Some languages are shown more than once in a different way. Some say “Merry Christmas” Some add “Happy New Year”. All wish you a “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year”. Enjoy -

*Bolded and Italicized words are languages we have sung in around the world

Afrikaans – Geseënde Kersfees en ‘n gelukkige nuwe jaar
Argentine – Feliz Navidad Y Feliz Año Nuevo
Bohemian – Vesele Vanoce
Brazilian – Boas Festas e Feliz Ano Novo
Bulgarian – Vesela Koleda i chestita nova godina!
Catalan – Bon Nadal i un Bon Any Nou!
Chinese – Sing Dan Fae Lok. Gung Hai Fat Choi (Cantonese)
Chinese – Shen Dan Kuai Le Xin Nian Yu Kuai (Mandarin)
Chinese – Shen tan jie kuai le. Hsin Nien Kuaile
Croatian – Sretan Bozic
Czech – Stastne a vesele vanoce a stastny novy rok!
Danish – Glaedelig Jul og glaedelig nytar
Dutch – Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuw Jaar
Dutch – Prettige kerstdagen en een gelukkig nieuw jaar
English – Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Eskimo – (inupik) Jutdlime pivdluarit ukiortame pivdluaritlo!
Esperanto – Felican Kristnaskon kaj Bonan Novjaron!
Estonian – Haeid joulupuehi ja head uut aastat!
Faeroese – Gledhilig jol og eydnurikt nyggjar!
Farsi (Persian/Iranian) – Aida Meelauda Messi e shoma moborak va aida toon moborak!
Filipinos – Maligayang Pasko
Finnish – Hauskaa Joulua ja onnellista uutta vuotta!
Flemish – Zalig Kerstfeest en Gelukkig nieuw jaar
French – Joyeux Noel et Bonne Année!
Gaelic – Nollaig chridheil agus Bliadhna mhath ùr!
Galician – Bo Nadal
German – Frohe Weihnachten und ein glückliches Neues Jahr!
Greek – Hronia polla kai eytyhismenos o kainourios hronos
Greek – Hronia polla ke eftihismenos o kenourios hronos
Hausa – Barka da Kirsimatikuma Barka da Sabuwar Shekara!
Hawaian – Mele Kalikimaka ame Hauoli Makahiki Hou!
Hungarian – Kellemes karacsonyi uennepeket es boldog ujevet!
Icelandic – Gledhileg jól og farsælt komandi ar!
Indonesian – Selamat Hari Natal dan Selamat Tahun Baru!
Iraqi – Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah
Irish – Nollaig Shona duit
Irish – Nollig Shona
Irish – Nollaig faoi shean agus faoi shonas duit agus bliain nua faoi mhaise dhuit!
Italian – Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo!
Japanese – Meri Kurisumasu soshite Akemashite Omedeto!
Latin – Natale hilare et Annum Faustum!
Latvian – Priecigus Ziemsvetkus un Laimigu Jaungadu!
Lithuanian – Linksmu Kaledu
Maltese – Nixtieklek Milied tajjeb u is-sena t-tabja!
Modern Greek – Kala Christougenna kai evtichismenos o kainourios chronos!
Norwegian – God Jul Og Godt Nytt Aar
Persian/Iranian – (Farsi) Aida Meelauda Messi e shoma moborak va aida toon moborak!
Polish – Vesowe Boze Narodzenie
Polish – Wesolych Swia, t i Szcze, sliwego Nowego Roku!
Portuguese – Boas Festas
Portuguese – Feliz Natal e um Prospero Ano Novo
Romanian – Craciun fericit si un an nou fericit
Russian – S nastupaiushchim Novym godom i s Rozhdestvom Khristovym!
Romanche – (sursilvan dialect): Legreivlas fiastas da Nadal e bien niev onn!
Serbian – Hristos se rodi
Slovakian – Stastne a vesele Vianoce a vela stastia v novom roku
Slovak – Vesele Vianoce i na zdravie v novom roku!
Spanish – Feliz Navidad y Prospero ano nuevo!
Swedish – God Jul Och Ett Gott Nytt Ar
Trukeese – (Micronesian) Neekiriisimas annim oo iyer seefe feyiyeech!
Turkish – Noeliniz kutlu olsun ve yeni yilinis kutlu olsun!
Turkish – Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
Ukrainian – Srozhdestvom Kristovym
Ukrainan – Z novym rokom i s rizdvom Hrystovym!
Vietnamese – Chuc mung nam moi va Giang Sing vui ve
Welsh – Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Da!”
Yoruba – E ku odun, e ku iye’dun!

