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Worship on Sunday...

You know I have been involved in Worship music for over 40 years and yesterday I was blessed to see the new beginnings of what could be great worship in the future at the Church I am connected to. Now let me say I have been and played in Presbyterian churches, played and or led in Methodist type Churches and Also Baptist Churches on both sides of the border and I again was reassured that the worship music can be delivered and have an impact on the Church service. Don't get me wrong the preaching was excellent.

Here is what I think makes the difference to worship music (unaccompanied or not)

• Focus on God - the receiver of the praise
• Individual commitment to make it work and to focus on the God of worship
• A praying community of worship players
• A congregation accepting the direction of worship

It helps if you 

Are in tune instrument wise and spiritually
Arrive on time for set up
Have the appropriate music in the key to be delivered if you can not memorise the music you are playing
Listen to fellow musician and go with the dynamics that are happening from the lead

Be able to adjust to any changes directed from the lead.

Smetimes there is no difference in preparation but the worship just excels, yesterday was one of these days. I am sure God was honoured in our time of praise. Are you looking forward to the next time?

Worship music

Plans have started for the worship work later this year.

We are excited about the possibilities and the use of electronic music prompts via I pad.!

Music equipment for worship

This is the equipment I currently use, semi acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar, Fender " sidekick"amplifier for guitars and Hertke "kickback" bass amplifier. I use chorus pedal and Zoom b708 for bass effects.

What I would like to do is add midi bass pedals with an octave of foot keys to complement the playing. Bass pedals that generate sounds as opposed to effect pedals are not that familiar. I think there is scope with them especially now that you can assign sounds or rhythm's to the individual pedals. I don't fancy lugging an extra keyboard to drive the bass pedals though!

Some one must know an easy way to coordinate bass pedals for a non keyboard player?

Keyboard players

Why can I not find keyboard players in the North of Scotland to play for worship praise. Its not like everone is playing the bagpipes!

Worship musicians in the Highlands...Drummers and all

Fortrose

I have been playing guitar on a Sunday morning over the last 4/5 weeks in a Church. It struck me that there might be a need for a register of musicians for worship so that when there were opportunities for praise nights in a particular area one could call on these people to assist.

I would be interested in folks in the highlands who play instruments regularly and would consider helping in worship from traditional accompaniment to modern rocky praise.

Please be in touch
name contact details instruments played etc.

Fortrose picture

Music

For all those getting bored with the Scottish scene ( Notice no tartan on this site try Scottish family history for tartan.) here is a photo to get you smiling.

Will the angels play Fender guitars in heaven when the harps are laid up?




Curtesy of Calvarychapel.com

Music praise...

Psalm 150 says.

Praise God in the sanctuary...
with sounding of the trumpet...
with harp with tambourine and dancing...
the strings and the flute...
clash of cymbals...resounding cymbals...praise the lord



The Free Church of Scotland is know for its Psalm only singing, in Scottish churches.

John Macdonald ( The Apostle of the North) 1779-1849 Ferrintosh, was a Gaelic spiritual verse writer and Free Church minister. Interesting to have an hymn writer in a Psalm singing denomination.

Opposition to Hymns and instruments is not restricted to this arm of the Presbyterian Church. But James Begg was a promoter of the use of Psalms and no instruments.

In 1866 the Free Church voted 3 to 2 for the use of hymns. In 1869 Begg was unsuccessful in Curtailing hymns. In 1872 the Church accepted the New Hymn book 213 votes to 61. In 1877 Prof Bruce wished to have their Own Free Hymn Book with Begg supporting a defence of no change in the position.
Then in 1892 the assembly withdrew permission to use instruments for worship and uninspired Hymns in public worship- the current position- as far as I know!

Here are some dates of interest.
There are 350 currently used Hymnals in the UK

Moravian Hymns (8) 1501
Hymns and Spiritual Songs Sinclair- Caithness 1750
Glassite collection of songs 1749
Scotch Baptist Psalms and Spiritual Songs 1786
Psalms and Hymns 1866
Baptist Hymnal 1900
Scottish Psalter 1923
Methodist Hymnal 1933
Youth Praise 1966
Sing to God (S.U.) 1971
Mission Praise 1 1981
Songs of Fellowship 1991
Source 1 1999
Church of Scotland CH4 2005

There is a long heritage of Hymns and spiritual songs in Scotland. Unfortunately some denominations have put their heads and legal books in the sand. Scripture shows us and instructs us to sing Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs and to use various instruments.

Make a joyful noise!

Many years ago their was a compliant in a church about new types of instruments being used in worship. It was not felt right and proper to use instruments that synthesised the sound of proper musical Instraments. When was this 1980? 1990? 1966? No the 12 Century when the pipe organ was introduced!