Vineyard East Worship

When is worship leading working?

@Eric.. I’ve been thinking about my statement there & examples of “Christianese or language/imagery that most people wouldn’t get” & realize I’m referring to both language & style that might come across as cultural cliché vs genuinely moving to not-so-religious folks here in NYC.

We’re really conscious of the stereotype out there that seems to result in secular NYers thinking that Jesus & his church aren’t going to be meaningful or helpful for them.

The prevailing sentiment we hear from our secular friends regarding why they wouldn’t take church seriously is that it seems weird, over emotional & shallow. They might relate it to the Shout to the Lord infomercial on late night TV (people seemingly mindlessly waving their hands & singing in a creepy kind of hypnotic way). Now obviously that’s not what’s happening in that worship recording (& Shout to the Lord is a great song)… but the impression it seems to give to an outsider (in our neck of the woods, at least) is that it’s a weird religious thing, NOT music that deeply moves one (any one) toward the Alpha & Omega.

So that being said, I find myself drawn to leading songs that “say something” about or to God that might seem rational to a non-religious person (even if they don’t believe what’s being said). For example, songs like ‘Full Attention’, ‘Stand In Awe’ , the oldie ‘The Blood of Jesus’ have deeply Biblical, Christian imagery & language, but they really say something that I think people around here could “get”. In part because the package is less culturally Evangelical & more culturally neutral.

I find myself shying away from songs that would be predictable to the stranger walking in off the street, instead of giving them reason to pause of a moment because there might be something about the delivery method that touches/moves them.

So like, one of our worship leaders will play more gospel tunes. But he’s got it in him to really own them.. and people seem to get that “this is for real” & the delivery “works” (obviously that’s the Holy Spirit in a moment, but there’s something even about the package that can work or not, I think).

I know that may sound out there.. I feel like my thoughts aren’t yet formulated very well, so I’m having a hard time articulating.

“I See The Lord” is an awesome old Vineyard tune. Here’s a kind of decent arrangement: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1PiYTBhNKc&feature=related Ours tends to be more Bon Jovi (drop D all the way baby!)

There’s more about upbeat songs here: http://www.vineyardeastworship.com/forum/ponderings/fast-songs.html

You going to the regional conf in July? Would love to hook up.

Kenny

Fast Songs

Debbie, your question is sooo timely. I’m on the quest now for getting more upbeat (but not chinsy) songs into our mix. We actually heard from newer people that they liked our worship, but wished it could be more upbeat overall & less “heavy”.

This *might* be a stretch, but the JesusBurger guys in Germany (Phil knows Kuky & Kim.. formerly of the Jesus Freaks, now lead a Vineyard church in Hamburg) have some interesting upbeat stuff here: http://jesusburger.de/ (click the brown album or the dark blue album). We’ve been doing ‘Breathe Your Life’, ‘You Meet My Need’. It sounds less electronica how we do them, but they’re great songs.

I’m also really interested in the reggae worship recording that Vineyard Music has done with Dave Linhart (Boston Vineyard). I heard some tracks & there’s a few songs that we’re going to try (try is the key there.. if I get them to seem reasonable, we’ll not do them.. but I think I can!).

Also, I’m digging ‘Jesus’ Name’ & ‘Call Upon Your Name’ from the Barnett’s & Delmore’s new records (you can listen at rootsworship.com & click ‘Audio’)

Anybody else got some good new upbeat songs & aren’t cheesy??

Sunday worship sets

4/18/10

to start… Blessed Be Your Name

worship time…
Doxology
Clean (Pritzl)
Better Than Life (Delmore)
Full Attention
To Him Who Sits on the Throne

Crop 2010

Brochure is now online here: http://www.vineyardeastworship.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/crop-2010-front-FINAL-Small.pdf

Get writing!

Sunday worship sets

Last week (12/20/09) at the Trash Bar was:

O Come All Ye Faithful
Dwell
Stand In Awe
O Holy Night
The Child In Everyone (prayer at the end)

Small band.. i.e. Vaughn on hand drum, Jackie bassman & Billy “honkytonk” Somerville on honky tonk half piano & harmony.

You can actually listen/watch here, if you’re interested:
http://northbrooklynvineyard.org/sundays/live

Sunday worship sets

10/18/09 North Brooklyn Vineyard morning:

Bless His Name
Holy (Is 6) in English & Spanish! (Vineyard UK available on iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=141862695&s=143441)
Full Attention
Blessed Be Your Name

The Child in Everyone – Lizotte (http://digital.vineyardresources.com/os/product/signal-hill-revival-mp3-video-download)

Sunday worship sets

North Brooklyn Vineyard am service:

Unfailing Love (Vineyard UK)
Full Attention (Riddle)
Better is One Day (Redman)
To Him Who Sits on the Throne
Holy – Is 6 (Vineyard UK)

am service @ the Trash Bar:
Unfailing Love
Full Attention
Surrender
The Lord is Gracious & Compassionate

Ministry:
Treasure Is (Lampshade… a scandinavian band ripping from Matt 6.. it’s hauntingly beautiful. listen here if you haven’t heard it! http://www.last.fm/music/Lampshade/_/Treasure+Is )

Ride to Ridgecrest

have a great retreat… wish I was making it!

post stuff on the forum here for those of us that miss it. You can even add video comments right from your computer.