It is sad when an elderly group of church elders fail to see that THEIR way of running things, might be not good. It is not like they set out to make a church fail, but it is a personal bias that leads us to run things "our way." I believe it is important for the Church Elders to be an equal mix of old and young, even maybe a teenager. The Church Elders should represent the church body in a proportional way. It encourages the young people to be more active when the believe they have a say in things.
A church is a dynamic body of people. The times change. People change. Music changes. Failure to change with the times while maintaining Word of G-d in its essential form and message is the death of a church body.
agreed... for a healthy church environment, all generations need proper representation....
and yes, people and things change... Thank God, He doesn't...
Can I get a number please? I've been playing in the worship band at my church for about 3 years up here in chilly Saskatchewan, Canada. Thanks a bunch!
Well, it's been an interesting month. We have two teams that alternate Sundays, and we also alternate 5th Sundays. It was supposed to be a light month (the 2nd & the 16th for me). Actually ended up playing the last two Sundays and will play this Sunday also. I sold my only bass on Thursday and ordered a new one thinking I would be okay until the 6th, so, I had to play the other bass players bass (P-bass knock off). He hasn't been playing long and it's a good starter bass for him. I think I'm going to offer to do a set up for him and put some new string on it. Great time yesterday morning with just drums, guitar, bass and keyboards and lead voc and 3 BGS.
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Dave Ibanez SR756 -> Radial JDI -> board|Worship Bassist Club member #1138
I'm facing the same situation. The last few years I've been watching our church slowly start to die. Most of the good musicians have already left. The congregation is losing most of the 20-35YO crowd and the higher ups in the church do not seem to realize this. It pains me as I have some really close friends and have children that have and are growing up here. Sometime though I feel drawn to leave, but I don't want to. The church has around 600 people come every Sunday and it could be so much more alive. How do some of you guys deal with this. Thanks for any input.
I cannot give you any specific advice because we do not have enough details and I am hardly an expert "church fixer" anyway. Churches like all other human institutions go through good and lean years. Of course a church is not strictly a human institution since God is also very much involved -- if we let Him. So I would start there. Look carefully at the spiritual life of your church and encourage the leadership to do that as well. If they will not respond and even if they do, look for other concerned members and gather together and pray. That is what my church is doing right now as we look for a new senior pastor.
I've been at a church that went through a down swing and I choose to join the exodus. I've been at a church that went through several down swings and I stayed behind to help rebuild. The first church is long gone (though another now uses the building), the second church is still there serving the kingdom of God because of the loyalty of some key members. I've since left it for other reasons, the most significant being a physical move. God may call you to another church but until He does I would recommend staying and trying to help.
Christianity is always only one generation from extinction. We can never allow ourselves to neglect our youngest generation and that means we have to keep their parents involved too.
In this forum, brother, we accept all sorts of imperfections; those who play finger style, those who play pick style, those who play thumb style, and even those who migrate back and forth between soprano and bass. ALL skills (including lacking ones) are welcome.
Hi,
So I tried to play Furious with out a pick and was almost able to pull it off but.....
We have rehearsal before service and I was drinking lots of coffee due to being out late the night before. I did have 3 beers the night before. So I was playing the song note for note, sound very much like the live version. I was smiling!! As we started the second verse, I could feel my arm tiring and the lactic acid building up. By the second chorus came, my ring and pink finger spasm and started sticking straight out with losing any control of them. My index and middle fingers then started losing their juice. I could only play at half speed, then quarter speed. I had to finish the song using my thumb! My hand was crippled for several minutes!!!
So for service, I played the first verse and chorus with my fingers and then switched to a pick to finish the song. Later on in the day, I realized that I was extremely dehydrated. I was taking off my boots at the fire station when I got a huge charlie horse in my calf and I then realized that I probably sabotaged myself because of lack of water.
Furious is a hard song to play with your fingers but having some water on board would have help!!!!
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Acoustic club #243, Colorado Club #43, Ibanez Club #664, Hartke club #209, Praise and Worship club #1167, G&L Club Member #489
Just found this in my mailbox for tonight. Pretty pumped.
"Ok! Here it is! And, it's EPIC, I tell you....EPIC!!!!
We will break after MY REDEEMER LIVES for about 30 minutes.
The second half is fluid based on when midnight comes, and when we do communion (Amazing Love at this point). I won't sacrifice Purest Love, In the Air tonight, Arise Shine or the fiddle solo. Everything else in the second half should be considered expendable.
