Worship Wednesdays - An Astronaut's Guide to Worship Leading - Part 2

Today we wrap up my 2-part post inspired by Commander Chris Hadfield's book, "An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth."

As I mentioned in Part 1, I don't know anything Chris's personal beliefs, nor do I mean to imply anything about them by these posts. I'm just sharing my own thoughts, inspirations, and applications gleaned from his writing.

There are so many great lessons in this book about preparation, leadership, and contributing to a larger whole. But one of my favourite themes is a definition of success.

Early on, Chris adopted this attitude:

"Throughout all this I never felt that I'd be a failure in life 

if I didn't get to space."

Wow. I didn't even realize you could be an astronaut if you didn't go into space. And how happy can an Earth-bound astronaut be?

In music, we love the great successes - the hit song, the huge publishing deal, the national award. Even in worship music, we've developed a culture of music hits and superstars. We create our music for God and God's people, but let's be honest - who doesn't want their song to become a worship hit? Who doesn't want to hear their song on the radio and see it rise to the top of the CCLI charts? Only a few musicians will ever have any kind of superstar success, but all career musicians will have those highs - the moments when we feel like we're in space. It you stick around in this business, you'll have an amazing performance, or a television appearance, or some other accomplishment that makes you go, "Wow, this is the best life ever!!"

"Still, I also know that most people, including me, tend to applaud the wrong things: the showy, dramatic record-setting sprint rather than the years of dogged preparation or the unwavering grace displayed during a string of losses. Applause, then, never bore much relation to the reality of my life as an astronaut, which was not all about, or even mostly about, flying around in space. 

It was really abut making the most of my time here on Earth."

What is your life in music truly about? If it's about the hit song or the big win, quit now and go back to singing in the shower. We personally know several musicians for whom that is their driving force and you know what? They're miserable. They are never satisfied. They live with a constant sense of entitlement and disappointment.

If your goal is to make music for God and for God's people, then do that. Make music. Experience the joy and fulfilment of creating a song that didn't exist before your hand hit the guitar. Have a rehearsal where you take an old song and find a fresh new way to play it. Feel the frustration of that one riff you just can't nail. Wrestle with rejection. Sing for a group of people who need your message. Hear their stories, and let that inform your music. Wake up the next day and do it all over again.

Along the way, you'll have successes of various sizes, 

but let them punctuate your life and not define it. 

Enjoy each step of the journey, and love your musical life here on Earth....

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: 

My next post will be my 1000th blog post!!

Come back this weekend as I celebrate this milestone...

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

Worship Wednesdays - Most Things to Most People

For today's Worship Wednesdays, please welcome my better half in life and music, Gerald Flemming!

Most Things To Most People

Guest Post by Gerald Flemming

The advantages of a personal touring ministry are many. We are constantly brought into people’s lives and get to hear the stories that are foundational for their congregation and faith walk.  This extends even further as we play in different denominational settings or, as we had established in St. Andrew’s, an ecumenical service. Here we witnessed Christians worshiping. We weren’t Anglicans, Catholics, Presbyterians or any sect of Christianity. We were just Christians who were seeking the most practical Biblical choices we can make with our lives in modern times.  It was an honor to witness teachers and a congregation in pure joyous teaching worship.

Wednesday Worship at St. Andrews, NB

This was the Wednesday evening service that we started in St. Andrews. It was predicated on the paradigm that we started with Rev. Drew MacDonald at St. John’s York Mills, called the Gathering.  It was a simplified service that was teaching and music based. In St. Andrews, it was less dialogue driven and more teaching driven which suited the people there a little better. Within a few weeks of starting the service, it was one of, if not the best attended services within the local townships. As much as I’d secretly like to believe that it was because of the music, I really don’t think it was.  Between the tremendous meal and conversations that happened prior to the service, and the ideal that it was an all inclusive service, there was created a sense of community almost instantaneously.  There was a vibrant need that seemingly wasn’t being satisfied by any of the Sunday morning services for these people. I think on some level they felt as if they were helping to create and shape a worship that served them more directly and idiosyncratically.

Let me say first and foremost, I am in no way against liturgically based services. I think they are the backbone of our faith and have an intellectual veracity that is both necessary and edifying.  And even the best worship band would be hard pressed if they were up against an amazing choir doing Mozart’s Requiem. However, there are often times an enormous gap between this service and the moral and spiritual countenance of our everyday life.  Where do we test our ideals and the quandaries of everyday living?  Where can we as individuals admit defeat, exhaustion, pain, horror…and feel relatively safe?

Is it possible that we could have a conversation around the idea that both of these worship services are necessary for a well-rounded spiritual life? 

I realize that I’m touting an ideal here. It’s just an interesting experience seeing the different pieces of the spiritual pie doled out to different people with varied needs. And instead of there being the unfortunate and unnecessary culture war that can often take place in churches, you could have a bonded sense of dual purpose intended on serving the whole soul, instead of just prioritized pieces.

There are churches all over that are experimenting with this idea, and the interesting outcome is that they are, by and large, flourishing. They have, on average, a higher attendance rate as well as a higher rate of personal ministry involvement. The offshoot of this, of course, is that they end up with more resources that feeds back into the community creating many different types of momentum.

There are many people out there who, on some level, feel that this approach defiles tradition  That it is in some way an affront to the purity of what Church has been and should continue to be. And I know I have a personal agenda, but I question this calcification of approach, as something that could conceivably turn young people away from the church to more digestible forms of worship. I’ve heard people and priests use the adage, ‘You can’t please everyone.’ And it’s absolutely true, particularly with limited resources, but within those frameworks it might be time to start a Wednesday night service, where the food is great, the conversation is meaningful, the teaching has an immediate and practical relevancy…and the music isn’t bad either  ;)

Next week, Worship Wednesdays returns with Part 2 of 

"An Astronaut's Guide to Worship Leading"

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

Worship Wednesdays - An Astronaut's Guide to Worship Leading - Part 1

Last year, I and millions of other followed the space adventures of Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield. As Commander of the International Space Station, Chris made it his job to share the space experience with those of us who will never get more than a few feet off the Earth's surface. His photos showed our planet's captivating beauty, and his videos of life in space made everyday activities like shaving, brushing your teeth, or even crying truly fascinating. 

