We will be closing our blended service on 10/11 with a new song from the hymnal supplement called “May the Peace of God”. It’s a benediction song and you can see one of the songwriters (Stuart Townend) perform the song here:
He wrote it together with Keith Getty. It’s also interesting to note that Stuart likes to transpose a song in the key of E to D and capo it at the second fret; same as me (scroll down the page to see my post about the dropped D Capo position.)
I chose music for our blended worship services about two months in advance. If the song is new, there is a process that I follow to learn it. Up until now, this was an unwritten process and I suppose most of it is intuitively obvious; but if this helps just one person reading this BLOG, then it will have been worthwhile.
Let’s assume that you have sheet music, at least a lead sheet. I keep binders of new music that I obtain for free from web resources such as worshiptogether.com and greatworshipsongs.com. Over the years I’ve filled up over seven binders!
Here is the list of things that I do to learn a new song:
By doing this up front home work, your new songs will be much easier to learn as a group. In fact, usually one practice will do it.
I deliberately did not talk about how to choose new music in this post since I’ve covered that area in the past (just click on my “choosing songs” and “choosing music” categories for more information if needed).
Sing to the Lord a new song! For some reason God tells us this fact a whopping nine times in scripture.
On September 13th, our 3 piece band will be singing a song called “Give Us Clean Hands” during the Offertory. The song has been chosen because it goes with the Gospel lesson (Mark 1-8 and selected verses).
You can listen to the song and read through the lyrics here (the song is actually sung by Chris Tomlin in this video but it was written by Charlie Hall):
The song is based on Psalm 24:3-6
The Psalm of the Day for 8/9 is Psalm 84. Since this is a blended worship service for us, we will be combining a responsive reading of this Psalm with a contemporary song based on the Psalm. Here is our script:
Psalm 84 & “Better is One Day” (Song #23 in the “Best of the Best Songbook”)
Pastor: How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty!
All: My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
Pastor: Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young— a place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.
All: Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.
> Soloists sing Verse 1 and Chorus
Pastor: Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere;
All: I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
Pastor: For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor;
All: no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.
> Congregation sings Verse 2 and Chorus
Pastor: Look upon our shield, O God; look with favor on your anointed one.
All: O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you.
> Soloists sing the “Bridge”
> Congregation sings the Chorus
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of International Bible Society
One of the most powerful and inspiring examples of congregational worship in the Bible is contained in 2 Chronicles, chapters 5 to 7.
In these chapter we read that the work for the temple had all been done, and in an amazing procession, they brought the ark of the Lord into the temple. It was an occasion that those present would never have forgotten for the rest of their lives. There were 120 priests sounding trumpets, cymbal, singers, and other instruments. It must have been the best band they’d ever heard! The trumpeters and singers joined in unison and sang, “He is good; his love endures forever.” (5:13)
It would have been an amazing sound. And yet, that wasn’t the thing that impressed itself upon their hearts the most that day. The life-changing event that day happened next: “… the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God.” (5:14)
The priests were totally overwhelmed by the cloud of God’s presence, so much so that they couldn’t continue to perform their services. Solomon went on to pray a powerful prayer of dedication. But that’s not the end of this awesome encounter. Fire comes down from heaven and consumes the burnt offering and sacrifices. The glory of the Lord fills the temple again (7:1), yet this time seemingly even more powerful, because not only can the priests not carry on ministering, they can’t even enter the temple of the Lord (7:2). The people worshiped again, sang the song again, made more sacrifices, and the trumpets started up once more.
There’s a great contemporary song that captures this encounter called “Lord, let your Glory Fall” by Matt Redman. It’s recalling that ancient day where God met his people so powerfully, and asking that we might see something of that here and now, as God’s people in church. That we might know what it really is to bring meaningful sacrifices before Him, and that we might also know what it really means to be enveloped in the cloud of God’s presence. These chapters show congregational worship as an exciting, powerful encounter. It’s a 2-way event. Notice the cycle that seems to happen – God’s people respond to who He is, and then the cloud of His presence comes down. They can’t help but respond again, and He seems to inhabit their praises even more powerfully. Again, this makes them want to worship Him even more, and they throw their hearts into yet more songs, music and sacrifices. This is the wonderful, gracious pattern of worship that God invites us to enter into as His people.
