Worship Wednesdays - The Hospital Room Lesson

As I write this, we're about a third of the way through our 5th Annual East Coast Tour. So far, it's been an amazing journey! Lots of driving, East Coast Music Week, the GPS Youth Conference, and lots and lots of great laughs with friends and fellow musicians.

Over the next 9 days, we'll sing 7 (maybe 9!) events in 7 different communities! It's going to be a lot of driving, a lot of singing, and a lot of gear-lifting. Weeks like this are what we live for. They're awesome and exciting. We love the travel, the people, and the music. It can be a little overwhelming, but for the most part, it's nothing short of invigorating.

Yesterday, Gerald and I had a very different experience. Our good friend Bev (name changed to respect privacy) experienced a hip replacement just before we arrived in St. John's. Over the last few weeks, we've been visiting and laughing and drinking lots of espressos together. A few days ago, she was readmitted to the hospital with a post-surgical infection. These situations are never fun for anyone, but they're a particular challenge when you're a vivacious, go-getting, life-living kind of lady.

Singing in Bev's hospital room...

We knew we might not get to drink espressos together before we leave St. John's, so we figured we'd visit Bev in the hospital. Guitar in hand, we made our way up to her room. We asked the folks in the rooms around her if they'd be disturbed by some music, but they all insisted we keep the doors to the rooms open.

Over the next 30 minutes, we sang half a dozen favourite songs. "How The Light Gets In," "Hallelujah (Psalm 104)", "Be Thou My Vision," "All You Need Is Love"... songs that by their very nature are filled with peace, joy, and healing. As we sang, Bev closed her eyes and let the music wash over her. She smiled and relaxed.

This week, I'll be thinking of our hospital room experience. I wanted to be reminded each night that even though we are singing for that wonderful entity known as the Audience, we are also singing for each individual soul in the room. Souls with their own needs, pains, and struggles. I'll think of the gentleness in that hospital room, and remember that, as busy as each day may become, I can trust in God and the music to be the peace, joy, and healing we all need...

Our East Coast Tour is in full swing! 

Please visit our Calendar for a concert near you.

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

Worship Wednesdays: 5 Ways to Welcome Church Visitors - East Coast style!

Two weeks ago, we were stranded on an island.

Our ferry, scheduled to take us from Cape Breton island to Newfoundland, was cancelled not once, but twice. The first day was Maundy Thursday, so I decided to take advantage of the delay and attend a worship service at a local church.

Here's how the day unfolded, and 

5 lessons I learned on how to welcome visitors to your church:

#1. Post Your Worship Times 

Since we've never spent any real time in North Sydney, my first job was to find a church hosting a Maundy Thursday service. I assumed they all would, but I literally couldn't find Holy Week services listed on any church's websites! I was persistent, and the 5th church site I visited - St. Giles Presbyterian - had them listed on the home page.

LESSON: Don't assume that all 'your people' will know the service times. You never know when a visitor will need your church. Post all the worship times on your site, and highlight special services or changes in the schedule prominently on the home page.


#2. Notice the Newcomers

When I arrived at the church, another woman was also parking her car. I asked if I was parked in the correct lot. She asked who I was and if I was visiting. I shared my story about the ferry. By simply noticing and responding with warmth, she immediately made me feel welcome.

LESSON: When we have a rare Sunday off, we've visited a number of churches. In many, we leave without anyone ever introducing themselves or noticing that we're new. Always reach out to the person in the pew (or parking lot) that you don't know. Many people come to church for connection. The Church is not the building. The Church is always the people.


#3. Learn and Use Names

My new friend, Ruth, asked my name and remembered it. The congregation that day was small - probably only 20 people. When we entered the sanctuary, she introduced me to the group by name. The parishioners also remembered my name and used it in conversation after the service.

LESSON: There is power in knowing and using someone's name. We've all felt this at various times. Be aware when you meet someone new. Learn their name. Use name tags if you feel this might help. Also, I was comfortable being introduced to the group. Be sensitive to those who might be shy or introverted. Consider introducing them to another individual or smaller group.


#4. Explain the Worship

The service was lovely, with a beautiful altar display, a brief sermon, a hymn, and a wonderfully intimate Communion.

LESSON: Not everyone visiting your church will know how worship works. They may be from a different denomination or new to church altogether. Be sure to announce which book to use and how to receive Communion. As my retired minister Dad always says, "Not making announcements is like inviting people to your house and not telling them where the bathroom is."


#5. Be Generous!

