Worship Wednesdays - Choosing the CD Songs!

Before we get into today's post, please let me express a huge THANK YOU to all of you for your prayers and support over the past week. Being sick is never easy, but throw cancelling-a-tour into the mix, and it makes for one horrible time. We are so grateful for all the love, and we look forward to seeing how God will use this change in plans.

* * * * * * * * * * 

Two weeks ago, we shared that we're working on a new CD! There are so many wonderful things about being a musician, and recording is one of our favourites. Including my first EP, this will be our 6th recording project! It's been 2 years since our debut Infinitely More CD, and we're just itching to get into the studio.

And it's all about the songs!

Since our last CD, we've written about 50 new songs, not including the dozens of signature arrangements we've created for favourite hymns and praise songs. As much as we'd like to record them all, there's this thing called Budget, which is never big enough to record all the songs you love. There are lots of steps in pre-production, but today we want to talk about one of the most critical - song selection.

How do you narrow down 50 songs to 10 for the CD? 

Here's our process:

Start With A Master List
Write them all down, even the ones that you know won't make the final cut. See their beautiful titles and celebrate your accomplishment in birthing these musical babies. Then, start putting them in groups. We divided ours by up-tempo, mid, and ballad. We also made separate lists for originals and covers.

Find the Shape Of Your Album
All originals? All covers? How many songs can you afford to record? What do you want to say? Do you have a theme, either musically or with your message?

Use Post It Notes
Lists can be a great tool, but sometimes, it's good to see the songs in a different way. We love writing each title on a post it note, and putting them all over the wall. Then, we can grab titles, and put them in various groups and shapes to see how the different songs bounce off each other.

Our high tech song selection process, on a hotel room wall...

Road Test Your Songs
Every song on our CD has been performed in a variety of concerts and worship services. We've been able to play with the arrangements, and really get a solid sense of how the songs live and breathe in front of an audience. Some bands opt to create live recordings and videos and get fan feedback using online polls and social media.

What Are People Asking For?
We often debut new songs in a concert, and announce, "This is brand new. We finished it this afternoon," and inevitably, someone will come up and ask what CD it's on. These are the songs to record. From a practical point of view, it means the song will help sell CDs. But it also means that these are the songs that are connecting with people. These are the songs that are carrying your message.

Get Trusted, Critical Feedback
Notice, I didn't say, "Ask your Mom which songs she likes," although we do that too. Gather the songwriters and artists you trust and ask them to listen to your top 15. Be open to their ideas and suggestions. Try to choose artists who are creating great work themselves, folks who are at the top of their game, and who are currently in the industry. If you don't have people like this in your group of friends, consider hiring an artist/songwriter you admire as a consultant (many will consult for an hourly rate.)

Be Open To New Ideas
Our original plan was to record 10 songs, but as we've worked through the process, there's this 11th song that just keeps rising to the top. So, with a little reworking of the Budget, it looks like there will be 11 songs on the project. Of course, Gerald keeps writing new songs, so you never know...

And remember this: when you record a song, you'll need to sing it live for the next 2 years, or at least until your next CD is recorded. And if it's a hit, you may need to sing it forever! For each song, make sure that it expresses your message, that you can perform it well in a live setting, and that you truly love it!

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

Worship Wednesdays - Synchronicity And The Power Of Prayer

Today we feature a special guest post by 

my husband and Infinitely More partner, 

Gerald Flemming:

Synchronicity And The Power Of Prayer

Sometimes we find ourselves in similar moments dealing with similar things.  Five years ago this week, as some of you already know, Allison and I were in a life changing accident with a tractor trailer.  To say it was an overwhelming time would be an understatement, because it changed the very core of who we are.  Every year around this time we celebrate this day, most years by having a Survive and Thrive party. This is where friends of ours are invited to celebrate all the things we all have survived and how we are currently thriving.  It’s basically a huge count your blessings day, on the other side of the calendar from Thanksgiving.  One of the interesting things about this time five years ago was that people from all over prayed for us.  They prayed that we would be okay.  They prayed that we wouldn’t be broken forever by the cataclysmic event.  They prayed with us and for us…

Flash forward five years and the power of prayer is being utilized again.  On the cusp of embarking on our first Prairies Road Trip tour both Allison and I became very sick.  The nasty little bug, whatever it is, has hit Allison far worse than it did me.   After several rough days, and a hospital visit where they had to put 3 bags of fluid back into her body, she has started the process of mending.

