Worship Wednesdays - How Do We Lead Worship When We're Hurting?

We've all been there. The days when going to church is the last thing on your mind. It could be the job you're about to lose, the love that just walked out the door, the diagnosis that was revealed, or the fear that came true. Whatever it is, it's huge and it's overwhelming, filling your body with aches and your heart with pain. And the last thing you want to do is put on your Sunday best and exchange pleasantries in the pews.

But you can't stay home from church. You're the worship leader. Not only are you expected to attend, you're suppose to lead everyone else in worship!

How do we lead worship when we're hurting?

It's easy to lift our hands in praise when things feel glorious, but it's a completely different act when we're in pain. And to lead others in this state is another thing all together. It challenges us physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Here are a few thoughts on how to lead worship when you're hurting:

Pray About It

It's my go-to response for everything, and it never lets me down. When I'm going through a difficult time and I'm called upon to lead worship, my first act is to pray in private. I ask God to infuse me with His peace and strength. I ask Him to lead when I cannot. We know that Jesus wept as he moved through his ministry duties. Your pain is not foreign to him.

Talk To Your Team

Remember when we spoke about relationships and prayer with your team? Well, this is where it comes into play. Say to your team, "Today's not a good day for me. We buried my best friend this week. I could really use your prayers today." Just knowing you're surrounded by love can make a world of difference.

Ask Someone Else to Take the Lead

Gerald and I are always aware of raising up leaders within our teams. Maybe this is a good week for you to ask someone else to lead for you? They might just lead one song, or they might take over one task for you - for example, they could take the instrumental lead while you continue in your role of singing and praying. Your load will be lightened, and you'll also practice trusting your fellow musicians, something that can only grow and strengthen your team.

Remember You're Singing to Broken People

Some people will tell you, "There's always someone worse off than you." I hate this statement. It gets us into this weird my-pain-is-better-than-yours competition. Perhaps there's a different way to approach this idea. Here's what I do:

Find some quiet time before your worship service. Ideally, sit in the sanctuary and look over the pews. Think of each person who will sit there during the service. Think about the things that they are going through - their grief, their loneliness, their illness, their struggles. Now, think about how much they need to worship. In this moment, I always remember my calling, my authority, as a worship leader. God has called each of us - leaders, singers, musicians - into this role. Those hurting people need to worship, and we have the honour of trying to lead them closer to God today. For whatever reason, this always locks me into place. 

Step Down If You Have To

Maybe it isn't just a bad day. Maybe you're truly in a time of depression and long-term struggle. Find some time to speak with your pastor. Seek some counselling. In consultation, consider taking some time off. It's better to take a break and care for yourself than risk the harsh reality of burnout.

Remember to Worship

Worship leaders and Christian artists are notorious for allowing the performance aspects to distract us from actually worshiping. It's easy enough for it to happen - how can I get swept up in worship when I have that key change coming up at bar 34? But on rough days, it's even more important that we are not just worship leaders, but lead worshipers. Cry out to God. Sing His praises. Give thanks for your blessings. You will draw closer to God and, as promised, God will draw closer to you. And in your authenticity, those you are leading will draw closer to God as well. I don't know quite how that works, but it does, and I'm so grateful for it.

 I'd love to hear your thoughts on how you've lead worship in difficult times. 

Please leave your thoughts in the comments section below. 

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

Book Review: One Perfect Life, by John MacArthur

One Perfect Life chooses a unique and thoughtful way to tell the story we all know so well. I'm sure you're familiar with the parallel Gospels - those books where we see the various events in the life of Jesus laid out in columns, showing which stories appear in which Gospels. It's a way of tying the voices of the Gospel authors together. Well, what if there was a way to meld all the voices of the Scripture writers together, to tell the whole story as one story?

This is what John MacArthur has accomplished in One Perfect Life. Each chapter represents a piece of the life of Jesus. It starts with the prophecies and need for a Saviour, moves through each story in the life of Jesus, and ends with New Testament reflections on the life of Christ. MacArthur doesn't paraphrase, but actually takes verses from the various books - from both the New and Old Testaments - to construct each chapter. Each line is vigorously referenced and footnoted.

It's a hard book to describe, but a beautiful book to read. It's an engaging way to see the fullness of the Gospel, and how the diverse books of Scripture tie together to tell one biography. You can read it quickly for the story or slowly as you digest the thick and informative footnotes. I can imagine it being used in as a daily devotional or in small groups for discussion.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Worship Wednesdays - The Creation of "There's A Light At The End Of The Tomb"

Today we feature a guest post by my husband and partner in all things Infinitely More, Gerald Flemming. Gerald is an accomplished and passionate songwriter, and I've asked him to join Worship Wednesdays to share his knowledge and insight into writing Gospel-inspired songs. Here's the story behind this year's Easter creation, There's A Light At The End Of The Tomb....

I’ve always been an enormous fan of setting myself challenges that require public responsibility.  This spring I had set it on myself to write a song for the Easter morning service.  A song that would represent where the Church was and something that was specific and profound enough to be worth the time on that blessed morning.

The first step is finding something that has enough power and grandeur to even be considered worthy.  If anybody knows me they know first and foremost I seek a great idea through whatever means necessary.  There are consultation moments and prayer moments and as in this case, being at the right place at the right time moments.

The Church was seeking a photograph that could be used to advertise for the Easter services.  Catherine, our church administrator, brought in some really beautiful and vibrant images.  There were crosses on the hill at sunset, and a shot of a solo cross at sunrise.   However there was one in particular that spoke to me the moment I saw it.  It was a photo of stone steps ascending towards an entrance way that was illuminated.  It hit me almost instantaneously…

‘The Light At The End Of The Tomb.’ 

The image that inspired the words... 

Substituting the word "tomb," in the oft used phrase, for the word "tunnel" gave it a deep feeling of possibility…the sense that after the darkest of times that there is an ending and a mercy and grace in this life and the next.  The idea was immediately embraced by the Church leadership to spearhead the campaign for Easter, and in my head I knew I had my idea for the song.

When I first approached the writing of it, it was obvious it was going to be a retelling of the story.  But how do you draw them into a story they’ve heard a thousand times?

‘The darkest night in the history of the world,

They lay his broken body in the cold, cold ground…’

By calling it "the darkest night in the history of the world" you immediately lend it the kind of gravity that is undeniable.  It immediately engages the listener because you’ve started the song at a defining moment.  In this case, a moment that is an epoch of the Christian faith.

