Afterglow

After a massive thunderstorm this evening, the streets and buildings of Orchard Road started to glisten with a magical afterglow. The fresh air, the cold wind, the light drizzle and the city lights created that Christmasy/ Wintery atmosphere- a rare moment in humid, tropical Singapore.

I plugged into my iPod, and as I listened to Annie Lennox's "Waiting in Vain"...I felt like I was in that movie, "Serendipity" for a surreal moment. Festive season-check. City setting- check. Reflective state of mind- check. Sense of uncertainty as to what the future holds- check. Bittersweet tension between beauty & poignancy- check.

I remember Daley Hake wrote something about how the heart goes through seasons.
I'm not sure what the next season holds, but I'm praying I'll be alright.

"Just breathe, and every little thing will be alright."- 'Inhale/Exhale' by Marty Sampson

"Are Worship Pastors Becoming Extinct?"- Glenn Packiam

This blog entry by Glenn Packiam is a solid reminder for us who serve in Worship & Music ministry not to miss the point and lose sight of the big picture. Good stuff!

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By Glenn Packiam

Over the past seven years, I have served as the Director of the New Life School of Worship, a 9-month program designed to train worship leaders for local churches. We believe that to effectively prepare our students for local church worship ministry they need to be trained in more than music. They need to be grounded in theology, familiar with church history, and responsible with their handling of the Scriptures. Moreover, they need to learn what it means to be a pastor: to shepherd the people under their care.

But it seems that some churches aren't looking for that. They would prefer a musician who can lead the "singing", oversee the tech team, and produce recordings of their original songs. None of these are bad expectations, of course. But are we looking for these trade skills at the expense of other, more essential pastoral qualities? Are worship leaders simply highly skilled technicians who have a "steady gig" at a church?

Today's worship leader may spend more time with his Macbook than with a real book. She may be more familiar with GarageBand than the people in her band. He may be better versed with directing the choir than providing spiritual direction.

Of course, the trade side of being a worship leader and the pastoral side are not mutually exclusive. A person can be good at Pro Tools and at pastoring the people on his team. The trouble is we've lost the sacredness of the pastoral vocation. Any person who says their core role is to pray, study, and provide spiritual direction is not as "useful" to the corporation we call church. What else can you do? we ask. Then we proceed to fill so much of their time time with scheduling bands, arranging music, and working with the latest recording software that they are no longer doing any pastoral work. Musicians and singers become cogs in a wheel, things we use to fill slots. True, the administration needs to be done. And yes, musical excellence is valuable. But at what price?

Ross Parsley, the long-time worship pastor here at New Life, is fond of saying that music ministry is not about music; it's about people. Worship ministry is first a sort of a "helps" ministry that serves the Body of Christ. But more to the point, it is an excuse for us to connect with one another. Music is the table we gather around, the place where we see each other face to face, and then learn how to walk alongside one another in this life of faith.

Perhaps the question every church who hires a worship pastor-- and every aspiring worship pastor-- should answer is this: What will Jesus ask us about: the music we produced, the services we programmed? Or the people we pastored, the sheep we fed?

Take time today and think about the people on your team. Pray for them. Pick up the phone and call them. Break bread with them. Talk to them about more than the setlist. Remember your calling as a worship pastor, not a music program manager. Clear some of the clutter from your week. Maybe it's time to appoint others to do the tasks that are keeping you from your role as a shepherd. You have never met a mere mortal. Our music will not last forever; these people will.

Chris Tomlin- "Glory In The Highest"

Chris Tomlin talks about his brand new album

Ever since I bought this album on Sat, I've been playing it on loop and I've been finding it hard to tear myself away from my Macbook. haha! Yes...its THAT good. The only other Christmas album I'd rave about is Israel Houghton's "A Timeless Christmas." But "Glory in the Highest" is quite different and I don't think I've ever heard a Christmas album like it.

Most Christmas albums are studio recordings, but Chris' is special because:
1) Its a live album featuring tight and creative song arrangements for your familiar Christmas carols. Chris and team are just so gifted, I don't know how they got the inspiration for these unique arrangements. And he's so talented at coming up with new refrains for old songs. Every time I listen to the songs, I go, "How did he think of that??" Wow!

