Fork In The Road Music

What Should I Sing?

Russell Martin — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 05:37:09 +0000

When I am a guest worship leader at a camp, or retreat, one of the hardest things I deal with is figuring out what songs I should sing. This seems like a small thing, but I can’t help but think, “Are they going to know these songs?” or “What songs mean the most to them?”
Here are three ideas about how to choose songs in that situation:

1. Talk to leaders and participants ahead of time if possible. When you first are contacted about leading worship, ask about what songs they use. Find out if they use hymns or worship songs, gospel, cutting edge, emerging? Ask what the worship service is like at their church or churches? Do they have a band, or is it more acoustic? This doesn’t mean you have to change your style, but this information can help you to choose songs that are more representative for the group.

2. Have a suggestion box- The first time I tried this I was skeptical about it. I was leading worship for a college work camp and the program director put out a suggestion box in the back. She told the group that if they had any suggestions for worship to put them in and we would try to accommodate them. It turned out working great. The song suggestions they had let me know what they were familiar with, and by their choices told me what they were needing to hear. We were able to use most of the songs, many of which I was already planning on anyway. Some of them were ones I did not know, but learned, and not only used there, but have used many times since and have become a regular part of my repertoire.

3. Well I don’t have a third one.. what would you suggest?

Older Songs Still Resonate Last summe
The Songs I Sing I recently
Working With Youth Worship Bands: Back to Basics This is pa

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Instrumental Reflections #5

Russell Martin — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 05:58:16 +0000

This weeks Instrumental Reflection is a song I wrote in college at East Texas State University. It’s kind of a theme and variation type song and it’s called Autumn Leaves. I hope you enjoy.

Click to listen. Right click and choose “Save as” or “save target as” to save to your computer.

Download Autumn Leaves

Check out the other instrumental reflections in the suggested sites below.

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The Songs I Sing

Russell Martin — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:13:10 +0000

I recently had the opportunity to be a guest worship leader at a church on a trip to Houston. We made the arrangements and I was to send them a list of the songs I would be using that morning. I chose several songs I thought would work and emailed those to them. A few days later I received a phone call. “Russell, these are great songs… we just don’t know most of them.” We then spent about 15 minutes trying to go back and forth and find out what songs they had that I knew, which ones I did that they knew etc.
I realized then that I know pretty well the songs that our home church does and are familiar with. I cannot however take for granted that other churches sing the same songs. And while I definitely love teaching new songs, I don’t want to introduce too many in a guest worship leader situation.
So here is what I decided. I will create a list of the songs I sing. Not necessarily those I do at my home church, but those that I generally use when I am leading either by guitar or piano at camps, retreats, and guest worship leader situations. This way when someone calls and asks me to lead worship, I can send them to the page, and they can at least let me know what songs their congregation is familiar with.
Click for the Songs I Sing

What Should I Sing? When I am
Older Songs Still Resonate Last summe
Requested Songs- College UM ARMY Last week

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Instrumental Reflections #4

Russell Martin — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 05:22:10 +0000

This past week I spent leading worship for elementary age kids at Lakeview Church Camp, so the instrumental reflection for this week is a song I have put up here previously. This song is probably still my most requested piano piece I play, and the one I enjoy playing the most. It was written on an old piano at a church on the Mexico Texas border while I was on a mission trip there in college. It’s called Angelise. Please enjoy.

Click to listen. Right click and choose “Save as” or “save target as” to save to your computer.

Download Angelise

Check out the other instrumental reflections in the suggested sites below.

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Instrumental Reflections #3

Russell Martin — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 05:34:34 +0000

This is the third in the new “Instrumental Reflections” series. If you like it check out the first and second songs.

Click to listen. Right click and choose “Save as” or “save target as” to save to your computer.

Download Prayer Walk 3

If you enjoy this let me know. I have others that will be posted in future weeks.

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Instrumental Reflections #2

Russell Martin — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 05:04:38 +0000

Last week I began this series called Instrumental Reflections. Basically it’s just piano recordings of me playing that can be used for prayer time, instrumental background, or reflection time for personal or corporate worship. In last week’s post, Instrumental Reflections #1, I started it off with a recording of an original song that I created during our College UM ARMY prayer walk. This second recording is an arrangement of the hymn “Come Thou Fount”. Please enjoy.