Like most good social media savvy Christians, posts were put up on Facebook to make people aware of the event and possible change of schedules.  And in the humble pains of an overwhelming situation we made a prayer request of our friends and family.  Within minutes the people who have known and supported our Ministry for years were taking moments out of their busy days, to shut out the noise and the furor of their own lives to pray for us … as we have done for others in the past.  It still overwhelms me that as a community we do this for each other.  I think there are very few gestures in the Christian faith that move me as much as knowing whole groups of people are praying for a single wrong to be righted, or simply to give strength at a moment where people or groups feel helpless and alone.

Anytime you are self employed, there are always extreme challenges to face.  When you are self employed in a life of ministry, the challenges, though amazingly exciting, can feel like great tests of resolve that are intended to mature us spiritually in some way.  After some sleepless nights and attempts to imagine what we could do to possibly work around things, we have come to the realization that we have no choice but to cancel our Prairies Road Trip tour.  It breaks our hearts to say that.  There just doesn’t seem to be any conceivable way to implement our plan here.  God’s plan is different for us at this point.  And we will spend time in the wisdom of that, knowing that his power working in us can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine.

We have just finished the messy and unfortunate humiliation of phoning the Churches and concert venues to tell them that we, in fact, can’t make it this year, but to please keep us in mind for next year.  We’re of course hoping that what was a transitional moment for us this year will make what we’re capable of even stronger and more road worthy for next year.

Our focus now is getting Allison healthy.  The prayers have done wonders but there is still a ways to go.  And then we’ll start preparing for Nashville in mid June where we will be recording the instrumental tracks of our new Infinitely More CD.  We’ve been incredibly inspired and blessed over the last two years to have access to the profound moments in people’s faith walks.  These songs are a testament to their lives and we can’t wait to share them with you.

Peace…

Gerald

Next week, Allison will return with a post called 

Choosing the Songs.

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

Worship Wednesdays - 7 Key Steps Before You Head Into The Studio...

Last week, I shared that we're working on a new CD! There are so many wonderful things about being a musician, and recording is one of our favourites. Including my first EP, this will be our 6th recording project! It's been 2 years since our debut Infinitely More CD, and we're just itching to get into the studio.

Over the next few months, I want to share our recording process. If you've never recorded a CD before, I'm hoping these posts will give you information and a behind-the-scenes peek at the process. If you have lots of recording experience, I hope you'll leave your thoughts and ideas in the comments section for other readers to enjoy.

Infinitely More is an indie band, 

so what does that mean when it comes to recording?

Basically, it means we are responsible for our own recording process. We decide when we're ready to record, and what we want the album to sound like. We're responsible for all funding, either through fundraising, grants, or our own credit cards. In our case, we write and arrange our own songs. We choose our production team, and when the CD is finally completed, we're responsible for getting it out into the world.

The words "we're going into the studio" can be seductive to any musician. The right studio with the right team is an incredibly creative place. But it's important to remember that those days can be very expensive, and unless you've got a superstar budget, it's important to make the most of every minute. There are too many horror stories of artists investing months of work and thousands of dollars into a recording, only to end up unhappy with the final results.

The key - Pre-Production!

We'll assume that you have some awesome songs you've been writing and performing, and you've now made the decision to record. Here are 7 things you can do before entering the studio that will help you make the most of your time and resources:

1. Find The CD's Purpose
These are the things you want the CD to accomplish. What is the message of your music? Why are you recording this CD? What is your artistic vision? How do you want the music to affect the listener?

2. Choose Goals for the CD
These are the things you want to accomplish with the CD. How can this CD help with your career and ministry? Do you want to expand your audience reach? Do you want to submit the songs for awards or radio consideration? Are you hoping to break into a new market or demographic?

3. Be Realistic
What is my budget? Where am I getting my funding? What is my timeline? What am I able to do myself? Who will I need to hire?

4. Seek Advice
Who do I know personally that has a great CD? Can I take them to lunch or hire them to consult on my CD?

5. Research 
Read the liner notes on CDs you love to find out who made them and the size and shape of their instrumentation. Research studios in your area and ask how they work with indie musicians. Many studios will also have recording advice on their sites.

6. Write Things Down
You'll have lots of paperwork, receipts, and notes. Start a new file on your laptop or create a binder for hard copies.

7. Find Your Team
Should you record yourself, ask a favour of a friend, or hire a professional? Can you play your own instruments and sing harmonies, or should you hire musicians? Who can help you with photography, graphics, and manufacturing?


