Glory be to Jesus Christ this morning. I am in the middle of two big projects. One is finishing up a dvd for our church LOHBC and the other is writing a Christmas Drama called The Shack, that is a post script of when Mack got home. Please read The Shack. It is a great book. Anyway, God's people are creative. It is in our "Christian Gene" as part of the family of the CREATOR, we can create as well, what if we as Christians tapped into our creative side. How would we worship God in what new ways would we impact worship. I am so tired of the same ol same ol, we give God often the same idea on Sunday just different songs, what would happen if the God CREATOR met up with His children and together they create. I am so excited about the possibility of seeing the worship at our church begin to shift to creativity and set a precedence for Creative worship. Thankfully our church is accepting to change and the rut of Religionism and Traditionalism have not rooted themselves within us. So my blog today is this "Create!!!" Worship leaders need to be creating. I think of J.S. Bach who each Sunday had a new chorale to sing and a banging solo for His organ. Fast forward to 2009 Lanny Donoho of Northpoint Community church, a creative genius, each Sunday using dominos, frisbees, just simply different cool stuff to engage worship and drive a theme home. The message is the same but how we present it can change. How can worship be more creative? You decide and let me know!!
Create,
Chris
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Rehearsal Tips
1. Begin with prayer time. Ask your team how it is going.
2. Be Prepared for the rehearsal. Have all the music together. It would also be nice if you know the songs yourself.
3. Have a plan. Know where you are going and give your team your vision for that service!
4. Give your worship team the music in advanced. Do not spring a new song on them too early. Find out how long it takes for them to learn a new song. This is trial and error. I would not ask "So how long will it be before you learn this song." I usually give two to three weeks. Unless it is just totally easy and they all know it we just haven't done it yet. Depends on your team and the talent you have. I am blessed to have accomplished musicians and singers, but I have been in churches where it has been like two months to learn a new song. Again, just depends on the team.
5. Make rehearsal fun, however establish that it is a time to get the work done. Learning new music is tough, laugh with them. Make it a stress free environment.
6. If you use a screen with the words for your singers, make sure he words are right. And even spelled right.
7. Let your sound, lights, and multimedia team know where you are going.
8. I use planningcenteronline.com to communicate with my team. I can mass email and attach demo and chords sheets. They also have the opportunity to accept or decline. Your team should not ever come to rehearsal wondering what in the world they are doing Sunday!!
9. You should know every week who will be at practice and who will be singing Sunday. It is up to you to find out. Encourage your folks to email, text or call of they will be absent.
10. Be aware of time. Start on time and end on time. Be considerate of their time and remember many have worked all day, may have kids with homework and baths. We begin at 7:15 and end at 9:00. During the summer we end sooner.
11. If a song is not up to par in rehearsal. It probably will not be good to use it for worship. Change the song. It's OK. Your team will thank you for it. It all depends on the song they will tear it up when they love it, when they don't like it it takes time! Time is ok!
12. Be careful of mannerism and faces. Believe it or not they are watching you. Laugh more! Encourage. Just don't laugh at them. Not good.
13. Pray together at the end. Ask them to share what God is doing in their life.
14. Encourage them to read the Word daily and to worship daily.
15. Establish with your team that rehearsal time is rehearsal, not time to learn something brand new. If you as the worship leader has done your part they should have time to get the song under their belt and have it down for the most part, rehearsal time is a time to polish.
16. Encourage your team to practice, practice, practice.
17. Thank them for their time after rehearsal.
18. When it is good say it is good. When it is not good. Be careful, share all criticism in LOVE!!
19. If the band wants to go faster, try faster, it its just not working, stop the song and move on to another, if you have time come back to the song, however its usually best to put it away until next time.
20. Finally, identify with your team that there is a difference between worship and just singing a song. Encourage your team to identify the song to their spirit, meditate on it, relate to it. Ask the question what does this song mean to you and sing that. Too many worship bands just regurgitate. Allow God to take it over and make it unique to your team.
