Worship Confessional - 29/05/11

Set List:

• What to say Lord (Everyday) - Hillsong
• Strength Will Rise - Chris Tomlin
• You Alone Can Rescue - Matt Redman
• This is Our God - Hillsong
• Hold On (ch only) - Nigel Briggs (Trent Vineyard)

This was our first time out as our new band (although we were missing one member) and to be honest, it was a bit of a mare.

One un-muted guitar and one that really should have been muted (major noise from the socket) gave us a poor start with too many distractions.

BUT.

Good is good and it looked like once we got going, people were able to respond. It has to be said that @gatewayvineyard don't sing unless they mean it! For the first time in a long time, I played some hand-percussion using my snare in a quieter section. I love playing kit creatively :)

We looked at the big question of why does God allow Suffering and clearly this was something people had some God-business to do over.

(new Gateway website is www.gatewayvineyardnorwich.org.uk)

Worship Confessional: 20/12/09

This year the Sunday before Christmas has fallen right in the middle of far to much activity. Oh, hang on, that's normal nowadays...

I feel like I've had to many things to organise, and for that, not done all of them as well as I'd have liked.

So with that in mind, I arrived in the snow to face the service feeling less than 100% up for it. Add to that genuine concern for people trying to get to the Hub with bad roads (we lost our bass player to being stuck at home) and it's not exactly what you'd call a good start. Which is exactly what life should be like; praising God in the good and bad times.

It was nice to be able to choose some carols, without excluding some more of the usual stuff. I enjoyed planning it that way, but I really had no idea what to plan for the end of the service, which could have gone several different ways.

My main thought was to give some space in the bedlam to think about what God did ll those years ago, and to set the challenge to 'Hold up a light' for him.

Set List:

(Warmup - God is Here and With Us - Phil Heald)

The First Noel - trad. with a new arrangement (but I don't know who!)
O Come All Ye Faithful - John Wade
O Come Let Us Adore Him - (adapted from John Wade)
No Sweeter Name - Cari Jobe
CD- Hold Up a Light for Me - Take That (yes, Take That!)
Light of the World - Tim Hughes
This is My Desire - Reuben Morgan
Hark The Herald Angel Sing - Charles Wesley

Worship Confessional: 22/11/09

Leading at OG is rarely a case of plan a list and stick to it, but never more so that last Sunday.

Pitched to the church body as a 'Bring and Buy' service (yes, you read that correctly; not 'Bring and Share') The idea was simple; you only come if you bring something, when you're their you share and 'buy-in' to what's going on.

The conversation regarding between me and the service leader was:

Me: So, Sunday then...
Him: Can we have some Worship?
Me: Yep.

(For reference, that's not how we work!)

People had two weeks notice, but with 15 minutes to the start of the service, I had two songs for definite and we had an idea to thank two children who had, pretty much on their own, set out all of the chairs for the service.

Then, people came.

They brought gifts and money to be re-distributed, they brought scriptures, and stories and thoughts on loneliness. I had loads of input from the band with their ideas for extra songs and we finished with a 'you so have to play that again' song.

Before the service we prayed a lot that people wouldn't be held back by fear and they weren't; praise God! For me though, it felt quite normal to be seeking God on a minute to minute basis. I've said before on here that playing guitar and singing are my weakest instruments and that I know I can't do it on my own, so I have to rely on God.

Highlights from the service for me are:

1) The moment when a wave of release came, and something happened. I'd love to talk to someone who was on the receiving end, but I have not yet had the pleasure

2) The moment near the end of the service when the service leader asked anyone who had heard from God to stand, and almost everyone stood up. What a change, what a difference!

Set List:

(Warm up) Your Voice Is - Vicky Beeching

Hosanna - Brooke Fraser
This is our God - Hillsong

This is My Desire - Reuban Morgan
How Deep the Father's Love for Us - Stuart Townend
I Have Heard So Many Songs - Matt Redman

Faithful One - Brian Doerkson

(or something like that...)

Worship Confessional - 13/09/09

A great time for me this morning. I always play better when my IEM's sound good. Today, John had it all sounding great. (Thanks John!)

There was something else going on too though. A sense of team, or cohesion or something. We've been 'there' before, but it's been a while (for me at least.)