If you start with the Purpose and Goals, you'll have a great foundation for the other decisions in your process. In our experience, it takes a village to raise an album. Don't be afraid to ask for lots of help, share your story on social media, and ask friends and family for lots of prayers and encouragement.

Next week, I'll talk about our favourite, and most challenging, part of the process: 

Choosing The Songs!

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

Worship Wednesdays - The Evolution of a Song

There's a myth in the general population that songs are born whole, complete, and radio-ready. 

Those who write songs know differently.

There's the way the song starts in our head, the way it first comes out, the many rewrites, and the various arrangements it takes before it's finally recorded. And even then, if that song becomes a standard piece in your repertoire, it can change forms through concerts, recordings, and covers.

To help illustrate this point, I thought we would look at our Easter song, 

There's A Light At The End Of The Tomb.

Gerald was inspired to write this song last year, when a church staff member brought this image to an Easter planning meeting:

The twist on the classic "light at the end of the tunnel" hit him immediately. In finding the idea, Gerald writes, "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."

From there, we began writing, as Gerald shared with us last year. We knew we had only a few weeks to both write the song and prepare its performance for two Easter services.

We decided to each take a solo verse, and sing harmony on the chorus and bridge section. Gerald wrote the first verse and I wrote the second, so our original plan was to sing the verse we each wrote. But as we rehearsed, we each felt drawn to the opposite verses, so we ended up singing each other's writing - an unusual choice for us.

It was written on guitar, so we knew that would be the central instrument. We debated scoring it for the band and choir, but time was working against us. Still, this is Easter, and a big song, so to help give us a larger performance, we added in a few extra singers to give us full 4-part harmony on the chorus. We had vocal echoes during the boisterous "Let there be light" section. After singing the huge choruses, we brought it down to a gentle, reverent ending.

And that was the debut.

But where has the song gone from there?

We now sing There's A Light At The End Of The Tomb at the end of every concert. Singing it so often, we've made tweaks in the arrangement to help us better communicate the story and emotion of the song.

In this video, recorded during our St. Andrews Musical Residency this winter, you can hear how we've removed the echoes to give "Let there be light" a more deliberate and declamatory presence. We've also changed the gentle ending to a victorious, harmonic cry. We felt this better carried the passion of the song right to the final note.

"There's a Light At The End Of The Tomb"

As performed on Artisans, CHCO-TV

In recent performances, we've made yet another change: we now sing the verses we wrote! Gerald sings the opening verse about the tomb, and I sing Mary's story in the second verse. Technically, we could sing either one, but for us, we feel there's a better balance of the voices with the current arrangement.

Next month, we'll go into the studio to start working on our new CD! There's A Light At The End Of the Tomb will be one of the biggest tracks. Gerald's guitar will still be central, but we want a triumphant full band sound. We'll debate adding more harmony to the chorus to give it a choral quality. And we'll be open to the ideas of our producer and musicians - who knows what their creativity will bring to the song?

I love that songs are living, breathing pieces of creation. They can stretch and change as our circumstances, talents, and creativity shift and grow. We're constantly revisiting our songs to tweak a lyric, add a new harmony line, or find a new instrumental riff. We want to keep our music interesting, but more than that, we want every word and note to expressively serve the message of the song. 

We can't wait to hear how There's A Light At The End Of The Tomb will sound in the hands of Nashville session players! Stay tuned for the next chapter...

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

Happy Easter!!!!

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

Wishing you a blessed and joyful Easter!!!!!

There's A Light At The End Of The Tomb

By Allison Lynn & Gerald Flemming (c)2013

Worship Wednesdays - "Heaven Is For Real" Movie Review

Just a few days after we returned from our St. Andrews Musical Residency, we had the opportunity to attend a prescreening of the film Heaven Is For Real. Today, I share the thoughts I wrote that afternoon...

Heaven Is For Real

This morning, I gathered with 100 bloggers, pastors, and journalists to watch a pre-screening of the movie Heaven Is For Real. It was about a year ago that I reluctantly read the book. I’m a person of faith, but I can be cynical of miracle stories, so I entered the book with some trepidation. My logic brain could write some of it off, but there were moments that I just could not wrap my head around. For that reason, this book became a story of faith for me.

