoral function before it’s a musical one.”
VIDEO 1
“Why am I SO stressed out?!”
November 23rd, 2009
Our buddy Joel Klampert recently pointed out an article in The Consumerist that lists “Worship Minister” in the top 15 jobs with the highest stress for the lowest pay.
Letters to Leaders, Vol. 3
November 11th, 2009
Fellow worship leaders, you will find many nuggets of wisdom and experience in the following letter. Although it was written with a very specific leader in mind, I would encourage you to ask yourself if this letter could’ve been written to you. Do we need to grow in the same areas as this leader? And are we excelling in the same places as this one? Find challenge and encouragement in the words. ~mandy thompson
Letters to Leaders, Vol. 2
November 4th, 2009
Today we bring another installment of our series written by everyday church goers. As you read the words of these letters, I pray that you receive in your heart what is being communicated. That you listen as if someone from your own congregation is writing. And that you consider their words. We may not all agree with what is being expressed at times, just as we don’t agree with our own congregants at times. Setting aside debate and disagreement, may we have hearts to serve them. ~mandy thompson
Letters to Leaders, Vol. 1
October 28th, 2009
We’re starting a new series – one that might stir some controversy, or might just be the “thank you” we sometimes need to hear. TWC will present letters written by your everyday Sunday church-goer to their worship leader. I wanted to know what they’d say to their leader, and thought you might want to hear as well. You won’t know who they are or what church they attend, but you will hear their heart. We hope this series both encourages and challenges us, as we seek to serve the Body of Christ from week to week.~mandy thompson
“Imagine That” Review
October 19th, 2009
Imagine That
by Manuel Luz
“We create because we are made in the image of the Creator. We simply cannot help it.”
Dear Manuel:
I was recently asked to read and review “Imagine That.” I was eager, and quickly moved Read the rest of this entry “
Don Poythress, ‘Wash Away’ Review
August 17th, 2009
From the start, Wash Away doesn’t look or sound like a typical worship album. This one rings with country music in a fresh and surprising way. Fresh, because most worship albums are filled with swirling electric guitars, synth, and rock drums. Surprising, because the country style isn’t led with an old-time gospel feel. It’s pushed by the tones of contemporary country/rock.
Read the rest of this entry “