The chorus of the song came very quickly...

‘There's a light at the end of the tomb

The risen saviour breaks the bonds of an empty room

Every face will be amazed 

And God's glory we will praise

As the Son of God is lifted from his doom

There's a light at the end of the tomb’

There’s some tricky internal rhyme in there as well as using the plosive nature of some of the consonants to create a dynamic rhythm.

As often happens, Allison came in and heard the pieces of the song in their formative moments and wiggled her way into the process.  And the song is infinitely better for it.  The second verse returns us to a place where Mary goes to the tomb to mourn and administer burial rites.  She, of course, is unaware of the miracle that just happened.  This was the perfect and necessary choice for the second verse because you’ve already revealed the miracle in the first chorus.  How do you get people to re-engage with the resurrection?  By actually showing the moment of discovery as a beautiful and intimate encounter with Mary, the angel and Christ.

‘The breaking light reveals Mary’s tears,

With spices in her hand to anoint the master’s head…’

The chorus is referential and hyperbolic whereas the second verse is poetic and anecdotal.  And Allison wrote a beautiful verse for the song…thanks, honey.

The rest of the song was very simple.  As the music swept us away into Hallelujah’s, a key change chorus and then a tagged ending.  All the trappings of an uplifting song laid out for the congregation to hear.  And then they blessed us with applause.  Anglican applause is a very rare and valuable commodity and I will treasure that sound and that moment forever.

There’s no question in our hearts that 

‘There’s a Light at the End of the Tomb’ will be on our next CD.  

This will be coming, God willing, in 2014.                         

Peace…Gerald

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

Worship Wednesdays - 5 Ways to Shake Up Your Summer Worship

Summer is a tricky time in churches. Vacations and blooming backyards pull people from the structure of the sanctuary to the heat-induced malaise of patios and pitchers of icy sweetness. (I’m drifting to Harper Lee’s description of ladies wilting “like soft teacakes with frostings of sweat and sweet talcum.” What an image...)

Most churches pull back in summer. They go from three services to one, opt for casual wear, and fold the choir. Since we’re already taking a break from routine, why not use these months to explore new ideas of creativity, church, and community?

Here are 5 ways to shake up your summer worship:

#1. Go Outside!

Offer worship in the parking lot. Hold Bible study on the sidewalk. Host a hymn-sing on the lawn. Not only will going outside add new dimension to your worship, it will also show your broader community what the church looks like in “real life.”

#2. Offer Summer Concerts.

Take advantage of that quiet sanctuary and put on a concert series! Create a schedule, advertise to the community, and take an offering to support the musicians. Not only will you support the artists in your city, you’ll also offer a non-threatening reason for people to walk through your front doors.

#3. Invite Guest Musicians.

Your band needs a break and your music director needs a vacation, so take advantage of that timing and invite some guest musicians to play on Sunday morning. Choose locals or find out who might be touring in your area. This is also a fun way to introduce new music and styles of worship to your congregation.

#4. Take Song Requests.

Everyone loves to sing their favourites, so let them! Let the congregation know that each Sunday’s music will be chosen from their requests. Collect song titles via email, social networking, or slips of paper. A great way to involve the congregation in the worship planning process!

#5. Start a Post-Cottage Service.

If your congregation is missing Sunday mornings to lounge by the lake, meet them on the way back with a Sunday evening service. They’ll still be in shorts, so keep it casual and relaxing - prayer, uplifting music, and a relevant message. Think about offering cool drinks and snacks so people can share those great fishing stories...

I’d love to hear what your church is doing this summer! 

Please leave your thoughts in the comments section below…

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

A Big Change ...

For the past 4 years, we've had the privilege of leading the Worship Band for The Gathering at St. John's York Mills. It has been an extraordinary and powerful journey of learning. In May, the church made the difficult decision to close down The Gathering.

We feel the power of God's presence in all of this as we now have the opportunity to put our whole hearts and souls into the Infinitely More ministry we started just a few short years ago.

We're both excited and energized by the details of God's plan as it unfolds before us.  Please join us in this grand leap of faith...

How can you help? 

- We gratefully ask for your prayers during this time of transition.

- We'd love to come and sing for you! We're available for worship services, church events, or house concerts in Ontario and across Canada. We'll sing locally, and our year will be full of concert tours. 

- We'd love your referrals! If you know a church who might enjoy our ministry, or a friend who might love a house concert, please send them our way! You can contact us through our SITE. 

Thank you for joining with us in this journey of faith and song. 

The Adventure continues...

Worship Wednesdays - I Say A Little Prayer For You...

Last week, we talked about the beautiful chaos of The First 10 Minutes of a band or choir rehearsal.

(On a side note, this past Sunday, we were at church, and the first 10 minutes of our rehearsal was exactly as I described - chatting, laughing, and tuning. In the midst of the noise, two of our musicians turned to each other and said, “I just love the start of rehearsal. This is the best time.” I smiled as I thought about last week’s blogpost!)

So what do you do with all that joyful noise? How do you bring it all together?

For me, there’s just one answer: Prayer.

I can’t imagine starting our rehearsals without prayer. It seems like a simple and obvious choice, but surprisingly few groups actually use it on a regular basis. If we are indeed worship leaders, then let’s start our rehearsal with an act of worship.

There are as many ways to pray as there are worship teams. Some read from a prayer book. Others allow a freeflowing time where each member can contribute. The style you choose really just needs to reflect your group. I’m reminded of this beautiful verse from 1 Thessalonians 5:

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances…”

Let’s use this verse as a guide for praying with our music groups:

Rejoice Always
I love to start our rehearsal with praise! If the band has been cracking up and telling jokes, we give thanks for laughter and friendship. We offer praise for our house of worship, our talents, and the opportunity to offer those talents to God and His people.

Pray Continually
Gerald and I attended a Break Forth workshop by Paul Baloche where he spoke about the power of personal worship. He said that our worship leadership will be authentic only if it’s an extension of our private worship. The same goes for our rehearsal prayers. Pray for your singers, your musicians, and your own leadership throughout the week. Whether your prayer is extemporaneous or selected from a prayer book, allow it to flow from your daily prayer life. I generally lead our opening prayers, so before we arrive at a church, I take a moment to quiet myself, call out to God, and listen. Through this, my heart is open and ready to pray when I stand in front of the team.