Lunch was planned for after the service, so I was invited to join the group. In true East Coast style, this small group of 20 people had prepared an 8-foot table laden with homemade sandwiches, cookies, bread, preserves, cheese, and biscuits. It was glorious! We ate and laughed and told stories. Knowing that I was stranded for the day, they asked if I wanted to take a plate home with me to the B&B. I thought I'd take a few biscuits and a cookie. This is what they gave me:

LESSON: Jesus was always incredibly generous with people. Instead of a few bottles of cheap wine, he made over 900 bottles of the very best. He created so much bread and fish there was baskets of food leftover. The woman who simply wanted to touch the hem of his garment got a full on face-to-face healing experience. Let's be generous with our visitors! Let's have them leave feeling loved and valued. After all, isn't that how we're supposed to love? "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you."

I want to thank the wonderful people of St. Giles Presbyterian Church, North Sydney, for their warm hospitality on Maundy Thursday. You truly made me feel loved and welcomed! 

May God continue to bless your community!

Our East Coast Tour is in full swing! 

Please visit our Calendar for a concert near you.

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

On the Road Again...

Worship Wednesdays takes a break this week as hit the road!

This week, we're driving straight through to Newfoundland. That's 5 full days of travel, including a day on the ferry. Please keep us in prayer for safe travels.

We're so excited to begin our 5th annual East Coast Tour! 

We are still adding concerts to our schedule, so please check our Calendar often. 

To book a Concert or Workshop, please Contact us.

April 8-12 - East Coast Music Week, St. John's, NL

April 11 - East Coast Music Week Gospel Showcase, St. John's, NL

April 13 - Seniors Concert, St. John's, NL

April 14 - Seniors Concert, St. John's, NL

April 14 - Seniors Concert, St. John's, NL

April 19 - Worship Leading Workshop, St. John's, NL

April 22 - Concert, Clarenville, NL

April 23 - Concert, St. John's, NL

April 26 - Concert, Trinity, NL

April 29 - Concert, Bonavista, NL 

April 30 - Concert, Gander, NL

May 8 - Concert, Bedford, NS

May 10 - Concert, French Village, NS

May 13 - Concert, Dartmouth, NS 

May 20 - Concert, Miramichi, NB

May 22 - Concert, Pennfield, NB

May 24 - Concert, St. Andrews, NB

May 27 - Seniors Ministry, Rosemere, QC

May 29-31 - Elim Women's Retreat, Peterborough, ON

For full details, please visit our Calendar.

Hope to see you at a concert!

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

Worship Wednesdays - 3 Priorities for 3 Days!

The calendar is not my friend right now. No matter how much I stare at it, it refuses to add any more days.

This Sunday - a mere 3 days away - we leave for our 5th East Coast Tour! 

Our first week will be all travel as we drive directly to Newfoundland. Our second week will be the East Coast Music Week, and all the excitement of the East Coast Music Award celebrations. From there, we kick off 7 weeks of concerts! So far, we have 20 events in 5 provinces, with several more awaiting confirmation.

We're tremendously excited, but WOW - there's still so much to do! I really need someone to invite a 10-day week...

Here are our top 3 priorities for the next 3 days:

PACKING

9 weeks on the road requires guitars, sound system, hostess gifts, clothes for both winter & spring weather, and enough CDs for 20+ concerts. This week, we become master Jenga players, trying to squeeze all of that into one little SUV without the whole thing toppling over. I always hope the car will act like Mary Poppin's carpet bag - small on the outside with inexhaustible storage on the inside.



PLANNING

The first leg of our trip will entail 3000 KM of driving, plus a ferry from Nova Scotia to Newfoundland. This past week, the ferry looked like this:

Yes, that's the Newfoundland ferry, stuck in the ice. Stuck for several days actually. So, we've planned our drive, but allowed for a few buffer days on the front end. We're watching weather reports and updating our GPS apps. We had our mechanic scour our car and make the appropriate repairs. We renewed our CAA membership. And of course, we're also adding in lots of...


PRAYER

We've been praying over this tour for months. We've prayed for the churches who are hosting our ministry, for all who are helping in the planning, and all who will attend. We've prayed for our East Coast Music Awards experience, that whatever we do there will be honouring to God. And as we approach the drive, we're praying for safe travels!

We would love for you to join us in prayer for this exciting adventure. 

If you live in the East Coast, we invite you to attend a concert, or consider hosting your own.

We invite you to join us on the journey by following our site and Facebook posts.

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

Book Review: Same Kind Of Different As Me, by Ron Hall & Denver Moore

"A modern-day slave, an international art dealer, and the unlikely woman who bound them together."

With a subtitle like that, how could I not be intrigued?

Denver Moore and Ron Hall tell the story of an amazing friendship. Denver - a 20th century sharecropper who set out into the world, only to find himself homeless and friendless. Ron - an affluent and successful art dealer, living in a world of power and pride. That is, until Ron's feisty wife, Deborah, feels called by God to serve at a local mission. Ron dutifully joins her, bringing his wealth of prejudices with him. Even though we might want to look down on Ron, it's to our own shame - if we're being honest, most of us carry these same prejudices. In their weekly visits to the mission, they meet Denver - large, sullen, and violent. But Deborah's generous heart reaches through the socio-economic gap to meet Denver with a faith-inspired love. The journey of Denver, Ron, and Deborah will have you turning pages, laughing, crying, and rethinking the way we view the homeless. It speaks deeply to one of my favourite themes: the power of being loved.

