Church

Church live sound recording using Pro Tools, Yamaha M7, and Waves

Many people wonder how they can record live worship in their church sanctuary using affordable gear to get the job done right. Here is a basic setup using Pro Tools LE 8, a Yamaha M7, and Waves plug ins.

Design by Brian Petersen at Grace EV Free, La Mirada.
Gear and installation by Steve Prado and Jeff Clark at ELS

Signal flow
- Inputs come from the stage to the snake at Front of House (FOH).
- XLR snake lines then plug into to the back of the mixer, a Yamaha 48 channel M7
- The M7 mic pres set the gain for the mixer channel and the direct out
- direct outs from each mixer channel is routed to an output card on the M7
- 2 installed analog cards on the back of the M7 go to a Digi 003+rack
- Inputs come into a Digi 003+ rack running Pro Tools LE 8
- The Digi 003+ rack connects via firewire 400 to the iMac
- 8 other outputs from the board are run into a ADAT lightpipe interface connected to the Digi 003+ via lightpipe providing 16 total analog inputs to Pro Tools

- The tracks are then recorded in Pro Tools 8 on an older iMac with no active plug ins
- The files from the worship services are moved to another computer.
- The 16 tracks are then mixed using SSL, Masters, and the Diamond Bundle of Waves plug ins.
- The audio mix is then manual sync to the recorded camera feeds in Final Cut Pro

Inputs:
2 flown room mics at 20ft. facing the congregation
1 wireless Shure Beta 87 for lead vocal
1 wireless Shure lav W185 mic for preaching pastor
1 wireless Shure Beta 87 for announcements
2 wired Shure Beta 58 for female lead and background vocals
1 Audix D6 for kick drum
1 Sennheiser e604 for snare
1 Sennheiser e604 for toms
1 Shure KSM 106 for drum overhead
1 Rapco DI for electric bass
1 Shure SM 58 for electric guitar
1 Radial DI for acoustic guitar
2 Shure KSM 109 for grand piano (only 1 channel goes to pt)
1 Shure KSM 27 for violin/fiddle

Waves Plug-ins
Waves SSL G-Master Buss Compressor for main mix buss
Based on the renowned master buss center compressor of the SSL 4000 G console, the Waves SSL G-Master Buss Compressor captures the unique sound of the original’s IC input and twin VCA gain-reduction amplifier design.

Waves L2 Ultramaximizer for main mix buss
For mixing, mastering, and more, the L2’s legendary combination of look-ahead brickwall peak limiting, level maximization, and ultra high resolution give you the power and extra gain you need with crystal-clear results every single time.

Waves S1 Stereo Imager for main buss before the compressor
Ideal for stereo tracks as well as full mixes, the S1 is a unique and powerful set of tools that uses psycho-acoustic spatial imaging techniques to enhance and alter stereo separation.

Waves SSL E-Channel for most channel EQ and compression
The SSL E-Channel delivers the incomparable sound of the Solid State Logic 4000-series console’s all-discrete design and its Class A, VCA chip.

Waves Renaissance Compressor
Featuring a streamlined, optimized interface, the Renaissance Compressor delivers classic warm compression and expansion utilizing technologies from our renowned C1 Parametric Compander and the legendary L1 Ultramaximizer™.

Waves Renaissance Axx for bass
Engineered especially for guitar, Renaissance Axx is the ideal compressor for musicians and engineers who need to dial in dynamic levels quickly. With its three efficient controls, Renaissance Axx features a fixed ratio curve, automatic release value, and an output limiter to prevent clipping.

Waves H-Delay for main vocal and electric gt delays
From real old school PCM42-style effects like filtering, flanging, and phasing, to slap-back echo, ping-pong delay, and tempo-sync with modulation, H-Delay delivers the goods, controlled by a super intuitive interface that lets you get right down to business.

Photography by Brian Petersen at www.brianapetersen.com
Email Brian Petersen for licenses regarding this image.
© 2010 Brian Petersen

Here and Now. Live worship music with lyrics from Grace EV Free Church on 3 7 2010.
Mondsel/Harrah ©2010 Seedsower Music ASCAP

Here and Now (Live 3 7 2010) from Grace EV Free on Vimeo.