As a new thing, I took a copy of the desk recording home with me and I've been listening to it on loop since. Happy to hear the good stuff, happy to hear the not quite so good and always surprised at the details that only listening back can pickup. Things like just how talented Keef is; his bass playing is solid, yet incredibly musical. Lots to be discussed and learned from.

It wasn't without it's hitches. Given that we start at 8am, to not have coffee at the start, is not a good thing! Praise the Lord when the coffee machine was returned! (from a Wedding the day before.)

We looked at what Ian called CK People. C = covenant. K = Kingdom. The point being needing to hold on to the difference God's covenant with us makes in our lives (i.e. life or death!) and the need to bring God's Kingdom in the places we are.

Given that the music was good (IMO) and had some space in it, and the teaching was solid, I can't help feeling the break for the notices kinda blocked the flow. More inspiration required for communicating with the church at large so we can get the notices out of the Sunday service.

We also had a time of praying for our leaders linked to Christians in Government. It's something we should do more and that the Catholics (in my past) are very good at.

Worship Confessional

What? - If the plan goes ahead, I'm going to need to start filling out these Worship Confessionals again

So What? - I think it's a good thing to be getting back to music ministry. I hope it will be different, more connected and more deliberate.

So What now? -I wait a bit longer (but not much)

In the meantime, I heard this recently and it made my think:

If you cover the entire state of Texas in 50p pieces (similar size to a 50cent coin) to the depth of 2 feet and marked one of the with an 'X' you'd have the same chance of finding it as one person had of fullfilling just 8 of the Old Testament prophesies about Jesus.

And yet he did (and more.)

Worship Confessional: 08/02/09

Now here's a curve ball...

Remembering that I'm not in any bands at the moment; I've done one dep gig in the last 6 months and one event and both of those were drumming; I have a worship confessional to write because I led worship at OG yesterday!

In the absence of the usual suspects, someone needed to step in and give Sarah a break. Her Grandad just passed away and that someone, was me.

Difficult in that I haven't led for a while and the band is not in the same place I left it. Difficult in that there was a brand new song to learn. Difficult in that the band layout has changed. Difficult in that the band themselves had worked out most of the songs and links and I had to make some changes to make it possible for me to lead.

And Yet.

And yet God is good. And yet I believe God prompted me to offer to lead. And yet God gave the new song in perfect time to match what the speaker was about. And yet setup flowed, and the band flowed and the coffee flowed...

Mostly I like it that God spoke and I listened and obeyed. I feel in a God place with God and that's cool!

Set List:

(Warmup - Heaven's King - Noel Richards and Kees Kraayenoord)

When I Was Lost - Kate and Miles Simmonds

Heavens King (as above)

Holy Holy, God Almighty - Brenton Brown

No Sweeter Name - Kari Jobe

Hallelujah (Your Love is Amazing) - Brenton Brown

(We had more but the speaker spoke for quite a while!)

Worship Confessional: 27/07/08

My last time leading worship before my sabbatical. My last time getting to the church for 8:00. My last time feeling the quiet anticipation of the Hub before people arrive. My last early morning coffee with the setup teams.

And yet I'm not sure it's sunk in yet.

Still, it was a really a special kind of morning for me. I had a kind of excitement beyond how I usually feel.

We were looking at the third part of 1 Peter in our series. Looking particularly at how Peter was writing to a church in/about to be in serious persecution.

I am constantly amazed at God's ability to bring together a theme through the individual preparation of people, simply by inspiring them. God is good.

So I tried something that I haven't used before; I followed Psalm 95 and choose songs to follow what it says. I found it really easy to do and the result was not something I would necessarily have thought of.

I also loved the fact that some of my family were there (other than the usual.) There is something humbling about leading your own family in worship and song.

So this is the last Worship Confessional for a while. My sabbatical is over in November by which time I have no idea where I'll be!

God, it's over to you.

Set List:

I Lay My Life Down (One Way) - Jonathan Douglass & Joel Houston
Oh Our Lord & King - Alan Rose
Give Thanks To The Lord - Chris Tomlin
Your Voice Is - Vicky Beeching
Sovereign Lord - Martyn Layzell
The Cross Has Said It All - Matt Redman
We Bow Down - Viola Grafstrom
There Must Be More Than This - Tim Hughes
There Is A Day - Nathan Fellingham

(Yes, that really is a lot of songs!)

Worship Confessional: 13/07/08

My sabbatical is coming. This was my last Sunday behind the drums. Boy, was it an odd one!

