Infinitely More named Stonebridge Guitar Artists!

Yesterday, we shared the story of our recent Guitar Hunt. 

You can read all the details HERE.

Today, we're sharing the awesome conclusion!

As we searched and played, Gerald discovered a guitar he'd never heard of before: Stonebridge.

We hadn't seen them in any stores (and we visited a lot!) yet we saw them in videos, played by master finger-style guitarists.

A quick Google search uncovered the story behind these European gems. Only in North America for less than a decade, Stonebridge Guitars are distributed in a handful of select, boutique guitar stores. Some of the stores even feature an appointment-only policy. Fortunately, their North American distribution - Brickhouse Guitars - is only an hour from us.

It was a short trip from Discovery to Love. Gorgeous handcrafted instruments with stunning tone and playability. The search for our dream guitar had ended.

It wasn't long before we discovered the Artist Collaboration Program and filled out our application.

We're proud to announce that Infinitely More 

is the newest Stonebridge Artist!

Infinitely More, with our new band member! 

We're honoured to represent this wonderful guitar, and can't wait to add its beautiful sound to our live shows.

Elegant and beautiful! 

It's a stunning instrument - rich cedar top, master grade shimmering koa sides and back, paduak binding and appointments.

The light shimmers off the stunning koa!

The sound is incredible, but when we sang with it, and heard its tone blend with our voices, well, that was just magic. We brought it home on Tuesday and it's already inspired at least one new song!

Deep cutaway and simple inlays add the perfect finishing touches.

What an awesome end to our Guitar Hunt! 

We hope you'll come out to see our new guitar at an upcoming event.

In the meantime, we're off to make some great music with the newest member of our band...

Worship Wednesdays - The Guitar Hunt!

"I want a new guitar."

Common words from a guitar player like Gerald, but when he said it this spring, I knew something was in the air.

Years ago, Gerald found a stunningly beautiful Martin Simpson Bourgeois guitar. This handmade instrument has a rich tone and moving sound. It's so special, it's actually featured in 1001 Guitars to Dream of Playing Before You Die.

The Bourgeois guitar as featured on Be Thou My Vision (How The Light Gets In)

But we're not playing the Bourgeois live. We just drove it 9767 KM throughout the East Coast, and it barely left its case.

"I want to sell the Bourgeois, and buy a new cornerstone acoustic guitar for us."

So, the hunt began.

We've bought a number of instruments and lots of gear since we first met, and nothing, nothing has been as intensive as this guitar search.

It started in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, where we met this charming limited edition Taylor. Only 75 were made, exclusively for Long & McQuade. Mahogany body with a burgundy finish and maple leaf inlays in the fretboard. Lovely.

Limited edition Taylor in Dartmouth

We visited stores in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, and Ontario. At each one we played Taylors, Martins, Breedloves, Collings, and all kinds of locally made treasures. (We actually played 3 of the 75 limited edition Taylors as we visited Long & McQuades across the country. The Dartmouth one is best.)

A few weeks in, we visited Musicfest at Cosmo Music. There, we attended the Taylor road show, getting an education on the various effects of body shape and tone woods on the sound of each guitar. We spent the better part of the day with the Taylor reps, playing instruments and hearing stories about how their guitars are made.

Taylor Guitars road show

Later in the day, we were introduced to Cole Clark guitars. These gorgeous instruments are made in Australia, primarily with indigenous woods. Interesting look and great sound.

Trying Cole Clark Guitars at Cosmo

Our search began to occupy all our waking thoughts. At home, Gerald was pouring over hours and hours of Youtube videos. He watched finger-style superstars like Don Ross and Calum Graham to see what they're playing. He studied guitar manufacturing, and the fascinating work of Andy Powers, who's using techniques used on violins and cellos to bring a new sound to Taylor guitars.

We began visiting guitar stores all around Southern Ontario. Every day we found a new one. No store was too big or too small to be excluded from our search. Along the way, we found fantastic stores, each one owned and staffed by people with a passion for guitars. As we played close to 100 guitars, we began to narrow down our requirements of size, shape, tone ...

At one point in the search, we realized that we weren't just looking for a guitar - it was like we were searching for a 3rd member for our band. Since our live concert is basically guitar and two voices, we needed an instrument that wasn't just beautiful sounding. It also needed to fit into our blend. It will shape and influence our sound, our vibe, and our creativity.

The hunt continued....

We discovered The Guitar Shop in Mississauga. The search was narrowing to the new line of maple Taylors. We sampled and played, and started to weigh our options.

Waves of guitars at The Guitar Shop

The Acoustic Room in Hamilton had only opened a few days earlier. We played Taylors and more Cole Clarks in this gorgeous, intimate store.

