An enjoyable worship experience to share as a guitarist

I just wanted to share one of the funnest worship experiences I've ever had. I play lead in a medium large church. Last Sunday we had an 8 piece band and 3 back-up vocals. We practice for 3 hours right before the Saturday night church services (3 on Sun). After practice I asked the worship leader (pianist) if she minded if the musician's have some fun (about 45 minutes before the first service). She said, "Sure!"

I started a 12 bar boogie blues ditty in A and the bass, drums and acoustic rhythm players started this nice groove with me. Well now I was feeling the Holy Mojo and we let 'er rip! Everyone got a solo and I ended it with everything I had, if you know what I mean! All for Jesus!

In the band room behind the stage right before we went out to lead song worship she said: "The ushers loved that! We're gonna open with that!" I said, "We can't do that! If one person were offended I'd feel horrible!" She touched her shoulders as if to say: "It's on my shoulders...I'll take the heat!"

It was well received, and she decided we'd do it the next 3 services on Sunday. In the morning I suggested we not do it during the 8 o'clock service as I didn't want to offend the older folks. One of the ushers heard she was going to drop it for that service and teasingly said: "If you drop that boogie I'm going home (we're joking here folks)." She said, "O.K. do the special...they want to hear it!"

After the service, a little old man walked up to the stage, maybe 75 years old, and said: "THAT put a little jig in my step!!"
I said, "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" He said: "Why, it's a good thing."

I just smiled and thanked him for letting me know he'd enjoyed it.

The pastor later told me not to worry about if people get offended by my (blues/rock Telecaster) playing, as he said Jesus offended people frequently. I hadn't really thought about it that way before. We can offend people and still have truth (or play truthfully).

I just wanted to share this experience because our church grew that morning. Relaxed a little and became more open minded. Saw that music worship can sound differently than we're used to. That judging some music as holy and some as not may be more from a human point of view than a God point of view.

Don't get me wrong....I LOVE the old hymns, and we always play at least a couple during the worship set, but it sure was great to see a few over the hill musicians playing their hearts out unto the Lord with music they'd grown up with...and we believe God smiled on us!

It is such an honor and a pleasure to play guitar for God in a church that appreciates my/our gifts in worship to God. It inspires me to play at my very best for Jesus.

How about you?
Have you had any similar experiences? Or perhaps the opposite?
I'd like to hear of your experiences too!

Blessings....

Many!!! A few years ago I put together a Benefit concert to send three nurses, one being my wife, to Uganda and the Sudan. I have a Gospel Blues band called the Trimmed And Burnin Blues Project, I called Darrell Mansfield and flew him out. We did out own set and then backed him up. This is in a Church Of Christ Church where they had only started useing guitars in worship one year earlier. At the end of the evening a 80 year old lady came up to me and told me that it was one of the most powerful musical experiances she's ever had and wishes they had started doing long ago. We open with 12 bar boogies fairly often to usher people in now.

If you listen to Sister Rosetta Tharpe or some of the Sacred Steel Tradition (RV Aubrey Ghent, Campbell Bros.) CD's you might even have some specific blues - gospel type songs for your blues interludes. Great to hear that you were able to connect w/people and the Spirit was w/you.

I am blessed to play for a satellite congregation of our church that consists primarily of unchurched or alienated from church folks. It is expected that we do a couple jams. Always one as people are coming in and another during meet and greet time. We have played some ZZ Top, Allman Bros. (Jessica)among others. Even some of our songs are out of the ordinary. Green Day, Hoobastank, Clapton you name it.
I was uncomfortable at first but we are seeing some amazing fruit.

Occasionally, our group will just improvise before the service. Our leader really likes Cm comps (sort of jazzy rather than bluesy comps). Often we will get complimented on those little times. Always nice.

A full out blues jam....pretty cool.

A couple of weeks ago my brother's church was down several musicians, so he suggested our band could lead the worship (we're all on teams with different churches). After running through the rehearsal, the WL asked if we'd like to play something as a "special".

We sort of laughed - we usually play a fat, blues rock, style - but he said "Play whatever". So... for the early (8:00) service we played an original number that rocks pretty hard, then ripped out "Wayfaring Stranger" ala Clapton's version of Crossroads. Everyone liked it so much they insisted we play the same at the other two services. It was wierd, but a lot of fun.

I've noticed people need permission to change musical styles. That is, lots of people (rightly) associate rock and blues with the world, so they need permission to rock in church. The same can be said for some other styles, too, but it's particularly true of those forms. Part of my ministry has been to say, "As you worship, don't be afraid to move your body a little!" and people seem to appreciate the freedom to express themselves. At least I hope they do!

I want to be careful to use the proper terminology for today....but i think I'll risk this....

I have the priveledge to play in "black chuches"....over the years...and may i say that it was always a great time in every way.

this subforum category may be the only place i could discuss this...but when you consider the great black musicians who have been influentional in every genre of music in our recent past....the influance on worship music has been gi-normous as welll..IMHO.....

Talk about groovin.....and you CAN utilize a telecaster if you desire....talk about gettin' rowdy....in a spritual kinda way ...of course....

"Oh when the saints......"...