tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33967962881195600252011-07-29T19:02:54.954+10:00Helpfull ideas and thoughts for those who lead their churches in music and worship.Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14023890109876140272noreply@blogger.comBlogger191100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396796288119560025.post-72379730364992006642009-08-27T11:45:00.009+10:002009-09-01T16:23:20.083+10:00

Most local churches would average between 50 to 150 members. And musicians aren't always in abundant supply. I've seen churches where there are enough musicians to meet all the needs of the church, and then there are others who have to rely on one or two players to lead the church in worship and singing. One church I ministered in lately had to get a pianist in from another church to help them

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14023890109876140272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396796288119560025.post-28354235874208453182009-08-24T21:55:00.006+10:002009-08-24T22:37:52.594+10:00

Better guitar playing in your local church.Joe Vermeulen (Pastor of Grace Reformed Church, Perth) has been teaching guitar to church musician for the past 15 years. He brings a wealth of experience and insight into playing specifically in church settings, using both hymns and contemporary worship songs to teach good guitar technique. Before coming to Perth, he was the Worship Pastor at Bray Park

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14023890109876140272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396796288119560025.post-56492973758544136972009-07-02T01:33:00.011+10:002009-07-02T03:01:21.503+10:00

C ---------------------AmJesus - Promised Messiah-----------------DmLaid down your gloryG --------------C-- Dm7--Em--G----Took on a ser-vant’s na-tureC-------------------------------------- AmSon of God - Came down from heaven---------Dm---------G------------- C ----------[G/B - E - ]Dwelt among us------ - EmmanuelAm --------------Em/GLamb of God ------------------Fmaj7Humble and lowlyAm --------

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14023890109876140272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396796288119560025.post-54819103835322624752009-07-02T01:25:00.005+10:002009-07-02T03:02:04.127+10:00

Wanting more than one verse to sing, I wrote 3 verses based on the theme of Phillipians 2:8-11verse 1. Jesus laying down His glory coming down to earth,verse 2. the Suffering Servantverse 3. the Risen Lord.The chords I've used also reflect the tone of each verse, 2 being sad in minor keys, and 3 being victorius written with a key change and lots of major chords. See the next blog for a chords

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14023890109876140272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396796288119560025.post-85433124725809065312009-07-02T01:10:00.005+10:002009-07-02T03:02:21.912+10:00

Alternative words by Joe Vermeulen.Being in a congregation of mosly South African migrants who knew the tune, but for many the high English words had little meaning - I rewrote parts of the lyrics to suit our people, thereby making it more singable and understandable.My eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the LordIt is written that the Son will come, creation to restoreBut until that day,

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14023890109876140272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396796288119560025.post-44836169803522617762009-04-07T23:56:00.007+10:002009-04-08T02:04:15.567+10:00

Original lyrics:I love You LordAnd I lift my voiceTo worship YouOh my soul, rejoice.Take joy my KingIn what You hearLet it be a sweet, sweet soundIn Your ear.Additional Easter themed verse: (Joe Vermeulen)Jesus You areThe Lamb of GodWho takes awayAll my sin, and shame(rest note) - CrucifiedYou bled and diedYet You rose againLord, Your nameIs lifted high

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14023890109876140272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396796288119560025.post-48966950050754646142008-07-12T22:05:00.003+10:002008-07-12T22:12:21.862+10:00

S. Psalm 12:6"And the words of the Lord are flawless. Like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times."O. There is no defect! God's Word is pure, without mistake - it is flawless. This is in stark contrast with the ways of the world... lies and deception (v2), flattering & boastful (v3).A. When the filth of this world sickens us, we can turn to God and find purity. When we get

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14023890109876140272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396796288119560025.post-44080790863453393732008-07-08T23:58:00.000+10:002008-07-09T00:00:11.986+10:00

S. Ps 8:4"What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?"O. "I look at your macro-skies, dark and enormous, your handmade sky-jewelry, moon and stars mounted in their settings.Then I look at my micro-self and wonder, why do you bother with us?Why take a second look our way? (from MSG)Like David, I stand in awe of our great God. I think "who am I, Jesus, that You

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14023890109876140272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396796288119560025.post-7643919958079244382008-06-27T10:22:00.009+10:002008-06-27T10:56:27.034+10:00

In Luke 24, we read how Jesus had risen from the dead, and was appearing to his sceptical disciples (v.11). Unbeknown to them, He was in their midst, but they did not recognise Him (v.16), until...S (scripture)Luke 24:30-31 "When He was at the table with them, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it & began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him."O (observation)Jesus

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14023890109876140272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396796288119560025.post-34544966557011929582008-06-22T11:30:00.002+10:002008-06-22T11:49:30.648+10:00

