video Archives - Praise & Worship

20Jun 2012 by Ray No Comments

Where To Find Praise & Worship Music

I'm often asked where to get good praise & worship music to listen to. For me, the best way to learn new music is to listen to it a lot. There's a few main sources I go to for music in this genre. I buy a lot of my favorite songs on iTunes and listen to them on my iPod. I have a praise & worship faves playlist that I like to listen to when I run, clean the house, fold laundry, cook dinner, drive around in the car, etc. I'm listening to music all the time and let it soak in. I listen to K-Love. If you have a K-Love or similar contemporary christian radio station in your city, it's a great place to hear a lot of music…

03Apr 2012 by Ray No Comments

Reconciliation: Matthew West – Only Grace

Music Ministry, Music Reviews

Happy Holy Week! I was at morning mass today and thought about this song by Matthew West. There were a couple of interesting things about the readings and sermon that made me think about it. Let's start with the reading from Isaiah 49:1-6. Hear me, O islands, listen, O distant peoples. The LORD called me from birth, from my mother's womb he gave me my name. He made of me a sharp-edged sword and concealed me in the shadow of his arm. He made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me. You are my servant, he said to me, Israel, through whom I show my glory. Though I thought I had toiled in vain, and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength, Yet my reward is with the…

22Feb 2012 by Ray 1 Comment

Music Liturgy Changes During Lent

Music Ministry, Original Music

https://youtu.be/dGi3ntMHK78 I had a question on my review of Matt Maher's Mass of Communion for a Lenten version of his Alleuluia. In the video I offer a suggestion substituting "Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory." If you're using this particular mass setting, it's okay if you'd like to mix in another gospel acclamation. Ed Bolduc's Mass of St. Ann has a Lenten Gospel Acclamation available. In my Mass of Praise, I arranged a Kyrie as well as a Lenten Gospel Acclamation. It's common during this season to sing the Kyrie (Lord Have Mercy) in place of a Glory. We refrain from singing "alleluia" until Easter. It's a great idea to change the instrumentation of your group during Lent. Try more of an acoustic set up with…

08Feb 2012 by Ray 1 Comment

How He Loves – Live Variables

Music Ministry, Music Reviews

There are some great songs out there that don't always translate exactly the same for a worship service as the recordings. How He Loves is one of my favorite songs these days. I love John Mark McMillan's lyrics and I have a man crush on David Crowder. How could you not?!? When leading this for a congregation though your goal is to help them pray and sing along. The second verse is tricky. Here's how we led it last Sunday during communion: Verse 1 with just piano and one vocalist. Instrumental riff with electric guitar Repeat verse 1 with other vocals joining and bass Chorus 1 "Oh, how he loves us so..." Instrumental riff again Verse 2- we go almost completely out here and take this way down to just piano…

06Feb 2012 by Ray 1 Comment

Priorities of a Praise Band

Music Ministry

Let's say you're starting a praise & worship band. Maybe your church says, "Hey music guy...we want to start a contemporary worship service and we need a band. Why don't you start one?" What's your priority for recruiting musicians? What's the most important instruments to have? I've also run into this situation where you're playing a retreat and all of your band members can't make it. Fortunately, you've got a musician who can fill in on a variety of instruments if need be, but which one do you choose? This situation happens all the time in music ministry, especially when your band members are volunteers. Here's my take on what you need from bare bones up to a full band. It goes without saying that sometimes you run with what…

04Feb 2012 by Ray 1 Comment

New Music- We Are Light

Original Music

Lead Sheet Link I wanted to get a quick video up so that I could share this new song. When I get around to making a nicer recording I'll post it here as well. Forgive the video quality this was just an experiment with a web cam. Background on this song: We had a youth event at our church we call "XLT" that happens about once a month. The flow is usually music, then a talk by a guest speaker, followed by adoration with more music throughout. Recently a youth minister, preached about Light. He quoted several scripture verses and had candles lit around the room. Then candles began to be blown out until the room was entirely dark. He lit one candle and explained that "we are light". He…