God bless us everyone – Dr. Tim and Maryl Smith

One of the biggest challenges we face as worship leaders is trying to keep the worship of Jesus fresh week after week. And this challenge produces everything from the sublime to the ridiculous as we try ‘new things’ every week. The Hebrew word for ‘new’ is the wonderful word: chadash, which means ‘new or a fresh, new thing’. But it comes from a root word which means ‘to be new or to rebuild, renew, or repair’.

Sometimes it is tempting to throw out the old for the new, but I believe God is calling us to not only keep it fresh in our corporate times of worship but also to rebuild, renew and even repair our songs and our  expressions of worship.

I love trying new things while still honoring the old, tried and proven. Over the years, I have compiled a list of new and fresh ideas that I have either tried or I have seen others do successfully to ‘keep it fresh’ in our worship.

I should mention that I don’t believe in doing new stuff just because I’m bored or the people are bored. I do believe in provoking all of us to hear great songs with new ears. Sometimes due to repetition, our ears become dull to the words of the powerful songs we are singing. So I like to put a fresh coat of paint on each song so we can ‘see’ it with new eyes.  To awaken the worshiper in each one of us, is one of the highest goals of a worship leader.

So consider these ideas (because of space I will just give you a few):

• Change the words or word of a song
• Fast songs slow/slow songs fast
• Hum while someone speaks the words- whispering
• Men only/women only/children only/over 40 only/blondes only etc.
• Children’s choirs/senior choir/bell choir/brass choir/string choir/bluegrass/Dixieland band
• Have a child start the song
• Antiphonal choirs (put one in the balcony)
• A capella (no instruments or just one solo instument)
• Different language
• Soloist in congregation
• Singers surround congregation
• Solo instruments (look for unique instruments in the congregation ie bagpipes)
• Drum cadence
• Have a couple lead worship

Okay, that’s just a few. Later I will give you some more radical ideas. But in the meantime, keep it fresh and sing a ‘new’ ‘chadash‘ song to the Lord. He loves it.

Be creative, and have a Great New Year!

Dr. Tim Smith

Remember: Contributions are tax-exempt at Worship Without Borders!

©2011 SongSmith Ministries

Can you imagine Christmas without music? A true ‘Silent Night’? Personally, I love Christmas and all the music that goes with it. Many say I have an ‘anointing’ for it, but I know that might not be the case for your average worship or music pastor and there are some musicians who absolutely dread it. And I know that by now, probably you have every service through Christmas scheduled and you’re possibly looking at Easter songs!

I also know that your average congregation gets glutted with Christmas songs and ‘cheer’ even before Thanksgiving so it makes it difficult to get them to sing it ‘one more time’ at church. And then add in traditions, myths, legends, nostalgia, over-kill, consumerism, bad experiences (and the list goes on and on). These can all get in the way of a truly wonderful and spiritual experience (even though we’re Christians and this should be one of our most exciting moments – God incarnate now comes to earth!). So what does a weary worship pastor do?

Well, whether you ‘believe’ in Christmas or not, whether you prefer to celebrate it or not, whether you enjoy it or not, why not use this time to point to the only thing that really makes sense of it all? Jesus. He did come to earth. He was born sometime. He was a humble King in swaddling clothes, somewhere (probably not in the dead of winter). He was foretold by prophets and announced by angels. Our job is to make sure every song reveals Him and every word comes alive in their hearts. Help them see and hear (and sing) the great Christmas music with new eyes and ears (and mouths). Here are some ideas:

1. Study the carols and their composers – Find out one significant thing about each carol you sing. Share it you’re your team. Then share it with the congregation before you sing it. For instance, Isaac Watts didn’t write ‘Joy to the World’ as a Christmas carol and probably didn’t sing it at Christmas. He wrote it as a new setting for Psalm 98. Look up and read Psalm 98 out loud before you sing ‘Joy to the World’ next time. In fact, play the music behind it while you read it to the congregation.
2. Rehearse the words with the congregation – because we are so inundated at the malls and everywhere we go with Christmas songs, we have a tendency to become dull to the words and the meanings of the songs.  The Psalms say we are to ‘Sing with understanding’. We need to make the words come alive and provoke the contemplation and curiosity of the congregation.
   1. Have the congregation speak the words first. I encourage the people to speak the words with emotion and physically (use your hands).
   2. Highlight a key word or phrase that is significant and often overlooked. “’till He appeared and the soul felt it’s worth’! Wow!
   3. Mix and match – try lyrics to a carol with another well-known tune in the same meter (i.e. Joy to the World to the tune of Amazing Grace)
   4. Feature a prominent word in the PowerPoint display – i.e. ‘Joy’ in red, different and bigger font.
   5. Sing the forgotten verses – so many carols have multiple verses that are rarely sung and surprise people when they start singing them. Shock them!
3. Treat each carol uniquely – Avoid doing it the same old way each year. Try some variety [caution: don’t get too far away from the original or you might lose people that way too] Help the people hear these songs in a new way. Consider some of these possibilities:
   1. Use a same-note drone throughout the song – ie bagpipes
   2. Change tempo: speed up or slow down the song (I love Joy to the World in half-time)
   3. A capella is always a great thing to throw in if you can pull the four parts (practice with your singers first)
   4. With a capella add a single instrument – recorder; snare drum; trumpet; cello (my favorite) – have them play a counter melody against you.
   5. Engage the kids! Bring them up and sing a fun song with them. Or have a kids’ choir sing one. One little six year old voice can change everything.
   6. Engage the seniors! Definitely the forgotten force in your congregation. They can still sing and they will probably put more emotion in these songs than your college-age singers. Give them a shot. You know you make them sound and look great.
   7. Place your choir around the sanctuary and leave them there till the last song. Then have them walk up slowly singing the final incredible song (your choice).