Our Own TSO Carol of the Bells by Mr. Bob "Woodstock" Sprenger, Ladies and Gentlemen!!!! in Em
Rain Down by Martin Smith and Stuart Garrard in E
I Am Free by Jon Egan in E
Freedom by Eddie James in E
Shout by The Isley Brothers in E
Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble by Hillsong in F
Every Move I Make by David Ruis in C
Days Of Elijah by Hillsong in G
Your Kingdom Come by Kathryn Marquis in G
Joy to the world by Traditional in G
The Duel Out by Woodstock and Maestro in C
Changing the Atmosphere by Steve Swanson in C
My Redeemer Lives-Groove Version by Hillsong in A
BREAK
Supernatural by Kathryn Marquis in A
Deep Cries Out by Christiann Koepke and William Matthews in C
Jump by Van Halen in C
I Give You Glory by Andres Spyker in F
Purest Love by Bob Sprenger in Gm
In The Air Tonight by Phil Collins in Gm
Round and Round by Steve Swanson in Dm
Holy by Matt Gillman in Dm
Our God Reigns by Delirious? in F
I Exalt Thee by unknown in F
Meet Me in the Garden by Kathryn Marquis in C
Thirst by Kathryn Marquis in C
Creative Word by Kathryn Marquis
Fill Me Up + I Want To Know by Will Reagan/Foreigner in F
O Come O Come Emmanuel by Traditional in Am
Arise, Shine by Kathryn Marquis in Bm
Violin "Fiddle" Solo by Maestro Stahlkmeister in Whatever Key He Wants
Happy Day by Tim Hughes in F
10,000 REASONS by Jonas Myrin & Matt Redman in C
Amazing Love (You Are My King) by Billy James Foote in C"
Just found this in my mailbox for tonight. Pretty pumped.
"Ok! Here it is! And, it's EPIC, I tell you....EPIC!!!!
We will break after MY REDEEMER LIVES for about 30 minutes.
The second half is fluid based on when midnight comes, and when we do communion (Amazing Love at this point). I won't sacrifice Purest Love, In the Air tonight, Arise Shine or the fiddle solo. Everything else in the second half should be considered expendable.
Steve Swanson in Van Halen in the same worship set Wow!
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Worship Bassist Club member #1163 | In search of the perfect bass guitar
Stupid should be painful - Bill Johnson
Feeling very blessed, I'm home with the wife and kids.
It's a cold night and my youngest son has a surgery coming up day after tomorrow so we're taking it easy at home in front of a cozy fire.
Joshua from 'All Things New' is using my Ashdown bass rig downtown at the city's annual 'First Night' celebration. They did a GREAT job at our church yesterday leading worship.
Just got back from dinner and before that, a trip down to Miami to pick up my New To ME BFM Omni 2 x 10 with 6 Piezo array Cabinet with a couple of Eminence 10's. now I have to run over to the new house ( I'm in the middle of moving) to go plug her in and see what she's got for me with my set up and bass! Oh happy new sound in 30 minutes! The new next door neighbor plays a Jazz Bass in a blues band.
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Praise and Worship #976, Pedulla Club #127, EUB Club #19, Fender Jazz Bass Club #777, fretless Club #682, Florida Bassist #201
Back playing tomorrow morning after a couple of weeks off fighting various winter bug...
Here's a 2-mix (stereo from the board) of one of our songs from the Christmas Concert a couple of weeks ago. Not a lot of fancy bass playin (on this song ) but sounds nice a big for a 2-mix. Thought some of you might want to check it out.
So I tried to play Furious with out a pick and was almost able to pull it off but.....
We have rehearsal before service and I was drinking lots of coffee due to being out late the night before. I did have 3 beers the night before. So I was playing the song note for note, sound very much like the live version. I was smiling!! As we started the second verse, I could feel my arm tiring and the lactic acid building up. By the second chorus came, my ring and pink finger spasm and started sticking straight out with losing any control of them. My index and middle fingers then started losing their juice. I could only play at half speed, then quarter speed. I had to finish the song using my thumb! My hand was crippled for several minutes!!!
So for service, I played the first verse and chorus with my fingers and then switched to a pick to finish the song. Later on in the day, I realized that I was extremely dehydrated. I was taking off my boots at the fire station when I got a huge charlie horse in my calf and I then realized that I probably sabotaged myself because of lack of water.