Here is an example of journaling using the S.O.A.P. method (see my previous blog for more info), after reading Psalm 56.S. Ps. 56:3 "When I am afraid, I will trust in You."O. This great , famed man of God (King David ~ writer of this Psalm,) who experienced so much of God's might & power... is afraid. He's "human" after all. But we also see how David deals with this fear... by trusting in

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14023890109876140272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396796288119560025.post-145574750815168142008-06-11T20:39:00.007+10:002008-06-22T11:30:25.132+10:00

As a song leader / worship leader ~ it's extremely important that you spend time in God's word. This can sometimes be hard going, especially if you're like me and reading is a discipline more than a hobby. I've tried many different ways of doing personal devotions, but finally settled for Journaling, using the 'S.O.A.P.' method. I take a bible book (like Psalms) and then do a chapter a day (

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14023890109876140272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396796288119560025.post-50960833138490178222008-06-05T21:45:00.006+10:002008-06-11T20:39:22.663+10:00

I remember a time when our church had no weekly rehearsals. For a while the only practise we got, was the hour before the actual service. Mind you, we had some very skilled musicians who somehow managed to pull things together at the last minute... but the hour before the service were mostly stressful and the songs were all done in the same old way as last time. No time to add any

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14023890109876140272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396796288119560025.post-28565187748368352422008-06-04T21:18:00.008+10:002008-12-11T20:53:03.476+10:00

Psalm 119:71 "It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees."This is so true... (not a nice thought, eh?) Human nature is such, when things go well with us, we feel invincible & sometimes we even become arrogant. We've got an answer for everything and an opinion on every matter.Then calamity comes.Affliction has a way of opening our "blocked ears" to hear His voice. (Now

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14023890109876140272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396796288119560025.post-2221336007846210912008-06-03T21:31:00.008+10:002008-06-03T22:47:12.715+10:00

Have you ever wished you could think of something different to say when you welcome folk to the Sunday service? It's easy to fall into a trap where we say the same ol' words every time.Here's a few ideas that I've used to add a bit of colour to the welcome part of the service.1. Morning person: "Who here is a morning person? (ask folk to raise their hand.) Who's more of a night owl? Personally,

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14023890109876140272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396796288119560025.post-37774247250258008152008-06-02T18:08:00.005+10:002008-06-02T23:34:31.826+10:00

Ever been to a service where you're told to "turn to you neighbour and tell him 'You're looking good today...'" ~ or some other sentence that the preacher or song leader wants you to say?I've got to be honest... I hate it! It always makes me feel awkward when poeple put words in my mouth.Ever been to a church where no one turns around to greet or talk to their neighbour, and everyone keeps to

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14023890109876140272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396796288119560025.post-59989990783285000102008-06-01T22:59:00.004+10:002008-06-01T23:26:46.444+10:00

Man, Sunday's sure come around faster than I can sometimes keep up with.Now I'm at home relaxing, looking back on two services that had gone really well. People's hearts were engaged and the Gospel was preached... I'm sure God was smiling.And that's really what it's about, eh? Making Him smile... making Him proud... getting His nod of approval... because His opinion matters most of all.The Danish

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14023890109876140272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396796288119560025.post-58236374485534710602008-05-30T23:11:00.007+10:002008-12-11T20:53:03.765+10:00

If someone had to ask me, what's the one thing I can do to improve my effectiveness as a song leader, I'd give them this advice... "Keep things Simple!"It's easy for creative folk to fall into the trap of getting 'bogged down with details' and going 'over the top' with creativity and the desire to be different, that we sometimes forget what it is we're actually called to do... ~ to invite people

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14023890109876140272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396796288119560025.post-34707918140428646762008-05-29T22:03:00.002+10:002008-05-31T00:09:20.552+10:00

David was a mighty warrior... and songwriter / musician. He was skilled in both these areas. And there is a symbolic crossover between the two sides.Through songs and worship we wage spiritual war. David played his harp for king Saul and this calmed him. 1 Samuel 16:23Through anointed music, hardened hearts are opened & broken hearts are soothed. As a musician in the church I look to God to "

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14023890109876140272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396796288119560025.post-87566046311295886322008-05-28T18:14:00.002+10:002008-05-31T00:09:58.294+10:00

My first (bitter) taste at leading a group in singing worship songs, was when the youth pastor forgot to bring his guitar. As a youngster, I gladly offered my guitar to him, but he somehow felt it's time for me to start leading. It didn't bother him that I knew only 4 chords (D, G, Em, and A). My attempts at protesting got me nowhere. So I gave it my best. After a silent prayer asking God for

Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14023890109876140272noreply@blogger.com0