Whatever you do, make sure you worship Jesus this Christmas season. Not the songs, not the mood, not the myth, not the nostalgia, just Jesus – King of kings!

Be creative, and have a Merry Christmas!

Dr. Tim Smith

©2010 SongSmith Ministries

Every September (corresponding to the start of school) we have the opportunity to restart, reshape and even re-design the worship ministries in our churches. Many things are to be considered and reconsidered during this season: auditions, rehearsals, new songs, schedule, new equipment, platform setup, vision casting, priority setting, etc. In the middle of your faithful deliberations to start off the season with a bang, please remember an often overlooked aspect of the worship ministry: the relationships of your team. Your worship is as healthy as your relationships with others – especially on the worship team. Healthy relationships are paramount to a healthy worship environment. And they take work!

Consider these:  1Jn 4:20 If someone says, “I love God,” (worship) and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God (worship) whom he has not seen?

Mat 5:23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar (worship), and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

I was recently in a church in India where they literally put this into practice every Sunday. If there is something between the drummer and someone in the congregation, they are requested (required) to step down and take care of that before they minister on Sunday mornings. Pretty radical, and not always practical for many reasons, but the spirit of self-analysis for purity in our worship is not optional in Jesus-worship.

I remember one Sunday, while leading worship, God convicted my heart concerning my bad attitude towards a brother who owed me some money. God’s conviction was so strong I could not continue worshiping until I told the Lord “I’ll call him right after the service and forgive the debt if you’ll just let me worship you now!” It worked, I was released to worship Him and afterwards I did what I had promised. What a relief and what a lesson. God cares about our relationships as much as our worship (in fact our relationships are our worship)

Eph. 4:16 says: “from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” Notice the ‘joint’ or relationship – how we relate and ‘join’ with one another in pure worship – causes growth in the body.

This year, I encourage you to consider and discuss these areas with your teams to encourage growth and health:

• Honest friendships

Eph 4:15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—

Cultivate honest, loving, open and authentic dialogue in your team. Your honesty, openness, authenticity and humility will facilitate this conversation. I have heard it said that love is the only bridge that you can drive the ‘truck’ of truth over. If we truly love each other then we must be truthful in our relationships – in this case, you can’t ‘fake it till you make it’.  This conversation should be positive and uplifting in all counts. Our goal is to build up (edify) each other. I love encouraging the weaker members and soaring with the stronger members. We can all grow up in a rich, honest and fulfilling environment!

• Forgiving one another

Eph 4:32  And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Practice forgiveness. Be quick to forgive. I use the term ‘extravagant forgiveness’. Be the first in a situation to forgive the other. This should be a lifestyle of a true worshiper – but sometimes we find a good excuse not to forgive:

• I just don’t think I can ever forgive him
• He hasn’t asked for forgiveness, why should I forgive him?
• I am offended
• They deserve what they get
• He’ll just do it again

Sound familiar? Now try turning it around on yourself – what if somebody thought this of you? What if Jesus said this about you? There is not one instance where Jesus would do that to you, and there is no situation where we can withhold forgiveness. I know it’s hard, but we must let it go. Put the poison down!