Media

Download the sheet music here: Here And Now by Walt Harrah
Download the MP3 file here: 01 Here and Now (live 3 7 2010)
Download the AAC file here: 01 Here and Now (live 3 7 2010)

Musicians

Music: Walt Harrah
Vocals: Marla Bustad, Mindy Price, & Walt Harrah
Drums: Nate Warne
Bass: Andrew Braine
Electric: Dale Bryson
Acoustic: Drew Brokke
Piano: Walt Harrah
Live Sound: Erik Bergen
Live Lyrics: Philip Massey
Recording, Mix, & Master: Brian Petersen
All the Glory: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

Recorded on Pro Tools 8 using Waves SSL, Renaissance, and Mastering Plug-Ins.

http://www.graceevfree.org/
http://www.waltharrah.com/
http://www.songsofgrace.org/

Lyrics

Here And Now
Mondsel/Harrah
©2010 Seedsower Music ASCAP

Worship the Lord
in the beauty of holiness,
Bow down before Him;

Gold of obedience
and incense of lowliness
Bring and adore Him.

Enter his courts,
Christ has opened
the way for us,
Sing praises to Him;

Now at the side of the Father
to pray for us,
Bring thanks that’s due Him.

Lead us
beyond mere formal duty
Show us
your captivating beauty

Till we, in awe
and reverence, humbly bow.

As we rehearse
redemption’s story,
Show us the wonders
of your glory;
Unveil it here and now.
Unveil it here and now.

Our sins were paid for when death
died at Calvary,
God’s mercy sought us;

Tell how, adopted,
we’re His for eternity,
God’s love has bought us.

Join with the angels and sing,
praise His majesty,
The Lamb is worthy;

Power and wealth, wisdom,
strength, praise and honor be
Now and forever.

Lead us
beyond mere formal duty
Show us
your captivating beauty

Till we, in awe
and reverence, humbly bow.

As we rehearse
redemption’s story,
Show us the wonders
of your glory;
Unveil it here and now.

iPad: The Greatest Disappointment in Human History?

“I’m ready to declare that the iPad is the greatest disappointment in all of human history.” That is how well-known Christian bloggers like Tim Challes and Justin Taylor have described the new computer tablet from the folks at Apple. Harsh reviews have come out against the iPad in recent weeks as people have jokingly referred to it as a bigger iPod, saying “They just don’t get it.”

I humbly disagree. This is a great innovation in technology that can be used for the kingdom of God, and will be of great use to our community here at Biola University.

What exactly is it?
The iPad is a new tablet-style computer device from Apple that is less expensive and smaller than a laptop, but more useful and technologically advanced than an electronic reader, like the Amazon Kindle. The iPad will be able to handle most of the tasks that the average Biola student needs for a starting price of $499. That is remarkably less than a student would spend on a Mac computer for the same use.

Students will be able to download their school books online in a minute, email their friends, write their papers, browse photos, and have access to 140,000 applications to help their life and ministry every day. The software is constantly upgraded, stable, and without viruses. For the price of $10, students can purchase a word processor or presenter software so they can create and playback powerpoint-style slideshows in a snap. Students will be able to Skype with their missionary friends in Africa over a campus WiFi signal, and check up on that cute guy or girl in their class with a free Facebook application. Yes Biola, this will also help your dating life.

The iPad features a 9.7-inch diagonal screen and is less than an inch thick. That makes the device smaller than a magazine while it weighs only a pound and a half. A full 10 hours of use on the same battery charge will allow students to type papers, watch videos, surf the web, send emails, and read books. A 16GB to 64GB amount of hard drive space will allow plenty of space for music, photos, and those videos of your favorite chapel speakers in action.

What it is not
It is not a laptop. You are not going to be able to edit that video in Final Cut or work on your Pro Tools session for your band’s worship album. It doesn’t use Flash, so you won’t be able to access some websites. There is no physical keyboard as the iPad relies on multi-touch technology similar to an iPhone to type on the screen. For that reason, typing a theology paper for your Thoennes’ class probably won’t work as well. You wouldn’t want to smudge your fingers against a 10-inch glass screen while trying to write about the Immutability of God. Apple does offer a solution though and a full size keyboard attachment will be available for an additional purchase. This forthcoming keyboard dock is already being proclaimed as the “iPad’s best accessory.”

