what subjects are we missing most in sung worship? and why are they missing? here's a few thoughts i have on this: songs about the poor songs of repentance songs about the 2nd coming songs about dealing with other religions songs with humour in them songs about purity songs about physical healing songs about unity and overcoming differences in the church body etc

Some of the songs I sing in worship to God have become some of my favourite songs, right up there with songs I listen to for enjoyment and that I've loved all my life. My fear is that for many worshippers they enjoy, perhaps subconsciously, singing their favourite songs (think about that euphoric feeling you get when a band you are watching live somewhere play that killer song that you feel like you own, like it was written just for you) more than a song which expresses a powerful truth that is perfect for that moment for the church, but maybe is one they don't know so well or doesn't quite flip their switch in the music department. Or maybe singing a song, using it purely as a means to worship God. I remember at the last Worship Central day when Brian Doerksen was leading in the evening hardly any of our team knew the songs and a couple said they struggled to worship. Maybe this is an answer to my own question, but what I tried to do was to stop singing until I got the melody and the sense of what the song was saying. but while I did I focused on the words and images projected behind them and I found I could worship through that process - I did sing along when I got the melody, but I felt like I almost didn't need to because I was worshipping anyway. In fact if anything it sharpened my mind because I wasn't singing a song I knew so well I could just bash it out. But I know I'm not always quite so applied as that and look forward to a song I know because we have all got our favourites - it's only natural. And I think God uses that too so I'm not bagging on anyone (I think!) Sorry, rambling a bit, but how can we get away from this favourite song or favourite style or era of worship song (eg whenever a song comes from the congregation during a worship time it is almost without fail always from the 80s/early 90s - nothing wrong with that era but not every great and/or appropriate song was written at that point in history!) or favourite songwriter? How can we break the mould of just using material in worship that's so safely familiar or written by someone who's previous material is similarly safely familiar? How can we encourage people that the song that someone in the church has written, out of what God's saying at the time to them/that church, is worth working with/developing as much as the latest United/Passion etc. song? thanks, Leon

When you first started leading worship, how did you deal with your insecurities? like your voive, playing abilty? Did you have anyone trying to put you down? I really struggle with what people think, what would you suggest? Tom Cross tchcstudios.co.uk tomcross@tchcstudios.co.uk

lol. i love the last question. I too would be interested in an answer.