I love the way this book is written, with Ron and Denver writing alternating chapters. Each tells their side of the story in their own distinctive voice, and the effect is powerful. The final pages of the book include a reader's guide, a follow up with the authors, and a few family photos.

Denver and Ron came from vastly opposing backgrounds, but through their struggles, faith, and commitment, they find their common humanity in their uncommon friendship.

I highly recommend this deeply moving story. May it inspire each of us to reach across the gap and love someone who is the same kind of different as us.

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."

Worship Wednesdays - In The Shadow Of The Cross - By Gerald Flemming

Today's blog is a guest post by my husband and Infinitely More partner, 
Gerald Flemming.

IN THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS...
By Gerald Flemming

Recently I had a very humbling and conflicting experience.  I was asked to play music for the wedding of two really good friends of ours.  They wanted twenty minutes of pre-service music and then a few pieces in the service itself.  They wanted specific hymns and they wanted all of it to be instrumental.  Whew…okay.

As anybody who plays guitar knows, note-perfect fingerstyle guitar arrangements of songs take quite a while to either put together yourself or to learn.  I decided to do signature arrangements because I felt it would be more personal as this was to be mine and Allison’s gift to them.  It ended up being between 10-12 original guitar arrangements of hymns and it took about 30-40 hours to construct and play competently.  It was a real investment in time when other things were pulling on me to do simultaneously, but again, we do and should make these sacrifices for each other as friends and as Christians.

The day came and with it, an extreme amount of weather that threw everything into a bit of disarray.  A couple of lovely young singers were late and had to rehearse while the congregation was sitting there waiting for things to begin.  I started about fifteen minutes late which was fine, but by this point everybody was excited/agitated and wasn’t really in the mood to listen to twenty minutes of instrumental guitar music.  So everyone talked and got reacquainted waiting for the main show to begin.

At this point I just martialled through, smiling and playing, trying to be aware of the script and the timing of how everything was to play out.  It reminded me of some of my time as a secular musician in a bar competing with a million different agendas, the last of which was listening.  The ceremony was beautiful and both of our friends (who are going into the ministry together), had a wonderful bonding experience, with the Groom’s mother being the person who married them.

On the way to the reception, I felt a little tweak.  I thought to myself that what had happened hadn’t been very ‘artistically’ satisfying.  It would have been easy for me to just improvise and play a bunch of different pieces of music off the top of my head as background music before the festivities were to begin.  I felt weirdly silly for having gone to all of the trouble that I did.  And then in response to that I felt guilty for feeling that way, because it was a gift and there shouldn’t be any expectations about how a gift is received.

Two days later Allison showed me a photo she had taken.  It was me working, just before the service.  Those last bits of prep, trying to make something as good as I could possibly make it.  And I’m standing there in the shadow of the cross, just another servant, wanting desperately to do good work.

Who was the music really for?  It was for the One who sacrificed everything for us.  

The One who, without promise of glory or praise, died and was risen to save us all. 

Sometimes we have these brief bouts of ego.  These petty needs to be bigger than our gifts.  It makes us human.  It reminds us how broken we are, and the work that we still need to do.  I was being reminded of something.  Something I actually strive to remind myself of.  That it’s about the service.  

How can I better serve here, in the shadow of the cross?  

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

Worship Wednesdays - How The Light Gets In

On last fall's East Coast Tour, we shot 3 performances for NTV's Heart Matters. 

This week, we posted the title song from our ECMA nominated album - How The Light Gets In:

I've written before about the journey of our songs, 

and How The Light Gets In is one song that's had a great journey.

It was a special homecoming to perform this song for a Newfoundland television show. Gerald actually started the song on a previous East Coast Tour. One night, while the ink was still wet on the page, we shared this new song, announcing it was a 'world debut.' People responded positively, so we continued to share it each night. At first, it was a solo song for Gerald with my harmonies on the chorus. It became one of my favourite parts of the show. As the tour went deeper into the fall and the weather got colder, singing the song felt warm, 

like a summer's day.

Some songs are meant to be solos, but others begin to reveal themselves as duets. One day, I went to Gerald and said, "I really feel like this song is meant to be a conversation, a shared message of two voices." I suggested we could alternate the couplets in the verses, and then come together in the chorus. He smiled and said, "I was actually thinking the same thing." 

As we went through the process of choosing songs for our new CD, How The Light Gets In started to work its way to the top of the list. It become the title song of the album, inspired our CD cover, and has become a staple in our repertoire. 