Don’t worship your iPad
Before closing, I would like a make a brief comment about new technology and idolatry. The new iPad can be an idol, but so can the $1 mirror in your dorm room. If you find yourself rejoicing and finding your worth increased by a new piece of plastic, aluminum, and glass, I would exhort you to repent and find your ultimate trust and satisfaction in the completed work of Jesus Christ.

I am hoping to read and enjoy the ESV Study Bible on my iPad in full color. You won’t be able to do that on a Kindle.

- Brian Petersen serves at Grace Evangelical Free Church in La Mirada, and is a current Talbot student. You can reach him at brianapetersen@gmail.com.

The above content was edited and published by the Biola Chimes here.

Photography by Brian Petersen at www.brianapetersen.com

After each scene during a 2003 Good Friday service a dancer would appear to extinguish one of the remaining candles on stage. Eventually all of the lights were dimmed and the audience left the church in a quiet and dark mood to replicate the feeling of the the first Good Friday when Jesus died for the sins of the world. Three days later Jesus physically rose from the dead in what we now celebrate as Easter.

All mankind has sinned against God and Jesus paid the sin debt for everyone on the cross. It is promised in God’s word that all who trust in Jesus through faith by declaring him as Lord of their life will live forever. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3.16

From a Good Friday service at Bethany Church in Long Beach, CA. This image was taken in the dark from the sound booth about 80 feet away on an old school digital camera that stored its media on floppy discs.

See all the images from this Good Friday and Easter Service
flickr.com/photos/bpbp/358771736
flickr.com/photos/bpbp/447911870
flickr.com/photos/bpbp/2281098872
flickr.com/photos/bpbp/2280308549

A moment of Grace from the worship team at Grace Evangelical Free Church in La Mirada, Ca.

Nate Warne on drums
Drew Brokke on guitar
Andrew Braine on bass
Mindy Price and Toni Coloma with vocals
Walt Harrah leading worship

Photography by Brian Petersen at www.brianapetersen.com

Stain glass background image taken during a Friday morning worship chapel at Bethany School in Long Beach.

See this image used as a text background in a worship setting here
www.flickr.com/photos/bpbp/408047945/

I came across this text while preparing for a prayer time with some friends. Not only is the message incredible, but I like the resulting image as the light shines from above on the textured paper.

The Crying Need of the Hour

So the truth is reaffirmed: God has given us prayer because Jesus has given us a mission. We are on this earth to press back the forces of darkness, and we are given access to headquarters by prayer to advance this cause. When we try to turn it into a civilian intercom to increase our conveniences, it stops working, and our faith begins to falter. We have so domesticated prayer that for many of us it is no longer what it was designed to be-a wartime walkie-talkie for the accomplishment of Christ’s mission.

We simply must seek for ourselves and for our people a wartime mentality. Otherwise the biblical teaching about the urgency of prayer and the vigilance of prayer and the watching in prayer and the perseverance of prayer and the danger of abandoning prayer will make no sense and find no resonance in our hearts. Until we feel the desperation of a bombing raid or the thrill of a new strategic offensive for the gospel, we will not pray in the spirit of Jesus.

The crying need of the hour is to put the churches on a wartime footing. Mission leaders are crying out, "Where is the church’s concept of militancy, of a mighty army willing to suffer, moving ahead with exultant determination to take the world by storm? Where is the risk-taking, the launching out on God alone?" The answer is that it has been swallowed up in a peacetime mentality.

We are a "third soil century." In the parable of the soils, Jesus says that the seed is the Word. He sows his urgent Word of kingdom power. But instead of taking it up as our sword (or bearing fruit), we "are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful" (Mark 4:18-19).

This is why Paul says that all of life is war—-every moment. Before we can even engage in the mission of the church, we have to fight against the "the deceitfulness of riches" and "desires for other things." We must fight to cherish the kingdom above all "other things"-that is our first and most constant battle. That is the fight of faith. Then, when we have some experience in that basic battle, we join the fight to commend the kingdom to all the nations.