Give Thanks In All Circumstances
Thanksgiving is a huge part of our prayer life. We give thanks for everyone on the team, the tech, the ability to gather safely in worship, and the leadership of the church. But the tricky piece is “in all circumstances.” Personal pain is one example, but churches can have a particular kind of pain. Politics, budgets, and personal agendas can make even the best of churches seem very un-Christian at times, and there will be times when your musicians and congregation will be suffering. Pray through it. Be there for each other. Remember the beauty and honour of your position as worship leaders. And in all things, give thanks that God is eternal, loving, and always in control.

I’d love to hear more about how you pray with your team! 

Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section below...

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

Worship Wednesdays - The First 10 Minutes...

See if this scene is familiar to you: 

Rehearsal is about to begin. Singers and musicians shout their greetings and throw coats and instrument cases in the pews. The tech team is untangling mic chords, and the pianist is complaining about the weather knocking the piano out of tune again. Conversations range from the latest internet meme to the score of the game, because there’s always a ‘game’…

To the outside observer, it’s disorganized and sloppy, but to the skilled eye, something wonderful is happening - Community.

Talent, musical skill, and work ethic are important, and those things can create a good sound. But in the church, we’re not simply looking for the sound. Throughout scripture, we see examples of people working in teams to accomplish great things for God, and our worship teams are no different.

In the first 10 minutes of rehearsal, while people are gathering and chatting and setting up, relationships are building. Through the jokes and laughter, friendships are growing. In the quieter moments, people start to ask the real questions, and share personal details about their lives. And some time in the future when these same folks need help, they know who they can call.

For those of us who are a little Type A (can I get a witness?), this kind of organized chaos can seem like a distracting way to start a rehearsal, but trust me - more good can come out of these first 10 crazy minutes than you can ask or imagine. I’m reminded of this verse from Psalm 126:

Our mouths were filled with laughter, 

our tongues with songs of joy.

Have a good laugh, get to know each other a little better, and trust that God is working through each relationship there, to draw each of us closer together, and closer to Him.

Next week: What do we do after the first 10 minutes?

Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. 

Bookmark this page, leave a comment, & visit us every Wednesday! 

The Word Awards

Last night, we attended The Word Awards! Celebrating 25 years of honouring Canadian Christian writers, the awards covered a full range of novels, articles, academia, children's literature, poetry and - our reason for attending - songwriting.

We were so excited this year when two, yes two, of Gerald's songs were nominated in the Song Lyrics category. Because this is a "writing" competition, as opposed to a "music" competition, the songwriters only submitted the lyric of the song.

Gerald submitted two songs, and both were nominated:

You Are... (as recorded on 'Infinitely More')

If They Knew It Was Me (not recorded yet, but performed in our concerts)

So last night, Mom, Dad, Gerald, and I got all dressed in our Sunday best and made our way to the awards gala. Gerald's category had 7 songs shortlisted (Gerald was the only writer with two), including a song by Canadian icon, Steve Bell. The challenge was that we knew Steve would win (which he did), but the wonderful thing is we can say, "Gerald was nominated against Steve Bell!"

We also got to bring home our awesome "Finalist" stickers to put on our 'Infinitely More' CDs! 

Snazzy, huh?

It was so inspiring to see all the different styles of writing being recognized, and to hear the inspiration behind some of the projects. I was reminded of the power of writing and sharing our stories, and it got me thinking about my own stories. Which have I told well? Which are still waiting to see the light of day?

I've posted photos on our SITE and our FACEBOOK page. 

Feel free to take a look, and if you're a Facebook member, we'd Love your Like!

Worship Wednesdays - Who Is My Team?

Whether you’re the leader of a mass choir and orchestra, or a solo guitarist singing every song by yourself, no one leads worship in a vacuum. Knowing who is on your team and the role each person plays is critical to bringing a community together in worship. In our Infinitely More ministry, we work with music programs of all sizes, but I sometimes wonder if we limit who we see as being part of our “team.” 

So, who should we consider on our team?

#1. The Musicians, Singers, & Songwriters

Obvious answer, I know, but let’s think outside our regular players. You may lead the band, but what about the choir, guitar club, youth group, and drama team? How can you work with the other artistic groups in your church? There are also those sitting quietly in their pews, waiting for an invitation to join the team. And there are guest musicians who can bring a new voice into your church for a special Sunday. Think widely about who to include on your team. Who might you be overlooking?

#2. Your Pastor

Whether leading worship at our home church or as guest musicians, we always recognize that we lead under the authority of the church’s pastor. Developing an open, creative working relationship is key to healthy team worship. How can the music and preaching feed each other? How can the songs support the pastoral goals of your church leadership?

#3. Your Congregation

If the whole point of leading worship is to get your congregation singing, then the congregation is part of your team. When’s the last time you attended coffee hour? Are you in a small group? Who is the couple with the new baby in the 3rd row? Get to know your people. Learn about their lives, families, trials, and passions. The more we know a group of people, the easier it will be for them to trust us with their spiritual walk.

#4. Your Prayer Partners

Confession time: we don’t have any formal structure in this area. A few weeks ago, we led worship at the Elim Women’s Retreat with speaker, Tara Rye. Several times, she spoke about her prayer partners, and how they were praying for her all weekend long. I knew that my family was praying for us, and probably a few friends, but I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to have a group of people purposefully praying for the ministry of Infinitely More? How could this feed our abilities and effectiveness?

#5. Your Mentors

So, this one begs the question: do you have a mentor? If not, please get one! Gerald and I are always seeking mentors. Sometimes, they’re people we watch from afar. Attending workshops and studying the songs of Paul Baloche,  Keith Getty, and Audrey Assaud are masterclasses for us. But even more so, we seek mentors that we can get to know on a one-on-one basis. Over the years, we’ve sought the guidance of songwriters, worship leaders, and music business professionals to help hone our skills and push us outside of our comfort zones. We then offer our own skills to musicians, songwriters, and worship leaders who are seeking that same growth. Who are your mentors? Are you meeting with them regularly?

#6. Your Friends and Family

Let’s face it - worship leading can be a weird way to make a living. We turn 16-bar choruses into 8-minute worship songs. We burn dinner because that new song idea drowned out the oven timer. And with our early Sunday mornings, we’re the first to leave every Saturday night party. In our world, none of this works without the support of our friends and family. We actively include them in our journey, so they can understand our challenges and celebrate in our joys. We want them to share in every blessing this unusual walk sends our way. How are you engaging your family and friends in your ministry? Are there new ways you can include them in your journey?

I hope this gets you thinking about your team - who they are, how you can support them, and how they can share in your ministry. Maybe you have people on your team that I haven’t included? 