“Resentment is like a glass of poison that a man drinks; then he sits down and waits for his enemy to die.”—Unknown

• Valuing and needing one another

1Cor. 12:20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And the eye (guitarist) cannot say to the hand (drummer), “I have no need of you”; nor again the head (leader) to the feet (singers), “I have no need of you.” 22 No, much rather, those members of the body (choir) which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body (sound) which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty,

Php 2:2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

There is no competition in the ministry. Even the strong ones were once weak. Somebody believed in them and released them. Oftentimes the value and the need for a member of the worship team isn’t apparent but all are ‘necessary’. Our job as leaders is to discover and confess their value and our need for them. Many leaders are quick to find fault or to find the ‘weak link’ in the group, but it takes a true and patient leader to turn that weakness into a strength and release the potential of the member.

I love being able to help the weak vocalist become strong or the struggling musician become confident – but it all starts with valuing them and needing them – not because of their gifting but because they are necessary to the body. Find someone to release this year!

So this year, make an assessment of your team:

1. Who can you be totally honest with?
2. Is there anybody you can’t forgive?
3. Who is hard to ‘value’?

Then pass this on to your team. Free them to honesty, forgiveness and value. Your worship will never be the same.

Be creative, and have a great new year!

Dr. Tim Smith

©2011 SongSmith Ministries

Not many people know about the 3000 islands of Lake Victoria in Uganda. Fewer people have visited them, and even fewer go out to share the gospel with the thousands of people out there. There are lots of good reasons for this: polluted water, hippos, crocodiles, not many can swim and years ago thousands of people afflicted with AIDS were sent out there apparently to die. When they died they left behind hundreds and thousands of orphans and widows throughout the islands. But in the middle of this sad scenario, a bold evangelist built an orphanage on one of the islands – with the help of a great missions group out of Hood River, Oregon. He built 16 homes and put 10 AIDS orphans in each house with an AIDS widow over each house. In one year’s time, all the kids (ages 3-14) got saved and filled with the Spirit! Jesus showed up on this remote island of Uganda.

Maryl and I were privileged to boat out to this island in 2007 with our nephew, Brent Earwicker, a young missionary who, along with his wife and two children, has now given his life to the islands of Uganda. We boated up to the island in the early evening. Though it was too dark to see anybody, we could hear 160 young voices singing a beautiful song of welcome to us from the beach. Once we landed we were surrounded by sweet children who eagerly escorted us in the dark to our huts for the night. We hunkered down under mosquito nets and the noise of bats overhead, for our first sleep on the island. The song floated through my head ‘help me make it through the night’ as I thought ‘if I can just make it to the morning’. I fell asleep.

But before the sun came up, I heard the drums. Hundreds of yards away but as clear as if they were right outside our hut, I heard the voices. Amazing, crystal-clear, young and exuberant voices, singing praise to Jesus with total abandon. It was 5:30 in the morning, not an adult in sight, and these children were singing the loudest praise I have ever heard in my whole life (without a sound system!). The first morning I laid in my cot and wept as their voices came like refreshing waves of joy over and over me. I remember thinking ‘This is it. This is heaven. Pure unadulterated worship. Pure joy. Pure abandonment to Jesus.’ Like a little child…

Later I walked among them during these morning times, and they were so intent on their worship of Jesus, that they didn’t even to seem to notice me. Such focus, delight, devotion – I was humbled. Children getting up on their own accord before the sun, before breakfast, before their chores, no one telling them to do it, singing wholeheartedly, loudly and joyfully! I tried to think of one scenario back in the US where this might occur. Sadly, I was unable to envision it back home. This one moment on a remote island of Uganda has ruined me for life. I came to ‘bring Jesus’ to the island, but He was already there, singing, laughing and dancing with His kids, beckoning me to join in the dance. The story goes on as these children are now evangelists to the other surrounding islands, singing, preaching and living out the Gospel everyday to the poor and needy. The song goes on.

Then we came back to ‘reality’ in the US. The worship leader was amazing to watch as he sang, laughed, and even twirled in delight, worshiping his Lord and Savior for twenty-five minutes before an appreciative congregation. The band was tight and played with exquisite excellence. All the elements of a successful worship experience were there, including great lighting, good song choice and mix, sharp video images, vibrant worship team. You could walk away that day thinking ‘what a great time of worship’, unless you happened to look anywhere besides the platform. Out in the congregation of hundreds of people, a few were singing quietly, many were sipping lattes, most were smiling approvingly, some standing, some sitting.

This whole scenario has given me grave concern for the state of worship especially in the United States.  While there are some churches who are experiencing a full worship experience with total involvement in the congregation, they seem to be the exception today rather than the rule. Historically, the church has always gone through periods of time when the music and worship was left to the ‘professionals’ and the average congregant would observe from afar. Now there seems to be a cultural barrier arising in America that many people have gotten comfortable with in their worship experience – I call it ‘vicarious worship’ or allowing others to worship for you and feeling good about yourself because others had a great worship time with Jesus.