Let The Nations Be Glad! by John Piper
The Supremacy of God In Missions through Prayer: page 51
www.desiringgod.org/

=-=-=-=-=
Here is the text from the Prayer Time

Team Missions Prayer

:: Confession of Sin and Burdens / Repentance

Personal Prayer and Silence
Ask the Lord to search your heart for any areas of sin
Confess any sin (1 John 1.9, James 5:16)
Bring your burdens to the Lord in prayer (1 Pet 5:7)
Ask the Lord to give you an open heart
Ask for the Spirit to lead you and the group in prayer for the glory of God (John 14)

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1.9 NIV

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7.14 NIV

:: Worship by Praising God

Group Worship with Singing and Prayer
God alone is worthy of our praise!
Begin in prayer with thanksgiving
Rejoice in the Lord!
Praise God for all the blessings He has provided for us
Thank God for our salvation and the new life we have through the blood of Jesus Christ

In a loud voice they sang: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Rev. 5.12 NIV

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Psalm 100.1-3 NIV

Prayer for the Team and Ministry

Group Prayer for the Ministry
Bring team needs before the Lord (Phil 4.6-7)
Pray for team unity in serving together with different gifts and roles, yet one body (1 Cor 1:10)
Pray that our team would be prepared for the ministry to the best of our abilities but continually rely on Christ’s strength while we are there.
Pray for divine appointments; pray that the Holy Spirit would direct us in ever move for the sake of the salvation of the souls of his people in the world
Ask for financial provision through the support process
Pray for the health and safety of our team
Pray for boldness of speech in proclaiming the gospel (Eph. 6.19-20)
Pray that we will utilize the power from the Holy Spirit to withstand trials and temptations

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4.6-7 NIV

Prayers for the field

Prayer for the growth and strength of Christian churches and missionaries
Pray that God would raise up nationals to evangelize their own people
Pray for the health of the missionaries being under severe strain and burden for the work
Ask the Lord to send ministers into the nations for the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few (Mat 9:37-38)

Helpful Bible Verses

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Eph. 3.14 – 21

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Heb. 4:16

Ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find. Knock and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened". Matthew 7:7-8

2 Thessalonians 3:1, “Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you.” The word runs and triumphs by means of prayer.

Matt. 26.41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

Ephesians 6:19, “[Pray] for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel.” Paul’s boldness in the gospel came from God by the prayers of simple Christian believers.

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Col. 1.9-14

Acts 1.14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

Col. 4.12 Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.

Romans 15:30, “I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf.” The wrestling of Paul to be faithful in all his sufferings was sustained by a wrestling in prayer by the brothers in Rome.

Acts 2.42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Colossians 4:3, “Pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison.” Open doors for the spread of the gospel come in answer to prayer. Therefore, in the life of Paul it is plain that prayer is God’s way of gospel victory.

Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, O Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. Give ear, O God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name. Daniel 9.17-19

This image and text is also viewable at my flickr page here. http://www.flickr.com/photos/bpbp/485984140/

Cross of Jesus Christ : Good Friday and Easter church worship background

“Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.”
1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Grace EV Free Choir and Orchestra during the 2009 Christmas Concert
Will Gearhart is conducting
Marla Bustad with the solo
Produced by Walt Harrah

Erik Bergen is on sound
Marlin Gramenz is running visuals
Thatcher Kelly is shooting video
Brian Sterling is taking still photography
Brian Petersen is the technical director

The Grace Choir and Orchestra celebrate Easter and Christ’s resurrection in the new building at Grace EV Free in La Mirada, CA.

Benedictions found in the Bible

This is not an exhaustive list by any means, but I pray it will be helpful for those looking for a benediction in the Holy Scriptures. A special thank you to Peter O’Brien’s work in the IVP Dictionary of Paul and His Letters on “Benediction, Blessing, Doxology, and Thanksgiving.” All passages are listed in the ESV.

The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26

There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?
Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”
Psalms 4:6

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.
Psalms 29:2

May the Lord give strength to his people!
May the Lord bless his people with peace!
Psalms 29:11

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting!
Amen and Amen.
Psalms 41:13

Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory!
Amen and Amen!
Psalms 72:19

Blessed be the Lord forever!
Amen and Amen.
Psalms 89:52

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting!
And let all the people say, “Amen!”
Praise the Lord!
Psalms 106:48

