Glorious

I just got back from an amazing conference with Paul Baloche, Brian Doerkson, and Kathryn Scott.

It’s hard to even begin to explain what happened in my heart the last 2 days…

First of all, let me preface everything by saying that God has been doing amazing things in our worship ministry.  People are engaging and really worshiping together.  I feel that God is using our team to reach people and usher them into the throne room of God.

With that said, I feel like God has been extremely gracious in allowing these things to happen in spite of me.  What do I mean by this?  Well, it’s not often that I’m on the other side of the stage when it comes to corporate worship and even when I have been, there’s been a disconnect… and that’s scary.

I mean, here I am, the worship LEADER of a church and I’m not connecting in worship off of the stage.  I hadn’t been meeting my Lord in praise, reverence, and even lament off the stage.  Sure, I read my Bible and I pray, but this is different.

Anyways, we were in morning worship yesterday and Brian Doerkson was leading us in “Holy God”.  All of the sudden, it was like this key unlocked something inside of my chest and I got it.  I couldn’t contain myself… my arms were in the air and tears were falling rapidly out of my eyes.  It was amazing, but it scared me because I realized I hadn’t been in this place for a while and it was all my fault.  Here I was, a worship leader, coming in “cold” on Sunday mornings trying desperately to just whip up a great worship service… and again, I believe that God has done great things in spite of my slack.

These ideas were only reinforced in the breakout sessions.  Paul talked about getting by himself in the sanctuary for a time of prayer, singing through the Psalms, spontaneous worship, and heart shaping.  Brian talked about songwriting and never leading people in a song that you haven’t owned or taking people on journey that you haven’t walked.

Needless to say, I was floored.  Why had I put my personal worship on the self?  How did it happen?  I think the event aspect of my worship just came in with it’s elbows out and knocked that little piece inside of me out of the room.  I didn’t even like listening to worship music outside of work because it felt “like work”…

Well, God is doing a work in my heart and I think I’m really starting to “get it”.  I also wanted to say something about a few unnamed people in my church.  I don’t know if they realize it, but they are my worship leaders.  No, they’re not up there in front of me singing songs, but in a way they are… with their lives, attitudes, and actions.  I have been convicted and led into a deeper life of worship by talking to the very people I’m supposed to be leading.  Talk about a real worship “360″ full circle kind of thing!

Anyways, let us not forsake the art, the discipline, the practice, and the WORK of coming before the Lord and ministering to His heart… letting our insides just spill out before Him.  When we do that, things start to click… He reaches in and gives peace, confidence, and encouragement among other things.   Wow!

I think that’s all I have to say for now…

It’s Alive!

muhauhahhuahhahhahhhahuuahahhah!

Ok, that was a sorry attempt at typing out a mad scientist laugh… but the point remains!  The album is here and it is alive.  All the parts, pieces, bones, and sinew have come together… electricity has been applied and it is a full fledged album in the case complete with plastic wrap!  So, if you can’t wait to get your hands on one, then you need to show up at Night of Worship next Friday night at 7:30pm

Also, our church just launched a new website.  It is not flashy, but that’s the point.  When you get the homepage, you should be able to find everything that is important… intuitively.

Check it out:  www.woostergrace.org

or jump straight to our worship page

You’ll find a link back to this blog, videos, mp3’s, and more… Enjoy!

Psalm 103:1-5

A psalm of David.

¹ Let all that I am praise the Lord;
with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
² Let all that I am praise the Lord;
may I never forget the good things he does for me.
³ He forgives all my sins
and heals all my diseases.
⁴ He redeems me from death
and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
⁵ He fills my life with good things.
My youth is renewed like the eagle’s

Night of Worship and CD Release

We’re getting closer…

Night of Worship and CD Release

October 16 @ 7:30pm

in the Family Life Center (gym)

Wooster Grace Brethren Church

check out this video for more details:

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1143212140932&oid=136843561684&saved

Pray it through…

The CD is now “in the oven”.  I sent it out to disc makers and it’s going through a series of “proofs” before it is all printed.  Maybe I should point out that I’m talking about the actually “artwork” side of it.  The packaging, insert, printing, etc.  Anyways, being on a budget, I did the design myself to save money.  I knew we’d probably run into some errors, but I was hoping for none.  So far, none of the things have been major, but frustrating nonetheless.

Anyways, please pray that this thing will stay on schedule.  I’d like to have boxes of CD’s in my office by the beginning of October.  Pray for good, finalized proofs by next week.  Pray that there are no delays on their end.  Pray that we will meet our deadline.

I’m really looking forward to releasing this!  We’re so close!

Approaching the finish line…

I’ve dreamed…

I’ve prayed…

I’ve waited…

God provided…

I’ve praised…

I’ve planned…

We’ve recorded…

And recorded…

And recorded some more…

I’ve designed…

We’ve mixed…

And mixed…

We’ve mastered…

We’ve mixed again…

We’ve mastered again….

God has been working…

And I’m pretty sure we’re done.