Reminder every team is in a different place. You as the worship leader needs to know where your team is. Constantly evaluating. Know what their limits are and never push them over unless you want to be job looking, even then don't. They are looking to you for vision and leadership and you need to give that to them.
Blessings,
Chris Kelley
2. Be Prepared for the rehearsal. Have all the music together. It would also be nice if you know the songs yourself.
3. Have a plan. Know where you are going and give your team your vision for that service!
4. Give your worship team the music in advanced. Do not spring a new song on them too early. Find out how long it takes for them to learn a new song. This is trial and error. I would not ask "So how long will it be before you learn this song." I usually give two to three weeks. Unless it is just totally easy and they all know it we just haven't done it yet. Depends on your team and the talent you have. I am blessed to have accomplished musicians and singers, but I have been in churches where it has been like two months to learn a new song. Again, just depends on the team.
5. Make rehearsal fun, however establish that it is a time to get the work done. Learning new music is tough, laugh with them. Make it a stress free environment.
6. If you use a screen with the words for your singers, make sure he words are right. And even spelled right.
7. Let your sound, lights, and multimedia team know where you are going.
8. I use planningcenteronline.com to communicate with my team. I can mass email and attach demo and chords sheets. They also have the opportunity to accept or decline. Your team should not ever come to rehearsal wondering what in the world they are doing Sunday!!
9. You should know every week who will be at practice and who will be singing Sunday. It is up to you to find out. Encourage your folks to email, text or call of they will be absent.
10. Be aware of time. Start on time and end on time. Be considerate of their time and remember many have worked all day, may have kids with homework and baths. We begin at 7:15 and end at 9:00. During the summer we end sooner.
11. If a song is not up to par in rehearsal. It probably will not be good to use it for worship. Change the song. It's OK. Your team will thank you for it. It all depends on the song they will tear it up when they love it, when they don't like it it takes time! Time is ok!
12. Be careful of mannerism and faces. Believe it or not they are watching you. Laugh more! Encourage. Just don't laugh at them. Not good.
13. Pray together at the end. Ask them to share what God is doing in their life.
14. Encourage them to read the Word daily and to worship daily.
15. Establish with your team that rehearsal time is rehearsal, not time to learn something brand new. If you as the worship leader has done your part they should have time to get the song under their belt and have it down for the most part, rehearsal time is a time to polish.
16. Encourage your team to practice, practice, practice.
17. Thank them for their time after rehearsal.
18. When it is good say it is good. When it is not good. Be careful, share all criticism in LOVE!!
19. If the band wants to go faster, try faster, it its just not working, stop the song and move on to another, if you have time come back to the song, however its usually best to put it away until next time.
20. Finally, identify with your team that there is a difference between worship and just singing a song. Encourage your team to identify the song to their spirit, meditate on it, relate to it. Ask the question what does this song mean to you and sing that. Too many worship bands just regurgitate. Allow God to take it over and make it unique to your team.
Reminder every team is in a different place. You as the worship leader needs to know where your team is. Constantly evaluating. Know what their limits are and never push them over unless you want to be job looking, even then don't. They are looking to you for vision and leadership and you need to give that to them.
Blessings,
Chris Kelley
Worship Leader Tips-Love the Team
I had a blog up and I did not like it so I deleted it. I want to use this blog as a way of encouragement to my brothers and sisters that are leading worship. Ministry is getting tougher and tougher. Here are some ways that I feel work in the church setting.
1. Pastor your team. Be involved with what is going on in their lives. When they hurt you hurt with them. Celebrate their success and be there when they are walking through the tough times.
2. Develop relationships with them. If you only hangout during rehearsal time or worship time you are doing a great disservice to your team. Go to starbucks, hang out after church!!
3. Admit your weaknesses. It's OK. My team knows that I worry and when I worry I act a fool. It is a big fault of mine. But I have two guitarist Scott and David that encourage me and remind me who is in control.
4. In the event of a major screw-up. Say you are sorry, ask for forgiveness. But you have to truly mean it. They will know if you are just going through the motions.