The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.
Psalms 121:7-8

To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 1:7

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
Romans 11:36

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Romans 15:13

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 15:5-6

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Romans 16:20

Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen
Romans 16:25-27

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:3

God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Corinthians 1:9

My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.
1 Corinthians 16:24

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 1:2

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.
2 Corinthians 1:20

For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
2 Corinthians 4:15

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
2 Corinthians 13:14

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:8

Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
2 Corinthians 13:11

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Galatians 1:3-5

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.
Galatians 6:18

Ephesians 1:1-24

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:14-21

Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.
Ephesians 6:24

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Philippians 4:19-20

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Philippians 4:23

Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
1 Thessalonians 3:11-13

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:23

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.
2 Thessalonians 2:16,17

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.
2 Thessalonians 3:16

To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
1 Tim. 1:17

The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
2 Tim. 4:18

The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.
2 Tim. 4:22

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Hebrews 13:20-21

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1 Peter 1:3–5

…But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
2 Peter 3:18

But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.
Jude 1:20-21

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
Jude 1:24-25

A shot from Jina Romania in 2007.

Our team split up as the VBS took place in the villages of Jina and Poinana with stories about Zacchaeus, the story of creation, and a Gospel message based on the wordless book. After the story and times of worship with fun children’s songs, we divided the kids into two groups and sent them off to do crafts while the other group went outside to play games. Working with the translators while trying to communicate with a hundred kids was challenging at first but the team did well, and it became comfortable by the end of our time. Some of the children traveled miles on dirt roads in the summer heat to get to the church for the VBS, and we know it was as the children had a great time. Even though Romania has few resources for children’s ministry when compared to the U.S., we are thankful that at each location there are local Romanian Christians who will continue their work with the youth through the local evangelical churches. Jina (Hungarian: Zsinna) is a commune in Sibiu County, Transylvania, Romania, in the Cindrel Mountains, 40 km west of the county capital Sibiu, in the Mărginimea Sibiului ethnographic area.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bpbp/423412581/

Follow this link for better shot of the sound booth.

See the following pictures taken from this booth.
Good Friday 2003
Resonate Worship Service 04
School Christmas Program 06
Bethany Chapel 07
Stained Glass 07
Stained Glass 07

For live sound I use a Yamaha M7 48 channel digital console , an analog Mackie 32 and 24 channel 8 buss mixer and an old Yamaha PM 3000 32 channel console. I use Shure Wireless Microphones and Shure wired mics when possible. For kick drums and bass instruments including djembe, I like the Shure Beta 52, the AKG D112, and the Audix D6 is also a popular choice. For electric guitars I prefer Shure SM 57s or the Beta 57As . For vocals the Shure Beta 58A is the standard in the wired or wireless form. The Shure KSM series sounds great on strings, choirs, pianos and anything else you could throw at it. The Rode NTK tube mic is also a favorite of mine for electric guitars, strings, and pianos. The Barcus Berry system is not a recommended choice for pianos although many churches use them.

For audio recording I use a Digi 002 and Pro Tools by Digidesign. I also use Waves plug-ins. A Universal Audio 2108 and a Event Monitors for reference. I like using a LSD2 large stereo diaphragm mic for acoustic guitars and a M-Audio Microtrack 24-96 is a Pro Tools approved hard drive and works great for portable recording.

In this shot I am using Keynote from Apple and I also have two versions of Powerpoint on this Mac. The church has a video projection room with PCs running Mediashout.

I like using Keynote for song projection due to personal preference and it works well with the wireless remote that comes with a MacBook Pro. The wireless controller is the white rectangular unit above the faders on the bottom right side of the mixer. I can walk away from the computer and still switch slides for the next verse or chorus.

I keep 1,600 song files in a folder on my Mac with most of the worship songs that churches use today. I have customized most of these files for my preference and I am familiar with the song layout so I know where the worship leader is going if they move around in the song form. I also have a pretty big picture selection on the laptop that I use for display backgrounds. Many of these come from pictures I have taken and you can see them online in my nature folder.

I use Accordance Bible Software for scripture references and it also makes a fantastic Bible study software as I am in Talbot Seminary in the Los Angeles / OC area.

For video editing I use iMovie and a full version of Final Cut Studio. This includes Motion, Soundtrack Pro, and DVD Studio.

For a great list of recommended audio visual gear for ministry from CCLI check out this link.

Christian worship service in Nepal following the ceasefire of the civil war in 2006.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bpbp/164309794

Erik Thoennes preaching the gospel at Grace EV Free in La Mirada.

Grace EV Free worship service: Erik Thoeness preaching, originally uploaded by bpbp Brian Petersen.

Westminster Abbey – London church, originally uploaded by bpbp Brian Petersen.