We had a GREAT week this week... the band was just rock solid and these songs just seemed to go really well together. Here's what we did:
Opener
"Saved" - Bob Dylan
Worship Set
"Glorious One" - Steve Fee
"God of this City" - Tomlin
"The Stand" - Hillsong United
"Let it Rise" - heck, I don't even know who wrote this.
Altar / Closing
"Changed" - Aaron Niequist
I'll have more on that last song later... it's not a very well known song but it's really, really great. Aaron is the worship leader at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids (yes, Rob Bell's church). If the video turned out okay, I'll share a youtube video of us doing that song for you other worship leader types to hear.
Today was a really great day at church. Some days you work really hard and plan a lot of things and it doesn't quite work out... every now and then, it all seems to click and today was one of those days.
We hired a harpist to come and play in the lobby while people came in. I shared that we were doing this with a few people beforehand and they looked at me like I was crazy. I don't know what they were thinking because it was really, really nice. Elizabeth Farr is the name of the harpist we used and she did a great job... she mixed hymns with some classics (Over the Rainbow, What a Wonderful World) and also played some classical and I think I even heard some Enya in there. Come on, you know you had that one Enya album and loved it. Don't even try to deny it!
For our worship set this morning, we went for kind of a pop-jazz feel. I played piano, Adam played drums, Rob played bass, Jim played guitar, and our new friend Dave played some really amazing saxophone. Our men's quartet joined us on one song and Sarah and Michelle sang too... Michelle did a great job singing lead on "Indescribable". I can't even tell you how much fun it is to get to play music every week with such a talented group of people. I'm the musical weak link on stage... I'm not half the player a lot of these guys and gals are but they tolerate me and I'm having so much fun. Here's our setlist:
Opener / Walk-In
"You are so Beautiful" - Joe Cocker (we played this instrumentally... I can't pull off Cocker!)
Worship Set
Pass me Not oh Gentle Savior - traditional (Lyle Lovett arrangement)
Love the Lord - Lincoln Brewster
Indescribable - Laura Story
Friend of God - Israel Houghton
Closing Song
Lord I Give You My Heart - Jeff Deyo
I also have to mention that Renee Denney did a hilarious version of the "Mom's Anthem" that's been going around youtube this past year. Some lady took everything she says to her kids in one day and condensed it into three minutes and set it to the tune of the William Tell Orchestra. Renee memorized every word and performed it for us this morning. HERE'S THE AMAZING PART... I found out after church that Renee had been in the emergency room almost all night and had gotten almost zero sleep. She had to be there at 8:15 for a sound check and she didn't complain, didn't even mention it! I found out from someone else.. she never said anything about it. So Renee, you're already first in line for a Powelly Award next year!
If you've never seen the original song on youtube, here it is:
When I found out I was going to be moving back into the realms of worship leading, one of the first things I wanted to do was to expand the band a little bit. One of the things I have learned about myself over the years is that I get bored easily and need variety if I really want to thrive creatively. It's hard for me to do week after week after week of nearly the same thing. Problem is, I've been a bit out of the musical loop for awhile here in Knoxville so I wasn't sure where to find some new musicians. Craigslist to the rescue.
I put an ad on Craigslist basically inviting musicians to contact me about the possibility of joining us at Powell. I didn't really know what to expect but I'll tell you what I didn't expect... I didn't expect over 40 emails from folks expressing interest. I've had to kind of sort through that... interview folks a little bit via email, make sure people weren't going to show up and try to sacrifice a weasel during a service or anything, but wow... so far the results have been pretty fantastic.
Our first new musician was a wonderful violinist who sat in with us in an acoustic set we did a few weeks ago. She's just a really cool gal with a great ear and a really nice style on the violin. Then last week we had a drummer sit in with us who was just solid as a rock and much needed since we didn't have any backups for my brother when he's gone. Then tonight, we rehearsed for our mother's day service and I don't want to give away what we're going to do but the guy we have sitting in with us is just a ridiculously good player... I don't want to give away the instrument but when you hear him Sunday, you'll be blown away.
Speaking of Mother's Day... Powell Church folks, you don't want to miss this one... it's going to be a really great Sunday. Of course, hopefully they're all really great, but we've got some nice extra things planned this week that we think you're really going to enjoy.
So here is how I began this morning's worship... "Let's all rise to our feets and worship. Wait, did I just say feets?"
You know, I'm a fairly articulate guy... college educated and all that. I can string a sentence or two together when I need to. And yet, I thought it wise to ask the congregation to rise to their FEETS. Brilliant.
Anyway, other than that, it was a really fun week and the band did a really great job. We were back to our normal instrumentation this week although I did play piano on 4 of the 6 songs... I've been doing guitar only so that was a welcome change. Even though i've played mostly guitar for the better part of 5 years, I'm still a lot more comfortable behind the keys.
The congregation was absolutely with us this morning which was really nice. I don't know if they always sing loudly and I just can't hear it but for whatever reason, I could hear them really clearly today. It's so much easier to lead when you hear people singing along. Okay, here's the setlist:
WALK IN / OPENING
God of this City (can't remember who wrote it but Chris Tomlin recorded it on the newest Passion CD)
WORSHIP SET
All to You (Lincoln Brewster)
Salt and Light (Jami Smith)
Fire Fall Down (Hillsong United)
Marvelous Light (Charlie Hall)
ALTAR / CLOSING
Overflow (Chris Tomlin)
And that my non-worship leader friends, is a little trick those of us in the biz like to call a Tomlin Sandwich.
Worship Set
Awesome is the Lord Most High - Chris Tomlin
God of Wonders - Third Day / Caedmon's Call
Mighty to Save - Hillsongs
Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus - traditional
Set me Free - Big Daddy Weave
Altar / Closing
You are So Good to Me - Waterdeep
Sunday was loads of fun! We stripped it all down and went all acoustic and were able to get together a really neat mix of instruments. My brother Adam played a small drum kit and also a djembe and a cajon (one of those wooden boxes you sit on). Adam Whipple came and played piano and some accordion. Tim Harbin broke out his mandolin and our new friend Rose came and played some really lovely violin. Sarah, Michelle, and Andrea did a great job with the harmonies, Jasmine filled in some nice acoustic guitar work, Rob layed down that sweet, funky, phat low end we love so well and I... well, I just tried not to mess all that good stuff up too badly.
Powell Church folks, I hope you enjoyed it... I know we enjoyed putting it together. We wanted to leave some empty space in the sound so that you could hear yourselves sing... We could hear you up front and it was really great to hear that!
If you didn't enjoy it so much... fear not, next week we'll be back with electric guitars blazing, ready to bring the rawk. Or something like that.
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