Information and Suggestions

Information for incoming Worship Teams.

1. There are two drum kits set up and available- one left-handed, one right-handed.

2. There is a Roland JV-80 Keyboard in place.

3. There will be a bass amplifier for use (GK Backline 600 head and Ashdown 4x10 Cabinet).

4. There are 2 Mics for worship leaders, and 4 Mics for singers. Direct lines for 2 guitars, 1 for bass (direct from the amp), keyboard, and a Mic for a hand drum.

5. A computer with Powerpoint and a video projector are available. If you can bring your song choices set in a powerpoint presentation on a thumb drive or a CD, or email them to me ahead of time, we can import them and the people can participate more easily. There is also a list posted here of the songs we have available in powerpoint. If your songs are on our list, or you choose songs from our list, you won't need to prepare your own files. (You can put all of your songs in one file if that makes it easier, but our songs are all individual and ready in a folder on the desktop.) If you have someone to run the powerpoint for you, that's awesome, but if not, our team will work with you.

Suggestions for incoming Worship Teams.

Please try to arrive at least 1/2 hour before your session (earlier is better) in order to get your equipment in, check in with the sound people, and have a chance to get yourselves into worship and the flow of the meeting.

At least 10 minutes before your transition, tune guitars, prepare instruments, and get ready for transition. (Please look for a free space toward the back of the room to put your cases and bags.) If you have a keyboard that you would rather use, we will help you get it in place, plugged in, and made ready (under your supervision).

It will be our practice, if at all possible, to get the worship leader in place first (or the primary instrumental musician if the tasks are done by two), and allow that primary player to begin to play along with the current team.

Then, we will begin to swap out people with as little disturbance as possible to the meeting. If there is no team playing when you are to begin, that makes it more simple, but please be ready to work as quietly and seamlessly as possible to keep from being distracting in both transitions (in and out). Whether or not there is a team in place, this is a continuous 24 hour watch and so worship with intercession will be happening, likely with a CD or music source.

It is NOT generally our habit for the musicians to stop playing when people come to the microphone to pray, but to lower their own volume level and continue to
"vamp" with a simple chord progression and listen to the prayers in order to be able to respond to them as God leads you. Let the lead player dictate, but we believe that ALL of God's children hear God, and therefore, all can add to what is happening. It is an outstanding practice, while scripture is being read to take mental notes of the key phrase, and if that phrase is still the main idea when the person is done at the microphone, to create a melody for it (prophetically) as you go, and to sing that phrase, along with any scripture or prayers that add to the flow.

During prophetic song, other singers are encouraged to also listen for harmonies, counter-melodies, and lines that may be sung as an echo to the primary, and to add them, so long as it's adding to the flow. (You may be free to move about the Kingdom. -DING!)

We also recognize the power of God to prophesy through instruments, even and especially drums, so don't be afraid, if your team members feel it rising up in them, to let them "solo" (the world's term) in the Spirit. We believe that God is generally speaking also through the instruments, and don't be surprised if someone in the congregation moves to the microphone to "interpret" the prophecy. The interpretation does not always happen, and if it doesn't that does NOT suggest that the "solo" was out of line. Sometimes it is just a player giving Glory to God with their talent through their instrument.

There will be a prayer focus for each of the 7- 3 hour seasons in this watch. (That means that up to three worship teams will have the chance to worship into that prayer focus.) The worship team will be able to know ahead of time what the focus is to help in preparation. The best way we know to maintain God's flow, is to have 10-12 songs standing by, choose a first one by God's leading, but be flexible to not pre-script the rest of the songs if possible. God will always guide the meeting and a flow will become obvious if you can let Him.

Don't be in a hurry to rip through your songs, but be free to meditate on the songs, sing scripture, sing prayers, or even allow for instrumental reflections. And watch for people at the microphone who want to pray, read scripture, sing scripture, sing prophetically, share a vision.

If all of this talk about Harp and Bowl, flow, singing prophetically, and the like is foreign to you, please do not worry about that. Do what you know, and what God shows you to do. The only thing we do ask is that you don't forget to watch out for people standing at the microphone, and at the soonest opportune time, to "make room for them to share." Never feel like people waiting have immediate priority- finish what you are doing, or at least keep going to a logical point to pause. Flow is all about timing and Honoring God by being aware and making room for each other. There is a much longer discussion of Prophetic Worship and this whole model of Harp and Bowl on the Fourth Friday Musicians Jam page and on the Schedule page in the left margin.

At the end of your time, be ready to reverse the transition you made coming in. Stay in place and play until the next Worship Leader is in place, and then watch for someone coming to take your place. Singers, if you are not singing during the transition, you can slip out once the new leader takes over. Please don't just stop playing and start packing. Allow the transitions to happen in stages to help maintain the flow. And one more reminder- when you are done with your session, please keep in mind that people around you are still in worship, so if you need to have a conversation, please take it out into the hall or down the elevator. You can come back in and pack up, but honor God if noone else and keep conversation in the room to a minimum.

I would prefer not to publish my phone number on the web site, but if you have any questions about concept, flow, logistics, or any other details, please send me an email and I would be happy to reply with my phone number. My name is Steve Kayner.

We are looking forward to working with you and your worship team!