On Sunday, I will be flying to Atlanta to work with Tony Sutherland on his live recording that we will be recording on Wednesday. This got me thinking about flowing in worship. Tony has got flow… and I like to think I’ve picked it up from him.

Because I’m a planner, I like to have some sort of a plan… and when there’s no plan I need to know that I’ve got everything I need for something good to happen. I liken it to dinner.

See, sometimes I don’t know what I’m having for dinner. Most days I can tell you that either I or Ashleigh are going to make ______ for dinner. Occasionally though, we are not feeling what we were planning. That’s when it’s most essential for our kitchen to be stocked.

Essential Ingredients

We like to make sure we keep essentials in the house like chicken, veggies and drinks. This would liken to your song catalogue. You should have some songs that you know well and do often with your team. If you don’t have this, you’re not going to flow at all… you’re going to train wreck and burn in front of everyone.

Easy Recipes

We’ve got a few things that we can make using our essential ingredients without much thought. Lemon Pepper Chicken is a go-to in the Mayfield home. You’re easy recipes in worship are the transitions and instrumental vamps that keep things moving when you’ve come off the plan (or the menu). For my team, they know that I’m most likely going to use the 4 and 5 chord to vamp on.

Canned Veggies

Lesueur Early Peas are one of my life long favorites. I can go to these peas for any meal. In the same way, I’ve got my songs that my team is familiar with, can play at anytime and do well. However, these aren’t one of our essential ingredients. They’re there and ready to be used.

Snacks

When I’m just hungry and I want something to eat I grab a snack. Snacks for the worship environment are usually going to be hymns and old courses. Don’t use them too ofter of you’ll get fat, but when you want to sit back and have some good return with little work… sing a hymn. But again, be careful… too many and you’ll be fighting a battle when you don’t want to sing them all the time.

Let’s get cookin!