As my wife and I travel around the world giving worship seminars and working with varied worship teams, pastors and congregations in various nations, we consistently see the passion and pervasive desire to worship God in church after church and now island after island. Looking at these situations it gives a person great hope to believe that the ‘glory of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea’. (Habakkuk 2:14)

But in many churches, the congregation is getting quieter and quieter while the platform is getting louder and louder. While this is not a treatise on volume in churches, surely the celebration of our Lord’s presence among us should have moments of great joy and voluminous praise.

The exhortations throughout the word of God to worship and praise Him was never to the elite few or a select group, but rather to nations, congregations, whole gatherings of people, poised to respond appropriately. Consider:

Psa 98:4 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. KJV

Psa 100:1 A Psalm of Thanksgiving. Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! NKJV

Psa 96:1 Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! Sing to the LORD, all the earth. NKJV

Rev 5:13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!” NKJV

Rom 15:11 And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and sing praises to him, all you peoples.”  NIV

God is raising up a nation of kings and priests, (Revelation 1:6) a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation (1 Peter 2:9) that we (collectively) would proclaim the praises of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. His goal and His delight is a nation, a kingdom of priests, everybody, lifting up holy hands, bending the knee, confessing His name wherever and whenever they gather.

So there is a vested interest for the Prince of the power of the air to keep his dominance of the airwaves. He comes to steal, kill and destroy our faith and our lives. He steals our voice by creating an environment where only the best voices sing. Often, we end up silently and passively listening to others have a great worship service, feeling good for them, but not allowing ourselves to be heard for  various reasons like fear of rejection, ridicule or embarrassment. He kills our worship by encouraging a critiquing spirit, a critical spirit, where we end up judging the ‘value’ of what we are singing by our musical taste or preference. He destroys our worship by numbing our senses and jading our spirits through intense media-saturation. He wants a silent church, a passive church, a bland church. A silent congregation is the death-knell of the church.

Martin Luther fought hard for the priesthood of all believers, and we should contend today to release all believers in the wholehearted, passionate worship of a living God and not be content with just a great platform presentation of worship. We should look throughout our whole congregation and encourage all to participate in this collective expression of praise and adoration. We need to join our voice with the abandoned orphans of Uganda

Here are some ways to re-engage and keep our congregations involved in the holy and wonderful privilege of worshiping Jesus Christ.

1.      Teaching on worship (2 Tim.4:2) We find that many congregations haven’t even had basic teaching on worship to help them understand their part in the act of worship. Within the context of teaching, give the congregation not only examples, but ample opportunities to collectively experience and express their worship. (singing, clapping, lifting hands, etc.)

2.      Modeling worship (1 Pet. 5:3) All leaders (pastors, elders, worship pastors, worship teams) in a house of worship should be leading from an ardent heart fully devoted to Jesus. This comes from their personal ‘river’ of devotion and delight at home. You can’t fake this (for long). We don’t tell people how to worship as much as we show them. (‘better felt than telt’) Taste and see that the Lord is good.

3.      Instructing during worship (Col.3:16) A well-planned and strategic exhortation in worship times can go a long ways. Sometimes people get distracted, just ‘coast’ or sing mindlessly. A word in due season can bring everyone back to a focus on Jesus and their part in what is happening in the service. This should always be positive, not rebuking (leave that up to the prophets).

4.      Allow for participation (1 Cor.14:26) Do something that everyone can do together: read a scripture out loud together; speak a word of encouragement to each other; arm in arm or holding hands sometimes helps. Always keep the altar open to those who need the opportunity to come forward to receive more in the service.

5.      Prepare the room for a sense of physical connection. Consider keeping the lights slightly up in the congregation so the sense of separation from the platform is lessened. Some churches are long and narrow, so your connection is oftentimes to the back of someone’s head. Consider turning your sanctuary sideways or at least angling the pews or seats for better visual communication between people. Sometimes just walk down into the congregation and lead from there. Make eye contact with the back row frequently.

6.      Blended worship (Eph.5:19) We have a lot of ‘camps’ of worship out there especially in our culture. That’s why the simple wisdom of ‘psalms, hymns and spiritual songs’ should prevail:

Psalms: songs from the word of God

Hymns: songs of man’s composition

Spiritual songs: spontaneous songs from the congregation and individuals, filled    with and governed by the spirit of God (this was a most common practice of the      early church)

Let all things be done – for edification or building up of the church (1 Cor.14:26)

7.      Engaging, thoughtful and provoking worship (Ps 47:7) Choose songs that speak what God is saying to the church, songs that speak to your heart and instruct the mind. Allow for personal and corporate expressions of praise after some songs, keep the music going and give the people opportunity (with instruction) to speak or sing personal words and prayers to Jesus.