All that is left to do is check over everything, bundle it up, and send it off to Disc Makers.  I can’t wait to have those boxes of fresh CD’s in my office!  For as much as I want them sitting here, I’ll want them to disappear just as fast!  I can’t wait until this is in the hands of our congregation and beyond.  That Night of Worship in October is going to be awesome.  I know I’ll be competing with local football games, but I know the right people will be there.  It will be so sweet to play these songs and then have people take that CD home and listen to them on their own stereos.  I think everyone will be pumped that these are “our” songs… that they were homegrown at Grace.

My first step in the “marketing” process is a music myspace.  Go check it out and listen to an exclusive track from the new CD!

www.myspace.com/woostergrace

Sorry, sorry, sorry…

Goodness!  It’s been over a month since the last post!  I hope none of you have decided that we just quit.  That is far from reality!  A lot has been going on in the way of life and ministry, but the cd goes on.  I have just been lazy about actually getting another post up.  For that, I am sorry.

Anyways, on July 18, we crammed the remainder of the vocals into one long Saturday.  Leads, harmonies, and “choirs”.  It was a long day, but a very rewarding day.  The highlight for me was getting all of the singers, including the few that been there even from the beginning of the day, into the live room around one microphone.  We became a choir f0r a few hours.  We sang and sang.  We had a blast and we laughed a lot.  None of us had any idea how these tracks would be mixed in or add to the overall mix.  Finally, we all gathered in the control room to listen to the maddness we had just recorded.  It blew our minds!  Well, I guess I can only speak for myself on that.  But anyways, those tracks added a “congregational” quality to a few of these songs.  It added a sound of united passion for the truth in the songs.  I was deeply moved and I believe we were being led in worship as we sat in that room and just listened.  We spent a few minutes in prayer thanking God for this opportunity.  We prayed that He would use this CD to bring more people closer to Him and ultimately bring more glory to Himself.

Continue to be excited for this project.  The release date is set for Friday, October 16.  We’ll be hosting a Night of Worship and the cds will be made available that night for the first time.

Please pray that this project will have lasting kingdom impact!

In Christ,

Matt

Only one big session to go!

Last week saw the completion of my vocals and a special appearance by Grace Falla’s violin on one song.  I’ve never sang for 5 hours before… it was a hard, but interesting experience.  I was definitely stretched that night.  It was cool to record the violin.  I think it’s going to add a really nice touch to “Our Prayer”.  I’m excited about the final product, but there’s still a ton of work to do.  Mixing is a pretty serious thing when you’re a perfectionist.  I hoping to be able to just relax and let things happen to a certain extent.  Pray for all of the remaining work and decisions regarding this album over the next few months.  We’re still hoping to have it out in the fall!

-Matt

low notes, ivories, plug-ins, shakers, and beats

We’ve gotten so much done.  Bass is layed down of course.  All the keys are done.  We had a great time trying to find just the right B3 sounds and just the right Rhodes sounds.  All of these little touches are giving this record some real character.  Finally, we had Mr. Yatsko in on Friday for shakers, tamborines, congas, and djembe.  The only instrument left is violin on one song!  Bring on the vocals!

I must say, the coolest part of this process has been getting to know the members of my band better.  I’ve spent more time with each of them than I ever have before.  We’ve laughed and even had some seriously good conversations along the way.  It’s funny how often we’ll get off task talking about something (usually our engineer, Drew is right in the center of it).  Topics have ranged from what’s the best pizza in town to why Buehlers is so expensive.  It’s amazing how often the topics turn to food in the studio.  I think there’s something about recording that leads to cravings.  Anyways, it’s been a blast and there’s still a ton of work to be done!  Stay tuned for more, but for now, enjoy these pics!

more recording… and more recording

Piano, keyboards, and bass are completed!  I will upload some pictures from those days as soon as I get some.  The process has been long, but very, very fun and exciting!  It’s amazing to see how some songs that just started as an idea in my office as I strummed my acoustic have turned into legitimate songs with strong dynamics.  Everybody who has made their way into the studio to lay down their parts has really stepped up to the plate and put in extra time making sure we get the right sound and the right take.

I really think that if we release this album with open hands, that God could use it in mighty ways.  I believe it will provide a sense of identity for the corporate worship at Wooster Grace.  8 out of 10 of the songs are homegrown, originals.  These are songs born out of the heart of our church.  The band made them sound like they do.  The congregation has made songs like As We Wait and Again and Again into full blown corporate praise songs.  It’s exciting!  I hope you’re as excited as I am.

-Matt

Album SNEAK PEAK and more pics from the studio

So here’s the rough draft track list for the upcoming album, “As We Wait”:

1. As We Wait   2. Teach Me to Give  3.  God, the Ancient One  4.  Again and Again  5.  Jesus What a Friend For Sinners  6.  Our Prayer  7.  Be Thou My Vision  8.  More Than a Song  9.  Here For a Reason  10.  Great is Your Glory

And here are some quick videos from guitar recording:

http://s623.photobucket.com/albums/tt311/dababyguitar/?action=view&current=011-1.flv
http://s623.photobucket.com/albums/tt311/dababyguitar/?action=view&current=019.flv
http://s623.photobucket.com/albums/tt311/dababyguitar/?action=view&current=023.flv