I recently read Chris's book, An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth. In the book, he shares many of his space adventures, but he also shares the unique life of an astronaut. The book is filled with inspiration and life lessons, so I started thinking, "What can this book teach me as a musician and worship leader?"

For the next few weeks, I'll be writing posts inspired by this book. As a personal disclaimer, I'll say that I don't know anything about Chris Hadfield's personal faith or religious practices, and I don't mean to imply anything about them through this writing. But I would hope that these posts actually fit the original intention of Chris's book - to take the extraordinary experience of being in space, and apply it to life here on Earth. 

I underlined many favourite quotes in the book, and this is the one that keeps coming to mind. On an online Q&A, Chris was asked "Are astronauts religious?" and his answer:

"...they run the gamut from devout to atheist, 

but whatever the personal belief system, 

space flight tends to reinforce it."

I find that fascinating, because I imagine if I was ever in space and could see our planet and universe from that perspective, I'd probably fall face down in praise of the Creator. But it got me thinking about our role as worship leaders, and I asked myself, 

"When we're leading people in worship, are we reinforcing their belief system?"

There are many reasons people go to church or attend a night of Christian music, and one of them is to reinforce their beliefs. They want to know that this story, this thing they've committed to, is true. In ministry, we can obsess over 'reaching the lost' and 'saving souls', but the entire faith journey is so important. Once we've 'reached' and 'saved,' what then?

I believe one of our roles as worship leaders and Christian artists to bolster the faith of the faithful. Average attendance in today's church is once every two to three weeks. In between those visits, a lot can happen to shake someone's faith - anything from a family illness to a horrible news story to a personal failure can put a crack in their faith foundation. They're not 'lost' again, but they might be looking for the back door.

In that moment, we have a responsibility to help them reinforce the faith they have. From our song choice to our prayers to our conversation at coffee hour after the service, we can use all the colours on our palette to remind them of God's love, forgiveness, and mercy. We can never make someone believe or force them into faith, but by demonstrating God's love, by creating community, and by drawing them into honest and beautiful worship, we can remind them of the grace they've already found.

And when that happens, there's less room for doubt. When we allow God to fill our vision, our faith can only grow stronger. As hymn writer Fanny Crosby said it:

"...but purer, and higher, and greater will be 

our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see."

How are you reinforcing the faith of your worshiping community?

Share your thoughts in the comments section!

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

Worship Wednesdays - Changing of the Seasons...

In theory, we should be switching from Winter to Spring some time soon. Looking out my window at our icy, snowy neighbourhood, it's hard to tell that life is hiding in the dirt, ready for that one sunny day to start a new journey of growth.

This week is a changing of the seasons in our home.

On Sunday, we left St. Andrews By-the-Sea, New Brunswick. For a little over 2 months, we lived in a cozy house in this beautiful small town as Musicians in Residence at All Saints Church.

Our initial goals included introducing contemporary music to the congregation and building the worship teams. It was hard to tell what that would look like exactly until we arrived at the church and started to meet the community. Over the 2 month period, we started a contemporary ecumenical service, played for the Sunday worship, appeared on local TV, led the choir, started a worship band, wrote & arranged new songs, worked with the youth group & Sunday school, hosted workshops, taught private lessons, performed concerts, and enjoyed all the town had to offer.

There are too many wonderful moments to share with you, but I want to share one of my favourites:

One Wednesday, we were preparing for the evening worship. This was our week to debut the worship band - a brand new venture for this church. Soundcheck and rehearsal were finished. Folks were gathering for the evening meal, chatting and finding their tables. Sounds of clanking pots and laughter were coming from the kitchen as dishes made their way to the buffet. Children were chasing each other around the tables as smiling parents told them to slow down.

I was feeling a few pre-worship jitters - would the band be okay? Would the tech all keep together? What if people didn't want a band? Gerald gently grabbed my arm and turned me to face the busy room. He whispered in my ear. "Five weeks ago, none of this was here." And he was right. In just a few weeks, something wonderful had grown from an empty room and a powerful idea - 

what if we tried church in a new way?

We're so grateful to the people of All Saints for inviting us for this musical adventure, and to the community of St. Andrews for sharing their lives with us.

So this week, we're changing seasons in our home. We're looking back over the lessons of the past season, giving thanks, and wrapping up loose ends. And we're looking forward into the next season - a new CD, our first concert tour of the prairie provinces, and a pile of other dreams and plans we've just started to sort through.

The adventure begins again...

You can see the photos we took during our St. Andrews adventure HERE.

And this is this interview we had during our first week:

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

Worship Wednesdays - Relaxing in the Storm...

Well, today's blog is receiving a last minute rewrite. Originally I had written:

"As you read this, we'll be on the road, driving home to Ontario..."

Now, I need to write:

"As you read this, we're still in St. Andrews, not knowing when we'll drive home to Ontario..."

All last week, the weather reports for this week's drive were perfectly clear. Then Monday morning, we awoke to a switch in the forecast. Snow, freezing rain, and storms were predicted for every stretch of our 3-province, 2 day drive home.

Much discussion, a little stress, and a few phone calls led to the decision to stay put until we could find a 2 day window of clear weather.

A little ironic that our arrival here in St. Andrews was also delayed by January storms!

