Our Top Ten Moments of 2014

Just over a year ago, we left the comforts of our church staff position to take Infinitely More on the road full-time. 2014 was our first complete year of touring and recording, and it only seems fitting on this 

New Year's Eve to take a look back on this very full 12 months...

Here, in chronological order, are our Top Ten Moments of 2014:

#1. Musicians In Residence

With a goal of introducing contemporary worship and expanding the music team, we had a full winter as as Musicians in Residence in St. Andrews, NB. One of the most powerful moments was the night we debuted the first ever worship band at All Saints Church. It was a success in all kinds of ways, but our favourite was the truly ecumenical make up of the group - our 8-piece band represented 5 churches and 3 denominations. Truly the 'family' of God!


#2. First Day In The Studio

No matter how much pre-production you do, there's nothing as exciting as the first day in the studio. Hearing our amazing Nashville session players get their hands on our songs left us as giddy as kids in a candy store.


#3. The Civil Rights Museum

We can't recommend this enough. If you visit Memphis, spend an afternoon at the Civil Rights Museum. You will be shaken and inspired by the generations of people who stood up for humanity.


#4. Time With Long Distance Friends

One of the best perks of a touring ministry - we were able to see friends in Nashville, Tennessee, Little Rock, Arkansas, and all across Canada's beautiful East Coast!

#5. Getting The CDs

After months of writing, recording, traveling, mixing, mastering, and the thousand other steps involved in making a CD, it was an amazing moment to open the boxes and actually hold the CDs in our hands.

#6. East Coast Tour 

Our biggest tour to date! 9 weeks, 5 provinces, 8300 KM, and over 30 events, all filled with incredible moments and beautiful memories.


#7. Watching Concerts Turn To Worship

We deliberately plan our concerts to be entertaining and welcoming to folks on all stages of their faith walk, but on more than one occasion this year, hearts opened and hands raised as a simple night of music turned into a powerful night of worship. We were so blessed by these amazing audiences!


#8. Teaching Workshops

This year, we put a stronger focus on teaching our Workshops on Worship Leading and Creating Music For Worship, and creating opportunities to mentor singers, musicians, and songwriters. We felt blessed to share our skills, but more often than not, we were encouraged to see so many dedicated people using their talents for the Church. I had a "proud momma" moment every time we received a  follow-up email letting us know how a worship band or choir was using their new skills on a Sunday morning.


#9. Rocky Harbour 

In the middle of our 9-week East Coast Tour, we took 3 nights off in beautiful Rocky Harbour, Newfoundland. With perfect weather and a scarcity of tourists, we were free to explore the community and meet some wonderful folks. On our last night, we walked the beach, watched the brilliant sunset, and even sung our new song. A wonderful respite and a reminder of the importance of quiet time...




#10. Releasing Our First Radio Single

This Christmas, we released our first Infinitely More radio single - Tonight, Everywhere Is Bethlehem. It was awesome to imagine folks across the country listening to our song as part of their holiday celebrations. It was particularly exciting to get Facebook messages from friends saying "I just heard you on the radio!!!"



What a year! We feel deeply called to the ministry of Infinitely More. It's a challenging path, but we can only do it with the love and support of each of you. Thank you for supporting our music and ministry by inviting us into your churches, purchasing CDs, attending our concerts, hosting us in your homes, keeping us in prayer, and joining us on this journey.

THANK YOU for an amazing 2014! 

We're looking forward to 2015!

May you remember 2014 with thanksgiving, 

and may 2015 bring you peace, love, faith, and joy!

Happy New Year!!!

Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!

Merry Christmas!!!

From our family to yours,

Merry Christmas!! 

Worship Wednesdays - Bake Some Cookies, Everyone!

As I write this, my shoulders are aching.

"Of course," you say, "This is your busy season! 20 events in less than a month. All that singing and playing, not to mention carrying gear. It makes sense that your body would feel the burn..."

Actually, it's not that kind of aching. 

Tonight, I have Baker's Shoulders.

Today I celebrated my annual Christmas Cookie Day with my Mom. It starts a few days in advance as we discuss the goals of the day. How many different kinds? Are we doubling the recipes? Should we try new cookies or stick with classics? Let's make up the shopping list...

On the actual day, breakfast dishes are cleared and the kitchen becomes a baking machine. Don't step in the room unless you want to be assigned a task.

This year, we tried two new recipes - Mexican Wedding Cookies and Spiced Fig Pinwheels - and my favourite classic choice - Scottish Shortbread, this year with a Salted Chocolate topping. Fabulous!

Right now, the final batch is done and the house smells amazing. We made over 250 cookies! Including the ones that didn't make it onto the cooling racks...

