Intro-Robin from Olney, Illinois

[songbird]

Hey everyone!

My name is Robin, I have been happily married for 25 years and we have 3 children...2 of them in college including myself.

I accepted Christ when I was a little girl at a Southern Missouri kids camp, and I was called into the ministry when I was eighteen. It is amazing to see the hand of God over the years. I have been involved in music ministry for many years but never had the lead role. Many times I prayed that God would allow me to be used in that capacity. I have been a featured singer for choirs and worship teams, I've lead worship in prisons, and women's small groups, but I've never a worship leader of a church. the main reason was, I couldn't play the piano and sing at the same time. I realized that God wanted more from me so I began to work on my piano skills.

We moved to Olney 3-1/2 years ago when my husband became lead pastor of a church of about 150 people.
In our new church, there was a choir director and a worship leader already in place. Little did I know that one year after joining the church God would move our worshipleader to another church. (We're still friends)

Now, I am being stretched...I am the new worship leader at First Assembly in Olney, Illinois. God has brought me a long way, but I have much to learn. Our church has been very traditional in the past. Over the last year and half, I have introduced many new songs. Some like it and some are getting used to me...I have tried to keep the old with the new. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't...I'm learning as I go. I am so excited about this forum. I hope to meet many new friends and learn much from you too.

I love to sing and play the piano. I have also written several songs that we use in our worship services. My goal is to some day record my songs but the thing I love them most is seeing others worhsip God. I love being able to bring others into the presence of God almighty. Today's service was awesome! God is blessing us. He is sooo good!

Blessings to you all!
Robin(songbird)

[El Ben]

Wow, great testimony. I'm an Assembly of God boy myself.

[fmckinnon]

Robin
Welcome to The Worship Community - I'm glad you're here. Look forward to getting to know you better - so jump right in - reply, start new threads, or whatever makes you smile! Hope that the team and members here give you a huge welcome and together, we can answer one another's questions and encourage/buildup one another.

For the Kingdom,
Fred

[Michael G]

Hi Robin. I'm sure you have all of those white squirrels tapping their little feet. I'm originally from Wayne City, down the road a little from ya all. Keep all of those Southern Ill. folks worshiping. God bless!

[songbird]

Wow, great testimony. I'm an Assembly of God boy myself.

El, Thanks for the response. I'm excited about this avenue of learning.
Just wondering how you run your weekly practices...do you learn new songs
often? If so do you work on a couple at a time just to keep things moving?
How do you introduce new songs to the congregation?


Robin
Ps 103

[songbird]

Hi Robin. I'm sure you have all of those white squirrels tapping their little feet. I'm originally from Wayne City, down the road a little from ya all. Keep all of those Southern Ill. folks worshiping. God bless!

Yeah, good to hear of someone else from our area. God is still alive in
Southern IL.. We've been having powerful services!

Robin

[El Ben]

El, Thanks for the response. I'm excited about this avenue of learning.
Just wondering how you run your weekly practices...do you learn new songs
often? If so do you work on a couple at a time just to keep things moving?
How do you introduce new songs to the congregation?

Well, first of all, we do have practices weekly. It's important to be consistent in your approach, even when it comes down to being inconvenient. Our practices are on Monday (not the best day for me) from 7:00 PM until 8:30 (not the best time for me) since that is the best day and time for the rest of my bands. Granted, I have a little more freedom with that since I'm single. Still, the most important thing is CONSISTENCY, CONSISTENCY, CONSISTENCY!


A.) As for learning new songs, I try to intro at least one new song every other week to the band, just to get it on their minds. Here's how I will intro a new song:

1.) I purchase it off iTunes and have it cued up and ready to go when practice starts.

2.) We listen to it three or four times, and then I break down how I want the song to sound instrumentally.

3.) We practice the song in "chunks." Basically, I take any given section and we work through it until it's tight, then we move on to the next section. My piano player, Jermaine (who is ridiculously good) will break down the bass licks and drum beats while I work with the BGV's. Our guitar player pretty much just figures it out for himself.

4.) We run through the song about two or three times, and then I pull their charts. If they can play it without charts, I know that the song is ready to go Sunday if I need it. If not, we just let it carry over to the next practice.

5.) Each member of my band has an iTunes account and they purchase the songs we practice (they're only 99 cents :) ) after we practice them so that they can listen to them regularly.

B.) Sunday rehearsals start at 9:15 (our service starts at 10:30). These are short run-throughs that rarely last more than twenty minutes unless we need to fine-tune. I NEVER ever EVER intro a new song on Sunday morning unless specifically directed by the Holy Spirit, and that doesn't happen very often. In fact, it's only happened once in the eight months I've been at CRCSSI.

C.) As for intro'ing a new song, I just feel it out. We just got off a kick where we introduced three or four new songs to the congregation and we let them sit for about four or five weeks. I can feel now that it's time to intro some more.

D.) As for playing a new song, I try to put it in the middle of the worship set unless it's an obvious closer (i.e. "Hiding Place" from the New Life Worship album "My Saviour Lives"). Also, try to do it at least two weeks in a row so that people stay familiar with it. Don't let you new songs sit on the backburner for more than two weeks. People will forget them.