2) This album features great worship leaders/singers like Matt Redman, Christy Nockels and newcomer Audrey Assad, whose sound kinda resembles Sarah McLachlan (awesome)!

3) You can actually hear the sound of the people fully engaged in worship, which is so beautiful.

4) I think there's just something so worshipful and ministering about Chris' voice. :) What a gift from God!

I bought my copy of this album from Trumpet Praise around $16...and its worth every cent. Now I just have to tear myself away from the Macbook, so I can go swimming. :)

Elevate Worship Seminar

Before

After. Wolverine??
Moral of the story: Don't.Piss.Glenn.Off.

Haha! That's a photo from the Elevate Worship Seminar on Sat @ The City Church, conducted by Every Nation Church Singapore (ENCS). I had signed up with Glenn and Nigel, but it was a pleasant surprise to bump in to Crystal, Chee Yan, Piying and Abigail, members of the worship team from MegaLife and SuperLife . Yes Andie and Cheryl: Our RiverLife table at the conference was sweetly intergenerational. haha! :) And Chee Yan bravely went up to jam with the fierce ENCS team.

Anyway, it was a simple local worship seminar...but I was so blessed by the amazingly generous and sincere hearts of the ENCS team. From the moment we walked in for registration, the ENCS team welcomed us warmly, many of whom were members of the worship team we would see on stage later. And after singing/playing...the worship team mbers would serve us tea/lunch/ice-cream...and then come round to chat and pick up your thrash.

We love Neli! Cheryl and I with Neli at FOP earlier this year.

The worship, led by Ps Neli Atiga was refreshing and fantastic (love tt gospel stuff, the super tight harmonies and impromptu raps!!), but I think what impressed and moved me the most was the heart of servanthood displayed by the ENCS worship team. That image of Mike, one of the vocalists, coming round with his black trash bag to pick up our plates is stuck in my memory. And their members were just doing it with such a cheerful spirit. Awesome stuff!

The Office

This is what happens when you have to roster for 5 congregations.
Cheryl and Andie: "If u look for us during rostering season, this is what we will prob say to you..."

Let Them Hear (by Ginny Owens)

"Let them hear You through me,

And let Your words be mine.
Let them see that Your love
Is the reason I'm inspired,
And when given the choice,
May they recognize Your voice.
Let them hear You through me, O Lord."

You've Got To Dismantle

"But to evolve you have to dismantle, and that means accepting the idea that nothing you've created in the past matters anymore, except that it brought you here." - John Mayer

(I shamelessly ripped this quote off Jet's blog. Thanks dude!)

Stuff I'd Like....

This is in no way a super early birthday wish list. This is just me blah-ing out loud into blogosphere. :)

1) Pedicure Package
- I'm a bit guilty to admit this....but I've been finding pedicures terribly therapeutic of late (esp with the foot scrubs).

2) Chris Tomlin: "Glory In The Highest: Christmas Songs" (Oct)
"How can I not support my Chris? He is remarkably cute, and funny too." (sung to the tune of 'How can I keep from singing?') haha! Chris is my Fluffy #2....one of my fav worship leaders. This album is a live recording featuring the likes of Christy Nockels too. Fantastic! Can't wait to grab this record.


3) The Swell Season (Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova): "Strict Joy" (Oct 27)
And from Chris-Mr Bright & Shiny, we go to dark & twisty. I'm referring to the couple from the indie Irish movie,"Once," with the ridiculously amazing musical chemistry. Who can forget their hauntingly beautiful song, "Falling Slowly"?



Well, this is the follow-up to "Once". I definitely need this album for my fix of emo, heartbreaking Irish music. Its amazing how Glen's smashed up guitar sounds still sounds so good!


4) Jeremy Camp live album (Nov)
- Fluffy #3!!! LIVE album. Need I say more?? :)

5) (500) Days of Summer Soundtrack
- I caught this movie last night, and quite unexpectedly, found myself totally charmed by its witty and creative script/visuals, loopy characters and funky indie soundtrack. Go watch it if you haven't! I find it better than Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist to be honest.


6) I Heart Revolution-"We're All In This Together" DVD (Nov)
- And of course, we had to end with Fluffy #1. :) Anything that Joel and Danger are part of, I gotta get. haha!