As someone who loves making plans, changing them isn't always my strongpoint (anyone else want to testify?) But I'm learning to actually enjoy change, and find the blessings in a schedule thrown off course.

Here's how we're using this scheduling change to our advantage:

We're going to rest a little, after 2 months of intense work. 

Instead of a rushed day of prep before the drive, 

we're taking care of a few tasks a day, to enter the drive in a more relaxed state.

We're continuing to book concerts on our Prairies Road Trip concert tour. 

We're going to visit our favourite St. Andrews restaurants one more time. 

I'm moving next week's To Do List to this week, 

to knock down the list and give us more open time when we get home.

I'm going to watch TED talks, which remind me of the 

power of thinking and following through on great ideas.

This week, I encourage you to embrace change as it comes your way. 

Seek blessings in the chaos, and you'll find grace and peace in unexpected places.

We've just finished our season as Musicians in Residence at All Saints Church in beautiful St. Andrews By-The-Sea, New Brunswick. 

Follow our adventures at www.Facebook.com/InfinitelyMoreBand 

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

Worship Wednesdays - Celebrating Ash Wednesday

Tonight is our final Wednesday service here at All Saints, St. Andrews. We have a finale concert on Friday, and one more Sunday morning. I can't believe how quickly our time has flown...

When we realized our final Wednesday would be Ash Wednesday, we started a little debate. Our Wednesdays have been contemporary, active, informal, and ecumenical. Would we keep that format for Ash Wednesday? Would people want to revert to a more traditional model of worship for this particular day?

We decided that our Wednesdays were working well and attracting new people, so we'd stick with our format. Rev. John invited clergy from different churches to participate in the planning and leading. We wanted to mark this special day in the Christian calendar with a different touch on the music, so we incorporated a sung psalm and some Taize choruses.

Here is our service outline, including music titles, 

for tonight's Ash Wednesday worship:

Trumpet voluntary.

Responsive reading crafted from the book of Joel.

Piano solo for reflection.

Opening Congregational Music: 

All Creatures of Our God and King                                                  
Refiner's Fire

                                                     

Psalm 51 - musical setting by Infinitely More

Solo: Lighter and Brighter and Deeper, 

written by Gerald Flemming, performed by Infinitely More.

An Ash Wednesday Message

The Imposition (distribution) of Ashes

During the Imposition of the Ashes: 

Wait For The Lord (Taize)

Live in Charity (Taize)

For God So Loved - written by Gerald Flemming

Closing Congregational Song: 

What Wondrous Love is This

Closing Prayer and Benediction

We'll have the worship band play on the opening and closing songs. During the imposition of ashes, we'll just have guitar and voices for a more pared down sound.

I love the flow of this service. As with every Wednesday, we'll start with a meal, and continue our worship around the tables in the Parish Hall. I love that we've incorporated both hymns and contemporary worship music. I like that we're participating in the ancient ritual of the ashes, while singing songs written in recent church history.

How are celebrating Ash Wednesday? 

Please leave your thoughts in the Comments section...

We're spending the winter as Musicians in Residence at All Saints Church in beautiful St. Andrews By-The-Sea, New Brunswick. 

Follow our adventures at www.Facebook.com/InfinitelyMoreBand 

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

Worship Wednesdays - The Story Behind "Living Manna"

In the months that followed our car accident, we were riddled with ongoing concerns - some physical, some financial, and all emotional. We had already left Nashville, and were hunkered down in my parents' home for a few months to heal and regain our footing. I found myself sitting up very late one night, consumed by my worries. As I sat in the quiet of the living room, I needed to be reminded of God's daily presence in our lives.

I thought about the story of the manna in the Old Testament. God only provided enough sustenance for the day, not simply to provide the necessary nourishment, but to teach the people that He would show up tomorrow. God could be trusted to provide for us today, tomorrow, and every day.

The word "manna" drifted around in my brain, and paired with the words from the Lord's prayer, "Give us this day our daily bread."

As a lover of Easter, I believe strongly in the Living God, so suddenly, the words started to form a pattern:

Living manna, living bread...

A verse formed...

The second verse wanted to follow the same pattern, and 'water' and 'blood' seemed to be the natural progression. A recent conversation about the need for the Trinity in worship songs came to mind, and the third verse found its theme. As the night drifted on, the lyric took shape...

As I wrote the words, a lilting melody came to mind. In the early hours of the morning, I finished Living Manna.

I kept it to myself for several weeks. "Just a little song for me," I thought. A trusted friend and worship leader came to visit, and we started sharing songs. She asked if I'd been writing, and I sheepishly pulled out my new lyric and melody. As I sang, she started to play on the piano. We sang Living Manna over and over and over.

I finally shared the song with Gerald, who wrote a beautiful guitar arrangement. We sang it in concerts and during worship, especially during Communion services. Eventually, Living Manna earned a spot on our debut Infinitely More recording.

Today, we share Living Manna everywhere we go, reminding each of us that we have a God who feeds us, who cleanses us, and who is complete.

I recently asked my Dad to take photos 

inspired by the words in the song. 

Here's the brand new lyric video for Living Manna:

We're spending the winter as Musicians in Residence at All Saints Church in beautiful St. Andrews By-The-Sea, New Brunswick. 

Follow our adventures at www.Facebook.com/InfinitelyMoreBand 

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

Worship Wednesdays - Hosting a Youth Group Songwriting Night

One request of All Saints Church was giving musical support and resources to their youth group. Even though a few teens play instruments, the group hasn't done any musical actives in the past. We wanted an event where everyone could participate, so we decided to have a group songwriting night.

Our first task was simply to get the conversation started, so after the welcome meal, we gathered around in a circle and started asking questions about God and church.

What do you like about church? 

What don't you like? 

What do you get out of youth group? 

Do you see a place for yourselves in worship?

