Thanks to Steve Ball for sharing his thoughts with The Worship Community! Republished with permission – originally published here.

I believe we should all be aiming to excel in what we do – both individually and as part of the worship team. But having a musical benchmark that doesn’t enable new members to join easily really bothers me. Maybe it’s my ‘music teacher’ background wanting to see students develop, but I’ve seen too many people get discouraged (or worse, hurt) over the years by being told they are not good enough.

I believe in being as inclusive as possible – but sometimes this can create more work for the person responsible for worship, which maybe why some worship leaders shy away from the challenge? We also need to create an inclusive environment within the worship team, as it will usually not be as easy to play with musicians that are ‘less competent’. Below are my personal views about the musical benchmark, and I would be interested in other peoples approaches.

Nobody has to play every note!

If someone comes to me and says they want to join the worship team, but can only play four chords, I think that’s great! There is no rule that says every musician must play every song, so why not encourage the newcomer to join in the songs with the chords that he knows (or better still, show them how to use a capo and transpose the chords for them!). You will be surprised how quickly they will want to learn more. With this approach, you are setting the benchmark very low, but still encouraging someone to develop. When I think about when I first started to play at church on my tiny Casio keyboard, I’m sure it wasn’t great – and I still make plenty of mistakes now!

I’ve also heard it said that someone can’t be in the band unless they have grade three or four on their instrument. This is complete nonsense! I once had a student come to me because he wanted to pass his Grade 8 piano. He was a brilliant music reader, but when I asked him to play ‘Happy Birthday’ by ear, he had absolutely no idea what to do (quite shocking!). On the other hand, I’ve had students who are not interested in exams who are extremely good musicians – they just haven’t got a certificate to prove it. I would much rather have someone who is musical in how they play, and so can fit in with a band set up, rather than a ‘trained’ person who can only play what they see.

Shadowing

On a practical note (no pun intended!), I have used the process of ‘shadowing’ several times and it is really effective. Get an experienced person – preferably with the same type of instrument – and let the newcomer join in with what they can, and if they go wrong, the more experienced person is there to take over straight away. This method can be used with any instrument – even the drums. I started two (now very good) drummers off with someone with a tambourine right next to them to keep them in time if they lost concentration.

In this post, I have only been talking about a musical benchmark. There are other benchmarks for joining a worship team that are equally, if not more important which I may well go into another time.

Points to ponder:

• What musical benchmarks do you set for your worship team – and why?
• What other benchmarks should there be for the worship team?
• If you have a higher benchmark, how can we ensure inclusivity?

Steve works in IT and is a piano teacher who also serves at his church as part of the Leadership Team with specific responsibility for worship.

Related posts:

1. 20 Ways To Create a Passionate Culture In Your Worship Team
2. Worship Team Retreats: Why They’re Worth It!
3. How to Create a Sustainable Youth Worship Team Year to Year

Republished with permission from Alex Mejias. Originally published at HighStreetHymns.com.

As a person who grew up in the age of CCM and “contemporary” worship, I had little exposure to traditional liturgies and “liturgical music.” I think the closest we came to using anything liturgical was when sang the Doxology (the “Old Hundredth”) as traveling music for the ushers after the offering. I don’t know about you, but I’m not sure that was the original intention of Thomas Ken, who penned those words back in the late 17th Century.

It wasn’t until after college that I had my first really full experience of traditional liturgy in spoken word and song. I had always had this image of stuffy Catholic services where people were being brainwashed to mindlessly repeat prayers and creeds. I never imagined that what I would find would be this giant collection of the most thoughtful and beautiful expressions of faith I’d ever encountered. I had been missing so much. Now I want to help churches find what I found and see meaningful ways to incorporate these prayers and songs into their worship.

A few definitions and qualifications: 

- By “contemporary” worship service, I mean one that does not utilize one of the traditional liturgical texts and outline as found in Catholic services, the Book of Common Prayer and other historic sources. 

- Every church has a “liturgy”, which is simply the structure of a church’s worship service. For the purposes of these posts when I say “liturgical music” I’m referring to specific Catholic, Anglican, etc liturgical pieces that have been used in corporate worship since the formation of Christian worship structures. For example, the Gloria, Kyrie Eleison, Sanctus and others. 

- This list is not exhaustive and I’ve just written a few words about each. The points below need much more explanation than afforded here, so if you’re interested in learning more I’ve included some good sources below.

1. Liturgical music is Biblical. The Bible is full of liturgical songs – “benedictions, prayers, creeds, eulogies, responses and doxologies” (Paul S. Jones, Singing and Making Music) to name a few. And the use of ceremonial music goes back to early Jewish worship in the original Temple. Jones writes, “the five divisions of the book of Psalms each conclude with doxological passages, and Psalm 150 in its entirety serves as a doxology to close the Psalter.” Though these songs have long been associated with Catholic mass and other formal liturgies, they are first and foremost Biblical expressions of praise and prayer.