I’d love to hear your thoughts! 

Leave me a comment or a question below ...

My Interview with Inspired Songwriting!

I was recently interviewed by my friend, Perry Walp, over at Inspired Songwriting!

We chatted about the role of a worship leader, writing songs for worship, 

and our advice for other worship leaders.

You can read the whole interview HERE.

The Closest I Got to Singing with Elvis...

When we lived in Nashville, we would often brush shoulders with extraordinary people. My boss, Ben Speer, was one of them. As a member of The Speer Family, Ben played and sang for decades, shaping the face of Gospel music. One day over lunch, he revealed the most amazing story. I wrote it into an article. I recently received a request for a copy, and I loved re-reading the story so much that I wanted to share it with you.

You know the game "Six Degrees of Separation"? 

Well, this is the closest I ever got to singing with Elvis Presley...

 BEN SPEER AND THE ELVIS SESSIONS

  One of the perks of working for Ben Speer Music is the occasional chance to have lunch with Ben Speer. As we sat in the red vinyl booth of the Elliston Soda Shop, a classic Elvis song came through the juke box - “I Want You, I Need You, I Love You”. Ben pointed a finger in the air, as if pointing to the notes themselves. “Brock and I sang on this.” My jaw dropped and my eyes popped open. I was having lunch with a man who sang with Elvis Presley!

  “How did that happen?”, I asked.

  The year was 1956. Rock and roll was just starting to make its way onto mainstream radio, and Nashville had just earned the name “Music City”. The Speer Family had recently signed a recording contract with RCA Victor, allowing them to work with the great Chet Atkins. Although best known today for his revolutionary guitar work, at that time, Chet worked in the A&R Department (Artist and Repertoire) of RCA, producing records and pulling together musicians and background vocalists for many of RCA’s recordings.

  That January, Chet was asked to choose musicians to record a song for a young up and coming singer from Memphis named Elvis Presley. At that time, Elvis was hardly a household name. In fact, he was more known for his pink Cadillac than his music. Elvis was a huge fan of gospel music, and he specifically asked for gospel singers to sing his BGVs (background vocals). Chet made a phone call to Ben, Brock, and Gordon Stoker of the Jordanaires and booked them for the session.

  In 1956, New York was still the hub for recording. When a session was booked for Nashville, the producer had to rent an empty building, transport the equipment from New York, and pray the session finished before the rental contracts were up. Chet rented the old Methodist Building downtown, and assembled the band for the session.

  Ben and Brock were seasoned harmony singers. Besides their work with the Speers, they sang BGVs for Jim Reeves, Eddy Hill, and Ruby Wells (Kitty Wells' daughter). Gordon was an old friend from the Vaughan School of Music, so the three were very comfortable making music together. They were hired to sing as a group for this session and received the union rate of $41.25 - each!

  As is often the case with BGV singers today, none of the men would have heard the song prior to the session. Instead, they would listen to it played through a few times, and pick out the parts by ear. Called “head charts”, these improvised parts were rehearsed until perfect, and then recorded along with the band. Remember, this is back in the days of one take recording! No digital, no edits, no auto-tune. What you sang was what you recorded.

  Elvis Presley walked into the room with a song in his head and a guitar in his hand. The song for that first session was “I Was the One”. If this title doesn’t ring a bell, don’t be embarrassed. It was a B-side. The A-side was “Heartbreak Hotel.” Not many people flipped that record over.

  Elvis was kind and polite. He addressed the other players with, “Yes, Sir” and “No, Sir”. But mostly, Elvis was in charge. He refused to sing until he was ready. He loved a good gospel sing-along, so before “I Was the One” was even introduced to the band, Elvis led the entire group in a rendition of Mosie Lister’s “I’m Bound for the Kingdom”. He encouraged everyone to sing in four-part harmony and, of course, Elvis took the lead.

  Now, let’s remember that this session was taking place in a rented building with rented equipment. The music union stated that one session was three hours. Most producers would try to record three to four songs in that time... but not Elvis. He traditionally did one song per session, if that. The studio heads paid more than one visit to the studio to try to speed things up, but Elvis would have none of it. He had a very clear musical vision. Each song was planned and prepared. He would do it his way and in his time.

  On the “I Was the One” session, Ben and Brock got a sense of that Elvis magic. Imagine standing in a studio, watching a star being born. Elvis was clearly happy with Ben, Brock, and Gordon, as he hired them again for “I Want You, I Need You, I Love You.” At that session, Elvis was awarded a gold record for "Heartbreak Hotel". Clearly, his star was on the rise.

  After that, Ben and Brock returned to singing full-time with the Speers. Elvis wanted an established male quartet as his background singers, and Gordon and the Jordanaires got the job. In later years, J.D. Sumner and the Stamps Quartet joined the tour. In doing so, they had to learn the BGVs recorded in those earlier sessions. On one occasion, J.D. was singing Brock’s bass part. Elvis turned to him and exclaimed, “Who do you think you are - Brock Speer?”

  As I sat in the Elliston Soda Shop with Ben, his story attracted the ears of the waitress and the man at the next table. For many of us, it’s hard to imagine being back in 1956, in a world that didn’t yet know Elvis. My own memories are wrapped around Elvis moments - ice skating with choir friends to “I Can’t Help Falling in Love”, hearing my husband sing “Suspicious Minds” at our engagement party, and the Elvis-themed birthday dinner we held for my Mom a few years ago.

  But my new favorite memory is the day I discovered my boss sang with Elvis.

Originally published March 2008. (c) Allison Lynn

Welcome to Worship Wednesdays!

For about a year now, I've had an idea percolating in my mind:

What if we wrote weekly articles 

to encourage worship leaders and songwriters?

As you can imagine, that word "weekly" is the one that caused my procrastination!

But in the past few months, the ideas have been building to the point where my brain can no longer contain them. I feel so blessed with all that Gerald and I have been able to learn and experience in recent years, and the more we meet with other worship leaders, the stronger the desire to share what we've learned, and to incite some conversation.

So each Wednesday, we'll be writing about worship, songwriting, and leadership from the perspective of both the local worship leader and the touring Christian artist. We'll talk about things like building your band, songwriting for 'the gaps', introducing contemporary worship in a traditional church, and what the UFC can teach worship musicians. Yes, that UFC.

Gerald and I will write, but we'll also call on our talented friends to share their wisdom. We'll give you resources, and do our best to answer any questions or write on any topics you send us.