As the teens talked, we gathered the ideas on a large flip chart, so everyone could the see their collected thoughts. Next, we looked for a theme. Community was a big one, as was connectedness. We talked about the importance of a hook. Not simply a title, but an idea that would serve as the cornerstone for the whole song. From our notes, we pulled the hook "Connected to the Life."

Next, we flipped over a new piece of paper, and talked about song form. They understand the basics of verse and chorus, so we found a strong place for our hook in the chorus, and started to build. As they saw the hook on the paper, the lyrics began to flow quickly. Soon it was time to create a verse. We went back to our original brainstorming.

Which of these original ideas would lead to our chorus? 

How could we shape them into lines? 

Could we make them rhyme?

We had a verse and a chorus - so what about music? Gerald pulled out his guitar and started playing with ideas. He gave them a few options, and the rock/pop melody with grinding electric guitar was the unanimous favourite.

After a few passes, our song was done!

We wrote out the lyric so the whole group could sign it. We invited the parents in to hear our results. And we gained permission to share the song during this week's Wednesday and Sunday services.

Our songwriting team!

I love this activity for older kids and teens. It allows them to share their own thoughts and ideas. It explores creativity and language. Because it's a group write, no one person has to carry the full pressure of a completed song. If your group has a number of musicians, you can teach them to perform the song and use it in worship. And perhaps most importantly, it allows your youth to discover, and your congregation to hear, the worship voice of our young people.

What are some music activities you've done with youth groups?

Leave your thoughts in the Comments section...

We're spending January and February as Musicians in Residence at All Saints Church in beautiful St. Andrews By-The-Sea, New Brunswick. 

Follow our adventures at www.Facebook.com/InfinitelyMoreBand 

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

St. Andrews By-the-Sea Concert

We've been having such a great time here in St. Andrews, 

we've decided to host a concert for the community!

If you're in New Brunswick, or have friends in the area, 

please join us for this special night!

Worship Wednesdays - Hosting a First Band Rehearsal

This week, we're trying something bold for the Parish of St. Andrews - we're starting a worship band!

Worship bands are nothing new, but in this church, a band is a very new concept. Until now, music has been exclusively led by organ and choir, with the occasional guest musician. We know there are instrumentalists in the congregation, but getting them to stretch outside their comfort zones and help us lead worship has been a new challenge.

Last night, we hosted our first rehearsal, and tonight, we'll debut the band in worship.

Bringing a group of musicians together for the very first time has some unique challenges, so here are some things we've tried to help make the first rehearsal a success:

Learn About Your Team
We're new to this parish, so we've spent the last few weeks just getting to know the musicians. Some have come for private lessons, which has been great. Others have joined us in jam sessions, or have grabbed us for conversations after church. We've tried to get a sense of who reads music, who learns by ear, who is super confident, and who might need a little encouragement. All of this helps us work with the players as individuals to make the most of their talents and offerings.

Set Everyone Up For Success
This is our mantra for working with a band or choir! As you learn about your team, you'll learn each player's strengths and weaknesses. Use this knowledge to put each player in a place to succeed. If you have a highly skilled player, give them a chance to solo and really use their talents in a full way. If you have a beginner player, ask them what songs feel comfortable to them, and then feature them on a special number.

Start With Prayer
We're not just leading music, we're leading worship. We begin each rehearsal with prayer to give thanks for our talents, to offer them back to God, and to remind us of our role as worship leaders.

Share The Roadmap
At the start of each song, share the roadmap of the song. Let the players know the intro and ending, where the repeats happen, and any special notations. A seasoned band will start to know these things instinctually, but in the beginning, mark these things out clearly. Knowing where you're going at the start of the song will help everyone feel more confident and unified.

Allow Lots of Time
We didn't know what to expect with this first rehearsal, so we allowed plenty of time. Our rehearsal was held on a different day than the service, so we didn't feel the pressure of having to play the songs that night. We also started with only 2 songs, instead of the full 5 song set. This meant we could really take time to work the material. After working through details, we played each song several times to get used to listening to each other and following Gerald's guitar lead.

Remember to Check In 
As a band grows in unity, asking questions should become second nature, but on a first rehearsal, people can feel a little overwhelmed. Instead of asking for help, they may just keep silent, affecting both the music and their experience of the rehearsal. Be sure to check in with each player throughout the rehearsal, especially when you've asked them to take the lead on something, or if you know the song is new for them.

We're spending January and February as Musicians in Residence at All Saints Church in beautiful St. Andrews By-The-Sea, New Brunswick. 

Follow our adventures at www.Facebook.com/InfinitelyMoreBand 

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

Our "Artisans" Interview!

Just after we arrived here in St. Andrews, we were interviewed for a local TV show called "Artisans". The show features local and visiting musicians to Charlotte County, New Brunswick.

The show generously allowed us to post the interview to our YouTube channel.

Here's the entire show. You can watch our interview, and at 20:33, 

we sing our song, "There's A Light At The End Of The Tomb."

Worship Wednesdays - 6 Ways to Teach New Songs Quickly!

One of the biggest requests at All Saints has been for new songs, and new ways to sing familiar songs. Most worship leaders and music directors know that music should be taught to a congregation slowly, allowing all members to learn the melody and take in the meaning of the lyric.

With only 8 weeks for our residency, we don't have the luxury of time, so we're having to look for creative ways to teach new music. Our goal is to leave at least 10 new songs in their repertoire than can be sung after we leave.

Here are some of the tools and tricks we're using to introduce new songs:

Stretch, Don't Leap
This is a congregation that sings from a hymnal. If we brought in the latest song from Third Day or Switchfoot, they'd be lost, they'd stop singing, and we'd lose their trust. Instead, we're starting with what they know by singing contemporary arrangements of well known hymns. Then, we're stretching out into new songs that have hymn-like sensibilities, like "In Christ Alone," "10,000 Reasons," and "My Heart Is Filled With Thankfulness."