We hope this song will inspire you, and add a little 'summer' to a chilly winter day!

How The Light Gets In 

Written by Gerald Flemming (c) 2014

All that we are given

Is yet to be revealed

As we seek out the stillness 

Of a silent promise sealed

And in this gentle season 

Where storms are held at bay 

The smallest here among us 

Are lifted by His grace

We open up our eyes to the brilliance in the skies 

That’s how the light gets in

There’s a warmth on our face from the beauty and the grace 

That’s how the light gets in

How the light get in

As the morning gently holds us 

In the quiet of His hand 

The restlessness is calmed by 

The promise of His plan

And in that peace we're given 

A joy that knows no bounds 

Every sin’s forgiven

In the splendor of the crown

We open up our eyes to the brilliance in the skies 

That’s how the light gets in

There’s a warmth on our face from the beauty and the grace 

That’s how the light gets in

How the light gets in

All that we are given 

Is yet to be revealed

To hear the full album, please visit our Store.

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 Gave Up Chocolate For Lent

The announcement to my family brought shocked faces. "Are you sure?" "Isn't that just self torture?" "Are you going to take it out on the rest of us?"

Okay, maybe not that severe, but it was still a surprise when I announced that I would give up chocolate for Lent this year.

If you know me well at all, you'll know I passionately love chocolate, 

as evidenced here...

... and here...

... and here! 

I love eating chocolate and making chocolate. I love visiting chocolate stores and trying chocolate desserts in restaurants. We had a chocolate fountain at our wedding, leaving my bridal party to wrap my voluminous white gown with large serviettes to protect me from dark chocolate drips.

It's actually been years since I've given up anything for Lent. In recent years, I've joined the trend of "taking up." Sometimes it's been a Bible study, or reaching out to old friends, or a songwriting project.

But this year is different. 

This year, we have no home church.

When we made the decision to tour full time, it meant a lot of changes to our lives. We left our home church of 4 years, including our wonderful small group, and moved out of Toronto to lower our living expenses. We've been blessed with a lot of travel in the past year, but all that travel has meant very few Sundays in our new city. Even though we've visited a few churches, we haven't been around enough to make a commitment to any of them.

Even last year, we were at All Saints Church in St. Andrew's, NB, for Ash Wednesday and part of Lent.

Worship planning has been a huge part of our Lenten journey over the past few years. Through our weekly meetings with church staff, song planning, psalm writing, and playing with our band, we've been deeply involved in the season that is Lent. We've sat in its themes of silence, repentance, and transformation. We've written and played music that, Sunday by Sunday, brings us along the epic path from Lent to Holy Week to the glory of Easter morning.

Without that home church presence, things are different this year. Last week, Ash Wednesday caught me by surprise. I realized that without a home church, it would be too easy for Lent to pass me by. I'm currently spending my days booking our upcoming East Coast Tour. "Taking up" for Lent would only add to my busyness, and would be too easy to drop as we get closer to the tour.

"So," I thought, "let's give something up." It had to be something significant. If the idea was to keep Lent in the forefront of my mind, it had to be something that was part of my daily routine. I didn't want it to be something that would negatively affect my productivity (no, I'm not giving up espresso!!), but something that I would miss. It needed to be something I enjoy. I wanted it to feel like a loss, an empty space to remind me that this is a season of letting go.

Chocolate became the obvious choice. 

Not the desired choice, but the obvious one.

It's been a week, and it's working. I haven't had any chocolate, but I've certainly missed it. I put together a non-chocolate dessert last week and Gerald asked, "Um, does this mean I'm giving up chocolate for Lent too?" I laughed and offered to buy him some chocolate covered almonds this week.

No, this is my simple journey. I want to be aware of this season of holiness. I want to be reminded of the dangers of excess and the power of simplicity. I want to be aware of how blessed we are to live in such abundance, and how there are so many in this world who desperately need the basics. I want to be reminded that when we have less stuff, we can open up more space for peace, listening, loving, and creating.

So, even though it may seem like a trivial choice to some, for me, giving up chocolate actually has the potential to bring me closer to God. And that's worth more than gold, or chocolate!

What are you giving up or taking up for Lent?

Please share in the Comments below!

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

Worship Wednesdays - My Ash Wednesday Playlist...

Last night, we feasted.

Today, we fast.

As we mark Ash Wednesday with stillness and simplicity, 

we can also remember with the music we choose.

Here are some of my favourite songs to start the Lenten journey:

Wait For The Lord

Often sung in Advent, this Taize chorus also sets us up for Lent with its ache and longing...

The Sound of Silence

The power of bringing a 'secular' song into the spiritual realm...

What Wondrous Love Is This

The themes of Love and Death mingle together in Lent. This hymn reflects that beautifully...

Refiner's Fire

A call for purification during the Lenten season...

How Deep The Father's Love for Us

Well suited for Good Friday, listening to it today sets us up for the journey ahead...

