[biggiepaul]

Hey everyone, I could really use some help. I have been leading the worship at our church for just about 2 years now. One area that I was not expecting to be as time consuming is setlist creatition. I literally spend hours (sometimes like 8-10 hours) formulating our sets. Im an engineer by occupation, so i know i tend to over-analyze and think through too many minute details - but everything from tempo, song key, theme, familiarity to band, familiarity to congregation, band member technical ability, overall sound, flow, i will sit and stew over. I think its getting to the point that its a detriment because im not able to focus on the songs we are really going to be doing (as well as getting it to the band so they can work on it) earlier.

Our normal service is 1-2 opening songs, welcome, and then we do a worship time with music (3-4 songs). After the message, I like to come back and do a reflection/response song that accompanies the theme.

This week, I again find myself in the famliar position of spending about 2-3 hours thinking about the set and still not alot of progress. Ive tried alot of things to this point. I have all my songs in a spreadsheet that i can sort by tempo, key, etc, as well as my previous sets so i know how often we have or havent done a particular song - but it hasnt gotten any better.

If any of you have gone through this or have advice or tips on how you pick your sets, maybe it would really help me out. Perhaps you could even walk through this week or last weeks set and how you arrived at it: did you drop certain songs for one reason or another? did you change the order after rehearsal?

-paul

[Joe F]

I really stressed over this when I first took over. I also built a spreadsheet where I could sort everything by last time used, tempo, key, theme, difficulty etc... It got to be a real monster as I would spend way too much time analyzing what I should do.. Instead now I just try to keep it simple. I start with something on the slower side, pick up the pace in the middle, and then end with something slower and reverent to get us settled down into hearing the Word. I don't over analyze if I can help it. If a song is on our master list, that means I should be using it now or later.

I've seen all kinds of different methods. A worship leader friend of mine really has it down to a science. He took all of their songs and pre-built several sets with them. Each set has a number. He sends this list to all of the team members. Each week he just sends out a note "This Sunday = Set 4". Everyone knows what's coming, they already know what the transitions will be and it's no muss no fuss. The only time he has to adjust is when they add new songs, he will insert a new song as a temporary sub into a set somewhere for a couple of weeks and when they have enough new songs, he will either create a new set, or put some older songs on hiatus for awhile. I have considered this method, but I like the challenge of trying songs in different combinations and order too much to get that structured. You can use a 2 or three chord transition to get from any key to another. I also like to pray about what we should do and that usually works as sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night with an idea that I take no credit for.

[Jo1967]

I keep a spreadsheet of our songs and a running list of the dates they have been used (we have roughly 100-110 songs) so as to not repeat the same ones too often. However, as far as set selection I heavily rely on prayer. Our pastor does not ever let us know the sermon topic in advance. He prefers to have the worship team do their thing and he does his. I pray for guidance while I'm going through the song book and constructing the schedule spreadsheet (I do a month at a time.....having the schedule ready by the third week of the month for the following month........I'm an accountant by trade!), then end up with a pile of songs. I start organizing them by tempo and common theme and arrange them into an order for the particular weeks. I always have the book out in front of me and re-read the words to songs before selecting them. Even if I know them very well and have memorized the words, I find it helpful to see the word in front of me before deciding. Our order of things is: Welcome, praise set of 5-6 songs, announcements, tithe/special, message closing song. Some worship sets I plan on starting with a really upbeat song before the welcome. It gets people on their feet and excited. Then we do the welcome, and continue on with two to three more upbeat ones, then a medium, then have the folks sit down while we do one or two softer worshipful songs. Most weeks start with the welcome first and a similar cycle. Sometimes it is primarily an upbeat set with a medium one ending things, but it seems very effective to have one or two to calm peoples hearts prior to the message.

One question I have that is somewhat related to this topic is whether or not people tend to play a song the same way each time you do it or switch it up once in a while. Repeating choruses or repeating the entire song, including interludes. I tend to like to stretch them out if it is a week with less songs or do interludes, but our projector person thinks it is confusing. ??????

[nate95366]

This is my general method:

I take some time to think about the passage of scripture that the pastor will be speaking from.

I spend some time thinking about that passage and sometimes praying that I would be given some insight.