Work the Prelude 
As people are gathering for worship, we're playing new songs that we want to teach them over the next few weeks. Even if they're not participating in the singing, the melodies will start to seep into their musical subconsciousness. The same can be done with anthems, postludes, and Communion songs.

Use Social Networking and YouTube
Most popular worship songs and hymns have lyric videos on YouTube. Each week, we're posting a video of a new song on the church's Facebook page. We're also posting them on our Infinitely More page for those who aren't church members. We post them a few days before the service and encourage folks to turn up their speakers and sing along.

Create MP3s
We often create our own arrangements of well known songs, or at the very least, sing them in a different key than the original artist. To help the choir and band learn music, we're creating mp3s and emailing them to the musicians along with the sheet music. Again, we do this a few days in advance so they can have time to prepare for the service.

Let People Know What You're Doing
During our first week, we realized that some people were singing the hymns exactly as they usually sing them, and not necessarily at the tempo that we were playing. Last week, before the service, I announced, "Sometimes, singing an old song in a new way can help to reopen the message to us. This week, we'll be playing some hymns that we know you'll love, but we'll be playing them with a slightly different style. If it feels a little different, just follow Gerald and his guitar, and we know we'll have a great time singing!" Even this simple piece of instruction encouraged the congregation to listen, and it helped with both the new arrangements, and the new songs.

Teach The Children
Okay, this seems sneaky, and maybe it is, but it works. Most services have a 'children's focus'. Studies show that these simplified lessons resonate powerfully with adults as well. We're using this time to teach new songs to the children. For songs that are kids only, we'll teach them directly in the Sunday School, but for songs that are also appropriate for the fuller congregation, we'll teach them during the children's focus. By having this slow, direct teaching time, we can teach a full song to the congregation, and also ensure that the church's repertoire has some songs that are appropriate for youth services.

We're spending January and February as Musicians in Residence at All Saints Church in beautiful St. Andrews By-The-Sea, New Brunswick. 

Follow our adventures at www.Facebook.com/InfinitelyMoreBand 

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

Worship Wednesdays - The New Chapter Begins...

Tonight, something special begins...

If you haven't heard our recent news, we're spending the winter in beautiful St. Andrews By-the-Sea, New Brunswick. In our 2-month musical residency at All Saints Church, we'll introduce new forms of contemporary and creative worship and expand the musical team.

Here's the welcome video we made for the congregation:

Tonight, we're hosting our first worship service. We're going with an Epiphany theme and a contemporary format, similar to the Gathering worship services we used to hold in Toronto.

Songs will include:

- a soulful arrangement of The Huron Carol

- We Three Kings, with a celtic flair

- Come, Now is the Time to Worship

- How Great Thou Art

We'll also sing our new Christmas song, 

Tonight Everywhere Is Bethlehem.

For those of you in musical leadership, you'll recognize that two months isn't a very long time to help build a music program. But we're encouraged by the openness and enthusiasm that we've found here. We're excited about connecting with the musicians in the community, and confident that God has something great planned for all of us.

Over the 2 months, Worship Wednesdays will be inspired by this St. Andrews journey! Stay tuned to see how things unfold...

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

Book Review - Ghost Boy, by Martin Pistorius

Martin Pistorius was an active little boy, until the day his body began to inexplicably deteriorate. Within 18 months, Martin was completely non-responsive, spending his days strapped into his wheelchair, staring into nothingness. As far as his parents were concerned, their vibrant child was gone forever. And for four years, he seemed to be. But suddenly, Martin started to wake up. He became aware of the world and the people around him, but with no physical functions at his disposal, he had no way to communicate. He spent 10 years trapped in his physical silence, until one caregiver finally looked into his eyes, and realized he was looking back at her.

Martin's story is inspiring, captivating, disturbing, and nothing short of amazing. The opening chapters caught my attention with Martin's beautiful writing and imagery. But I quickly found myself checking the cover to confirm that this was an autobiography. How could someone who had been trapped in a vegetative state, who had been simply left to die, be writing this book? I'm always conflicted when autobiographies contain photos - it can become a little self indulgent - but you need these photos. You need to see where Martin started, how much he deteriorated, and how far his journey has taken him.

I read this in December, and throughout the month, we had the opportunity to sing in several seniors and longterm care homes. We saw many patients who looked similar to Martin in his worst days. I've always been conscious of smiling and singing to each patient with love, but this season, after reading Martin's story, my actions changed. I lingered a little longer on those who didn't seem to respond immediately. I made a point of looking into their eyes, and making sure they knew, "I see you." Sometimes I would get a flicker, most times not. But if Martin's story teaches us anything, it's to pay attention to each and every person. It's a reminder that souls live even when bodies fail.


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."

Happy New Year!!!!!

As we say goodbye to 2013, we are filled with gratitude for a year of challenges and blessings.

We're excited to see where God will take us in 2014. We'll be sending out a newsletter soon with news about all our plans and how you can participate in our adventures. To join the list, please visit www.InfinitelyMore.ca

Worship Wednesdays will return next week, kicking off a new year of ideas, encouragement, and inspiration for worship leaders and Christian artists.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

Should auld acquaintance be forgot, 

And never brought to mind? 

Should auld acquaintance be forgot, 

And days o’ lang syne!

For auld lang syne, my dear 

For auld lang syne, 

We’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet 

For auld lang syne!

Merry Christmas!!

The reason why we do what we do...

The only reason Infinitely More, Worship Wednesdays, and every song we've ever written exists...

Because God left the splendour of Heaven to lie in a manger...

Emmanuel, God With Us.

May your heart welcome the Christ child on this day.

Merry Christmas!!!