What are you favourite songs for Ash Wednesday?
Leave your suggestions in the comments below...


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

Worship Wednesdays - 3 Tips to Book a 5-Province Tour

Recently, we shared the news of our first East Coast Music Award nomination. (You can read about it HERE.) The awards ceremony is part of the larger East Coast Music Week (ECMW) - an annual celebration of showcases, workshops, seminars, concerts, and general music awesomeness. This year, ECMW will be held in my hometown of St. John's, Newfoundland, in April. In recent years, we've toured the East Coast in the fall, but if we're going to travel all that way in April, it made sense to move this year's tour to the spring.

So for the last two weeks, I've been in Booking Mode! I have 2 months in which to book an 8-week concert tour covering 5 provinces with a goal of 30 events. Crazy, I know!

Since I'm in Booking Mode, I thought I'd share 3 of my favourite tips 

for booking a multi-province tour:

#1 - ORGANIZE

I can't stress this enough! Booking 20-30 events will mean more than 200-300 emails, phone calls, and texts. The most important step for booking: find a system that works for you. I use email folders to keep track of all my communications. I also use Numbers (like Excel but for Mac) to create a massive spreadsheet. This is my master list with venue names, contact info, communications, and ultimately, all the info about the booking.


#2 - MAPS

I'm a visual person, and I love to see a sense of my progress. To give myself a view of the big picture, I actually use paper road maps to plan our tours. It's not high tech, but it works for me, and that's all that matters. As a CAA member, I get free road maps. I'll pick up maps for our tour provinces, and stick them to my office wall. I trim the edges and put them tight together to give a better sense of our tour area. Then, I pull out the Post It Notes. I use yellow to mark the cities we'll contact. When I get a positive response, I change it out to green. When I book the city, I change it to pink (because pink is always best!) Seeing the clear visual of our travel route keeps me aware of the big picture, and the colour-coding of the Post Its helps me track our process and see the areas that still need attention.

My low-tech map system, partway through our 2014 planning. You can see how the different coloured Post Its show the progress of the different bookings, and point out the areas that still needed work or confirmation.

#3 - WORK DAILY

Planning a tour of this size is an epic amount of work. There are hours of communications, negotiations, and the inevitable rejections. In a general week, I'll do 10 hours of booking, but I can put in up to 30 hours when we're in the big crush of things. It can get exhausting, especially if I'm trying to squeeze that into a few days. Plan to do a little every day. Don't let it overwhelm you. And make sure you're also planning time each day to write, rehearse, and actually make the music you love.

I hope these tips help you with your tour planning! 

Please feel free to share your thoughts and questions 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 - Rope Off The Pews!

The sun is shining rainbows through the stained glass. The flowers look fresh and invigorating as they grace the platform. The choir and band take their place. The minister stands up on the front steps to welcome the congregation, and that's when it becomes visible - the gap.

Even though there's a good crowd in church today, there they all are - 

sitting in the back rows!

Haven't we all seen this? It's one of the biggest complaints we've heard from pastors, music directors, and even congregations. It's particularly bad if the main entrance is at the back of the sanctuary or if, like one church we served, there's a cross aisle splitting the space in half.

For many, there's a comfort in sitting so far back in the sanctuary. Perhaps they harken back to their school days. When you sat in the back, you could get away with passing notes or doodling on your desk. The teacher didn't call on you as often. You could get lost in your daydreams...

But is that really what we want in our church?

There are countless articles about how worship music - contemporary or traditional, depending on the author - has become a "performance." These writers blame the volume, instruments, vocalists, song choices, band clothing, lighting, and a host of other factors on turning Congregations into Audiences.

I've already had my say on the slamming of the word "Performance" 

(you can read it HERE.)

 So let me add this:

Nothing contributes more to turning a Congregation into an Audience

 than that big swath of empty front pews!

We need each other in worship! We need to hear each other pray and sing. We need to feel the friendly energy of the woman behind us, and the pain of the young man sitting beside us. We need to laugh together at the minister's joke, and smile as the children perform their special song.

And those folks at the front, they desperately need you! As much as all of us in ministry love what we do, we're not doing it just for ourselves. We're doing it for God and for you. We need you to join us. We want to hear your voices and feel your spirit.

Think about the best show you ever attended. Chances are, the audience was full. Not only could you feel the energy of the performers, you could actually feel the energy of the audience. When we're close to each other, we become part of something larger than ourselves. We have a unique experience of community and togetherness. We're connected in ways we can never be when we sit far apart.

Yes, we all need moments of silence and solitude in our faith walk but corporate worship isn't one of them. It's our time to experience the full body of Christ. It's our moment to be a member of a family connected by love.

So Churches, rope off those back pews this week! Have the ushers invite folks up to the front.

