Something to think about next time we’re singing:
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Tag Archives: worship
Becoming Visible.
The one thing I consistently hear about my worship leading style is that I point the congregation in the direction of the song, then I get of the way and let them focus on God.
When translated into other terms, they’re saying I have a very comfortable and unassuming stage presence. As a worship leader, this would be considered a compliment, since it’s not about drawing attention to myself.
As I learn more about myself, I’m realizing that I don’t like attention. I’m the wallflower, the people-watcher, the quiet one in the group. Not at all the life of the party. I’ve never been an athlete because the little-girl Mandy was petrified of all the eyes in the stands. I’ve never been a performer for the same reasons.
Don’t notice me. Don’t evaluate me. Don’t pay attention to me.
As a musician that doesn’t want to be noticed, the worship leading role is a great fit.
But, now that I’m doing this band thing, I’m thinking through the fact that people are going to literally look at me.
gulp……….
So. I wanted to ask for your help and advice and all that. How do I shift my mentality? Better yet, how do I grow more comfortable with people actually watching me and all that blah blah?
A chance to be in a video AND win free stuff. And the two are completely unrelated. But how can you say no?
1) I’ve already gotten in a few video/picture entries for “I am _______.” But where’s yours? Send it to me (see below) by Friday. Remember when y’all all wished you’d been a part of the dance party after you saw the video? uh huh… This is much less embarrassing. So do it. Who’s in?
2) All you church people are gonna like this, because my buddies at Integrity and Logos are hosting this MASSIVE giveaway to celebrate a new software release called “Proclaim.” The prizes all center around one thing—creating powerful worship services. Raise your hand if you could use some of these prizes: a new and professionally church created website, hosted free for a year, a year of expert video and audio podcasting, $100s in gift cards for worship music, subscriptions to the top worship planning site, membership to top worship media sites, downloadable music lessons, an acoustic guitar (hello!!), tickets to some of the premier worship leader and music conference, and much more! To enter watch the video at http://proclaimonline.com and at the end there is a list of ways to enter the giveaway. There are several one-time ways to enter and a couple ways to enter every day!
Everybody likes free stuff, right? And, today you’ve got a chance to be in the latest greatest blog-community video [AHEM], AND win some cool stuff! Or just pick one of the two. They are highly unrelated. But equally fabulous.
Somebody oughta thank me–by sending in their part of the group video… 
Meet me in K.C. (Oh look. It rhymed.)
But it’s not about a song. 
It’s a GIVEAWAY!!!
My good friends over at AllAboutWorship.com are holding an amazing worship retreat in May. Make no mistake, it’s definitely a retreat. If you’re a worship leader looking for a chill-experience of inspiration and connection, this is your weekend. Brenton Brown (!), Sarah Reeves, Dave Fitzgerald, and Pocket Full of Rocks will be among the leaders. Y’all. It’s gonna be awesome.
Why am I excited about this? Because the fabulous All About Worship guys let me interview worship leaders and songwriters for their podcast happenings. Isn’t that crazy? And if I can get the $$ in order, I’ll be at the retreat this year to meet everybody (and maybe you)!
So, here’s the REALLY fun part: I’m giving away one FREE REGISTRATION here this week. So, leave a comment telling me why you’d love to go to the All About Worship Retreat in May & I’ll randomly pick the winner extraordinaire this weekend.
Aaaaannnnd, for my most favorited readers, to get 10% off the cost of registration: use the code mandysblog. wootwoot!
All the info you need can be found at worshipretreat.org.
Leave a comment. Maybe you’ll win. & maybe I’ll see y’all in Kansas City in May!
The part where I lived the whole “if you could meet one person and ask them anything” moment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1a3vMC_1rg
It’s 11:33pm on Saturday night, and I’m on a bus with about 35 other people. The series of events that put me on this bus are about as remarkable as the experiences this bus took me to. The “did that just happen?” thoughts are keeping me awake, despite the fact that I can count on two hands the number of hours I’ve slept since Thursday.
In short: I spent time with one of my heroes this weekend.
Kathryn Scott has written “Hungry,” “Child of God,” “At the Foot of the Cross,” and a song we will soon all know: “We Still Believe.” I’d actually been blessed with the chance to interview her a few weeks back for the All About Worship podcast (episode coming next week), and thankfully she remembered me.
Kathryn (does this mean I’m on a first-name basis with her?!) is touring with Integrity’s “Seminars for Worship” and they made a stop in Georgia. I guess God saw fit to get me to the event, and Fred McKinnon and Steven Proctor cooperated with His plan.
Among other impacting moments, Kathryn Scott generously agreed to sit and chat with me… There I was in the “backstage” hangout room with her full attention. And my sole goal was to not blubber like an idiot. (Minus the moment where I completely forgot something I wanted to ask her about, I think I managed quite well.)
I asked her about one of the most recent songs she’s written–”We Still Believe”–a song that is catching on wherever it’s introduced. And I asked her about finding new words for old truths. And about ministry. And being married to a preacher. And about becoming/being a songwriter… And we talked and laughed and I couldn’t bring myself to eat the chocolate she offered me and I kept ignoring the thought “oh my gosh I’m talking face to face with Kathryn Scott right now.”
There aren’t many people in my life who share my passion for songwriting. So, most often, I feel slightly alone in this burning desire to grow and write and grow in this area of my life. That one hour with her was probably enough fuel to sustain me for a year. I’m so grateful.
So, yay it’s cheesy question time!!!
If you could have coffee with one person, who would it be and what would you ask them? (because, seriously, it might actually happen!)
