Music Department 101...By Request!

I have had multiple requests for info regarding music ministry and our Music Department.
I would say that the most effective thing you can do in music ministry-- bar none-- is PRAY. There is an element that God's annointing brings to a service that mere vocalist's and musician's are unable to conjure up. I am continually talking to our Music Department about being prayerful throughout the week, so we are spiritually prepared to LEAD in worship.
Music is simply the vehicle... and God could move without us! Music plays a vital role in worship, but without the flow and ebb of the Holy Ghost we are simply "performers". You may worship very effectvely and never sing or play a single note! Secondly, I daily ask God to let my life (and our music department) represent true humility. Beware of the feeling of false importance. As Bebo Norman sings.. "I am nothing without You!"

Some things I do:

1. www.planningcenteronline.com

2. Ministers Of Music Association

3. CCLI (This is the law, plus they have great stuff!)

4. Monthly Leadership Training Night

5. Brett Manning's Singing Success

6. YouTube(for listening to songs, watching piano tutorials, etc. )

7. iTunes( burn every musician/vocalist a New Repertoire CD quarterly)

8. Heart of Worship playlists

9. IBC Music Fest, CLC Heart of Worship Conference

10. Quarterly Choir Clinics--for your choir members AND praise team.

11. Group Piano/Voice Lessons for Beginners.

12. One "Drama Sunday" per quarter spices things up a bit. Ask your youth and kids to get involved, too! Sign language, sticks.... or whatever flies at your church.

13. WorshipTools

14. Music Staff Appreciation Dinners. People love food. And it's a great way to let em' know I appreciate them!

15. Listen to things outside YOUR favorite genre. Mix it up! Different people like different things!

16. Keep (and give out) an updated quarterly Music Department Calendar. People feel better when they know you aren't wasting their time and are organized/precise.

More to come.... Off to bed for now.

Kisses in the Rain

Kisses in the Rain,
A chance that we might meet for Kisses in the Rain,
Trying to find the heat that left long ago,
And left us with so much pain,
Kisses in the Rain,
Nothing more or less, just Kisses in the Rain,
Two hearts that won't confess to knowing what's true,
No skies of blue remain,

We're now a time remembered,
Love's just a passing glance,
It's all a cold September and all along last dance,

Hiding in the lane,
We try so hard and yet there's nothing to regain,
Two hearts that never met, still holding on in vain,
To Kisses in the Rain.