2. Liturgical music helps us re-tell the Gospel story. In Christ-Centered Worship, Bryan Chapell writes that, “Christian worship is a re-presentation of the gospel.” The original purpose of the traditional liturgical music  was to help the church re-tell the Gospel story in a consistent manner.

Much in the way church architecture was designed, these elements often correspond to specific aspects of the Gospel story. As part of a contemporary service, these pieces might allow deeper reflection and focus on the Gospel narrative. On a larger level, many liturgical pieces link up with the liturgical calendar, which walks through the Gospel story over the course of the year. The rhythms of the Christian calendar draw us into the Gospel story and can serve as a way of dwelling in it.

A few examples — grasping the depth of our sin during lent, lamenting the brokenness of the world and crying out for a savior in advent, and rejoicing in the incarnation at Christmas. Taking advantage of these long-standing structures helps us go deeper in worship.

3. Liturgical music connects us to the Historic Church. Leslie Newbegin writes, “the thing given for our acceptance in faith is not a set of timeless propositions: it is a story. Moreover, it is a story which is not yet finished, a story in which we are still awaiting the end when all becomes clear.”

We are a part of God’s story in the world, a story that began in a specific time and place. As the church has become more and more fractured, we’ve lost that direct connection with the ones who’ve gone before us in once united Church of Christ. When we sing songs from the earliest days of the church, we join the worship of the Church across the ages. It’s a way of remembering that we are part of a story that began long ago, one that we carry on today.

4. Liturgical music connects us to the Global Church. Growing up I heard little of the Eastern Orthodox Church. But as it turns out, there’s this huge other branch of Christianity that is not Protestant or Catholic.

Here’s the crazy-simple story. A thousand years ago, Christians were all in (not so perfect) communion. A dispute arose about leadership between the East and West (roughly based on which side of the Mediterranean they were on). The result of that dispute was a major split in the church spawning the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church.

What’s the point of all this? Well, while that split caused changes in worship practices, the common liturgy of the early church remained partially in tact. One of commonalities is in the liturgical songs. Thus when we sing those ancient songs we also united with our brothers and sisters from all over the world. We also stand in protest of the divisions that have alienated Christians from each other for hundreds of years. We also proclaim that one day there will no longer be denominations and divisions, only one body of Christ.

5. Liturgical songs complement contemporary worship songs. In many ways the move to “contemporary worship” threw the baby out with the bath water – starting completely from scratch in song and structure. Yet, hymns and liturgical elements still have much to teach us and enhance worship greatly.

Incorporating a traditional piece or two can really add some theological depth to contemporary worship (and vice versa). And these elements may actually help refresh contemporary worship. Most contemporary services began in reaction to the monotony of traditional worship. Yet, these new and exciting services have become woefully formulaic — usually a chunk of worship songs followed by a long sermon ending with another song (with prayers, announcements and an offering thrown in somewhere).

For contemporary services, traditional liturgical elements may actually help break us out of the patterns we’ve fallen into, giving your congregation a new way to participate in worship. When done with sincerity and understanding, liturgical songs are just as spirit-filled and edifying as the best of what we have today, so why not strive for the best of both worlds?

References and Further Reading:

Christ-Centered Worship by Bryan Chapell

Singing and Making Music by Paul S. Jones

The Gospel in a Pluralist Society by Lesslie Newbigin

Alex Mejias is a singer-songwriter, worship leader and the founder of High Street Hymns, a non-profit ministry dedicated to reclaiming Christian hymnody and liturgical music.

Related posts:

1. The Work Of The People: Liturgy For Non-liturgical Churches
2. Bored With Contemporary Worship
3. Experiments in Worship Music: Simplify

Thanks to Mark Snyder for sharing this great approach with TWC. Not only is it a great practical approach to writing worship song lyrics, it’s also a great way to analyze our Sunday Setlists.

Worship songs are an area of vastly differing opinions. Evaluating what works and what doesn’t can be very subjective. One sentiment I hear and read all the time is ‘let’s take the focus off of us, or I, or me, and put it on God, where it belongs.’ In many ways, this is a push back on the effects of a ‘generation me’ culture. But, to figure out why a song leaves this impression is not as easy as it sounds.

As a career software engineer who is also a worship songwriter, I try to allow my analytical side to influence what I do musically. When I am songwriting or considering songs for my set list or recording projects, I like to think in terms of an analytical measure of a song I call the God Quotient (or GQ for short). GQ is a way to look at a song and try to evaluate its real focus.

Each song we use for corporate worship has a certain amount of creative energy expended to write it, and a focus it brings to the congregation. It is useful to examine where the creative energy of a song is strongest. Assuming a song is well written, theologically sound and grounded in Biblical truth, I like to then evaluate a song along several scales to look at its GQ.

I look at each lyric, especially focusing on the pronouns that describe me, or us, but also the ones that describe God. Repeated lyrics get more weighting. I also look at where the song has its strongest musical moments (typically the chorus and bridge) and what those are saying. Here are some contrasts I typically draw:

Feeling versus Fealty

This one is probably the most controversial, because we like to write and sing from the heart. Many worship songs spend a lot of creative energy on how we feel.