Everyone is busy in December, but those of us in music and/or ministry seem to get an extra dose of it. Between worship services, concerts, seniors home ministry, and all the planning, rehearsing, and traveling that goes with each event, it's easy to see December as a month to 'get through.'

But what a terrible way to approach one of the most beautiful months of the year. This is a season filled with once-a-year music, art, and enjoyment. We personally know the feeling of getting to the end of the month and feeling like we didn't experience any of it. It's exhausting and depleting.

We live in a society that glorifies stress and overworking. We're encouraged to brag about our lack of sleep, our refusal to take a day off, or our '80-hour' workweek. This is our currency to define ourselves as productive, important, and successful.

But what's the point of spending our days creating glorious, inspiring music and worship, and then missing out on the glory and inspiration of it all?

I'm not going to ignore the truth - December is difficult for many people for many reasons. There's no denying it. But we also have the ability to make positive choices in difficult seasons, and today, I'd like to encourage you to do just that.

Whether it's baking cookies, watching a Christmas movie, or taking the long drive home so you can see the neighbour's crazy light display, take a little time each day to enjoy the blessings of the season. Read an Advent devotional or book of seasonal poetry to give yourself a moment of focus in the day. And take a few moments to be still and give thanks for the blessings in your life.

This may seem like simple advice, and it is. But in the craziness of the season, it's the simple things we tend to overlook. And when we turn our focus back to them, even for a few minutes, the results can be powerful!

One week til Christmas Eve, everyone! 

Let's enjoy the blessings of this beautiful season...

*   *   *   *   *

There's still time to order Infinitely More CDs for Christmas! 

Each and every CD ordered from our site this month will receive a FREE Christmas Card! 

Please visit www.InfinitelyMore.ca/Store for all the details

Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!

Worship Wednesdays - Our First Radio Single!

This week, we've taken a new step in our ministry - 

we've released our first single to radio!

Tonight, Everywhere Is Bethlehem is the title track of our brand new Christmas album, 

and perhaps one of our favourite cowrites.

You can hear a sample of the song HERE.

Last winter, I came home after a busy morning of teaching to hear Gerald's familiar words, "I started something new today." He played me a verse and a chorus:

There's a boy in the African desert

Who is watching the skies tonight

He knows that two thousand years ago

A child was born from the light

And his heart beholds that beautiful sight

Tonight, Everywhere is Bethlehem

Children are praying for peace and love 

And whispering ‘amen’

In their dreams they see the manger 

And the Saviour who Mary tends 

Tonight, Everywhere is Bethlehem

I fell in love with the moving imagery and the sweeping melody. I could picture this young boy with a look of wonder on his face. I imagined a warm breeze moving around him, and the stillness of the night.

I announced, "I love it. I can see the second verse. By the way, I'm cowriting this with you."

It's not the first time Gerald has heard me say these words. A smile crept across his face.

"What's your idea?"

My imagination leapt to the other side of the world. If "everywhere" was Bethlehem, then I wanted to show a completely opposite setting that would also be home to the hope of Christmas. I saw a young girl in a crowded urban setting...

There's a girl singing carols in Times Square 

Collecting spare change for the poor

She sings 'no crib for a bed'

To remind us what Christmas is for

And her voice rings out so sweet and so pure

Tonight, Everywhere is Bethlehem...

As we continued to work on the song, we wanted a way to bring the message of the first Bethlehem into our "everywhere" Bethlehem. We remembered the powerful message of the angels:

Do not be afraid. There is great news, for all the Earth. 

A child is born. He's Christ the Lord. Hope of the world.

With that, our song was complete. We decided it made a perfect duet, with Gerald singing the 'boy' verse and me singing the 'girl' verse. We created harmonies for the chorus and bridge. This summer, we brought the song into the studio to record. Denny Martin (Nashville) put together a wonderful track using acoustic instruments and lush strings. Carmon Barry (Toronto) painstakingly recorded our vocals to find the perfect mix of performance and emotion.

We're thrilled with the recording, but the best part is singing it live! We love seeing the smiles in the audience, and it's always an honour when someone wants to buy a whole CD because they've fallen in love with one particular song. And this Christmas, we get to share it with a whole new audience...

We're so excited about this new adventure. We believe passionately in the message of our songs, and in the power of having Christian music on the radio. We pray this radio exposure gives our music the chance to be heard by a broader audience.

We would love your support in getting Tonight, Everywhere Is Bethlehem out to a larger audience.

How can you help?

- Please call or email your local radio station to request our song.

- If you work in radio, please contact us for downloads.

- And finally, please keep Tonight, Everywhere Is Bethlehem in prayer, 

that it may reach hearts this Christmas season.

Thank you!!

Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!