New Video - St. Andrews By-The-Sea!

In just a few weeks, we'll be in beautiful St. Andrews By-The-Sea, New Brunswick. We've been invited to spend January and February leading worship, building a worship band, hosting songwriter events, and helping form a new creative Wednesday night worship service.

We've created a new video to share our ideas and invite the musicians, songwriters, 

and vocalists of St. Andrews to come and join us!

Please contact us for more information:

www.InfinitelyMore.ca

Worship Wednesdays - Sing It Like You Mean It!

It's a great time of year to be a musician. Everywhere you go, people want to hear live music. They smile when they hear the songs, and often will sing along. And everyone wants to hear those amazing tunes we only get to sing once a year - The First Noel, Silent Night, and Hark the Herald Angels Sing, to name a few.

But it's also a difficult time of year to be a musician. Everywhere you go, people want to hear live music, which means vocal fatigue, miles of snowy driving, sleep deprivation, and a constant fear of catching the latest strain of cold. And everyone wants to hear those same songs again and again - The First Noel, Silent Night, and Hark the Herald Angels Sing...

Don't get me wrong - I actually adore singing Christmas carols. I'm a total Christmas music geek, knowing all the songs and the stories behind their creation. But by the time you've sung Away In A Manger for the 20th time in a month, some of the magic can fade. Nobody means for it happen, but it's a long season, and we all get tired, and our minds drift as the music and lyrics flow from muscle memory.

Between concerts, worship services, corporate events, private parties, and community celebrations, many musicians are performing up to 20 or 30 times this month. But as Christian musicians, this should be seen as an amazing ministry opportunity. In a society ruled by political correctness and a neutering of faith expressions, we actually have the opportunity to sing the Gospel this month, in public! In fact, it's welcomed!

The best carols are a perfect blend of melody, poetry, and theology. They are filled with a promise of peace and life. They sing of Love that passed all natural and supernatural barriers to join us in this broken world. This is the story that changed the course of human history, and continues to change lives - mine included, and I hope yours too.

And this is message we get to sing. 

Over and over, we get to share the message of Emmanuel, God With Us, with folks who are tired in their faith, who are struggling with problems beyond our imaginations, or who have never even heard of Jesus.

Imagine if, through our drifting off, they missed that message? 

So when you're singing yet another rendition of O Come All Ye Faithful or Joy To The World, take a moment before the song begins to glance over the lyric. Recognize the amazing hope you're about to share, and then...

sing it like you mean it.

Please leave your thoughts in the Comments section below.

And don't forget to check out our FREE shipping, 

FREE gift-wrapping special on all CD purchases!

www.InfinitelyMore.ca/Store

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

Christmas Shopping Special

What better gift to give than inspiring and uplifting music this Christmas season? 

To help you finish your Christmas shopping, we're offering the follow special:

FREE shipping!*

FREE gift wrapping on all CDs 

purchased in December. 

4 different CDs to choose from: 

Finish your Christmas shopping with Infinitely More! 

Downloads also available. 

www.InfinitelyMore.ca/Store 

*Free shipping within Canada. Reduced shipping for International orders.

Worship Wednesdays - Sing of Advent!

Last week, we shared some of our favourite congregational Advent songs.

Sometimes, it's important to sing for people - to give them a chance to pause, listen, and process the message in a different way.

Here are some of our favourite Advent songs for soloists, duos, band, and choir. These songs explore themes of longing, transformation, and anticipation. Enjoy, and please feel free to add your own favourites in the Comments section:

My Deliverer 

Written by the great Rich Mullins, we've performed this both as a duo, and similar to the video performance, with a soloist on the verses and a choir on the choruses.
If you have a children's choir, even better!

A Change Is Gonna Come

Bringing non-worship songs into a worship setting is a great way to look at themes from a new perspective. And let's face, there's always a good reason to listen to Sam Cooke!

Hungry

I love this song by Kathryn Scott. You can sing it anytime, but I really feel it captures the desire and anticipation of Advent.

Deliver Us

We love the sparseness of this song - a simple, plaintive cry for the Advent season.

We hope you're enjoying a blessed Advent season! 

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!

Worship Wednesdays - The Sounds of Advent

This past Sunday marked the start of the Christian new year - the first Sunday in Advent.

I've always loved this time in the worshiping life of our church. In the madness of shopping, planning, and overwhelming societal obligations, we have the chance to offer something different - a sanctuary, a quiet place to simply relax and prepare for the birth of our Saviour.

This is a time to sing songs filled with longing, anticipation, patience, and perhaps even a little impatience.

This week, I'm sharing a few of our favourite Advent songs and hymns for congregational worship:

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Written in the 12th century, we've welcomed Advent with this song for generations.

This Enya arrangement isn't congregational, but hauntingly beautiful.

Soon and Very Soon

Written by Andrae Crouch, this isn't limited to Advent but certainly suits the season. Sing it simply as a chorus or work it up as a showstopper with all kinds of voices and instrumentations. 

Wait For The Lord


From the Taize community. A beautiful chorus to sing as an Advent meditation.

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

A classic Advent message written by the great hymn writer, Charles Wesley.
The lyric can be sung to a variety of hymn tunes and effectively played by organ, choir, or band.

What are your favourite Advent songs and hymns?
Please share them in the Comment section below!

Next week, I'll share some of our favourite feature songs - music for soloist, choir, or band to help our congregations relax and reflect on the beauty of the season.

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

Worship Wednesdays - Why I Celebrate Birthday Week!

This is a week when we gather around tables, share time with family, eat great feasts, and celebrate one of the finest holidays of the year... my birthday!

Yes, I know there's another holiday tomorrow 

and that's a fine one too, 

but today is my birthday!!!