Let's share what we know, raise each other up, and in doing so, create a culture of worship in our churches!

Bookmark this park and tune in each Worship Wednesday for a new article...

New Photos from Elim Lodge!

I've posted photos from our beautiful weekend leading worship for the Elim Women's Retreat.

You can see them HERE.

Enjoy!

With our wonderful speaker, Tara Rye.

Elim Women's Retreat - Day 3

I'm writing this from the comfort of my home, with sunshine and an evening breeze drifting through the room...

As we were getting ready this morning, Gerald and I both commented on how quickly the weekend had flown by. Technically, it was a lot of work - 4 worship services and a full concert - and yet it had felt almost effortless.

For our closing session, we chose a lot of our favourite songs. We led the ladies in singing I Heard The Voice of Jesus Say (with my Irish penny whistle), Mighty to Save, and our setting of Psalm 104 to Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah. We knew where Tara's message was going, so in preparation, we sang our new song, Thy Will Be Done.

There's a wonderful trust that happens at retreats. We noticed it last night when the lyrics went down, and we noticed it again this morning. The theme of "thy will be done" can be imposing, but it was taught and received with a gentle spirit. It was a powerful way to end the weekend. We sent them out singing, clapping, and dancing with our arrangement of "Joyful Jeremiah."

After that, there was nothing to do but enjoy a leisurely roast beef dinner, take last minute photos, pack, and enjoy the drive home.

And now, as I sit on my couch, my mind is wandering through the beautiful memories of the weekend - the joyful singing, praying the thunderstorms would pass us, the inside joke of "whooooosh!", the family of Canada geese outside the restaurant, and the countless conversations shared between strangers and new friends.

I'm a little tired tonight, but mostly, I just feel energized, relaxed, and incredibly grateful.

I'll get photos up soon, but maybe when I'm a little less tired!

Elim Women's Retreat - Day 2

What a day!!

We started the morning with our opening worship session. We led our great group of ladies in singing All Creatures of Our God and King, Be Thou My Vision, and God of Wonders. To prepare their hearts and minds for the message, we sang Gerald's brand new song, All I'm Called To Be (the song written for last Sunday's ordination service.)

Tara Rye's message on the praying life of Jesus is powerful. She has a great balance of scripture, explanation, and personal testimony. It's a simple structure, but rich in information and application.

At lunch, we were treated to an amazing family reunion. A few months ago, one of Tara's family members was researching their family tree online when they discovered they had relatives in Peterborough. This was a whole side of their family they didn't even know existed. Not only did they live in Peterborough, but one of them worked at Elim Lodge! Tara's family also made the trip here from their various homes in the States, so today at lunchtime, they were all reunited with this newly discovered side of the family! The internet at its finest.

The ladies were given the afternoon to explore the beauty of Elim (or just take a well earned nap), and we took the time to prepare for our concert. We walked over to the chapel and within minutes, the skies opened up and we finally received our long anticipated rain storm. Happily, a great group of ladies braved the weather and joined us for our concert.

This was a new concert format for us, and it was so much fun! We played some new songs, encouraged a little sing along, and had the opportunity to share a bit of our story. The room felt so spirit-filled! People were singing along, worshiping in their chairs. There's nothing like sharing a song we wrote, and then having people come up to us after saying, "I need that song! That's my story!"

After supper (side note: the food here is awesome!), we experienced the challenging side of technology. The computer was down, which meant no lyrics on the screen for the worship! We loved the songs we'd chosen - fun, joyful songs for Saturday night - so we made a few wee adjustments, and started our set.

I just have to say this too: this is such good timing by God. If this had happened last night, it would have felt like a bumpy start to the weekend. But by tonight, we'd all had a chance to worship together and build trust. When I encouraged everyone to sing tonight without the words, I could feel we were all in it together.

We had a raucous time with Lean on Me, Wade in the Water, and Just a Closer Walk. People sang, clapped, and danced. It was awesome!

We'd chosen a worship song to close out the night, but Tara's teaching brought us to daily provision. When she used the word "manna," I knew we had to sing Living Manna. The evening ended with a beautiful sense of gentleness. We lingered, enjoying treats from the kitchen and sharing stories.

One more worship service in the morning. Time is flying by...

Elim Women’s Retreat - Day 1

We’re back at beautiful Elim Lodge, just north of Peterborough! This has become one of our favourite places to sing. Sweet people, the sun glistening on the lake, and always interesting speakers create a relaxing and invigorating getaway.

This weekend, we’re leading worship for the Elim Women’s Retreat. Almost 100 women of all ages and backgrounds have gathered for 3 days of worship, teaching, and fellowship.

We’ll be leading four worship sessions, and singing a concert of our own songs tomorrow afternoon. Our speaker is Tara Rye, a writer and teacher from Omaha, Nebraska. Her topic is The 7 Times Jesus Prayed and, judging by tonight, I think we’re in for a great journey.

I just have to say: I love leading worship for retreats! These ladies came ready to worship, and tonight was amazing! They sang with joy and passion. Love it, love it, love it!

Looking forward to tomorrow...

A Day of Dedications....

Today had an unwritten theme - Dedication.

Last spring, Gerald and I wrote "A Divine Heart Imagined You." Inspired by Psalm 139, the song reminds us that God hand-crafted each of us in love. When the song was new, we sang it for our good friends, Deanna and Michael. Well, we didn't know it that night, but Deanna and Michael had a secret - God was already hand-crafting their little girl. After we sang, Deanna and Michael decided they wanted our song at their daughter's dedication.

Today was that day. We arrived bright and early at Calvary Church to rehearse the band and have soundcheck. Some of our Gathering band musicians attend Calvary, so we had them lined up to play, but suddenly a pianist, violinist, and additional vocalist also showed up. In the end, we had a full, 8-piece band! The sound was tight and fluid.

And the worship was powerful! This congregation came ready to praise. 

The message, the prayers, the music, and the beautiful dedication of baby Darragh 

all flowed to create a glorious morning.

Cool Side Story: I was at our CD table after the service, and a woman came up to me, grabbed my "Real Big Fan" CD and said, "I know you!" She bought "Real Big Fan" years ago, and was actually listening to it this morning before church, not knowing we would be at Calvary! When she arrived, she was shocked to see us leading worship. It just reminded me that even though we record the music, we never know who's listening or how it's affecting their lives. Something for all musicians to remember when we hit the studio...