 And Worshippers, let's come together on Sunday, and sit a little closer. 

We're all in this together, so let's be together.

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

Our First ECMA Nomination!!!

Today's Worship Wednesday blogpost will be shared next week. 

We received some big news today that we want to share with you:

We've received our first ECMA Nomination!!!

The East Coast Music Awards celebrate the wide range of music created by East Coast artists. We are completely humbled and honoured to be invited into this awesome group of nominees.

How The Light Gets In was nominated for Gospel Recording (Album) of the Year!

The nominations were announced on Twitter this morning:

The full list of nominees can be found here.

Congratulations to all the nominees!!

Worship Wednesdays - The Year I Was A Soccer Star...

"Athletic" has never been used to describe me.

I played sports as all kids do, and at one point I was even asked to try out for the school basketball team, but I chose choir over basketball, and I'm pretty sure that worked best in the long run.

One summer, my parents signed me up for soccer. I can't remember why exactly, but all my friends were doing it, so I guess that's as good a reason as any. Teams were divided by age, not by skill level, and I was fine with that. As the smallest kid in the class, and the one who loved choir, I was chosen last, pretty much always. I had lots of energy, but running, throwing a ball, or doing any kind of catching was certainly not on my skill list.

Well, that summer, the random lottery of teams did an amazing thing. When I arrived at our first rehearsal (wait, sports people say 'practice', right?)... When I arrived at our first practice, I couldn't believe who was on my team. Sherry, Tara, Beth - from some fluke of the universe, I ended up on the same team as all the athletic girls in my class!

I was completely overwhelmed. "Great," I thought, "One more summer of being chosen last. What will they do when I make us lose every game?" I started thinking of ways to fake a 2-month leg cramp...

Each week, we rehearsed and played games. But as the summer went on, the strangest thing started to happen. I became good at soccer! I tried different positions, and found my strength in playing defence. I could see the ball coming down the field and I learned just where to run and kick to get it out of my zone. I felt myself getting stronger, more confident...

Our team started winning games - not despite me, certainly not because of me, but with me. By the end of the summer, we made it into the playoffs, and in a twist never anticipated, we won the gold medal! I'd never been part of a winning sports team before. For the other girls on the team, this was their goal, their dream. But for me, it was so unexpected, so surreal...

I started that summer unskilled and lacking confidence, with no thoughts of ever winning a gold medal. But for 8 full weeks, I was surrounded by people who were better than me - talented, skilled, passionate about winning the game - and it changed me. It forced me to raise my skill level. The more I played, the better I got. My teammates encouraged me, and my newfound confidence gave me the courage to made bolder moves and take more risks.

It's been years since I've thought of that summer, but I was reminded of it this week as Gerald and I started to make plans to cowrite with several of our friends. You see, that summer was an outlier moment for me. I've never been part of a winning sports team again, and I don't anticipate it happening anytime soon, but the lessons of that summer shaped me.

If you want to become great at something, you need to be around people who are better at it than you are. Work with skilled writers, sing with amazing singers, play with monster players. Test your ideas against people with more knowledge and experience. Do it 'til it scares you, and then do it again. And when you look back at the end of the season, you'll see how much you've grown, how much you've honed your skills, the great things you've accomplished, and the confidence you've gained.

You'll have so much more to offer your team! Share with with them. Be generous. And then...

Search out a new group who is more talented than you, and start all over again...

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

Book Review: Yawning At Tigers, by Drew Dyck

Imagine for a moment that a Bengal tiger walked up your driveway. What would your reaction be? Fear? Apprehension? Would you call for help? After your initial shock, perhaps you'd even feel a sense of awe or wonder at the majesty before you.

In Yawning At Tigers, Drew Dyck suggests that we have minimized and tamed God to the point of ignoring his true greatness and power. What changes when we look at God's might, when we remember to fear God? Like many of us, I respond strongly to God's message of love, grace, and mercy, but the all-powerful God of Might can seem foreign, even frightening. I might find myself glossing over those particular Scripture passages. But through this book, I found myself reading the Bible with fresh eyes. The verses about God's powerful holiness stood out in a new way. I imagined the psalmist trembling as he tried to put into words the sheer awesomeness of God. Imagining that vastness squeezing into the tiny body of the Christ child suddenly changed the way I viewed the Christmas story. And imagine how it might shape your view of the cross and Easter morning...

And then we need to ask ourselves, "If we understand the greatness of God's might, how then does that affect the way we see the greatness of God's love?" In exploring the majesty of God, we are forced to re-examine both our relationship to God and the way we live our lives as people of faith. This book takes you on that journey. In a world that tries to dismiss God as powerless and irrelevant, Yawning At Tigers invites you to sit in awe of a God who truly deserves the name "Awesome."

The book concludes with a well structured Discussion Guide, complete with questions, actions, and Scripture study. The guide is appropriate for both groups and private study.