“I love to bring You praise”
“I eagerly run toward You”
“I feel liberated”
“Your Spirit moves me”

These are good sentiments that express our heart toward God, but what we hear way less of is our duty toward God, our obligation toward God, our obedient response to God.

“I willingly keep Your commands”
“I listen for Your voice”
“I will love the poor because You do”
“I will glorify You in everything”

I judge a songs GQ score higher if it can offer a response that urges me toward action and not only toward emotion, because God is a God of action and we are His hands and feet to carry it out.

Problem versus Provision

We expend vast creative energy describing our problems.

“In the deepest, darkest night”
“When the storm is rolling in”
“When I am in the valley and I cannot go on”

The Psalms do a lot of this. We need to express our need to God, but His provision is always greater than our need. How much creative energy do our songs bring to describing His provision?

“Your sufficiency is infinitely greater than my fear”
“Your willing death overcame all of sin’s pain”
“You faced the cross because I was a sinner and was lost”
“Your Heaven is my real, amazing home”

A songs GQ is higher if its creative energy is spent more on who He is and what He provides, and less on our need.

Response versus Renown

This is primarily focused on the actions of a song – its verbs. What are they telling us? Are they all about our response?

“I joyfully lift You higher”
“Our earnest praise rises to You”
“I worship You humbly”

All of these things are great attributes of our response, and they are necessary. But what about the attributes of Him, and who He is?

“You are infinite”
“You are eternal”
“You created everything”
“You rescued Your people”
“You sacrificed everything to save us”

When a song gives Him the renown He is due its GQ is higher.

Of course, these are not hard and fast rules. Some low GQ songs are great. Many Psalms are low GQ.

However, if the majority of our set list consistently rates low on the GQ scale, you can probably be sure the worship music will generate the kind of comments I began the article with. The songs we sing will be ‘me’ focused, and we will not impart as many great treasures from His Word as we might otherwise. We should strive for, at a minimum, a balanced GQ in every song, and it never hurts to have a high GQ. But low GQ can be a problem.

Why is this important?

Why not just worship and leave this kind of analysis aside? For me, anyway, it is simple. God wants to speak His truth into our congregations, and our worship music is one vehicle for that. He wants to see His bride on fire for who He is, what He wants to do. He wants to see His truth, as He gave us in His Holy, inspired Word, made manifest, so that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess who He is, hopefully now, before it is too late.

If worship music is to be a part of His Bride’s mission, then its focus should be where it belongs – on Him.

Mark Snyder is a longtime worship leader, software engineer, and lead songwriter for the Tree Hill Collective (www.treehillcollective.com). He runs the web site www.weekendwarriorworship.com as a resource to provide songs for the church from its weekend warrior songwriters, focusing on the art of the worship song as it applies to the worshiping church of all ages. Mark has a wife and two grown sons and resides in Glendale, AZ, with his wife of 27 years Roseanne..

Related posts:

1. TWC’s Great Songwriting Tips
2. Songwriting: What Rhetorical Device Can Martin Luther King Jr Teach Songwriters?
3. Developing A Songwriting Community Through Your Church, part one

We at The Worship Community would like to extend our continued thanks and appreciation for all of you who continue to be a part of our community.

Whether through weekly participation in Sunday Setlists, where people from all over share their experiences, testimonies, struggles, ideas, problems/solutions, and song setlists from their worship gatherings each week…

…Or whether over in the TWC forums discussing ‘all things worship’ with brothers and sisters in Christ from around the world…

…or if you’re a regular reader of our articles here on the front page.

Thank you! Thanks for being a part of building and nurturing this community.

Another area in our community that WE LOVE here at TWC is our contributors. Over the years we’ve had some GREAT content shared with us by folks just like you who are ‘in the trenches’ doing ministry day in and day out. Folks in big churches, and small churches, and everything in between. Folks in established traditional churches and folks in brand new church plants.

We’ve had folks from many denominational backgrounds contribute insight and perspective to this community and we’re RICHER for it. We’ve even published controversial posts that stirred the pot a little, so that we could discuss and learn and grow with each other.

Thank you for your voice!

If you’d like to contribute to TWC, we’d love to consider your articles, blog posts, essays, ideas, etc.

We’d love to hear from:

• Worship Leaders (full-time and part-time)
• Musicians (people who make up the worship bands, orchestras, and choirs)
• Tech people (staff and volunteer)
• Creative types (who use their creative arts in worship gatherings: photography, design, dance, art, etc.)
• Congregation Members (yep, this is the WORSHIP community, not just the worship leaders on staff community!)
• And anyone else who has a heart for our worship gatherings (specifically those moments that we plan and lead under the direction of The Holy Spirit each week!)