Source: http://www.worshiptogether.com/resources/bibleStudy.aspx?iid=215760
Lord Let Your Glory Fall
Chorus:
You are good, You are good; And Your love endures.
You are good, You are good; And Your love endures today.
Verse 1:
Lord let Your glory fall, As on that ancient day.
Songs of enduring love, And then Your glory came.
And as a sign to You, That we would love the same.
Our hearts will sing that song, God let Your glory come.
Verse 2:
Voices in unison, Giving You thanks and praise.
Joined by the instruments, And then Your glory came.
Your presence like a cloud, Upon that ancient day.
The priests were overwhelmed, Because Your glory came.
Verse 3:
A sacrifice was made, And then Your fire came.
They knelt upon the ground, And with one voice they praised.
BRIDGE:
Your anger lasts a moment, But Your favor lasts a lifetime.
CCLI Song No. 2526728, © 1998 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing), Matt Redman
As in the days of King David, Solomon and Nehemiah, the order of worship is of utmost importance. Our traditional worship services are carefully laid out in our hymnals, but this raises the question, “what order of service should we consider when using a blended format with contemporary music and contemporary instrumentation?”
Here is the typical Order of Service for the blended services that we hold on a monthly basis at Messiah in South Windsor, CT:
Pre-Service Music
Pastoral Greeting
Opening Congregational Song of Praise
Call to Worship
Spoken Confession of Sins and Assurance of Forgiveness
Silence for personal reflection
Congregational Song of Praise
Prayer of the Day
OT Lesson
Psalm of the Day (usually read responsively and sometimes includes contemporary music)
Epistle Lesson
Verse of the Day
Gospel Lesson
Children’s Message (based on one of the readings)
Hymn of the Day
Sermon
Offering (accompanied with music)
Prayer
Lord’s Prayer
Blessing
Closing Song of Praise
(The service time is approximately 60 minutes in length)
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Isaiah 6 reflects another biblical framework for corporate worship. God initiates and we respond throughout the model.
God reveals himself:
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. (Is 6:1)
Worship & Praise responds by the Seraphim:
Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: ”Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” (Is 6:2-3)
We confess:
“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.” (Is 6:5)
God expiates:
Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” (Is 6:6-7)
God Proclaims:
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” (Is 6:8a)
We Respond:
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” (Is 6:8b)
God commissions:
“Go and tell this people” (Is 6:9)
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of International Bible Society
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Here is another blended order of service obtained from: http://blendedworshipresource.wordpress.com that is used at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in DePere, WI:
Gathering for Praise:
Opening Praise Songs (2)
Greeting
Gathering for Forgiveness:
Forgive Us, Renew Us, Lead Us
Response song
Gathering around the Word:
Scripture readings
Mission Statement
Praise song/hymn
Sermon/message
Creed
Gathering for Thanksgiving:
Offering
Prayers
Praise Song
Q & A period or The Supper
Gathering for Dismissal:
Announcements
Benediction
Closing Praise Song
(approximately 75 minutes based on the gatherings used in worship in the early church 150-300 AD)
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And here is a third order of service, used at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, also found at:
http://blendedworshipresource.wordpress.com/2009/06/05/blended-worship-liturgy/
1. Service information
a) Theme
b) Welcome and visitor information
c) Today’s worship paragraph
2. Come, Let Us Worship the Lord
a) Greetings/silent prayer
b) Opening song of praise
c) Invocation
d) Responsive reading
3. We Confess our Sins and Rejoice in God’s Forgiveness
a) Confession options
b) Response song
c) Prayer of the Day options
4. God Speaks to Us Through His Word
a) Three readings, including introductory line
b) Statement of Faith
c) Song of the Day options
d) Today’s meditation
5. We Offer to God our Thanks and Praise
a) Sermon response (if no communion)
b) Offering and friendship register paragraph
c) Lord’s Prayer
6. God Comes to us Through His Holy Supper
a) Responsive intro and song response
b) Words of institution and response
c) Distribution song
d) Thanksgiving
e) Prayer
7. God Sends Us With His Blessing
a) Responsive theme closing
b) Benediction
c) Closing song
(from “Blended Worship: Where Do We Start?” by Pastor Rob Raasch.)