The Acoustic Room - worth the drive to Hamilton

We finally found ourselves in Brickhouse Guitars in Kitchener. Probably the smallest store we visited but one that held the biggest surprise...

Guitar dreaming at Brickhouse Guitars...

What did we find at Brickhouse Guitars? 

Will we ever find our dream guitar?

Stay tuned tomorrow for the exciting conclusion, 

and our big news!!!

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

Worships Wednesdays on Vacation!

Well, technically it's a STAYcation! 

We had an amazing time on our recent East Coast Tour, 

and now as the song goes, we're 'home for a rest.'

You can see photos from the tour on our SITE and FACEBOOK page.

We'll be back next week with a brand new post...

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

Worship Wednesdays - Our 5th East Coast Tour is Complete!

For the first time in over 2 months, I'm writing you from the comfort of my own home.

Our 5th annual East Coast Tour was an amazing experience, 

filled with music, stories, adventures, and yes, lots and lots of driving!

Here are the numbers:

Thanks to everyone who supported this tour in any way. 

We couldn't do any of this without you!

See you in 2016!

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

Worship Wednesdays - Peggy's Cove & The "Art" of Hope

In Canada, we just enjoyed the annual tradition of a relaxing Victoria Day Weekend. As one of our activities, we decided to visit Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia - one of the most celebrated and beautiful spots in the country.

We strolled throughout the tiny fishing village, enjoying the artisans, feasting on lobster, and soaking in the beauty of the iconic lighthouse.

One of the most inspiring moments of the day was our visit to the William deGarthe Museum. 

DeGarthe was born in Finland, but emigrated to Canada in the late 1920's where he built his career as a painter and sculptor. In the 1930's, he became one of a growing group of artists to discover the unique beauty of Peggy's Cove. He eventually bought a house in the community and moved his full-time studio to a home overlooking the water.

Peggy's Cove is a geological wonder with it's amazingly sculptural granite. It seems to erupt from the ground, pushing grass and trees aside and peppering the landscape with oversized boulders.

Every day, deGarthe would pass a particular outcropping. It was long and narrow. He envisioned it as a canvas, and figures began to emerge in his imagination...

William deGarthe's Fishermen's Monument, in its beautiful natural setting.

In the 1970's, he began his most ambitious project to date: a Fisherman's Monument. This 30 metre (100 ft) carving would be inspired by and a tribute to the people of Peggy's Cove.

DeGarthe imagined the mural in three sections: Grace, Bounty, and Work. In Grace, we see St. Elmo spreading his wings of protection over the fishing family. In Bounty, we see the legendary Peggy of the Cove holding a basket of fish, and representing the "Keeper of the Bounty." In Work, we see the people of Peggy's Cove, casting nets and providing the lifeblood of the village. There are 32 figures in all, including men, women, and children. 

Local men & women served as the models for each figure.

The fisherman leads the whole monument.

Everything was carved by hand. The display of the tools used show small chisels and hammers.

The work has stood for over 30 years, with minimal damage despite its exposure to hurricanes, harsh winters, salt spray, and ocean winds.

The Fisherman's Monument is an amazing work of art and, coupled with the museum, is truly worth the visit. It's easy to find inspiration in its beauty, craft, and story.

But here's the part that blew me away:

deGarthe began his masterpiece when he was in his 70's!

That's right. At over 70 years old, he took on a 10 year project of intense physical labour and deep artistic commitment.

This just amazes me. What an act of hope!

A detail of St. Elmo watching over the fisher men & women.

So many people choose to slow down as they get older. I know people in their 40's and 50's who are already saying things like, "Well, I haven't accomplished it yet, so I guess I won't in this lifetime."

I know there are realistic limits to our ages. I know there are a finite number of things we can do in our time on this earth. But when I heard this story, I was reminded of one of my favourite quotes:

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.

C.S. Lewis

As the story goes, deGarthe wasn't able to finish the final details his masterpiece. But that didn't stop the dream. After his death, a team of artists completed his vision. Because of his passion and commitment, thousands of people continue to be inspired by this wonderful work of art.

Our skills and talents are not gifts to be held in check. They are not for our satisfaction alone. We are meant to create and share with the world.

So I challenge myself, and I ask you as well: 

What is your next goal? What is your next dream?

And now, let's go make it happen! 

Our East Coast Tour is in its final weeks! 

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 - A Time To Rest...

I'm writing today from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. We're now in the 7th week of our East Coast Tour. So far, we've sung concerts, led worship, and taught worships. We've celebrated Easter, and a very memorable Maundy Thursday. We've sung for seniors homes, a youth conference, a hospital visit, and participated in East Coast Music Week. We've driven several thousand kilometres and taken two ferries. We've driven from Spring to Winter and back into Spring again.