Click to listen. Right click and choose “Save as” or “save target as” to save to your computer.

Download Prayer Walk 2

If you enjoy this let me know. I have others that will be posted in future weeks.

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Refresh Workshop 2009

Russell Martin — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:04:07 +0000

Are you a worship leader, or serve on a worship team? Do you live near or around the Houston area? Looking for free training for your self and your praise team? Check this out!

Sugar Land First United Methodist Church is pleased to present a series of free workshops designed to help local worship leaders and worship bands achieve their full potential. Led by Dr. Craig Gilbert, Director of Music Ministries and Worship Arts, all vocalists, worship leaders and instrumentalists can attend the workshop that fits their individual needs, or come the full six weeks for a complete in-depth look at playing, singing and leading worship. Each workshop addresses skills needed by everyone, from beginners who would like to start participating, to seasoned members who want to refresh their approach to worship music.

If you are in the area I strongly encourage you to check this out. You can register or get more information on the Refresh Website

Description in italics taken from Texas Conference Website… find out more by visiting the Texas Annual Conference website or following them on twitter @txconferenceumc

Youth Worship: Making Your Job Easier This used
Why We Don’t Rehearse Every Week How It Was
Late Night of Praise and Worship A week ag

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Sunday Setlist- 06/07/09

Russell Martin — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 04:21:46 +0000

This week was a sad yet joyous one for our church. Our associate pastor Frank Coats has been appointed to a new church in Houston. Today was his last Sunday with us. One thing Frank is known for is wearing bowties. So this week many members showed their love by wearing bowties of their own. We are sad to see him leave but wish him the best.

Here were are songs this week.

Everywhere I Go-
Today is the Day-
Come Ye Sinners
Child of God
Power of Your Name

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Instrumental Reflections #1

Russell Martin — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 05:59:51 +0000

One thing I have always loved to do is to sit at the piano and just play. Let whatever notes come and go wherever I am led and just play. Over the years this has sometimes resulted in some great songs like “Angelise” and “Yesterday Today and Forever” After I began leading worship for different camps people asked me to play before a service started or during the prayer time.
I started thinking that maybe you would benefit from some recordings of these musical ramblings as a background to your own corporate or personal prayer and reflection times. So here is what I plan to do. Every week I will upload an instrumental reflection. I may use one that I was able to record during a worship service, or go and sit down at the piano and record something new. I will put the songs up here and provide a download link. You are free to use the music for any worship service or other service you wish. All I ask is that you ask me before using it for other purposes, like on a video, compilation CD, or something like that.

Here is the first installment called Prayer Walk 1. It was recorded at our College UM ARMY camp in May of 2009 during the prayer walk. It is a live recording so you will hear some noise in the background of people going through the stations on the walk . Click to listen. Right click and choose “Save as” or “save target as” to save to your computer.

Download Prayer Walk 1

If you enjoy this let me know. I have others that will be posted in future weeks.

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Late Night of Praise and Worship

Russell Martin — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 20:36:23 +0000

A week ago I was part of a fun little concert. We decided to host a “Late Night of Praise and Worship” after the evening worship service at Annual Conference. The idea was to provide a venue for some worship leaders who write their own worship songs to share those. We gathered in The Loft at The Woodlands UMC, set up a sound system and then took turns sharing music. The evening started with David Davis who is worship leader at John Wesley UMC. He shared some tracks off his last release, The Light and the Grey, and also introduced us to some new tunes he had been working on. It was great to hear his music. Second Kerri Crocker sang some of her songs from her CD, Reason to Be. After that she also shared a new worship tune that she was working on. I got the crowd up and we sang “Lord Let Your Love” and then the title song from my Unfailing Love CD. I was disappointed at first because we were supposed to also hear from Shelly Wilson. She had been sick and was unable to sing. God had different plans for her, other than singing, because she brought a convicting message for the church. Finally Kerri came back up and we closed with “Breathe”
It was great to get an evening of music and worship shared among old and new friends. Special thanks to the Lonna Nunn, Anna Rhode and the North District of the UMC for sponsoring the event. Hopefully it will be one we can continue to do.

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