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And finally, here are two orders of service recently used at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Middleton / Waunakee , WI
Example 1 (with Communion)
Gathering
Pre-service music (piano)
Pastoral greeting
Congregational song of praise
Pastoral prayer of confession
Silence for personal prayers of repentance
Spoken assurance of forgiveness
Congregational song of response/praise (additional stanzas/refrains of opening song)
Time for worshipers to greet each other
Word
Old Testament reading
Gospel reading
New Testament reading
Children’s devotion (based on sermon text/theme)
Sermon
Nicene Creed
Sacrament
Spoken sursum corda (“The Lord be with you…”)
Sanctus song of praise (“Holy, holy holy…”)
Words of Institution
Words of Invitation
Agnus Dei song (“Lamb of God, you take away…”)
Distribution of the Lord’s Supper
Two congregational songs during distribution
Thanksgiving
Offering
Prayers of God’s people
The Lord’s Prayer
Sending
The Lord’s Blessing
Congregational sending song
Announcements
Time for greeting each other
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Example 2 (includes the WELS Connection Video)
Gathering
Pre-service music (woodwind ensemble, piano)
Pastoral greeting
Opening congregational medley of praise
Pastor prayer of confession
Congregational song of confession
Silence for personal prayers of repentance
Spoken assurance of forgiveness
Congregational medley of response/praise
Word
Gospel reading
Children’s devotion (based on Gospel reading)
Congregational “sermon hymn”
Sermon
Thanksgiving
Offering (with WELS Connection video)
Prayers of God’s people
The Lord’s Prayer
Sending
The Lord’s Blessing
Congregational sending song
Announcements
Time to greet each other
I would like to thank Kristen Koepsell of St. Andrew’s, John Kehl and Pastor Robert Raasch of Mt. Olive, and St. Mark’s Lutheran Church for providing their orders of blended worship.
It’s very interesting to me that these are all similar and keep many of the elements that are contained in our “traditional” service even though they use contemporary music.
The song, “Lord I Lift Your Name on High” has been around for 20 years now, perhaps long enough to knock it out of the “contemporary” genre but its popularity is still high. I think that one reason for this is its broad application for the Christmas through Ascension church year that’s summarized in its short and simple chorus as shown below:
You came from heaven to earth – reference to Christmas (Christ’s birth)
To show the way
From the earth to the cross – reference to Lent
My debt to pay
From the cross to the grave – reference to Good Friday
From the grave to the sky – reference to Easter & Ascension
Lord I lift Your name on high
It has a verse as well:
Verse:
Lord I lift Your name on high
Lord I love to sing Your praises
I’m so glad You’re in my life
I’m so glad You came to save us
CCLI Song #117947
© 1989 Maranatha Praise, Inc.
By Rick Founds
I like to use this song when I know there will be a lot of unchurched visitors and children because it captures a lot of information about Jesus’ life in a memorable and singable format and is easy to comprehend. I’ve specifically used this at our worship service that concludes our Summer VBS where a lot of visitors are in attendance.
As Lutherans, we tend to like a lot of words, some doctrine, and some theology packed into our music. This song doesn’t do much of that, although it contains the Gospel and is specific in its references to Christ. It’s not a hymn, but sometimes, keeping it simple is a good idea. Sometimes we need to see what the creatures do to praise God that were made specifically for that purpose. Consider the Seraphims for example, they call back and forth to each other, in the presence of God, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full with His glory.” As far as I know, they are still repeating this today.
If you aren’t familliar with this song, you can hear it here:
This particular version is sung by Paul Baloche. This is also an example of Integrity’s worship videos that can be used for congregational singing during worship.
On Trinity Sunday, I have chosen the song ”Father I Adore You” as a song choice. Many congregations use this on Trinity Sunday. There are other good contemporary song choices, such as “Glorify Thy Name”, but I chose ”Father I Adore You” because there is a portion of our congregation that normally does not sing, but they will be singing this song. I’m talking about our smallest children, and more importantly, those too young to read. At our church, this age group knows this song from previous VBS and other children’s activities. I think it’s important for us as worship planners to include a song that they can join in on every once in a while.
“Father I Adore You” was written by Terrye Coelho Strom, many of us WELS types know it as LAPPY # 67.