How to contribute:

• Get your best THREE (3) articles/ideas together (they can be blog posts, word documents, forum posts, etc.)
• Email them to editor@theworshipcommunity.com with “TWC CONTRIBUTOR” in the subject
• We’ll look over your articles/ideas and contact you with our thoughts and potential steps moving forward.
• Our community is “member driven” so contributions and re-publishes (of already existing blog posts) are VOLUNTEER basis. That means we don’t pay for contributions, but if you have a heart to share some of your perspectives and serve the community at large please consider sharing your ideas with TWC!
• We DO include a brief bio with links back to your website and/or original blog posts (or article locations) if they exist online. This is a win/win for us both, you get a potential traffic drive to your website, and we get great content from folks living and doing ministry like you!
• After we publish or republish your contribution, we can discuss your involvement with TWC on a regular or semi-regular basis, it’s all up to you! We have several contributors who allow us to syndicate their personal/ministry blogs on a regular basis, and we have others who write exclusively for us from time to time.

Contributing Via Music Reviews:

We also have a list of folks who are sent periodic notifications for worship albums to review. Folks on this list get to choose the albums they review and can participate as regularly or pseudo-regularly as they choose. To participate in this opportunity:

• Email editor@theworshipcommunity.com with “TWC PANEL REVIEWER” in the subject.
• Include a brief bio with links back to your website, twitter, or facebook (whatever method you prefer to be contacted online).
• Get yourself a dropbox account if you don’t have one. We use dropbox to share files.
• Wait for the notifications of available reviews via email!

Reviews are usually brief, focus on the top 3-4 songs on the album, are usually combined with 3-4 other reviewers into one large panel review. The general review “culture” at TWC is not strong opinion pieces, but effectiveness and “use-ability” of the album/songs in the church at large.

We hope to hear YOUR voice soon at The Worship Community!

God Bless,

Related posts:

1. Happy Thanksgiving 2011 From The Worship Community
2. From the Forums: What The Worship Community is Talking About (12.06.10)
3. Happy St. Patrick’s Day From The Worship Community

Join us here at The Worship Community as we host a worldwide group Bible study beginning Monday, February 6, 2012.

Heaven’s Praise, a 6-week Bible Study by Dwayne Moore, is the follow up to the well-received and widely utilized Pure Praise study.

TWC hosted the Pure Praise Study once in 2009 and once again in 2010 and we’re excited to host this online group study as well. We’ll have participants from all over the world joining us.

The cost to participate in this study is FREE.

However, if you’d like to participate you need to obtain a copy of the book for yourself. You can find it at http://www.store.nextlevelworship.com/?p=65 or at Amazon.com.

Listen to what TWC members are saying about Pure Praise (the previous study):

God has given Dwayne Moore a unique ability to look at things from a slightly different perspective, and to be able to write in a very engaging, understandable style what God has taught him. He uses many real-life examples from his own life and the lives of others that clearly illustrate the point he is making.

Also, every premise he presents is supported by scripture. There are a minimum of two scripture passages to study in each day’s lesson, so this is not merely one man’s opinion, but is scripture explained clearly and reliably.

The study, alone, is very valuable and should have life-changing results. But the best part of the study, for me, was doing it together with several others and daily posting what we had learned onto the TWC page created for that purpose. It was amazing to see the many things God had shown each of us in that day’s lesson, and there was much to be learned from what others posted.

Many of us were led to post heartfelt prayers; there were links to worship songs posted — I first heard Revelation Song because someone mentioned how well it went with that day’s study. For me, a budding songwriter, two songs were born from the study.

One additional benefit of the online part of Pure Praise is the group of new friendships that was formed during the study. Although I have not yet met any of these friends personally, I continue to interact with them regularly on TWC and FaceBook.

I can’t wait to do this all over again with Dwayne’s new book, Heaven’s Praise.

— Tom Kline

I am one of the group who has gone through Pure Praise on-line through the WorshipCommunity.com.
I don’t have deep theological insights or incredible revelations – what I have is a changed heart, a changed focus, a changed life.

Through great Scripture sections and questions that challenged any complacency, I learned so much about what worship IN my life and AS my life needs to look like, feel like, live like.

Doing it as part of an online group was a wonderful experience. The variety of church backgrounds, locations, viewpoints was a huge part of why I am looking forward to a new study through this web site. I am a small church member and really love the wider view I get when I walk through these studies with this online community.

I look forward to the study of Heaven’s Praise and the learning and growing that I will undertake!

— Maggie Cook

I recently completed an online study with some folks over at TWC. The study is called “Pure Praise” written by Dwayne Moore. During this nine-week study, the Lord moved my heart in some powerful ways! Admittedly, I am not currently a part of a worship team. The reason why I decided to join the study is because I heard so many good things about it, and I also heard it applies to congregant worshipers. Indeed it does! The title of “Pure Praise” is so appropriate. Even church attendees can benefit from this study, and that’s where I got the most out of it – from that perspective. My desire is to please the Lord and one way of doing that is ensuring my praise is pure before Him!