5. Truly love your team and tell them that you do, even if they do not love you back, love them. It is important to Love God and Love Others.
6. Talk with them about the vision God has given you. Encourage them to buy in. If they do not buy in, it doesn't mean they are not spiritual, go back to God and rehash the vision. Maybe you missed it somewhere. If God gives the same vision and confirms it. Work one on one with those who have not yet bought in.
7. Surround yourself with awesome talented people who know more than you. They are out there work with them to see God do great things in your ministry. If you are intimidated by folks that are better ministry is going to be really tough for you.
8. Encourage you team (singers) to lead worship. It's ok for them lead the song. Set back and worship during the song while they lead it. It's OK if you are not leading every song on Sunday morning!
9. Input. Ask your team to bring you songs, YouTube or email them or bring a hard copy. You are not the only one God speaks to!
10. Finally, your worship band will never care how much you know until they know how much you care. Develop relationships.
How do I develop relationships with my worship team. First you have to realize that in churches with what I call a younger generation 20-45 realize they are busy. They have kids, career and other activities and responsibilities outside of church. You will drive our self crazy if you do not learn this. They may not be able to make the fellowship planned or hangout time try doing another one for those that can't come. Make it family friendly. Invite the kids and hangout with them as well. Also,be approachable let them know they can talk to you about anything and their concerns. I tell my team I want to be more mom (sounds kinda weird but my point is that your worship band needs to know you care!!) not dad. I want them to know that I care and I want to hear their concerns. How you react will get back so if you are a power tripping bear they will not come and talk to you. Again Love them.
I hope that this helps. My next blog will be rehearsal tips!!
Blessings,
Chris Kelley
1. Pastor your team. Be involved with what is going on in their lives. When they hurt you hurt with them. Celebrate their success and be there when they are walking through the tough times.
2. Develop relationships with them. If you only hangout during rehearsal time or worship time you are doing a great disservice to your team. Go to starbucks, hang out after church!!
3. Admit your weaknesses. It's OK. My team knows that I worry and when I worry I act a fool. It is a big fault of mine. But I have two guitarist Scott and David that encourage me and remind me who is in control.
4. In the event of a major screw-up. Say you are sorry, ask for forgiveness. But you have to truly mean it. They will know if you are just going through the motions.
5. Truly love your team and tell them that you do, even if they do not love you back, love them. It is important to Love God and Love Others.
6. Talk with them about the vision God has given you. Encourage them to buy in. If they do not buy in, it doesn't mean they are not spiritual, go back to God and rehash the vision. Maybe you missed it somewhere. If God gives the same vision and confirms it. Work one on one with those who have not yet bought in.
7. Surround yourself with awesome talented people who know more than you. They are out there work with them to see God do great things in your ministry. If you are intimidated by folks that are better ministry is going to be really tough for you.
8. Encourage you team (singers) to lead worship. It's ok for them lead the song. Set back and worship during the song while they lead it. It's OK if you are not leading every song on Sunday morning!
9. Input. Ask your team to bring you songs, YouTube or email them or bring a hard copy. You are not the only one God speaks to!
10. Finally, your worship band will never care how much you know until they know how much you care. Develop relationships.
How do I develop relationships with my worship team. First you have to realize that in churches with what I call a younger generation 20-45 realize they are busy. They have kids, career and other activities and responsibilities outside of church. You will drive our self crazy if you do not learn this. They may not be able to make the fellowship planned or hangout time try doing another one for those that can't come. Make it family friendly. Invite the kids and hangout with them as well. Also,be approachable let them know they can talk to you about anything and their concerns. I tell my team I want to be more mom (sounds kinda weird but my point is that your worship band needs to know you care!!) not dad. I want them to know that I care and I want to hear their concerns. How you react will get back so if you are a power tripping bear they will not come and talk to you. Again Love them.
I hope that this helps. My next blog will be rehearsal tips!!
Blessings,
Chris Kelley
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