Last week, during our monthly contemporary service, a teen in the congregation approached me after worship and offered to play her guitar in future services. Apparently she has been taking lessons and is ready to use her gifts. I am very excited about this because it’s a teen showing an interest in participating in worship which for some reason is an age group that we find to be difficult to get involved.
But here’s the problem. “Father I Adore You” is written in the key of F and includes the chords: F, Gm and C. Not a big deal for most guitarists, but for a beginner, the F and Gm chords can be difficult. Here’s the solution: transpose.
In this instance, usually the best thing to do is to transpose down to a more guitar-friendly key, then use your CAPO to lift the pitch back to the original key. For example, let’s transpose this song down to the key of D. To find the new chords, we need to write down both of the major scales (F and D) as follows:
Original Key: F G A Bb C D E F
New Key: D E F# G A B C# D
Next, find the original chords in the original key (upper row), then read the new chords, in the new key directly beneath the original chords. For example:
F becomes D
Gm becomes Em
C becomes A
The new chords are now D, Em and A which are all very easy to play.
The last thing we need to do is to find the CAPO position. Remember that we lowered the key from F to D, which is 3 half steps (just count the number of frets between the F and D note on any one string). This means that we need to raise our pitch by 3 half steps so the CAPO needs to go at the third fret.
And here’s a neat trick; if you have two guitarists, let one play in the key of F and have the second guitarist play it in the key of D at the capo 3 position. This will add some color and different chord voicings to your music. Also, check your guitar tuning with the CAPO in place as this will sometimes throw your tuning off.
For future reference in transposing, here are all the major and minor keys:
MAJOR SCALE R - 2 - 3 4 - 5 - 6 - 7
C maj.: C - D - E F - G - A - B
Db maj.: Db - Eb - F Gb - Ab - Bb - C
D maj.: D - E - F# G - A - B - C#
Eb maj.: Eb - F - G Ab - Bb - C - D
E maj.: E - F# - G# A - B - C# - D#
F maj.: F - G - A Bb - C - D - E
F# maj.: F# - G# - A# B - C# - D# - (E#)
G maj.: G - A - B C - D - E - F#
Ab maj.: Ab - Bb - C Db - Eb - F - G
A maj.: A - B - C# D - E - F# - G#
Bb maj.: Bb - C - D Eb - F - G - A
B maj.: B - C# - D# E - F# - G# - A#
MINOR SCALE R - 2 b3 - 4 - 5 b6 - b7 -
A min.: A - B C - D - E F - G -
Bb min.: Bb - Cb Db - Eb - F Gb - Ab -
B min.: B - C# D - E - F# G - A -
C min.: C - D Eb - F - G Ab - Bb -
C# min.: C# - D# E - F# - G# A - B -
D min.: D - E F - G - A Bb - C -
Eb min.: Eb - F Gb - Ab - Bb (Cb) - Db -
E min.: E - F# G - A - B C - D -
F min.: F - G Ab - Bb - C Db - Eb -
F# min.: F# - G# A - B - C# D - E -
G min.: G - A Bb - C - D Eb - F -
G# min.: G# - A# B - C# - D# E - F# -
Aaron Shust is one of my favorite Christian artists and Greatworshipsongs.com is one of my favorite sites for free sheet music and MP3s. Right now they are featuring a new song by Aaron called “To God Alone.” It’s a song based on the Latin phrase Soli Deo Gloria. To God Alone be the Glory. The song is easy to play, a bit mroe difficult to sing, and you can learn it here:
To get a free lead sheet and MP3, sign up here:
This is a little late for Lent 2009, but I read through the lyrics in John Kehls’ EXCEL database of contemporary songs which is available for download at this BLOG, and pulled out the ones that I liked for Lent. Here’s the list:
|
A Debtor to Mercy Alone |
Bob Kauflin |
|
Above All |
Baloche, LeBlanc |
|
Across the Great Divide |
Mark Altrogge |
|
Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) |
Chris Tomlin |
|
Amazing Love |
Graham kendrick |
|
Amazing Love (You Are My King) |
Billy Foote |
|
At the Cross |
Holland Davis |
|
At the Cross |
Stephen Altrogge |
|
At the Foot of the Cross |
Steve Cook |
|
Beneath the Cross |
Getty, Townend |
|
By Your Blood |
Billy Funk |
|
Cross of Jesus |
Getty, Townend |
|
Depth of Mercy |
Bob Kauflin |
|
Finished Indeed |
the Kingsmen |
|
For All Have Sinned / For God so Loved |
Steve Green |
|