— Melanie Siewert

What others are saying about Heaven’s Praise:

“Dwayne takes us into the throne room of heaven where we are worshiping Jesus face to face. With uncommon insight Dwayne reminds us that life is short, and to make every day count so we can one day hear Jesus say, ‘Well done.’ Dwayne has translated the complexity of heaven into a very real experience for the reader. You are left with an incredible glimpse into what heaven is really like!”

— Rick Muchow, Worship Pastor at Saddleback Church, CA

“I recommend Heaven’s Praise: Hearing God Say Well Done wholeheartedly. Filled with spiritual truth that will both encourage and stretch your faith!”

— David Nasser, Author, Evangelist, Pastor

“Engaging in this study will delight your soul and clarify your purpose each day. What a glorious thought that God wants to praise us! I deeply appreciate the simple truths – grounded in scripture – that Dwayne Moore has crafted into a daily tool for individuals or groups to immerse themselves in. This study is a gift to the Kingdom.”

— David Nasser, Author, Evangelist, Pastor

If you’d like to participate, here are the important details:

• You’ll need YOUR OWN copy of the book Heaven’s Praise.
• The study begins Monday, February 6, 2012.
• The “discussion” portion of the study will be hosted at The Worship Community Forums. The study will be categorized into 6 week sections and daily sub-sections. Check in Here.
• You must be a registered member of The Worship Community Forums to participate in the forums.
• The “week” consists of 5 daily study sections and also a bonus small group leader section to be used for weekly small group discussions you can use with a group.
• Each day consists of a reading of scripture passages that reinforce the “life goal” for the week.
• Feel free to share your daily “responses” and “meditations” – thoughts, insights, perspectives, etc. each day at TWC.
• If you miss a day, please jump in on the next day and come back later and catch up the day you miss!

Related posts:

1. Reminder: Heaven’s Praise Online Bible Study Begins Today!
2. Book (Devotional) Review: Pure Praise: A Heart-focused Bible Study On Worship by Dwayne Moore
3. November Praise Portions FREE Worship Team Devotionals by Dwayne Moore

Originally published by Bobby Gilles at MySongInTheNight.com (republished with permission).

Martin Luther King Jr. is one of the great figures in U.S. history: a skilled orator, passionate preacher and principled civil rights advocate. He should also be required reading (and listening) for all poets, songwriters and hymnodists. Rich poetic and rhetorical devices fill his speeches and sermons, stamping them indelibly on our collective conscious. Let’s look at one technique today, from his “I Have A Dream” speech.

Anaphora is the repetition of the same words at the beginning of successive lines. Hymn writers from Charles Wesley to Fanny Crosby to Bill and Gloria Gaither have used anaphora well in songs like “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus,” Redeemed How I Love To Proclaim It” and “Because He Lives.” This rhetorical device emphasizes the repeated word or phrase, giving it an increasing emotional power with each repetition.

In Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech, he repeats “I have a dream” eight sentences in a row. Each time, the phrase gains power until we are all swept up in his dream of racial equality and love for one another. And “I have a dream” is just one of many instances of anaphora in King’s speech:

1. “One hundred years later…” (paragraph three)

2. “Now is the time…” (paragraph six)

3. “We must…” (paragraph eight)

4. “We can never (cannot) be satisfied…” (paragraph thirteen)

5. “Go back to…” (paragraph fourteen)

6. “I Have a Dream…” (paragraphs sixteen through twenty-four)

7. “With this faith, …” (paragraph twenty-six)

8. “Let freedom ring (from) …” (paragraphs twenty-seven through forty-one)

You can read the full text of Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream Speech” speech here, but let’s look at paragraph three to see anaphora in action with “One hundred year’s later.”

But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we’ve come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.

Powerful, yes? As mentioned, Wesley used the technique in “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus.” Instead of repeating a phrase, he repeated one word: “Born” -

Born Thy people to deliver
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,

So let’s put this technique in action. I’m going to make up some lyrics on the spot, using the phrase Now and forever:

Now and forever, I am redeemed
Now and forever, my chains are released
Now and forever, Christ lives in me
Now and forever, now and forever!

Certainly not as eloquent as Dr. King, but you get the idea.

• Songwriting Exercise: Use anaphora in your next praise song or modern hymn. Either repeat a phrase like “I have a dream” or a word like “born.” Repeat it in at least three successive lines.

Sometimes one good technique like anaphora is all it takes to lift an average set of lyrics out of the dolldrums, into something unique and memorable.

You may also be interested in “Martin Luther King, Jr: A letter to American Christian in 1956 (and today) by Ed Stetzer

Related posts:

1. An Open Letter to Worship Songwriters
2. Lessons Learned From 4 Great Songwriters
3. TWC’s Great Songwriting Tips

Internationally acclaimed Rend Collective Experiment releases its sophomore album, Homemade Worship By Handmade People, today on Kingsway with global distribution and amidst five-star reviews.  The album was recorded and produced by Rend Collective in Irish church halls and homes in the band’s organic, collective style and fusing a depth of sung theology and fresh melodies that reflect themes of redemption, devotion and celebration.