In my family, we celebrate Birthday Week. When Gerald and I first started dating, I was mocked for celebrating Birthday Week. I was told it was silly and maybe even a little childish (insert my snort of derision here...). Of course, it's also piles of fun, so it was no surprise when in just a few years, another Birthday Week started to appear in March...

I actually love that my birthday falls so close to American Thanksgiving, as I consider Gratitude to be a large part of my birthday celebrations. The whole point of Birthday Week isn't to receive a week's worth of presents, but to enjoy a week's worth of presence:

I take time each day to enjoy visits with friends and family, sometimes with a party, but mostly with hours spent eating treats or sipping lattes.

I spend a little extra time in Scripture and prayer, talking to the One who knew me before my first breath, who "knit me together in my mother's womb".

I respond to each message I receive on Facebook, giving thanks for the ability to keep in touch with friends from around the world with a few simple key strokes.

I praise God that I am able to make a living doing something I love so dearly, and I also take time off and enjoy the blessings of rest and restoration.

I reflect on the past year, giving thanks for blessings, challenges, and lessons learned.

I spend time looking ahead to the next year, dreaming of new challenges and asking myself questions like "How can I become more _____?" and "How can I do _____?"

Birthdays have taken on new meaning since May 3, 2009. On that day, Death passed near us and God said, "Not today." I'm so incredibly aware that, with a slight adjustment in trajectory, I might not be here to celebrate this birthday. So I will never complain about my age or my years. I want to live long and earn lots of wrinkles. I will live life to the fullest, choose the adventure over the comfortable, never miss a chance to say "I love you" and turn everything I am and have over to God...

My heart is filled with thankfulness

To him who reigns above,

Whose wisdom is my perfect peace,

Whose ev'ry thought is love.

For ev'ry day I have on earth

Is given by the King;

So I will give my life, my all,

To love and follow him.

(My Heart is Filled, verse 3. By Keith & Kristyn Getty.)

Happy Thanksgiving! 

And for some of us, Happy Birthday!

Let's give thanks...

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

Worship Wednesdays - The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly

Years ago, I discovered the teaching of John Maxwell through his book, Talent Is Never Enough. Since that time, I've been following his books and videos, gleaning tips and advice for communicating with others.

Whether you're a worship leader, a preacher, a concert artist, or a songwriter, communication is the key to what we do. We can believe the Gospel all we want, but if we can't communicate it to our audience and congregation, it's lost information.

Recently, John paired with speaker Les Brown to create a fun and informative series of videos, called "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly". Each interview shares their experiences as speakers and preachers.

For todays' Worship Wednesdays, I suggest you pull out your notepad, 

watch these videos, and take lots of notes. Enjoy!

The Good:

The Bad:

The Ugly:

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

The Covenant Awards

Last night was the big night! Talented Christian singers, musicians, songwriters, and producers from across the country gathered at the Crossroads Television Studios for the annual Covenant Awards. Sponsored by the Gospel Music Association of Canada, the Covenants represent the highest honour in the Canadian Christian music industry.

Last year, we were excited to join the party for the first time. 

Last night, we were honoured and humbled to attend as 3-time Nominees.

Since receiving the news of our nominations, we've received many messages of love and support, and we're so grateful for every single one. We were nominated in categories stocked with amazing and accomplished talent, so we had no expectations of winning.

But cliches are around for a reason - it truly is an honour just to be nominated.

We didn't prepare any thank you speeches, but since we have this platform, 

we want to take a minute and say:

Thank You 

- to each and every person who has been and continues to be a part of our music and our ministry
- to everyone who bought a CD or downloaded a song
- to each person who hosted or attended a concert
- to Denny Martin and Carmon Barry who produced our nominated CDs
- to our friends who encourage and love us
- to Helen, Hollis, Sandy, & Gerry - our wonderfully supportive parents
- and most of all, to the God who called us to this crazy life of music ministry, who continues to surprise us at every turn, and who - despite our doubts, questions, fears, and struggles - holds us so securely in the palm of His hand

Congratulations to all the Winners & Nominees! 

We took some photos to capture the night! 

You can see them HERE.

Worship Wednesdays - In Flanders Fields

This Sunday, churches across Canada will have a moment of silence. We'll give thanks for the freedoms we enjoy in this country and remember those who gave their lives in pursuit of those freedoms.

For most of our us, our remembrance won't be complete without hearing the classic poem, In Flanders Fields. In our new Infinitely More tradition, we sing it, set to Gerald's evocative music. I asked him to share this very profound writing experience:

In Flanders Fields has always been the poem that, like everyone, I would hear every Remembrance Day.  It was meant to be honoured and there was always that gulf of silence that ensued afterwards that made more sense the older I became.  Two years ago when I felt the approach of Remembrance Day it struck me to write a musical setting for a worship service, but I didn’t give it much thought beyond that. I woke up on the Friday morning however and for some inexplicable reason I felt a deeper compulsion to get it done.  I felt a burning need to somehow touch these words if I could.  Call it patriotism or if you will and more accurately, call it a haunting.  I got up that day and in a very short period of time I transcribed a piece of music that I felt had been given to me.  The prosody worked.  The weight of the music seemed to match the poem.  There was that ache and hope that only history can give.  Since then it has become a regular staple in our repertoire around this time of year.  And as always, it is dedicated to the men and women who have given their lives in the hope that the better angels of this world would hold tightly to its momentum…and of course to John McCrae who first penned the words…

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow, 

between the crosses row on row. 

In Flanders Fields. Words, John McCrae. Music, Gerald Flemming.

We give thanks.

We remember....

You are welcome to use this video in your church this Sunday. 

Please just let us know so we have some sense of where our music is traveling!

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

Worship Wednesdays - Prayer in Weird Places...