May your church be filled with the high praises of our God and may we join our voices with all believers around the world, breaking the sound barrier in our churches as the holy nation, the royal priesthood, the chosen generation and proclaim His praise who has brought us out of our darkness into His marvelous light!

Dr. Tim Smith

President of SongSmith Ministries (songsmithministries.com)

Director of Worship Without Borders (wwob.org)

Your worship ministry is only as healthy as your relationships with others – especially on the team. Healthy relationships are paramount in a healthy worship environment! Here are three scriptures to consider in our relationships:

• 1Jn 4:20 If someone says, “I love (worship) God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love (worship) God whom he has not seen?

• Mat 5:23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

• Gen.2:18 It is not good for man to be alone;

Here are a few thoughts to hopefully provoke us all to love one another as we love and worship God:

1. Honest friendships
   

David said that God desires ‘truth in the inward parts’. Only you and God know what is going on inside your heart when you are worshiping, but we know God wants truth and honesty to prevail in our relationship with Him. He also desires that truthfulness in the ‘inward parts’ of the body of Christ:

• Eph. 4:15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Perhaps speaking the truth in love is one of the hardest things to do in ministry- loving someone enough to be truthful with them. To bathe your conversation and even criticism in His grace, so that you can all grow up together and be edified! (note: to speak the truth without love will destroy your unity and your effectiveness) Let’s all ‘grow up’.

2. Forgiving one another

How can we forget the basics of the gospel? How can we not forgive someone, knowing that God is prevented from forgiving us by our unforgiveness (Mt.6:15)? Pray for His grace to help you forgive someone! Take care of it immediately, the minute you have that urge in your heart and mind, let it go! Leave your ‘gift’ on the platform and do what it takes to reconcile with your brother or sister. That is true and wonderful freedom in worship!

• Eph 4:32  And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
• Col 3:13  bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

3. Valuing and needing one another

I have worked with all levels of musicianship in church. I have seen the amazing and cringed at the not-so-amazing. But in all of that, the beauty and value of each individual never changes. While we try to find the best place for a less-skilled member, we continue to honor them. Never mocking, ridiculing or putting them down. There is none of Christ in that! We are not competing on ‘American Idol’! He hides and covers and protects the weaker members. You and they will be stronger for it! And while you are at it, learn to value and need the highly skilled members for who they are – not what they do!

• 1 Cor 12:20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 and the eye (guitarist) cannot say to the hand (drummer), ‘I have no need of you’; nor again the head (leader) to the feet (singers), ‘I have no need of you.’ 22 No, much rather, those members of the body (choir) which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 and those members of the body (sound) which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor.

• Php 2:2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Be honest, forgiving and honoring in the wonderful freedom of Christ! More on this later!

in Him, Dr. Tim Smith

©2010 SongSmith Ministries

Choosing good keys for your worship set is a big issue nowadays. I remember in the 70′s everything was mid to low range and simple chords (though hymns typically are pitched high with a high ‘E’ being very common).  In our small church with mostly guitars, this mid-low arrangement worked fine for us. Then we moved to City Bible Church in Portland in the 80s and everything went soaring (high sopranos were the big thing then – with big hair!) But still we generally had one common key for any given song. Our lists of songs and their keys were standard and worked for most of our congregation (except the low-voiced men in the back who couldn’t sing the high stuff – they usually ended up mumbling a lot). We did a lot of spontaneous modulations (again because the songs were simpler back then)higher and higher the songs would go until everyone’s screaming. Weird times!

Integrity’s Hosanna became the main source of songs and helped standardize keys for their songs, along with lead sheets written out for everything! (gasp!) Most songs were mid to high with them. Then Vineyard Music came in with generally lower range songs, more intimate and guitar driven – hard to be intimate when you’re screaming at God. Then came Hillsong Music with usually a couple of key options in their books – but Darlene Zschech is an alto so everything was low to mid.

Now most songs are written by tenors (Tomlin, Redman, etc.) so the original keys are good for them. Not generally for your average congregation. When choosing the key for a song, I think the main consideration has to be the success of your main group of people in the congregation – not your leader.

We led at The City Church in Seattle for a few years and every song had options (lower for female leader – higher for male leader – I chose the lower since I am a bass) But I noticed if the song was too low on a big opening song – it was not successful in the congregation. If it was too high in a softer meditative song – it was not successful in the congregation. My experience is the original key is generally not the best singing key for an average group. So taking it down one to two whole steps makes it singable – and singability trumps cool.

