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My wife and I will be worshiping with the fine folks at Providence Worshiping Arts Center in Jesup, GA today. Today it will just be me on the guitar and us singing. Here’s today’s planned setlist:

1) Christ is Risen (Maher): Key of G. Great song! I typically do this (with my home church) in the key of Gb. I’m pretty comfortable guitar-wise playing in G so a few months ago when I was leading at a another place I was sure we did this song in Ab, so when I pulled it out to lead there I thought I was doing myself a favor by dropping it a half-step to G. After a few bars through the song I realized my mistake. That being said, the band sounded good, and I didn’t want to throw too much change their way in the moment, so we kept it in G and as long as I bring my big boy tenor singing voice I can usually get through it in G pretty well.

2) Blessed Be Your Name (Redman): Key of G. Lydia will be singing the lead on the verses and I’ll come in with some harmony and then take over the chorus. I key it in G so that she can just rock the verses in her natural alto range. It works well, and provides a little variety as we trade off the melody throughout the song.

3) Our God (Tomlin): Key of G. Pretty Standard arrangement of the song. Usually when I lead this at my home church we rock it out a little more than the typical Tomlin-esque arrangement, but since it’s just me on the guitar it will be pretty standard.

4) Overcome (Egan): Key of G. One of my favorite songs over the past year. It’s such a great song! Love it!

5) He Loves Us (McMillan): Key of G. Optional tag out of Overcome into He Loves Us chorus. I don’t typically lead this one well, so I generally keep it at the back of the line when it comes to planning setlists, but as I was singing and worshiping yesterday preparing for this morning I really felt a tug in the direction of this song, so we’ll see how it goes coming out of Overcome.

Part of Sunday Setlists over at The Worship Community. How’d your Sunday Go?

I got this comment on one of my Sunday Setlists posts this weekend. It’s from a good friend of mine and one of my former students from my youth pastor days. I spent a lot of time pouring into the lives of those kids. We had a great core group of kids that were musically talented and I felt it was part of my “calling” to help develop them into leaders.

I just started “officially” leading worship at JCF:) I’m pretty excited about it. A lot has changed since the “good ol” days, but our family (wife and kids) has really found JCF to be an awesome church with alot of awesome people!

The thing that I’m probably the most excited about is the chance to train up the young talent that is currently at JCF. I know that you played a huge role in my becoming the musician and worship leader that I am today, and I’m excited to pass on that awesome legacy!

Jason has been leading worship for years now, but it’s an amazing thing to see the “calling” being paid forward. It makes sense. We don’t train up people so they can be superstars, we train them up so they can continue to pass on the legacy of God’s work. I’m blessed to have played a small part in that!

I’ll probably never get a ton of recognition for who and what Jason becomes (and that’s okay!) but what makes me proud is that he GETS IT. It’s not about the glory of “doing” the work of God, it’s about being useful and sometimes “behind the scenes” while watching others shine for God!

Proud of you Jason!

Today I had the great privilege of leading worship at Emanuel UMC in Brunswick, GA. I’ll be leading there the next 2 weeks. They welcomed me with open arms and we had a great time rehearsing Thursday night and then service today.

1) America The Beautiful. Because.

2) The Lord Reigns (Hutto original): Key G. Also known as Psalm 93. The band picked this one up great and the congregation sang along heartily during the choruses which makes this a winner in my book!

3) Breathe (Barnett): Key G. Another good, simple song. This was for the prayer song today.

4) Trading My Sorrows (Evans): Key G. I haven’t done this one in years, but it was on their list of songs they were familiar with so I dove in head first. It went along perfectly with the message of the day.

5) Blessed Be Your Name (Redman): Key G. Great song. I don’t think I ever get tired of this one.

6) The Wondrous Cross (Tomlin Watts, etc.): Key D. Walkout song. Good tune.

I was recently reading a thread in a discussion forum about ministry and priorities. Someone posted something to the effect of:

Our priorities should be God. Family. Church.

I think that’s wonderful. I’ve heard it before. In fact, many, many times. I’ve heard it in staff meetings. I’ve heard it at leadership conferences and prayer retreats. I’ve seen it on forums. I’ve seen it on twitter.

It’s a great simple reminder that we can and should prioritize our lives. (more…)

Today Lydia and I had the privilege of leading worship for Rush Hour (the middles school service for St. Simons Community Church).

What an honor. What a great time. What a wonderful sound.

To hear about 75 middle schoolers singing lout to Jesus “Here I am to worship…here I am to bow down…here I am to say that You’re my God…”

I never get tired of hearing a group of people, especially young people, singing out their worship to God.

I brought back a lot of oldies for today’s set and had a great time leading them. It was just me on the guitar. I capo’d 5 on two of them for a little variety.

1) Here I Am To Worship (Hughes): Key C. I capo’d 5 and played in G. I know C might be a little low for the tenor screamers, but it works REALLY nicely for my range. AND the kids sang out beautifully on this one. I love this song.

***MESSAGE***

2) At The Cross (Butler): Key D. This is the old vineyard tune (not the Hillsong one). I remember singing this one back in the 90s and I loved it then. I pulled it out specifically because the theme of today’s service was The Cross. Worked great as a reflective song coming out of the message time.

3) When I Survey/The Wonderful Cross (Tomlin): Key C. Capo’d 5 and played in G again. This one works nicely in C or D, and Lydia brought the mad harmonies on this one. Another one that brings back memories of my youth pastor days.

4) I Give You My Heart (Morgan): Key G. Pretty standard acoustic arrangement. This is another oldie but goodie.

Join worshipers from all over the world sharing their worship “setlists” and experiences over at The Worship Community.