After church, we attended a family luncheon to celebrate Darragh's dedication. Sitting by Lake Ontario, sipping iced tea, nibbling great food, and chatting with interesting folks was refreshment for the soul.

Other Cool Side Story: One of the guests was Herbie Kuhn, "The Voice of the Toronto Raptors"! If you know Gerald and his love for basketball, you know this was a highlight for him!

We slipped out of lunch early to head up to St. John's York Mills for our second dedication of the day - the ordination of our friend, Derwyn. Derwyn and his family came to Toronto to study at U. of T. but God had another plan. At St. John's, they've been involved in music, children's programs, technology, worship, and pretty much anything that needed a helping hand. I love ordination services - watching someone dedicate their life to God's ministry in such a public, formalized way is powerful and inspiring. (No, I don't want to get ordained! Let's not start any rumours...)

Gerald and I led the band, and it was a tremendous time. Derwyn had chosen great music, and our team really stepped up. The choir led a few songs by themselves, and then we all joined together on a few numbers for a huge, full sound.

The highlight was Gerald's new song, written for today - "All I'm Called To Be." 

He played it in the staff meeting this week so Derwyn would hear it in advance, 

I heard the song throughout the writing stages, and it turned out so beautiful. 

Gerald gave a moving performance in the service, and I joined on harmony.

It just felt so special to share it with Derywn and his family tonight.

The response to the music was overwhelming, especially for Gerald's song. I think it gave people a glimpse of what the music at St. John's will be like when we're there for Sunday mornings.

On a day like today, I'm, of course, reminded of my own commitment to ministry. 

But today, I was part of the congregation asked to support both Darragh and Derwyn 

in their lives in Christ. So that got me thinking, 

"What am I doing to support my congregation, 

my musicians, my friends, 

and my family in their faith walk?" 

Food for thought on a richly blessed day....

All Saints Whitby

All Saints Whitby has been on my radar for a while now. Just a few years ago, the entire sanctuary went up in flames, bringing pain and heartache to the entire church community. As they went through their process of rebuilding, I met several parishioners when I led worship for the Peterborough AWARE weekend. This year, thanks to Facebook, I connected with a friend from that weekend who connected Gerald and me with their new priest, and this morning, we visited All Saints to lead music for their Pentecost worship.

Pentecost is one of my favourite Sundays for music. Between the images of wind, flame, Holy Spirit, and speaking in tongues, the day is overflowing with powerful and creative musical choices. The music team at All Saints had today off, so we led the congregation in our signature blend of contemporary praise music and revamped classic hymns. A few months ago, Gerald wrote a new song called Light Me, which was perfect for today's message of letting the Holy Spirit ignite the fire of Jesus's love in you, and bringing that light into the dark places of this world.

Gerald at soundcheck. Hard to believe this sanctuary was once destroyed by fire.

We were humbled by the response to the music. My favourite was the very-senior woman who told me that she's not a fan of contemporary music, but she "could feel God glorified in the music" and because of that, the music and worship were powerful for her. Mission accomplished.

After the service, we were blessed by the beautiful hospitality of a parishioner. A small gathering, beautiful food, and a glowing spring garden set us up for a relaxing afternoon.

It's strange not having the Gathering today, but having such a rich day is getting us through. Tonight, a barbecue with the family, and then, two glorious days off!

Happy Victoria Day Weekend!

New Photos!

Now that we're in our new home and surrounded by everything we own in boxes and bags, 

I finally had time to update my photos!

We've got some great photos of Ali Matthews Songwriting Workshop, 

and all week we're adding photos for this Saturday's Musicfest concert.

You can see them all on our Facebook page, even if you're not a Facebook member.

You can see the Songwriting Workshop HERE and Musicfest HERE.

And if you are a Facebook member, we'd love your Like!

Band rehearsal for this week's Musicfest concert!

Moving Day!

We're in our new home!!

After weeks of packing, cleaning, and moving, we're finally in our new place. This new space is such a good fit for us. Can't wait to find out how we'll live and create in here.

Is it totally ironic that, just this Wednesday, I saw the Wizard of Oz?

There's no place like home...

4 Years Ago Today...

... we were driving home from leading worship at Harpeth Springs Community Church, just outside Nashville, when an 18-wheeler changed lanes without looking and hit, pushed, dragged, rolled, flipped, and threw us down the highway at 70 miles an hour. (May 3, 2009)

We've told the full story countless times at concerts and worship events, and it always sparks conversation. Some people are amazed that we walked out with so few physical injuries. Others share their stories of God's grace in frightening situations. And others choose to have a moment of thanksgiving, for what God did in our lives, and for what He's done in theirs.

So today, as I think back on May 3, 2009, I remember with gratitude our friends, our church family, our neighbours, and our parents, who cared for us, fed us, supported us, and prayed for us during both those early moments and 3 years of physical, emotional, and financial challenges the began that day. I'm thankful for the continuing lessons that have come from the accident - reminders of the fragility of life, the power of community, and the importance of treating others gently.

And I'm reminded today that Gerald and I, like each of us, is loved, valued, and covered by the grace and provision of God.

Today, 

we're going to take a little time 

to slow down, 

enjoy the moment, 

give thanks, 

and have a little celebration.

I encourage you to join us in this...

Ali Matthews Songwriting Workshop

I'll ask a bit of forgiveness in the slow blogging on this - it's Moving Week! Every day we're taking trips to our new home, packing the last of our stuff (which in reality is most of our stuff) and trying to fill out all the change-of-address forms. Crazy week, but really exciting too!

On Saturday, we joined the awesome Ali Matthews for her all day songwriting workshop. Gerald and Ali started weekly online meetings not long after GMA Week last November. I was so excited when they started - creatively they're such a good pairing. Writing, mentoring, and lots of story sharing led to an invitation to teach a few sessions at the workshop. 

Ali and Gerald sharing their songwriting wisdom!

Ali opened the day with the basics of writing, a great listening exercise, and an invitation to be brave in our writing and creativity. Gerald finished the morning with a session on creating lyrical hooks. Over lunch, we learned more about each of the songwriters - What are you writing? What are you goals? What are you listening to these days?

Gerald opened the afternoon by showing how harmonic theory can create tension and release in your music. Ali ushered the writers in the challenge of the day - write! Try something new - find a new cowriter, try a new style, or just do something that scares you.

After an hour, we gathered to hear the results, and it was incredible. One team wrote a bouncy song for spring, a young writer created the start of a worship song, and some dug deep into their broken hearts to share their pain and hope in song.