And now, it's time for a rest.

This weekend, Canada celebrates Victoria Day - a long weekend commonly dedicated to cottages, BBQs, and depending on your area, fishing. Churches expect a surplus of empty pews this Sunday. Needless to say, it was impossible to book any concerts for the weekend.

So instead, we will join with the rest of the country in a few days of resting, relaxing, and not doing much of anything.

And the timing couldn't be better.

As a self-confessed workaholic, I've learned the value of taking time off. In a non-traveling week, I am firm about stopping work by a certain hour, and I vigorously claim Monday as our Official Day Off.

When we're on the road, that's a lot harder to do. With over 30 events in 9 weeks, with 5 provinces worth of driving, finding time off can be a challenge. Our concert days are obviously very active, and even on our non-performing days, I always need to spend a few hours catching up on admin, or booking summer and fall events.


But then I remember verses like these:

"By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work."

Genesis 2:2 

"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed."

Mark 1:35 

"[Jesus] said to [his disciples], ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’ So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place."

Mark 6:31b-32 

God - the Creator of all things - rested. 

Jesus - Messiah, Redeemer, Saviour, Healer - rested.

If God rested, why do I think I can run 24-7 without a break?

Jesus took time to be still, to be alone, to hear his own breath. He spent time in prayer, refreshing his soul and reconnecting with God.

He also took time to be along with his disciples - his closest friends and companions.

His was work was physically, emotionally, and spiritually draining. It's the kind of work that can easily lead to burnout. And if that had happened, look at all that would have been lost...

So this weekend, I'll do the same. I'll close my calendar, and spend time with silence. I won't look at my watch, except when I get hungry. I'll spend time exploring the fabulous Halifax area with my beautiful husband and good friends.

And by the time next week arrives, I'll be ready to head out on the next chapter of our Infinitely More adventure...

Our East Coast Tour is in its final weeks! 

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 - Will Beauty Come From These Ashes?

The news was devastating - 

St. Mary The Virgin Church in Indian Bay, Newfoundland, had burned to the ground.

The fire had started early in the morning, and by the time the fire crew arrived, the old building was burned beyond saving. Even though we'd never sung in this church, we are good friends with its minister, Rev. David, and had sung for the community twice on our East Coast Tours.

On Sunday, we sang for the community again at St. Alban's Church in Trinity. 

On Monday, Gerald, Rev. David, and I visited the fire site.

As we opened the car doors, the first thing that hit us was the smell. It's been weeks since the fire, yet a charred smell still fills the air. The next thing to catch our attention were the steps to nowhere. The front steps and the ramp remain completely intact, only burned on the edge that met the building.

The unburned steps...

We approached the rectangular remains. Despite strong winds, the building had burned down cleanly, the fire never touching the surrounding woods or homes. This is a church that had been lovingly built by hand. Stretching out before us was a haunting black skeleton, burnished and shining in the sunshine.

The devastation. You can see the broken baptismal font lower right.

The remains changed as we came closer to the altar area. Pages of hymnals, Bibles, and prayer books were scattered in the ashes. The spines of the books had burned and separated, and the individual pages were only singed on the edges. The white pages floated on the black mess, their messages of hope and comfort gleaming in the sun.

This hymn seemed hauntingly appropriate in the ashes... 

"I think that's a paten!" David called out. The silver plate used to hold the Communion bread was poking out of the ash. Gerald climbed over the beams and pulled it out. The tiny round plate was still hot and horribly misshapen. We began to notice other pieces of the Communion set - cups, plates, and stems, their silver finish burned off and fused with soot.

Communion pieces pulled from the soot.

It was then that we noticed the most remarkable sight of the day. Floating above the decimated wreckage, their orange wings caught the sunlight. Two bright, glorious butterflies flitted in the warm air. Below them lay the black, charred devastation. The contrast was striking.

Our sign of hope!

This church was a cornerstone of the town. It was filled with memories of weddings, baptisms, social nights, music, and family. Its loss brought grief and mourning. And yet, these butterflies danced and played. The three of us watched and marvelled at their lightness. They were in the blackest spot in the area, and yet, they rejoiced. They seemed to say, "Life is still here. There is hope. There is joy. Let the dance continue..."

We will continue to pray for the congregation of Indian Bay as they work through this transition. We don't know what the future will hold for them, but we know there is hope. We know there is joy. We know the dance will continue...

"... and provide for those who grieve in Zion—

to bestow on them a crown of beauty

    instead of ashes,

the oil of joy

    instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise

    instead of a spirit of despair."

Isaiah 61:3 NIV

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 - 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!