It was a well spirited setup with only one coffee.... We had a good sound check and it felt like a goods time to be playing together.

When it got to the service itself, the feeling was like the sea. The spirit seemed to come in waves where the peaks were passionate but the troughs were like 'swimming in treacle'.

I ended up playing some pretty strong patterns and dramatic fills. It will be interesting to listen back to.

We launched our new series on the letter of 1&2 Peter. We had a good background setting, looking at Peter's journey in the Gospels and the persecution he was writing in to.
Ian included a question that is one I love to dwell on; As Jesus changed Peter's name (from Simon) do we live with the right name?

With all of the issues I've been thinking about, I did have an almost heart breaking moment looking out across the church; so few of the men were engaged and singing. So few men were even there. (It is of note that the ones who were there and singing are serious men of God. Some firm foundations to build on?)

Set List:

(Warm up )
Celebrate - Ben Cantalon
Hallelujah - Brown/Doerkson
I Stand Amazed - Trad (SS version)

Light of the World - Tim Hughes

Be Thou My Vision

Just got my last Sunday leading Worship to go. I think I may have something in mind for that.....

Worship Confessional: 22/06/08

We had Rob and Marion White with us today. It's been an interesting week at OG and so it was great to have two people with such presence come in and minister to us.



Marian brought a message about Stop the Traffik. If you don't know what's going on that the word is 'slavery' (not just the sex trade.) You have to click the link and read what you can. Don't expect it to be easy going though.



They are running an event called 'The Stand' which is a chance for a generation to take a stand against what is, in fact, the second biggest crime internationally.



Rob spoke on God's promises and how to hold on when you don't see the answers you are looking for. Basically, Faith. He talked of calling to God to rescue us when our experiences do not seem to match up with the promises in the bible.

Given all that, I can't help but grin to myself looking back at how God made it flow so well, given that the service leader and I had no idea what Rob was going to speak on. To wrap us the service I used 'I Lift My Eyes Up' which we haven't used for years. Ironic (?) then that it should wrap up nearly word for word what Rob said!

I also felt that I should use 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 which is part of my favourite part of the bible; Therefore we do not lose hope...

It was also an unusual morning in that I had the two other band leaders on the front row with me, which I'm not sure we've done before. I really liked it.

So, God is good, all the time, and if it doesn't seem like it, we should look to Him to rescue us. A bit counter intuitive but we often can't save ourselves!

Set List:

Warmup - Lord Let Your Glory Fall - Matt Redman

Rainbow - Hillsong Kids

In Chirst Alone - Keith Getty & Stuart Townend

Majesty - Garrard/Smith

To Be In Your Presence - Noel Richards

I Lift My Eyes Up (Psalm 121) - Brian Doerksen

I Stand Amazed - Trad (SS version)

Worship Confessional: 20/04/08

Drums this week. I think I was really looking forward to this morning. A chance to build on last week, and have some fun!

I've been playing with the snare tuning to try to get a better sound in the mix and used my Tama Tension Watch (a God send if anything is) to really crank it up. It gave my playing a whole different tone.

It's not something I would usually do on a Sunday morning but it paid off.

After that, Sian (Worship Leader) had some good stuff planned and we got underway. Second song in, a random noise jumps in to the mix. Loudly. It sounds like music. Then I can hear 16ths on a hi hat. Then it's 'There's a place'. It's not the computer or CD player. Eventually, it goes dead.

Turns out the MP3 player on our LS9 was set to play, not record. So it eventually played us. Time delayed by one week. Very clever really... perhaps too clever!

Still, we carried on and OMG, what a special time. The church really woke up and Worshipped God. Looking out from the stage and see the church move, clapping, hands up, down or whatever, was a blessing and made me grin. Then we did an actions song...hehe!

The band leaders were given a word at the end of the service which was very encouraging.

The word was that we had opened the door to the presence of God in this place and that it was not just for Sundays; it was for the rest of the week (i.e. the school.)

I pray that's true.

Set List:

(Warm up - Celebrate - Ben C)
The Lord's Prayer
Great Big God O
Oh Our Lord and King

Looking in the Sky/
Over All the Mountain - Martin Smith


Be Thou My Vision - Trad (ish)

Worship Confessional: 13/04/08

This was a bit of a risky one for me. We were looking at the spiritual gift of Tongues (and by definition, Interpretation.) The service leader and I wanted to leave the service open to whatever God was up to, so we did. We were looking at Tongue's purpose: to proclaim God's character and to express the inexpressible.