There was such a great feeling of creativity and community in everything. Ali is so generous with her knowledge and wisdom, and it was an honour to be part of today.

Photos to come soon...

Singing with Handbells!

It's that time of year again - Musicfest!

Each spring, the handbell choirs of St. John's York Mills put on a huge, family-friendly concert that literally incorporates every musician in the church. Handbells, choir, soloists, organ, and the worship band share their talents with a packed house.

This year's theme, "From Vinyl to Viral," celebrates the different ways we've listened to recorded music over the years.

Gerald and I will be leading the band and adding our voices to a few of the handbell pieces. We joined the handbell rehearsal tonight to run our songs. I'll be posting lots of photos on our Facebook page over the next week of rehearsals.

Here's a preview....

Gerald working out the opening number - Consider Yourself! 

Working with handbell director, Carolyn Martin, 

on the beautiful ballad, Try to Remember.

BIG NEWS!!!!!!

Gerald has made the shortlist of finalists for The Word Awards! He has 2, yes, TWO, songs that have made the shortlist in the Song Lyric category.

"You Are..." , a love song to God, was recorded as part of our Infinitely More CD.

"If They Knew It Was Me" has been performed at several of our live performances, and challenges us to imagine Jesus walking in our midst.

The Word Awards are designed to raise the profile of Canadian writers who are Christian, and to encourage them in the pursuit of excellence. A black-tie awards gala has been held since 2006 to increase public recognition, honour the winners, and celebrate Canadian writing. The awards currently consist of 19 book categories and 15 other categories for articles, columns, poems, song lyrics, and blog posts.

A full list of finalists can be seen at www.TheWordGuild.com

We'll be attending the gala and taking lots of photos - stay tuned!

How We Spent Easter...

Yesterday was a whirlwind. Not the We're-not-in-Kansas-anymore type, but the kind that sweeps you into a busy day and leaves you on the other side, a little dizzy, a little tired, and surprisingly complete.

I could fill pages describing the day, so let me sum it all up in a few highlights:

- Morning worship with a packed house, awesome worship band, and full choir.

- We sang "Resurrection Hymn (See What a Morning)" as a Communion song, complete with accordion!

- I met a couple visiting from England, and I had sung at their wedding 15 years ago!

- Mom and Dad joined us for the morning service! So great to have them there.

- Ended morning worship with a roof-shattering rendition of "To God Be The Glory" with voices, band, tambourine, and pipe organ.

- Had a little rest between services, with enough time to make up a platter of Easter treats for the band.

- Beautiful Gathering service with a great crowd, including enough children for a children's focus.

- A powerful message by Drew and a moving, intimate Communion led by Anne.

- We enjoyed a late Easter dinner with friends, in a comfortable home with an abundance of food.

Our Gathering Worship Band, tech team, and clergy.

But the real highlight, the best moment of the day for us, was sharing our new song, 

"There's a Light at the End of the Tomb" at both services. 

We'd been working on it for weeks, and as I've shared already, 

the church used our song title as the cornerstone of their Easter advertising.

Our song title on the cover of the Easter bulletins. 

We just used guitar for the accompaniment, but we pulled Patrick and Derwyn into the mix to give us a full vocal quartet on the choruses. It felt so awesome to sing it, and the reaction was overwhelmingly positive.

We recorded everything, so once we have a bit of Easter recovery time, we'll take a listen and see if we can share any of it with you.

In the meantime, please feel free to visit our FACEBOOK page 

to see more photos of our Easter experience! 

HAPPY EASTER!

“Why do you look for the living among the dead? 

He is not here; he has risen!"

Happy Easter, everyone!!!

The Easter cross at St. John's York Mills.

Check back later today for an update on today's Easter celebrations! 

It's gonna be a good one!

A Dark Saturday...

I always stop and pause today.

We know Easter's coming. We know the Son will rise tomorrow, life has won, and death is no more.

But the disciples of Jesus didn't know it.

Jesus had spoken about it - cryptically, in stories and strange examples - but this wasn't really supposed to happen. Was it?

The friends of Jesus weren't decorating their sanctuaries with lilies, and preparing baked ham and chocolates for a Sunday feast. Instead, I imagine them huddled in a room, hiding themselves from the anger that had erupted just a day ago. I imagine them afraid, confused, and heartbroken...

I think we need to think about this experience for two reasons:

#1. It's the truth of the story.

and #2. There are so many living like this today.

Without hope.
Without light.
Believing that death has actually won.

They don't know Easter is coming. They might not even know that Easter is a possibility.

So today, I encourage you to lift a prayer for those who are living in the shadow of Good Friday.

Fear not, my friend. Sunday is coming...

Happy Palm Sunday!

Some Sundays allow for a greater range of creativity than others, and Palm Sunday is one of them. At St. John's, we open our worship with the praise of Palm Sunday, but then move into reading the Passion (or Holy Week story) using a dramatized reading. At The Gathering, we thought this should also incorporate music.

As the readers told the story of the Last Supper, Gethsemene, the trial, and the crucifixion, we lead songs that helped expand on the emotions and implications Jesus's journey.

Our song list included classic hymns like "Hosanna, Loud Hosanna" and "Were You There," alongside newer songs like "Beautiful One" and "Gethsemene." We finished the story with Gerald's song, "All Things are Possible to Thee."

Guitars waiting for worship...

There's part of me that only wants to sit in the joy and triumph of Palm Sunday, but now that we've moved through the Passion, I'm ready for Holy Week.

Let's start our walk towards the cross...

March Break Madness...

This past weekend, we enjoyed the final days of March break with a busy weekend up in Collingwood.

For those of you who live outside of Southern Ontario, Collingwood is an area known for beautiful lakes, winter skiing, and one of the biggest annual Elvis festivals in North America.

We arrived Saturday afternoon for a mini-workshop with the worship band from All Saints Anglican Church. We rehearsed the music for Sunday's worship, while also throwing out as many ideas as we could for introducing contemporary elements into their Sunday worship music. On a future visit, we'd love to have a full afternoon to really work through these concepts and have some creative time together. Hopefully, we can make that happen soon...

That evening, our singer friend, Cheryl Bourne, hosted us for a house concert! It was a fun and intimate evening of music in her living room. It was full of things you only get at a house concert:

- we sang in our slippers

- a little girl danced during All You Need is Love

- intermission had birthday cake for a guest

- the smell of chocolate fondue filled the air

- a dog sat in the front row

Gerald working with the All Saints Church worship band.

