Monday, January 30, 2012

Sunday Morning, February 5

Praise & Worship Set:
Happy Day
Deep Cries Out
Possibility:  I'm Not Ashamed (more on this below)
My All
I Surrender All

Special Music First Offering:  "Waiting Here for You"

Second Offering for Missions Guests: PD to play keyboard


Frontline:
Soprano: Minerva, Ashley
Alto: Suzanne, Bonnie
Tenor: Epi, Russell

Colors: Your choice, stay in modesty guidelines

Fantastic job on Happy Day last week!!  Changing the key did the trick. It was really received well. Can't wait to repeat it again.

We are learning a new song this week, suggested on the facebook thread by Doug Rice. It's "I'm Not Ashamed." I have put it on this week's schedule as a possibility, not a definite. I am all about stress-free rehearsals and if we need several to get a song to where it needs to be, then we'll do that. Also, how much new material always depends on whether all key participants are there when we begin rehearsal. We will do what we can on the song this week and possibly introduce it in service. If not this week in the coming weeks.

As mentioned on the facebook thread, I am always looking for new material. We need chord charts for what we do. The first thing I do if you suggest a song is see if I can get the chart through CCLI. (We pay them to use their service and get charts. The majority of popular songs are on there. The exception to this is Elevation Church. We do a lot of their music. Their things are not on CCLI however they offer their charts for free on their website. So, for those of you who suggest songs, just want to let you know a little more of how I select what we do first, or what we do at all.  I ask a few questions:

1)  Can we get chord charts for this song?
2) What is this song's level of difficulty?
3) Do we have all of the players necessary to do this song, currently? (For instance if I can tell there is a large horn section on the song and it's prominent, then probably not at this time...)
4) Is the song at a level where our current players/singers can realistically do it and with excellence?

These are just a few questions I ask to pick a song to start with. By the way, sometimes I don't necessarily make the right decision but I try.

There are also songs that may not be just right for worship but you might want to consider singing them with a solo track for a special. A lot of these songs have tracks.

Once we do a song, I see how the congregation responds to it. Do they look at us like a deer in headlights?  They usually do that the first go-round, but what about the second? Are they still not connecting after a few times and worshipping with the song? If not, I usually don't repeat it.

Just letting you know a little method behind the madness. ;)

Keep in mind as well we are looking for songs that bring people into participation and worship, not just what might sound good in a concert. We're not a gig. ;)

Hope that helps in bringing understanding. I'm always open to suggestions.  Thanks for all the songs you've suggested so far. Keep 'em coming!

Looking forward to a great week. Be praying!!

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