1. Find the range: I try to look at each song individually and its tessitura (range). Play the chords and sing the song. Find the highest note and the lowest note and identify them.
2. Fast songs: For fast, big loud songs the upper range can easily go to E-F-even G if you aren’t sustaining it too long. Don’t hang on high notes (E,F,G)ever. And the lower range shouldn’t go below middle C.
3. Medium and slow songs: For medium to slow songs I might tap an ‘E’ occasionally up high, but stay mid-range mostly with a low A being acceptable if not sustained. I think this will help most congregations be successful in their worship.
4. Overall: You will notice most songs don’t have more than an octave and a half range (low A to High E; or low C to high G) So my system generally works. But it does take time to figure out the best range for each song. I do it in my head now, knowing the high note of the song and its relationship to the key (ie the 3rd of the key) then finding the key where that would work (key of C would give me a high E).
5. Review: so, in summation: no screaming, no low rumblings, mid-range is best for most congregations.  One exception I have found is a woman leader who is a low alto who sings everything real low with power, and the men sing up high matching the same pitch with intensity. It works and has a great sound to it.

• Note: SongSelect (from CCLI) now has the feature to transpose any song (with chords in their database) into any key that you want. This is a great help especially to those who don’t understand music theory or key changes.

God bless you as pursue excellence in worship. Hope you find the right key to your worship!

Dr. Tim

Lift it Up – Be not afraid

I love working with vocalists. People who want to sing well and glorify God in the process are wonderful to work with generally. The singers in the worship band are the greatest physical representation of the worship experience. They are generally the first to be heard and seen as people walk into your church, and often the last to be heard as people leave the sanctuary.

Here are a few thoughts to consider when working with singers in worship:

1. Move them forward This might seem elementary, but I find a lot of singers stand way back on the platform unnecessarily. I especially like the singers forward in the configuration on the stage so they can see the ‘whites of their eyes’. If you have a choir, line them up behind you.
2. The more the merrier Some prefer one or two singers, but I think in larger scenarios, a larger group of singers is more engaging for the congregation. It gives you a lot of vocal presence as well as a visually active stage.
3. Keep eyes open whenever possible I know this is controversial on both sides of this thought, but there is much to be said for the singers that are aware of their surroundings – see and communicate with one another for transitions and changes in the set, know what is happening in the congregation, anticipate the response of the congregation, etc.
4. Make eye contact ‘The light of the body is the eye’ – there is something about looking into someone’s eyes with faith and assurance that encourages and stirs people. I encourage my singers to have a pleasant expression at all times and use their countenance to persuade the hardest of hearts to look to Jesus. Much of our worship expression can become either distant and impersonal, or professional and unauthentic. Stay in touch with the people as we worship together!
5. Reference the whole church Keep positive in everything, but make sure everyone is being addressed, not just the front row or ‘preaching to the choir’. I tell my singers to sing to the back row and anticipate some amazing moments of interaction.
6. Fill the house Keep the vocal mix strong and above the rest of the instruments in the house mix. The words are everything! No matter how cool the guitar lick is, if you can’t hear or understand the words, you’ve lost the whole purpose of corporate worship.

Okay, that’s just a few thoughts for singers. Later I will give you some more vocal ideas.

Be creative, and rejoice in the freedom of Christ!

Dr. Tim Smith

©2010 SongSmith Ministries

Worship should always be one of the most exhilarating and uplifting things we ever do on this planet together! We gather to worship Jesus, not out of compulsion or guilt but in answer to His call ‘Come be with Me’. His ongoing passion to dwell in and inhabit our praises, to abide with us, is that which draws us to His presence.

So He doesn’t gather us together to begin His punishment of us or to start listing our faults or enumerating our failures. That was the whole purpose of the cross: to give us immediate and complete access to the Father ‘that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in the time of need’ (Heb.4:16). And neither does He want His leaders and worshipers being the fault-finders and exposers of those around them. His presence and worship is sacred and holy and everything we do and say should reflect His nature or Who He is!

We all know there are some things that need to be corrected and people adjusted at times, but that should be the exception rather than the rule. And specifically concerning the worship ministry, it should be the best place to display the heart of the Father not only on Sunday mornings but in every situation – especially the rehearsal! I have seen Christian leaders get red-faced and angry and even throw things at people who messed up a line of music or who weren’t listening when they were supposed to, or came to the rehearsal with a bad attitude, etc. It made it hard to come back for the next episode of ‘who get’s in trouble tonight?’ Every gathering should be eagerly looked forward to by all our people not dreaded.