For God so Loved the World |
Don Fancisco |
|
For Me |
Mark Altrogge |
|
For Me For You |
Doug Plank |
|
Forgiven, Forgotten, Forever |
Brian Free |
|
Fullness of Grace |
Staurt Townend |
|
God Will Provide a Lamb |
Michael Card |
|
Greater Love |
Mark Altrogge |
|
Greater Still |
Brian Free |
|
How Deep the Father’s Love for Us |
Getty, Townend |
|
I Come by the Blood |
Steve Cook |
|
I Come to the Cross |
BIll Batstone |
|
I Look Up |
Mark Altrogge |
|
I Love the Cross |
Mark Altrogge |
|
I Will Boast in the Cross of Christ |
Steve Cook |
|
I’m Justified |
Steve Cook |
|
It Should Have Been Me |
Mark Altrogge |
|
Jesus Paid it All |
Elvina Mabel Hall |
|
Jesus, Thank You |
Pat Sczebel |
|
Lamb of Glory |
Greg Nelson |
|
Lamb of God |
Twila Paris |
|
Lead me to the Cross |
Graham Kendrick |
|
Lost in Wonder |
Martyn Layzell |
|
Man of Sorrows |
Greg Nelson |
|
My Savior’s Precious Blood |
Jonathan Baird |
|
Nail My Glory |
Bob Kauflin |
|
Nothing but the Blood |
Robert Lowry |
|
O How He Loves You and Me |
Kurt Kaiser |
|
On My Cross |
Jerome Diebler / FFH |
|
Once Again |
Matt Redman |
|
Only by His Wounds |
Michael Card |
|
Only Your Mercy |
Scott Wesly Brown |
|
Perfect Lamb of God |
Adam Sacks |
|
Ransomed |
Jordan Kauflin |
|
the Coloring Song |
Petra (Dave Eden) |
|
the Glory of the Cross |
Sovereign Grace |
|
the Gospel is True |
Scott Wesley Brown |
|
the Gospel Song |
Bob Kauflin |
|
the Grace Song of Heaven |
Keith Getty |
|
The Power of the Cross |
Getty, Townend |
|
the Precious Blood |
Peter Gagnon |
|
the Wonderful Cross |
Chris Tomlin |
|
the Wounded Healer |
Bennie Triplett |
|
We Sing Your Mercies |
Mark Altrogge |
|
When Love Came Down |
Stuart Townend |
|
You Chose the Cross |
Martyn Layzell |
|
|
|
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Miracle Maker
September 29, 2009 at 7:30 am · Filed under Delirious? ·Tagged Delirious?, John 5:1-18, Miracle Maker
There’s a haunting song called “Miracle Maker” by the band known as “Delirious?”. That’s a statement not a question, as the question mark is really part of their name.
The song is about Jesus healing a crippled man at the pool in Bethesda (John 5:1-18). This is an incredible story and it’s an incredible song. It’s one of the healings by Jesus that was not a result of the patient’s faith. All too often, we hear Jesus say “your faith has healed you.” Not this time. In fact, it seems that Jesus healed him out of pure mercy and compassion. The man could not get into this pool quick enough on his own to be healed and he had been this way for 38 years. It’s also of note that this man did not seek out Jesus to be healed; Jesus sought him out. When Jesus asked him if he wanted to be healed, the man did not even answer “yes”, he just described his pitiful situation (Vs 7).
You can hear the song and learn to play it on the guitar here:
Note – This is not a congregational song. It is a great song for a Praise Band to play during the Offering if your Pastor has just preached on John 5:1-18.
There is one thing peculiar about the scripture text. Namely, where is verse 4 (see below)?
The Healing at the Pool
1Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews. 2Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. 5One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”
7″Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”
8Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, 10and so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.”
11But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ ”
12So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?”
13The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.
14Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” 15The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
Life Through the Son
16So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews persecuted him. 17Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.” 18For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
Here is verse 4, omitted in the NIV, from the King James version:
4For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of International Bible Society
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