I really enjoyed Yawning At Tigers, and can honestly say it has affected my personal study and faith journey. If you get the chance, read it, take notes, and allow yourself to discover the holiness of God.


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

Worship Wednesdays - Holy Unexpected...

Welcome to 2015! We've enjoyed a wonderful break after our busy holiday season, and we're looking forward to an exciting year of touring, concerts, workshops, and other projects. Before kicking off the New Year, we want to share our favourite story from our holiday singing season:

On Christmas Day, we found ourselves singing for a group of seniors in Brampton, Ontario. We often bring our music into seniors homes. Some of them are like grounded cruise ships, with glamorous surroundings and a full roster of activities for the vibrant and active residents. This was not one of those places. The home and the staff were lovely, but the residents were struggling. Many had advanced dementia and mobility issues. Several were in elaborate wheelchairs, needing to be hand-fed. Some wore protective head gear. As we sang, many seemed unaware of both our physical and musical presence. They were just in their own world.

To the side was a woman in a bright pink dress. Her physical form had been severely drained by whatever illness had taken over her body. Her limbs were thin and jolted awkwardly. Her words were few and distorted. Her face had been twisted to the point where she couldn't even smile, yet we could tell she was enjoying the music. A caring staff member had tied jingle bells to her wrist. She swung her arms joyfully, the bells tinkling with each jerk of her hand.

We finished one song, and as people applauded, we heard a voice start to sing. We looked over to see our pink-dressed friend...

Ave Maria... 

This voice didn't represent the distorted body we saw before us. This voice was pure, warm, beautiful...

Gratia plena...

We were stunned. The room fell quiet.

Maria, gratia plena. Maria, gratia plena.

Ave, ave dominus. Dominus tecum.

We couldn't believe what we were witnessing. Out of the chaos of this busy room, this moment of beauty was flowing. No one made a sound. We were transfixed by this wonder, this sweetness. Her Latin was perfect. Her tone was smooth. She sang the whole song, and brought it to a deliberate and delicate finish..

Ventris tui, Jesus...

Ave Maria....

When she finished, there was a breath of silence, and then joy-filled applause. We couldn't believe what we had just witnessed. It was so unexpected - a extraordinary moment in an ordinary day.

A staff member whispered to us, "She was an opera singer in her youth."

Her body and her mind had aged and suffered, but her voice had continued to live inside her, seeking moments when it could escape its bindings and soar once again.

As we sit here at the start of a New Year, we ask ourselves,

What are the dreams and talents that are still living inside of us? 

What might happen if we allow them to find their way out into the world?

For if we allow them to soar, maybe we can all experience the holy, unexpected...

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

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

We were blessed to have a busy 2014, followed by a very full Christmas singing season.

We are currently enjoying our first two-weeks-off in over a year! 

It's a glorious time filled with rest, visits with friends, and lots of nothingness. 

Worship Wednesdays will return next week. 

We're looking forward to a year filled with new ideas, music, and inspiration! 

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

Our Top Ten Moments of 2014

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

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

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

#1. Musicians In Residence

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


#2. First Day In The Studio

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


#3. The Civil Rights Museum

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


#4. Time With Long Distance Friends

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

#5. Getting The CDs

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

#6. East Coast Tour 

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


#7. Watching Concerts Turn To Worship

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


#8. Teaching Workshops

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


#9. Rocky Harbour 

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




#10. Releasing Our First Radio Single

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



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

THANK YOU for an amazing 2014! 

We're looking forward to 2015!

May you remember 2014 with thanksgiving, 

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

Happy New Year!!!

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

Merry Christmas!!!

From our family to yours,

Merry Christmas!! 

Worship Wednesdays - Bake Some Cookies, Everyone!

As I write this, my shoulders are aching.

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

Actually, it's not that kind of aching. 

Tonight, I have Baker's Shoulders.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

One week til Christmas Eve, everyone! 

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

*   *   *   *   *

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

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

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

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

Worship Wednesdays - Our First Radio Single!

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

we've released our first single to radio!

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

and perhaps one of our favourite cowrites.

You can hear a sample of the song HERE.

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

There's a boy in the African desert

Who is watching the skies tonight

He knows that two thousand years ago

A child was born from the light

And his heart beholds that beautiful sight

Tonight, Everywhere is Bethlehem

Children are praying for peace and love 

And whispering ‘amen’

In their dreams they see the manger 

And the Saviour who Mary tends 

Tonight, Everywhere is Bethlehem

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

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

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

"What's your idea?"

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

There's a girl singing carols in Times Square 

Collecting spare change for the poor

She sings 'no crib for a bed'

To remind us what Christmas is for

And her voice rings out so sweet and so pure

Tonight, Everywhere is Bethlehem...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How can you help?

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

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

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

that it may reach hearts this Christmas season.