I opened a purse I hadn't used for some time recently and found this:

The last time I used the purse was several years ago on our anniversary. We spent the weekend puttering around Niagara Falls in the chill of February. Not only is this one of the most beautiful times to see the Falls in their icy majesty, but it's also wonderfully quiet. Every restaurant has a table for you, and the shops are almost empty.

One night, we went out for a special dinner (thus my rarely used fancy purse) and spent the latter part of the evening strolling through some seasonally quiet stores in the building that houses the Niagara Casino. We found a store selling 'Life is good' products and spent a fair bit of time investigating their wares and picking up a few favourites. Since the store was quiet, we got into a conversation with the sole staff member on duty.

I can't remember what we were talking about, but I remember the moment the conversation turned. It was when we said we were Christian musicians. We could see something shift in this woman. We stopped talking about trivialities and she started to quietly share her story. She spoke of a broken relationship with her son, and the countless prayers lifted that he might find his way back to God and back to her. As she spoke, we would tell these were words that had been bursting for a voice. We simply stayed still and let her speak.

She stopped for a breath and took a look at us, waiting to see if her words would be received with love. And then, in the middle of this clothing store, surrounded by the Niagara Casino, we offered a little prayer. Nothing fancy or showy. Just a simple prayer for hope and healing.

As we left, we were amazed and humbled about how God had placed us in that quiet store on that particular night. We were reminded of the deep needs of everyone we meet. And we were moved by this women's trust in us, and the courage to share her story with strangers.

When I found the card this week, these memories came rushing back to me. Then I flipped the card over, and found this:

"There are always flowers for those who want to see them."

There are always opportunities to share God's love for those who want to see them too. 

Let's look for them daily...

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

BIG NEWS - We're Heading To The Sea!

We've been invited to spend the winter in beautiful 

St. Andrews-by-the-Sea, New Brunswick!

We've sung at the Anglican Parish of St. Andrews twice over the past 2 years. Those with great memories will actually know that our first attempt was actually thwarted by Hurricane Irene in 2011.

The main church, All Saints, on our 2012 Tour.

On this summer's visit, the idea of an extended stay came up. Leading a single service is one thing, but what could we accomplish if we were to integrate ourselves into the community for a few months? Talks began, and this week, everything was approved.

This January and February, we'll spend a 2-month residency in St. Andrews. The parish consists of both the downtown church and the chapel of ease that you see in these photos. Click the photos for more info on each. You can visit HERE for more info on the town.

Details are still coming together, but some of our creative goals include:

Build a contemporary worship band.

Work with leadership to explore creative and innovative worship services.

Form a songwriting mentorship group.

Reach out into the large community with songwriter nights.

Create connections and workshops for other music leaders.

Work with children and youth to find their worship voice.

Celebrating our first pink church at St. John the Baptist Chapel of Ease, Tour 2013.

We're so honoured that the Parish has given us this invitation, 

and we're incredibly excited to see what God has in store for all of us!

Worship Wednesdays: "Forgiveness", by Matthew West

Today on Worship Wednesdays, I want to share a book review for "Forgiveness", by singer-songwriter, Matthew West. I've been a fan of West's songwriting for years, so I was excited to see how his writing would translate into book format.

While working on his latest album, West collected stories about pain and healing. This small and beautifully designed book intersperses moving and inspiring stories of both giving and receiving forgiveness with West's own commentary. In some of my favourite moments, West shows how he pulled the essence from these stories to create his wonderful song, Forgiveness.

This book is reminiscent of a wise and honest storytelling circle. Personal testimonies are laid bare. Scripture, quotes, and insights are shared, and through the words of all involved, we're reminded again and again that forgiveness is difficult, necessary, and ultimately, freeing.

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

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."

Newfoundland Tour - The Highlights!

It's been a week since we returned from our 3rd Infinitely More Newfoundland Tour. The day after we arrived home we attended our friend's wedding, and then we had Thanksgiving, so as you can imagine, a week of rest followed!

With a month on the road, it would be impossible to share every story, but I've compiled a few favourite moments to share with you...

We performed:

15 events

in

13 days

in

10 communities!

- 7031 KM, safely driven!

- a magical moment with special young man

- meeting people who were taught by Allison's grandfather

- seeing the fall colours change as we traveled

- our CBC interview with Angela Antle! 

- sharing worship leading and songwriting lessons

- savouring berry season with freshly picked partridgeberries! 

- debuting our latest song "How The Light Gets In"

- meals of fresh cod, pulled from the water that day

- enjoying the creations of artists and artisans across the province

- time with family, old friends, and new friends

- singing about Love, and seeing that Love show up in a thousand different ways...

We also took piles of photos! You can see them HERE.

Our extreme and heartfelt gratitude goes out to everyone who attended a concert, heard us on the radio, bought a CD, shared a hug, or opened your home to us.

We can't wait to see you in 2014! 

Worship Wednesdays - Five Songs of Thanksgiving

I can't believe it's almost Thanksgiving! With all the wonderful and challenging things that have happened to us over the past year, we have so many reasons to give thanks.

As we approach Thanksgiving, here are 5 of my favourite songs of gratitude:

Blessings, by Laura Story.

Having experienced my own season of deep grief, I love this reminder that blessings can come from challenging and unexpected places.

My Heart is Filled, by Keith and Kristyn Getty

"For every day I have on Earth is given by the King; So I will give my life, my all,

to love and follow him." After our car accident, this line became my strength.

Thank You, by Ray Boltz

A song of thanks for everyone who has ever shared the Gospel, 

and an encouragement for each us to do the same.

What a Friend, by Joseph Scriven

A hymn rich in gratitude for the love and trust we have in Jesus.

What a Wonderful World, by Louis Armstrong

A love song to creation and the beauty of everyday living.

I'd love to hear your suggestions for Thanksgiving songs and hymns! 

Please leave them in the comments section.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

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