I was keen to make sure the band really caught as much of the church as possible so we could learn together, so I planned something a little different (risk #1.) Inspired by a friend, I wrote a little TAG for us to sing. Using the words from Emma "God is good, all the time, and all the time, God is good" added a simple riff and used it to knit three other songs together. I really wanted to get people moving. We have so much to be thankful for as a church, I really want to make it possible for the whole church to really shout it out.

After the preach, I had several 'mini-sets' ready depending on where the service went. It meant the band had to really watch out for what God was up to. There was no 'Plan B' (risk #2) and they really did a great job.

We tried out 'I Am Chosen - Tim Hughes/Martin Smith'. I've had to shift the key somewhat (!) )risk #3) to make it singable, but it seemed to go well. Tim Hughes always writes songs I can't sing, but Martin Smith should know better...

It was a bit of a risk, but I have to say God showed up and made it worth it!

Worship Confessional: 06/04/08

So technically I'm going to break my own rules here; I didn't play or lead today.

I guess I just want to commend having a different worship team leading in your church every now and again.

Be challenged to let go. Be challenged to rest. Be challenged to receive.

On the end of a weeks work of sessions, TASTE led our whole service. It was a family service, but not aimed at any age really. It included their band (very cool) a short preach, two baptisms and a board game!

Worship Confessional: 23/03/08 10:00

We usually have a cooked breakfast for people after the Sunrise service but I decided to go home. It would have been really easy to say to my wife that I was 'out' all morning, but that would make her life hard and impede her ability to celebrate Easter. There's more to come on this btw; valuing families in church leadership.)

So 10:00 service is a simple service with a 'Praise Party' at the end.

We were joined in leading the church by the Oak Grove Community Choir. They performed two songs for the church (See His Love and Oh Happy Day.) We backed them for 'See His Love' which was great fun and meant that we had to work on placement so we could all play at the same time. We tried a new setup which really worked. Kudos to John A for getting it under control. A challenge with everything else happening on the day too! The choir were awesome and we had asked them to stay up for the 'Praise Party' and they really made a difference. They were so, what's the word, JOYOUS! they really lifted the church and my thanks really goes to them for making the celebration really fly. We seem to be a bit lethargic atm as a church generally.

More Cool stuff from Bluefish TV which Ian picked up on. all along the lines of 'He was....so we can'. A simple but powerful reflection of the purpose of Easter. Very good.

We used:
The Cross has said it All (Warmup)
O Precious Sight
Praise Him you Heavens
See His Love
(O Happy Day)
The Lion of Judah
I got You Lord
There's a Place
Our God is a Great Big God
More Love, More Power (into Shackles)

plus several more songs which I'll add when I remember them!

Worship Confessional: 23/03/08 6:00

I've been thinking about this idea of 'Worship Confessionals' for a while now. I've been reading several in my RSS reader for a while and they seem to have people hooked on writing them, though the content varies quite a lot. Some, like Jeff's are great and serve as a good bit of communication between him and the church he serves. Some are more like rants with a song list, but that's another matter.

I never like to commit to something unless I know why I want to do it. Only then can you see if it's a good thing to do (maybe that's just me.)

SO I have decided that it's more than just cathartic for me to blog about our services and I hope it will be a way to track what God is up to.

The idea is simple. For the services that I play for or lead, I will blog what God was up to (as best I can discern it,) who did what, what songs we used, specials, problems etc etc Here goes:

Easter Sunday! started for me at 5:40 at the old chapel to setup for the Sunrise service. Very blessed by Becs who had prep'ed the tech stuff for us and even brought me an acoustic to play. It made the whole thing very easy for the band. I got to play acoustic guitar with no pressure to sing, as Sian was leading. Very liberating and I highly recommend it. We started the service in silence and I have to say we should try to use silence regularly as we don't get enough in life!

After using bible readings and some DVD stuff from Blue Fish TV

We used:
As Angels Looked on - James Gregory
Looking in the Sky - Nathan Fellingham & Paul Oakley
You Chose the Cross - Martyn Lazell
Light of the World - Tim Hughes
Everlasting God - Vicky Beeching

Playing that early can really tire you our, but the birds really do sing louder on Easter Sunday, so I like the idea of rising with them and celebrating from the beginning of the day.