The next morning, we arrived back at All Saints for morning worship. After a quick rehearsal with the band, we played our preservice music, and we felt welcomed from the start. The congregation actually applauded for one of our preservice songs! That's a first for us!

The whole morning felt wonderful! The congregation and staff were all so open, and sang along so easily. We were even able to do part of the children's focus, which felt very special.

After church, it was back in the car for the 2 hour drive back to Toronto. We arrived just in time to unload the car and head to St. John's for The Gathering. Rehearsal at 3pm, service at 5pm, and, you guessed it, collapse in our jammies by sundown!

So much work, but worth every moment!!!

To see our photos, please visit our FACEBOOK page.

The Iceberg of Creativity

The last few weeks have been behind-the-scenes kind of busy:

- music planning for Holy Week

- cowriting a new Easter song with Gerald

- writing a new psalm setting for each Sunday in Lent

- booking for upcoming tours

- planning this weekend's events in Collingwood

- strategy planning for the future of Infinitely More

It all sounds powerful and creative when I write it out, but the truth is, some days it just feels like a lot of work. I look at this list, and I can see all the little details between the lines.

Then I found this photo on Facebook today:

And it captured what I was thinking far easier than I could ever say it.

I think every artist gets this image...

The performance is tight, but the audience never sees the hours that went into polishing those harmonies.

The painting looks great, but the viewer never sees the canvases that didn't make it out of the studio.

The song is moving, but the listener never hears the 38 words that rhymed with "love" that never made the cut.

And I think, ultimately, that's a good thing. As artists, we know what it takes to make art, and the selfish part of us wants everyone to know - "Hey, this is hard! This takes work! I did a LOT to make this happen!!"

But the generous part of us never wants the audience to think about that. Instead, we want you to hear the message, feel the emotion, and be transformed by the art we're sharing with you.

It's not about having other people fully get all that goes into making the art. 

We know. 

Other artists know. 

God knows. 

That should be enough.

The true joy comes in the making, and the giving.

So let's share our art, and the next day, we'll dive in the water, and build up that iceberg all over again...

Workshop with Ron Klusmeier

Many years ago, Dad invited me to a workshop featuring two hymn writers: Ron Klusmeier and Fred Kaan. It was a beautiful night of creativity and worship! I brought Monika to a workshop, and together, we recorded a few of Ron and Fred's songs.

A few days ago, I received an email that Ron was doing a workshop in Toronto this weekend!

Today's workshop at Leaside United Church.

This afternoon, I joined 30 other singers for an afternoon with Ron Klusmeier and his team. They're on an epic one-year tour of Canada! They visit churches to lead workshops and concerts featuring the music of Ron and his cowriters.

Our group today was composed (pun intended) of choir singers and music directors, so you know the sound was great. We sang new songs, and learned about Ron's ministry of making songs available to churches of all shapes and sizes.

Me and Ron Klusmeier!

After the workshop, Ron and I had a chance to catch up. I'm so inspired by Ron. First, there's his incredibly large body of work - over 750 hymns, and more coming every year. He works with cowriters from around the world, and many of his partnerships are decades long. And second, I'm inspired by his desire to put his songs directly into the hands of church musicians. These workshops are so user-friendly, with songs the average choir can pick up on the first pass. And in addition to his songbooks, there's his incredible website that makes charts and arrangements available for any kind of musical configuration.

Today has left me feeling encouraged and inspired.... the perfect way to leave Saturday and go into Sunday...

Our Fireside Concert!

It's been weeks of prep and planning, and today was the day - our Fireside Concert!

Last night, all the furniture in our living room was cleared, and rearranged with rows of chairs and our sound system by the window.

This morning, we had a final soundcheck, shovelled the front walk, and put on the apple cider.

This afternoon, the house was filled with happy, smiling people, ready for an afternoon of music and stories by the fire.

I'm so happy with the day! We had people who know us well, and people who've never heard our music before. We debuted several new songs, and created new arrangements of old favourites. We had some great sing-along moments, and the puppies were thrilled to have so many people ready to cuddle them.

We weren't able to get video, but we've got some photos, and maybe a bit of audio. I've also written a draft of an article to help other artists self-produce their own house concerts. I'll share what I've got next week, but tonight, we're just sitting in the calm of the evening...

I'm a Guest Blogger!

This week, I'm guest blogging over at SGMRadio.com!

The post was inspired by the recent passings of two wonderful women in my life.

You can read "Who's Watching You?" by clicking HERE.

My guest post was inspired by my Aunt Alma, far right.

Happy Anniversary to Us!

Seven years ago, Gerald and I gathered with friends and family to start our greatest adventure ever: becoming husband and wife.

One of my favourite shots!

Montreal, QC - from our East Coast Tour 2011

Today, I'm flooded with memories of that week, and of the past seven years. 

It's flown by, and at the same time, I'm amazed at all we've done in that time:

- lived in Nashville for 3 years

- recorded 4 CDs

- written hundreds of songs

- started Infinitely More

- traveled and toured in 6 provinces and 3 states

- survived an insanely dangerous car crash

- adopted 2 beautiful puppies

- spent countless hours laughing, chatting, and loving our family & friends

This afternoon, we'll stand in the exact spot where we exchanged vows, and we'll lead our Gathering community in worship. How awesome is that? God's plan for our lives never fails to surprise, delightful, and overwhelm me.

Today, I'm so thankful for everyone who has been a part of our journey - family, friends, mentors, musicians, colleagues, pastors, congregations, and everyone who has ever read a blog post, attended our concert, downloaded our music, or watched our videos. We love you!!!

To read the story of how we met, 

please check out this LINK.

Love At First Listen!

We were recently asked to share the story of how we met for SGMRadio.com 

They've included our story in an article featuring the love stories of different Gospel artists.

Click HERE to read how the perfect voice mail became the start of our love story...

Having fun on our Infinitely More CD photo shoot last summer.

Break Forth Photos!

It's been less than a week since we returned home from Break Forth. I really wish we'd had three or four days just to sit, review our notes, and reflect on our experiences. Instead, we arrived home in the middle of the night (literally!), did a huge load of laundry, and got right back to work Wednesday morning.

So, instead, I'm sneaking in my reflections - 

a thought here, 

a memory there...

Today, I went through all our photos of the weekend. 

I've put them together to give you a sense of what we experienced.

You can view them on our SITE and FACEBOOK pages.

Enjoy!

Singing in the hallway of the Shaw Centre...