If you haven’t read the book yet, here’s the crux of the story: Todd and Sonja Burpo are two young parents struggling to make ends meet, but otherwise living a pretty happy life. On a family trip, their 4-year-old son Colton becomes deathly ill. After surviving emergency surgery, Colton tells his family that he visited heaven.

The story is set in small town Nebraska (shot in Manitoba), and the landscape almost becomes a character in the film. The lush, sweeping shots of big skies and bright fields are a constant reminder that we’re dealing with issues that are larger than ourselves, and that perhaps we see glimpses of heaven every day.

The Burpos (at least as characters) are the kind of Christians we rarely see portrayed on film. They’re not pious snobs, nor are they God-hates-you-Sinner caricatures. This a normal, fun, loving family, who are also people of faith. The parishioners that we meet are level-headed, decent people - the kind of church folks we meet every week in our Infinitely More travels. Colton’s stories about heaven unfold with greater and more profound detail. He knows things that he shouldn’t know, such as recognizing a young photo of the grandfather he never met. For some, this is a sign of faith. For others, it’s the hallucinations of a sick boy. Through his parents and the church, we see the full range of human emotions enflamed by this phenomenon, and the genuine struggles of faith, doubt, and logic that should be explored by this topic.

I attended the screening with my family (my Dad has written the review for the Anglican Journal) and we spent the whole day talking about the film and our ideas of heaven. And that's why this film is important. For years, Hollywood avoided Christian story lines because they were seen as unprofitable. As a result, they were generally low budget, ugly, and completely unentertaining. In recent years, we’re seeing more stories of faith inspiring big budget films. Although there will always be groups who attack these stories on the perfection of their theology, I do think we need to celebrate and support this movement of film making. Stories of faith need to be told, and we need to discuss, debate, and think about the issues they share. So grab a few friends - people of faith or not - and go see Heaven Is For Real. Will it make you a believer? I don’t know. Is heaven for real? One of these days we’ll find out for sure, so let’s chat about it while we have the time.

This weekend, I wrote my 1000th blog post! 

You can read it HERE.

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

My 1000th Blog Post!!!

You read that correctly - 1000 blog posts!

When I first started this blog, I had no idea where it would lead. It was 2005 and I was heading to Nashville for the first time to attend Ben Speer's Stamps Baxter School of Music. Gerald (my then-fiance) was watching Tech TV, and they started talking about blogging. "Perfect", I thought, "I can write on this blog thing, and then the family and everyone at church can keep up with my Nashville adventure."

So I started writing. Now even though, technically, I knew my blog was on the internet, it didn't even occur to me that anyone else would or, even could, read it. Halfway through the school, people started asking me for my blog link. "How bizarre," I thought. I then found out that other blogs were sharing my link! That's when the action started. Suddenly, my 'private' stories to friends and family became a public buffet. Musicians, songwriters, publishers, and lovers of Gospel music started to follow my Adventures, and many of them reached out to me. Friendships, support, and wonderful meetings followed...

Another amazing thing happened on that trip. 

On the final night of the school, after months of praying for direction, 

I had my calling into full-time music ministry. 

Through this blog, I've been able to capture and share my creative journey. I've written posts in hotel rooms, cyber cafes, libraries, and restaurants. I've always tried to be transparent and authentic in both the joys and challenges of this kind of life. I've also tried to share a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the art of music making and worship leading.

As I've changed, my blog as changed as well. In 2005, I was a newly-engaged, actor/musician who had just received this calling as a solo Gospel music artist. Now, Gerald and I have been married 8 years and we've lived in 2 countries and 5 different homes. We've gone from individual musicians to our shared passion of Infinitely More, a full-time, nationally touring ministry. We've written hundreds of songs, performed in all kinds of venues, and have been blessed to work with amazing musicians and songwriters. Our 4 CDs have garnered 5 national award nominations, and we start work on our next CD this summer. But more than any of that, I am now someone who has a greater knowledge and appreciation of what it is to follow God's calling on my life. I want to use all my talents and skills to draw people closer to God, so they can know His love and grace in their lives. I pray this is always reflected in my writing...

This weekend, my family is celebrating this 1000 post milestone, so I thought I'd bring the celebration online. In January, I was invited to share the story of my calling with the folks of All Saints Church. I recorded it, simply to share it with Mom and Dad. But in the spirit of this blog, and of all that has happened since my first post, I want to share that story with you today:

Thank you to each person who has joined in this Adventure so far, 

and to each of you who will join us in the steps ahead.

Here's to the next 1000...

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!