I think of the songs that the band knows (or, if applicable, a song that I could teach to them) that relates to the passage.

I think of the keys and tempos of these songs and how I might transition between them

I write the list.

As far as timing goes, usually there are many hours spent between the first two steps and the rest. However, I'm usually doing other things while I am thinking about the first two - washing dishes, mowing the lawn, driving...
The steps after the first two sometimes take as long as an hour, but usually come together in less than 20 minutes.

Nate

[russellcframe]

I keep a spreadsheet with the people that I have scheduled to perform (OMG I said the 'P' word! hehe).

Then, knowing their stylistic strengths and weaknesses I start to think about the theme of the series or that particular sermon.

Without being formulaic, I try to include a couple songs that we have done within the past two weeks to keep them fresh and encourage congregational participation (if they know it they are more likely to sing it without reservation and that lets them focus more on actual worship). I usually include a new song every other week or so to keep it interesting.

I'm pretty picky about including songs that I think the average person can pick up on and sing pretty quickly unless it is specifically a special.

I try to organize songs so that they flow in mood, generally with the last song either being a special or one of the slower songs that can easily swell into a congregation-only finish.

I'll include scripture readings or personal reflection during one or two of the transitions.

I have started keeping a seperate spreadsheet of the preferred keys for particular lead singers so that I dont keep accidentally handing out sheets and practice cd's that are outside of their range.

The biggest thing that's helped me is to keep a list of the songs done so I can balance the "new" with the "known" and to focus on themes, that quickly narrows down the endless choices.

Finally, pray and keep open to the Spirit's leading. I've had several times where I felt a push to do a song that I was afraid would be outside of the abilities of the team and that the congregation would just stare in confusion...only to find the congregational voices wash over us like never before, deeply engaged....awesome. Being Spirit-lead doesn't mean being a spontaneous, non-decisive person...the Spirit will gladly work you through some planning.

[Joe F]

Originally Posted by russellcframe

Finally, pray and keep open to the Spirit's leading. I've had several times where I felt a push to do a song that I was afraid would be outside of the abilities of the team and that the congregation would just stare in confusion...only to find the congregational voices wash over us like never before, deeply engaged....awesome. Being Spirit-lead doesn't mean being a spontaneous, non-decisive person...the Spirit will gladly work you through some planning.

Ain't that the truth, I am in a church that is only a recent convert to "Contemporary" from formerly being a piano/organ-hymn church. The leader before me failed at the transition by being too aggressive with it. Constant fast paced songs, screaming electric guitar. People were walking out of the service every Sunday and some were even leaving the church over it. I feel the need to tread lightly and if there is any "overanalysis" I do, it's the "rowdy" factor of the modern songs I want to add.

I recently added 'Blessed Be Your Name'. I did not think it would work, I was sure I was going to cause a new scandal. I prayed intensely about this "rock and roll song". The push from God was definitely there though. Once I prayed as I was walking out of the church after a Wednesday night practice of it "Lord please give me a sign that we should take a chance on this song." I started up my truck and the just as the engine started and the radio came on, there is was. The beginning licks of Tree63 and Blessed Be Your Name. I said "Thank You!!!!" We did it that Sunday. I'm told the congregation sang louder and was more energized than they have been in a long time. It has quickly become a congregational favorite. God is good!

[biggiepaul]

thanks for the tips guys. im still working at it. sometimes i know the theme ahead of time and sometimes i dont so that changes things up a bit. basically i just trying to keep a good flow between songs but i think i might be starting a little upbeat too often. i like the idea of ramping things up a bit more gradually..

how often do you guys change your setlist based on how well (or poorly) rehearsal goes?

[trpullen]

Originally Posted by biggiepaul

how often do you guys change your setlist based on how well (or poorly) rehearsal goes?

rarely....if ever. I have dropped a song but many more times than not, a really bad rehearsal motivates the band to practice really hard on their own between Thursday and Sunday.

[nate95366]

Originally Posted by trpullen

rarely....if ever. I have dropped a song but many more times than not, a really bad rehearsal motivates the band to practice really hard on their own between Thursday and Sunday.

This pretty much says it for my team, too.

Nate