Led's

jwbrownlula · 01-02-2012, 09:31 AM

One of our vocalist asked for some new lights so now we have 5 light bars across the bottom of our stage....On one hand I'm like SWEET...but on the other I just don't know if our focus is in the right direction...We have been struggling with power issues, and don't even get me started on the in-ear monitors, but now we go out and spend this money on lights....Yesterday we played a stripped down set as we had a bunch of members out...just acoustic drums bass keys, and one vocalist, and it was awesome....Maybe we should just concentrate on getting back to worshipping God ourselves, and worrying less about the audience's entertainment.

Bushman · 01-02-2012, 01:42 PM

Lights, very Cool.....
I understand your feeling that, as worship leaders, we should be lead worshipers, that's so important. But, IMHO, we are up front, trying to serve God by endeavoring to facilitate a worshipful atmosphere, whatever that might be.
I think everyone has a little different idea of what that is. That's why I love being up front.
I know folks that feel connected to their core relationship to God with an acoustic worship service. Simple, to the point, music that isn't all hyped up.
I also know of a lot more folks that feel close to God singing their worship, by a full band and arrangements. With solos and multifaceted music.
Some of our Seasoned Citizens are brought back to their root relationship with God, hearing just a piano and a sweet hymn.
Others like to rock out their praise to God at the top of their voices!
I don't think of it as entertainment, more like, being swept away by their emotional connection to our Lord.
And, I think, our worship to God is just as important as everybody else's.
It's difficult to appeal to everyone's sense of worship, but that's what I feel I've been called up front to do.
(BTW, I have a difficult time with in-ears as well. I usually have one in, and one out, with an amp at my feet.)

gtrdave · 01-02-2012, 02:11 PM

If the lights and all of that are for the audience's entertainment, I can see how that would be a big problem.
If, on the other hand, they are for creating a 21st century-style atmosphere where more people will be more willing to worship God, I've got no problem with it.

There comes a time when we have to recognize that just because church was done a certain way for 100+ years does not mean that it is the way that church has to be done for the next 100+ years.
Cultures change and communication mediums change and churches should not ignore this fact.
This does not mean that every service has to be a technologically-infused rock concert as there's still a place for the raw and stripped-down and organic, but all of the lights and media, when used in proper perspective, can 'do something' for someone else in the congregation that maybe we can't relate to.

Many on my team know that I can gripe about all of the lights and tech and whine about all of the stuff required to have a church service in 2012 as much as anyone else, but I recognize that much of the "stuff" is not for me and God still gets priority over all of it. If He created "all things" then he created the tech and lights and we can and should use it for His glory.

**thesteve** · 01-02-2012, 03:50 PM

I gotta admit, I have no idea why the audience would want lights at the bottom of the stage.

jwbrownlula · 01-02-2012, 05:17 PM

I see both sides of it...we want to make it a place where people are comfortable being led into worship, I just worry about keeping our focus on Christ, and not whether we have on coordinated outfits. I think alot of my hangups are the devil trying to lead me away from my purpose. I want so bad to do what is right that I almost become legalistic.

jwbrownlula · 01-02-2012, 08:01 PM

I fled from my last church because of legalism......just thought that might help background the above post.

jeepnstein · 01-04-2012, 06:51 AM

Lighting is a big deal if it's used to set the overall tone of the service. I tend to dislike churches that make the worship set some kind of concert but that's just me. Even in my extremely conservative Church of Christ congregation I'd like to have a proper lighting truss and maybe some more control over the house lights. Oh, and a couple of new projectors. It can really make a difference.

In the end it's not about the gear but how we're using it that matters. Are we doing it for God's glory or are we worshiping something else? A worship team really needs to continually ask that question and be accountable to one another. Praying is every bit as important as practice.

What's your problem with the monitors?

jwbrownlula · 01-04-2012, 04:51 PM

In ear monitors=distortion.....we have a whole bunch of channels on the board, and noone who knows what they are. as of right now the only thing I have on my channel is me, and one backup vocalist....noone can figure it out, and noone wants to come to practice to try....I am kind of fed up, but am trying to humble myself, and work through...practice cancelled two weeks in a row...one because the worship leader thought we needed a break, and last night because it was her birthday....This I found out after I drove the extra 20 minutes to get there....She did send me a message, but in my e-mail>>>not my phone...........I am sure it was an accident, but it was bad timing....She is the lord's anointed to lead our worship.....I want to be like David......Note to anyone who is looking for a worship leader.....If they do not play an instrument....do not put them in charge of the musician's....

jeepnstein · 01-05-2012, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwbrownlula

In ear monitors=distortion.....we have a whole bunch of channels on the board, and noone who knows what they are. as of right now the only thing I have on my channel is me, and one backup vocalist....noone can figure it out, and noone wants to come to practice to try....I am kind of fed up, but am trying to humble myself, and work through...practice cancelled two weeks in a row...one because the worship leader thought we needed a break, and last night because it was her birthday....This I found out after I drove the extra 20 minutes to get there....She did send me a message, but in my e-mail>>>not my phone...........I am sure it was an accident, but it was bad timing....She is the lord's anointed to lead our worship.....I want to be like David......Note to anyone who is looking for a worship leader.....If they do not play an instrument....do not put them in charge of the musician's....

Oh, I get it. You're in the same boat as the rest of us. Welcome aboard!

At our rehearsal last night our singer wanted to mess with the monitors. This was after I was all plugged in, IEM's and all. I told her there was no way I was going to blow twenty minutes running back and forth on monitors and that we all needed to pray for a sound man. My answer is to keep one in my right ear and leave the other one out. Works for me.

As far as canceled rehearsals go, well, that's bad mojo. You know how I put an end to that? No practice, no performance. I just won't do it and put forth any less than the best I can for the Lord. There are plenty of other things I can to do be of service to my God and my church.

Pray on this constantly. And don't ever lose sight of why we are doing what we are doing. If it's any comfort I find music ministry to be far less aggravating than playing in a secular band.