Thank you!!

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

Worship Wednesdays - Guest Post by Gerald Flemming

Today, we featured a guest post by my husband 

and Infinitely More partner, 

Gerald Flemming.

Is it possible that with every single choice we make 

we either gather closer to Jesus or shove him farther away?  

Is the world we live in that absolute?  

I’m staring at my hands right now.  I’m thinking about what I’ve done recently and what it tells me about my life.  I’m judging the worthiness of all the input I’ve left myself vulnerable to this week…of every single sight and sound I’ve willingly left myself open to.  I’m ‘microscoping’ every word I’ve spoken and every action I’ve taken.

Wow, what a frightening way to live.  Being so obsessively self aware of our moral compass that we’re constantly staring at the needle as if it was the second hand on a Doomsday clock.  Staring so hard at the minutiae of our lives that the colors of the world become muted and grey.  We find ourselves stressed and tired and uninspired, so quick to judge others around us as being wrong or even worse - damned.  I know this sounds a little overwrought and over the top, but it happens every single day.  It happens on the internet and in our own lives.

There is a Pastor, someone I’ve known for eight or nine years.  He posted recently that he found he was tired and anxious and edgy all the time.  And then he was quick to post 'of course' he was, and that was fine because he wasn’t made for this world - he was made for the next world.  If you look at his other posts, tracing back, you see a picture of someone who is caught up in the politics of fear and paranoia and looking for Biblical justifications for all of it.  He hates 'this' politician and 'this' is why.  He puts links to all of these outlier blogs that speak in very hyperbolic terms about the conditions in the world today.  Don’t get me wrong - he can out-quote most Old testament scholars I know, but his swift judgmental attacks on anybody who challenges his assumptions seems to show somebody who is becoming unstable and detached from the love and the grace of Christ.  We are called to view the Old Testament through the lens of the New Testament.  I’ve never heard him quote the New Testament.  Not a single time.

Living the sanctified crucified life is a hard choice.  There is no question about that.  Allison and I were privileged to be at a lecture series where a wonderful speaker talked about living the Crucified Life.  He talked about waking up every single morning and laying our shames and guilt at the feet of the cross.  Every single morning.  He talked about the difference between being private and being secretive.  Being private is being respectful and modest.  Being secretive, having secrets, is shame based and calls into question the behaviour that is indulged in the shadows.  That was an interesting distinction to me and it felt like that was a healthy level of responsibility to have towards my life and my daily practices.

I think there is absolutely a healthy level of scrutiny we are called to as Christians.
I also think that scrutiny can become as addictive as alcohol or drugs.  I think that individuals can end up craving both self-judgment and the judgment of others and using the Pulpit, their prayer group or their Facebook page as places to indulge this addiction.

At times when we feel that overwhelming need to judge either ourselves or others, maybe it’s as simple as reacquainting ourselves to the peace and beauty that is all around us.

The creation, that is here for us to witness.
The beauty that can render us in awe-filled silence.
A quiet so deep that we can hear the Voice.
Can it be that simple?
Can we trust that it’s really that easy?

‘Be Still and Know that He is God.’

Peace, Gerald

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

Worship Wednesdays - Every Song Has A Story

For today's Worship Wednesdays post, I actually want to direct you to an article I recently had published.

We were asked by the Niagara Anglican paper to share some words about the creation of our new CD - How The Light Gets In. If you've been following our posts this year, you'll know that our biggest focus for the CD was the songs. How do we discover great ideas for songs? What is the writing process? How do we choose which songs to record, and then, how do we record them?

We decided to distill all of this into an article called Every Song Has A Story.

You can read the article HERE. 

The link will take you to the full paper, so please scroll down to page 11.

I hope you enjoy this behind the scenes look into the creation of How The Light Gets In! 

To hear the songs referenced in the article, please visit HERE.

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

Worship Wednesdays - East Coast Tour: The Numbers!

Home.

We left Ontario on September 9 to start our East Coast Tour.

On November 9, we finished the tour with our final appearance.

The past 2 months have been an intense experience in so many ways. In the next few weeks, we'll finish all the follow up, including a post mortem for ourselves to celebrate the tour and learn how we can make our ministry more accessible and more effective. In the meantime, here are a few numbers to put things in perspective:

EAST COAST TOUR

4th time touring the East Coast

9 weeks on the road

5 provinces

30 different events

 3 seasons

2 ferries

1 snow storm

8300 kilometers

3 islands

2 moose sightings

1 trip to the mechanic

2 new songs

500 photos

And "infinitely more" new friends, 

amazing experiences, and unforgettable memories.

We still have a few more photos to post, and we're working on a compilation video to share some of our experiences with you.

This week, however, we are simply grateful for every church, family, and community who chose to invite our music and ministry into their lives.

Thank you, East Coast! 

Can't wait to see you in 2015!

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