Furious is a hard song to play with your fingers but having some water on board would have help!!!!
I feel bad for you. Water is your friend. I've also made the mistake of allowing myself to get dehydrated leading up to a performance and it isn't fun at all. The last time it happened to me I had a bad audio cable leading to my IEMs. I would move and lose all monitoring. I finally moved into just the right spot regaining audio locking into a very strange position physically, straining my calf muscle and it cramped up something horrible. 15 minutes seems like eternity when you're in horrible pain. Coming off the stage was something of a chore.
I now bring a bag of water bottles every time I play and pass them out to the team and hanging on to a few myself. I walk in with my gear and a sack full of water bottles in the other every time I play, practice or performance. It is as much my gear as anything else and they all get a laugh out of it.
I also now stay hydrated in general. About 7-10 17oz bottles a day. Pain is a good motivator.
Just found this in my mailbox for tonight. Pretty pumped.
"Ok! Here it is! And, it's EPIC, I tell you....EPIC!!!!
We will break after MY REDEEMER LIVES for about 30 minutes.
The second half is fluid based on when midnight comes, and when we do communion (Amazing Love at this point). I won't sacrifice Purest Love, In the Air tonight, Arise Shine or the fiddle solo. Everything else in the second half should be considered expendable.
Our Own TSO Carol of the Bells by Mr. Bob "Woodstock" Sprenger, Ladies and Gentlemen!!!! in Em
Rain Down by Martin Smith and Stuart Garrard in E
I Am Free by Jon Egan in E
Freedom by Eddie James in E
Shout by The Isley Brothers in E
Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble by Hillsong in F
Every Move I Make by David Ruis in C
Days Of Elijah by Hillsong in G
Your Kingdom Come by Kathryn Marquis in G
Joy to the world by Traditional in G
The Duel Out by Woodstock and Maestro in C
Changing the Atmosphere by Steve Swanson in C
My Redeemer Lives-Groove Version by Hillsong in A
BREAK
Supernatural by Kathryn Marquis in A
Deep Cries Out by Christiann Koepke and William Matthews in C
Jump by Van Halen in C
I Give You Glory by Andres Spyker in F
Purest Love by Bob Sprenger in Gm
In The Air Tonight by Phil Collins in Gm
Round and Round by Steve Swanson in Dm
Holy by Matt Gillman in Dm
Our God Reigns by Delirious? in F
I Exalt Thee by unknown in F
Meet Me in the Garden by Kathryn Marquis in C
Thirst by Kathryn Marquis in C
Creative Word by Kathryn Marquis
Fill Me Up + I Want To Know by Will Reagan/Foreigner in F
O Come O Come Emmanuel by Traditional in Am
Arise, Shine by Kathryn Marquis in Bm
Violin "Fiddle" Solo by Maestro Stahlkmeister in Whatever Key He Wants
Happy Day by Tim Hughes in F
10,000 REASONS by Jonas Myrin & Matt Redman in C
Amazing Love (You Are My King) by Billy James Foote in C"
EPIC it is! If your hands get tired playing 32 songs just let us know. I'm sure any of us here would be glad to fill in.
Last week our praise band did a cover of "Christmas Eve-Sarajevo 12-24". Seven musicians that practiced separately, with only two-three practices as a group.
The bass part was so simple that it could of been done without, but was fun just the same.
It is simple but indeed very fun to perform. It is more work for the lead guitarist than anything else. I didn't play this Christmas but did the 3 prior and we did it each year as a kick off for the performance. Good times!
Excellent party last night. Had to drop about half of the songs from the second set, because of time considerations. The playing was super-relaxed and fun.
It was lovely seeing small children running around in the middle of the party. I love when a church event just feels like a big extended family!
My wife took our children home early. As she was tucking our 6-year old in, he was apparently trying to figure out The Trinity. Feeling pretty blessed this morning...
As we started the second verse, I could feel my arm tiring and the lactic acid building up. By the second chorus came, my ring and pink finger spasm and started sticking straight out with losing any control of them. My index and middle fingers then started losing their juice. I could only play at half speed, then quarter speed. I had to finish the song using my thumb! My hand was crippled for several minutes!!! 
) but sounds nice a big for a 2-mix. Thought some of you might want to check it out.