A movement of 20-somethings that began in Ireland and spread across Europe before hitting the Americas, Rend Collective Experiment’s journey continues as the critics rave:

“Homemade Worship By Handmade People is the kind of unique worship album I’ve only dreamed was possible…This is surely one of the top worship albums ever made…don’t miss out on Rend Collective Experiment’s new album, a stellar five star worship album.” – NewReleaseTuesday.com

“Modern worship groups could take some cues from the Rend Collective Experiment. This 15 strong outfit from Ireland imbues its songs with a crackling spirit and a ramshackle folk-pop sound…they glow with pure joy…Once you get caught in the swell of their stomping, rollicking music, no doubt you’ll do the same.” – ChristianityToday.com

“Homemade Worship By Handmade People is as much of a party as it is a prayer. It is a celebration of life…With each listen (and you can’t help but listen again), you step into a world of feeling full to the brim, yet wanting even more.” – About.com (5-Star review)

“From moments of drifting intimacy or acoustic beauty to full on horns blasting gung ho praise songs, the band continue to reflect an indie sensibility and compelling contemporary sound… definitely another winner and Rend are still one of the few worship outfits doing anything original!” – Cross Rhythms

“…ripe with rich theology and authentic melodies… From Fleet Fox-ish acoustic (“You Are My Vision”) to programmed indie pop (“True Intimacy”) and modern radio (“Second Chance”), Rend is a fresh, singable take on modern worship.” – CCM

“Words don’t express how great a piece of work this is…clever, arty, heartfelt, operatic, intense, acute, fierce and powerful…The whole albums feels like a journey.” – LouderThanTheMusic.com (5-Star Review)

“We love Irish folksy worship group Rend Collective Experiment and we’re so excited about their sophomore album, Homemade Worship By Handmade People. They came by our office and played new songs – watch brand new videos with the group on HearItFirst!”- HearItFirst.com

“…Rend is one of the few bands that is brave and imaginative enough to pick up the baton left by David Crowder…Buy this album… put it in your worship collection. This could be seen as a watershed album in the way Worship music will be looked at being produced from here on…” – Screaming Goose (10 out of 10)

“Their ability to utilize simple music and profound lyrics to create an organic sound for worship was inspiring to say the least…it’s really good music…some of the best songs that the Collective has released to date…pure worship songs with very raw emotion.” – JesusFreakHideout.com

“Rend Collective Experiment is definitely original, containing heart-felt, awesome worship –If you’re looking for an original worship project, look no further!” – jaysmusikblog.com

“The album elegantly and flawlessly weaves together a texture of different sounds, complex harmonies, and lyrics laced with theology that pierces the heart…This is a must have album.” – The 416 Project

For Rend Collective, the music has never been about adding to their coffers or building fame, it has always been about people and building God’s Kingdom here.  That direction continues on Homemade Worship By Handmade People with songs like “Build Your Kingdom Here” and “Second Chances,” the first radio single, going for adds Feb. 17, and music video from the album that premiered on YouTube Dec. 26 (http://www.youtube.com/user/RendCollective). 

Rend Collective has also undertaken the task of understanding the famous hymn, “Be Thou My Vision,” subsequently translating it into a form and melody for contemporary worshippers that a Lancaster Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster Sunday News writer calls “powerfully-done” and NewReleaseTuesday.com calls “an amazing performance.” 

Playing “You Are My Vision,” “Second Chance” and other new songs from Homemade Worship By Handmade People, as well as its fan favorites, Rend Collective joins Francis Chan beginning this week for four US tour dates, including events in St Paul, MN (1/13), Troy, MI (1/14), Phoenix, AZ (1/20) and Corona, CA (1/21).  These tour dates are followed by a major market, 30-city Rock & Worship Roadshow tour that begins Jan. 26 and also features MercyMe, Tenth Avenue North, Lecrae, Disciple, Hawk Nelson and Sidewalk Prophets. 

Beginning as a group of friends collectively wondering how to make sense of the conundrum of life, God and community, Rend Collective Experiment is a nod to the places in Scripture where it says to “rend your hearts” and not your garments, a bold call to be genuine. “We’re all handmade people created by our God who is not safe or small,” explains Rend Collective Experiment bandleader, Gareth Gilkeson. “Our heart is ultimately to make music that is sonically creative and pushes the boundaries, but also serves the Church.  It’s our response to a truly magnificent God with a wild imagination.”

For more information on Rend Collective Experiment, it’s touring and music, go to www.rendcollectiveexperiment.com.

Related posts:

1. Experiments in Worship Music: Simplify
2. The Know Hope Collective – Emerging Voices of Worship Bring Hope and Inspiration
3. HILLSONG GOD IS ABLE WEB STREAM TODAY!

Rob Rash shares some great areas for growth to take a look at as we move into the next year. As you read through this list, take a few moments to assess where you are! And as always, feel free to share your experiences, ideas, thoughts, insights, etc. in the comments below!