So let’s talk some about establishing a positive environment in our worship, starting with the worship team and specifically during a rehearsal. Can we be positive, edifying and uplifting and still get anything done during a practice? Don’t you have to yell and scream at some people to get them to do want you want them to do? I taught Junior High music in the public schools for 8 years, and believe me, the temptation to let go and let them have it was overwhelming at times! So how do we accomplish anything and remain positive in our sessions together? How do we get there?

1. A positive spirit always starts with you – Php 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Focus on the good things of your team, the worship, the music, the church. Refuse to entertain negative trains of thought.
2. Be prepared for every rehearsal – Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. 2Timothy 4:2 Let your group walk into a ready and restful atmosphere, not hurried and rushed. Music, stands, mics, sound, lights, chairs, cds, etc. everything ready to go! Know exactly what you are going to do from the very beginning.
3. Pace the rehearsal – This works especially working with younger members. Keep your tempo up especially between songs. Know what you are going to say and do before a song ends! Interject an immediate positive response and excitement for what was just done or what you are about to do.
4. Change your vocabulary – Prov.18:21  Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it shall eat the fruit of it. Start by learning to turn something negative (‘that was terrible’) into something positive (‘okay, let’s try it again and watch your pitch on the high G – I know you can do it!’)
5. Ignore negative talk – Oftentimes, well-meaning members will try to give their opinion on a song or ‘help’ by correcting me or someone else, etc. First, I never take it personally, ever! Second, I try not to acknowledge the comment (if it’s negative or mean) and definitely I dont engage them or correct them back. If it’s somebody with an attitude and an on-going confrontational spirit, I take them aside privately after the rehearsal and address it there. If they can’t control themselves, they are gone.
6. Find a way to compliment as many people as possible – I love the challenge of finding good things to say about people and still help them grow in their gift. I don’t believe in flattery and it doesn’t help anybody to tell them something that is untrue or silly. But to find that special thing that they did well in a single moment and bring it to everyone’s attention can sometimes change everything around. Try it!
7. Stay focused on the goal – Remember your purpose in rehearsing – it’s not to get a great sound! It’s to glorify Jesus. To express His love and His beauty – you just can’t do that in a negative way. Imagine saying this to a worship band: ‘That was awful. Tell me how even one phrase of that song glorified Jesus?’ Tragic, and yet that is said many times in the context of excellence in music. Worship is first, music second. Maybe put your instruments down with no singing and then just have a moment of silence and reflect on His wonder. He is the goal!

You can make every rehearsal delightful, positive and something to look forward to. This will change your Sunday worship automatically!

Dr. Tim Smith

©2010 SongSmith Ministries

Sometimes, the way we ‘do’ worship becomes an end in and of itself. We make our plans, we rehearse them, then perform them and we are done. Proverbs 16:9 says ‘We make our own plans, but the LORD decides where we will go.’ CEV Our plans are the ‘cart’ and the Holy Spirit is the ‘horse’ in our worship. We have a ‘formula’ that works Sunday after Sunday and we can end up trusting our plan (cart) for the success of the service rather than the Holy Spirit (horse). Sometimes it’s just easier to put our faith in our technology than God for our worship services; to put our confidence in the visible rather than the invisible. We trust the ‘cart’ but look questioningly at the ‘horse’.

I remember being in New Zealand in the middle of a worship service in Christchurch. During a great song of praise, the power went out – all the lights and sound went down. My team was trained to keep going no matter what – so we kept going a capella, and the people kept worshiping in the dark for a few minutes – it was powerful. And right when we got to the chorus of ‘Shine Jesus Shine’, the lights and power came back on. One glorious moment brought to you by God! You couldn’t have planned that better! Here are some ways to consider as we strive to remain dependent on Him in our worship:

1. Trust God to show up – For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them. Mat 18:20 And if He is among you, trust Him with the worship: Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Pro 3:5 He does show up – so trust Him.
2. Keep it Simple – But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ (your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ) 2 Corinthians 11:3 Put your creative energy into how to simplify and keep sincere every act of devotion in your worship.
3. Train your team and congregation to remain sensitive and flexible – In rehearsals, practice this – develop sensitivity and flexibility in your teams so when the service experiences changes and ‘God shows up’ they can lead the way towards a proper response. This breeds confidence in the congregation when you expect the unexpected.
4. Respond quickly – Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. 2Timothy 4:2 Learn to respond quickly to the leadings of the Holy Spirit in your worship times. Be ready to react promptly to unique moments, promptings and nudging of the Spirit. Be bold!
5. Enjoy the moment – Remember this is not a moment to dread, sweat through or endure! He is here! Enjoy Him! Thus the Psalmist wrote: You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11

He will show up. He will lead you if you let Him.
Dr. Tim Smith

©2010 SongSmith Ministries