1) Leadership – As a leader, we must be constantly evaluating, adapting, and growing in our leadership abilities and skills. You can never gain enough experience or knowledge so make this a priority. Read books on leadership, follow blogs and folks on twitter, and surround yourself with great leaders.

2) Creatively – Maybe last year was the best year you have had creatively… this year should be better. What areas in your ministry can you get more creative with? Musically, thematically, and dramatically you have room for growth. Find ways to tap into your creative abilities and create something amazing.

3) Musically (Individually) – As a musician, how can you grow in your craft? Can you spend more time every day or once a week practicing and working at developing your skill. Vocally and musically you can get better, don’t settle with where you’re at right now. I found this post by Jonathan Malm very timely.

4) Musically (Your Band) – As thankful and appreciative as we are for our volunteer bands, we must push them to grow in their abilities as well. Can you set goals for each specific band member? Have you set up realistic goals and evaluations for each band member? Challenge your team to get better and resource them like crazy.

5) Communication - You can have the best ideas, song structure, and and vision for your team/ministry, but if you can’t communicate that clearly to your people then it will only remain a great idea. Communicate clearly and often through as many avenues as possible. Email, Facebook, Twitter, and team meetings are great ways to share your goals. This should be a top priority.

6) Production – How is your production team doing? They are often the most overlooked team in the church. They often go without much praise or training. Can you bring in a sound engineer or set up a training night?

7) Team Development – Without your team where would you be? How can you build into their lives relationally and spiritually? What are you doing to create and foster strong, quality relationships within your team? How are you going to bring your team from point A to point B? These are tough questions to ask but immensely valid.

Obviously, there are a thousand directions you can take these but it’s important to focus on a few specific areas. There is always room for growth and when it comes to stewarding the kingdom of God, we cannot go to sleep on our responsibilities as leaders.

So what’s the biggest area of growth you will be working on?

Related posts:

1. Practical Resource: How To Develop A Worship Ministry
2. Worship…..the Fuel for Ministry?
3. WorshipChicks.com: A Community for Women in Worship Ministry

One of the most defining moments in my life happened several years ago, as a full-time music and media coordinator for a vibrant and growing church plant, when I suddenly realized that I was actually ok if I never designed another sermon series graphic or put together another Sunday Setlist for worship services..

I had hit that “staff ministry wall” – a really potentially frustrating and bitterness producing place in which I never thought in a million years I’d find myself. It’s a really complex situation, but the result was I was toast. I was burned out.

Don’t get me wrong, I actually loved the actual expressions of worship and found great joy in serving our congregation through music and media during our gatherings, but because I hadn’t taken great care to guard my heart against burnout…I found myself burned out, jaded, and headed toward an unnecessary bitterness in and towards my situation. It had become much like any other job that one begins to despise and feels trapped in.

Over a period of time, I intentionally implemented several remedies and now find myself in one of the healthiest, vibrant times of my life

Here are several tips that might be applicable if you find yourself in a burned out state:

1) Change of scenery.

• This could be rearranging your office or workspace (or even just cleaning your office up and removing clutter).
• This could also mean taking a few days off for a time of recharge. Go camping. Visit friends out of state. Go to the mountains. Go to the beach.
• This could also mean taking your lunch break outside in the sun. If your job requires you to spend all day inside mostly in front of a computer screen, you really should build 1-2 brief breaks in that time period so that you can just get up and stretch your legs and get a little fresh air and sunlight. It’s good for you.
• Change jobs. This is probably an extreme move, but it might be just what you need.

2) Scale back.

• Revisit and redefine your job responsibilities. Seriously review them with those you love and trust (including those you report to) and make sure that you are not running yourself ragged. Be honest with yourself and with those you work with and for.
• Delegate. Be proactive about finding volunteers. Recruit, recruit, recruit.
• Just because it’s on your list of responsibilities doesn’t mean you literally have to do it. Make sure things get done, but use any and every mean besides running yourself ragged to get it done.

3) Pray.

• This one should go without saying, but one of the biggest burnout remedies is prayer. Continuously connect to the Source of inspiration, energy, and motivation. Share your victories and frustrations with the Lord.
• Pray with others. Have others pray with and over you.

4) Play.

• If you don’t have at least one hobby or activity that you can engage in that totally takes you away from your busy situation, you’re asking for burnout.
• Take up a sport. I personally love to play Ultimate Frisbee and do so every Sunday at 2 pm with a great group of friends.
• Find an activity that helps you stay active that you love to do. For some it’s running, for some it’s golf. For others it’s fishing. Find something you enjoy to do and be consistent at “allowing” yourself the freedom to have fun with it.

5) Take care of your body.

• See above.
• Sleep well.
• Eat well.
• Exercise.

6) Spend quality time with your family and friends.

• Seriously. No man is an island. We all need relationships. We need family and friends in our lives. Don’t let yourself not hang out with family and friends because you’re so busy with your “ministry” job.
• Prioritize relationship time.
• Have a weekly date night with your spouse (budget in a sitter if you have kids).
• Set aside a family night.
• Say NO to any job that requires you to spend so much time doing “work” on week nights (such as services, rehearsals, etc.) that cause you to not have any family time.
• Family time does not equal sitting in front of a television screen for 4 hours. Be present. Be engaged.

7) Love your job.

• If you don’t love your job, why do it?
• Find out what it is that makes you frustrated with your work and do what you can to eliminate and minimize those things.
• Realistically if there are people involved in any situation (including us) it will be imperfect and there are bound to be frustrations. BUT, that doesn’t mean you can’t work through them and love your job.

8) Volunteer in another capacity.

• A lot of times we can get so wrapped up in the routine of our “ministry” jobs that we can take for granted that sense of usefulness in the Kingdom and it becomes more about doing what it takes to being home a paycheck. Just another job. Find ways to give your time and resources outside of your job that allow you the freedom to go “above and beyond” your “job.”
• Seasonal giving and volunteering is an option.
• Mentoring and coaching through community activities.

9) Worship.

• Study Scripture diligently.
• Worship OUTSIDE of your “required” times of leading worship. Many times we get so used to our routines that we neglect to plug in to the Source in our own individual disciplines of prayer, study, and worship. Getting in front of others 1-2 times a week is not a lifestyle of worship.

10) Quit your “ministry” job and enter the “ministry.”

• This is an extreme move, but one that can be very effective. Some people who burn out in ministry need to be OUT of “ministry” and do something else. Of course we all know that ministry is not limited to those who are on staff at a church, so ultimately we’re ALL in ministry.
• Are you skilled at something else that allows you to find another job that you love? Don’t be afraid to explore opportunities.

All of these are just suggestions and are in no way meant as the ultimate fix for a burned out heart (which is God’s healing touch and a letting go of offense on our parts).

Have you ever experienced burn out? How did you move forward? Please share your insight, experiences, and tips in the comment section below.

Related posts:

1. Practical Resource: 12 Tips For Beginner Worship Leaders
2. Tips for Overcoming Technical Anxiety
3. Got Lent? Practical Tips For Worship Leaders

Happy New Year! As we start the new year off many folks will be making goals and resolutions, they’ll be starting diets and workout programs, committing to read more, or even just working harder on eliminating bad habits. We all approach the new year with the expectation of something fresh and new (even if we don’t make resolutions).

In Matthew 6:11 (the Lord’s Prayer), Jesus says, “Give us this day our daily bread.”

In many cultures, bread symbolizes sustenance. It’s life giving, a symbol of something that keeps you going forward. Even in our western culture, bread (especially in whole wheat form) is a common place element in many of our meals.

However you look at it, Jesus is praying that God would provide daily sustenance. For daily fuel. For something daily from God to sustain Him.

I have two questions to ponder as we move forward into a new year today.

1) What Sustains You?

• What are areas of your life that recharge your batteries?
• What people has God placed in your life to help you stay accountable and energized?
• What practices and disciplines do you have in place in your life that provide you with direction and purpose?
• Are there places in your life in which the atmosphere “pushes” you to be a better you?
• Is there technology that helps you connect better (through scripture reading, relationships, etc.)
• Do you have a mentor? Are you a mentor?
• Do you have hobbies and extracurricular activities that give you joy?
• Is your diet life-giving and providing you good fuel so that you can live and work as unto the Lord?
• Do you challenge yourself physically? Do you workout and/or exercise enough to stimulate change in your physical capabilities?
• Do you sleep well? 8-9 hours a night?

2) What Drains You?

• Are there areas in your life that deplete your batteries?
• Are there people or relationships that you hold on to that wear you down?
• Do you have habits that waste big chunks of time in your life?
• Do you choose to spend time in places in which the atmosphere brings you down?
• Do you waste time on technology? Do you spend more time in front of a screen than you do with real life people (family, friends)?
• Are you spread too thin? Are you over-committed?
• Are you eating a lot of processed foods? Do you eat a lot of sugar? Do you drink more calories than you eat (sweetened drinks, soft drinks)? Do you eat out of convenience?
• Do you sit a lot? Do you spend time behind a computer screen all day?
• Because of the other things on this list are you sleeping poorly?

Obviously this list includes a lot of spiritual and physical elements. One of my goals early this year is to not only work on areas in my tangible, physical life, but to also cry out to God for a tangible manifestation of purpose, guidance, and direction in the spiritual side of my life.

Obviously, we are beings that are affected by things on either side, and sometimes they are intricately intertwined.

My challenge for you as worship leaders is to take a few moments today to look at your life through the lens of these two questions.

Does it sustain me?

Does it drain me?

Ask God to help you SEE those areas of sustenance and those areas of depletion. I think we can and should use Jesus’ words as inspiration (and an example) in asking for God to provide us our “daily bread” but I believe that we can also ask Him to show us areas where we can “find” His sustenance that we’ve been overlooking because of OUR bad habits.

What do you think?

Related posts:

1. Worship Team Retreats: Why They’re Worth It!