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conferences

• School of Ministry

  Clicking on the links below you can listen to the teachings and download their notes on the topic of worship which were taught at the School of Ministry between March 9 and April 27, 2009.
  
  

  week	topic	speaker	recording	notes
  1	Worship Evangelism	Mike Payne	mp3	pdf
  2	What is the role of a Worship Leader?	Mike Payne	mp3	pdf
  3	Holy, holy, holy	Gábor Dobrocsi	mp3	pdf
  4	Song expression	Mike Payne	mp3	pdf
  5	Worship Leaders from a Pastor’s Perspective	Phil Metzger	mp3
  6	Working as a team	Mike Payne	mp3	pdf
  7	Discipleship	Mark Walsh	mp3	pdf

   

• Who can find a good musician?

  You can listen to the studies from the 2007 Calvary Chapel Budapest Worship Conference by clicking on the topics below.
  
  At the conference we were examining the attributes of David from 1 Samuel 16:16-19 and talking about what somebody in the worship ministry should be like.
  
  
  1. “skillful player on the harp” – Michael Payne
  
  2. “a mighty man of valor, a man of war” – Michael Payne
  
  3. “prudent in speech and a handsome person” – Michael Payne
  
  4. “the LORD is with him” – Michael Payne
  
  
  

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• Creativity in the church conference 2004

  You can listen to the teachings of the 2004 Creativity in the church conference in mp3 format by clicking at the title of the lectures.
  
  Creativity in the Bible – Mike Payne
  
  The Artist in the World – István Madarász
  
  The Artist in the Church – Iván Folk
  
  The Barriers of the Artist – Matt Schellenberg
   
  Songwriter’s forum
  
  
  

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• worship conference in Calvary Bp. in 2003

  You can listen to the teachings of the 2003 worship conference in mp3 format by clicking at the title of the lectures.
  
  Opening session – Kim Hutchcroft
  
  session #2 – Greg Opean
  
  session #3 – Kim Hutchcroft
  
  session #4 – Folk Iván
  
  session #5 – Phil Metzger
  
  session #6 – Kim Hutchcroft
  
  session #7 – Mike Payne
  
  
  

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• worship conference in Calvary Bp. in 2002

  You can listen to the teachings of the 2002 worship conference in mp3 format by clicking at the title of the lectures.
  
  The Role of the Worship Leader – Michael Payne
  
  Being sensitive to the Holy Spirit – Mark Zeeman
  
  Practical advice to worship teams – Michael Payne
  
  Worship as a lifestlye – Michael Payne
  
  
  

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articles

• Playing to The Room: a Drummer's Perspective

  Drummers have to play in so many different environments here in Hungary.  Large temples with 6 second reverbs to small classrooms in small church plants.  They have to play different styles in different ways, with sticks or brushes.  Life is not always easy for the drummer in today's modern church.  I hope this article can give you some insight and wisdom into becoming a drummer who can adapt to his surroundings and better serve his worship team and congregation.
  Michael Payne, Worship leader, Golgota Budapest

  The most common and controversial statement drummers hear is “Can you play softer?” Drum volume is one of the biggest issues with bands, especially in church and ministry settings. It is the most controversial because opinions are very strong concerning expressing yourself musically & spiritually while trying to keep the volume lower. Musicians often feel like they’re being stifled by the restrictions that are placed on them because of the acoustic environments they deal with. Well today my friends I will give you the answer to this problem. STOP PLAYING DRUMS!!!
  …. Of course I’m just kidding. So, let’s talk.
  
  Ultimately all musicians should adjust to the situation they are working in and have the attitude of making the whole team sound great. (*Please read my article- “Still Serving After All These Years.” - in an earlier issue.) The drummer’s job is particularly difficult because by nature drums are a loud instrument. We can’t just turn them down. So let’s work with changing the instrument you use.
  
  The first solution is to use smaller drums and cymbals. A 20” kick is more focused & punchy sounding than a larger kick drum. The standard tom-tom sizes of a 12”, 13”, & a 16” floor tom could be down sized to a 10”, 12”, & 14” tom set up. The snare could be a 14” diameter by 5” deep brass model. Larger snares in general are going to sound more “thick” acoustically, and smaller snares are going to be too bright. For the rest of the kit maple drums sound beautiful, but you may switch to birch or other woods that will not sound as dense or massive. Believe me, a smaller kit will project less volume, but you still have to control your dynamics.
  
  The same theory applies to cymbals. I use a 20” Medium Ride, 16” & 17” Medium Thin Crashes, 8” & 12” Splash Cymbals, and 14” Medium Hi-hats for most situations. They are a mixture of Meinl cymbals from their Amun & Byzance series. I may change things a little according to the music I’m working on, but I start with this set up. No big “Rock” or heavy cymbals. I only use them when the job requires it.
  
  You may be playing a smaller kit and trying to play softly, but it never seems to be soft enough. Some rooms are not “drum friendly.” Hard floors, brick walls, and lots of windows are not helpful to the acoustic challenges of a modern worship band.
  Be sure to set up on a nice rug. The floor reflects sound too and that will help to control it. Try NOT to set up in a corner. It acts like a megaphone for the drums. If you must do that try to hang a theatre curtain or heavy cloth around the back of the kit and even the whole band if you can. As a last resort build a booth for your drums or order one from the ClearSonic company (www.clearsonic.com). If necessary you can totally enclose the drums. You can match the color & décor of the auditorium and everyone will be happy with the sound AND the look.
  If you use a shield or a booth be sure to make it large enough so you can still walk around the drums. It should also be at least two feet higher that your highest cymbal. A drum kit must “breath” or move the airwaves freely to sound its best. If the booth is too small the drums will sound choked & harsh. Test this by holding your hand in front of your mouth while you are speaking and then gradually move it away. Notice how your tone sounds warmer as you allow more space between your mouth and hand. Drums have a similar response in a booth.
  There’s no use putting up a small shield. It will only cut down 5% to 10% of the decibel level. If you go to all of this effort do it completely. You can start in phases. Maybe begin with just the front panels. Add the back to it if that’s not enough. Then the last step would be a top if necessary.
  
  If a booth is not an option then you have to physically control your volume. Remember playing louder does NOT make you more spiritual or dramatic. What’s in your heart when you play is what matters. So be able to play at whatever dynamic level is needed for the room you are in and play passionately.
  
  In your stick bag should be many different sizes & weights of sticks, brushes, mallets, Hot Rods, etc. etc. Your favorite standard size stick (5A) should be plentiful. Heavier sticks for big outdoor events or other loud situations, and very light (jazz) sticks for smaller rooms. Hot Rods (by Pro Mark) or Splashsticks (by Vater) are excellent for keeping you volume down & still hearing some “snap” when you play. Even have lighter “blasticks” or “ultrflex” brushes for those super soft settings.
  I always hear drummers say that it doesn’t sound as “cool” or real when they use other sticks or “rods.” My response is that they are correct! The tone is different. But that’s the adjustment we have to make for the music to really blend in a difficult room. The key is too find the right technique on the drums & cymbals when you use other “tools.” Sometimes I’ll play with a little more snap when using brushes or rods. I might also experiment with where I hit the drums or how I make a rim shot just to get the right sound. Approach this as a challenge not as a handicap. It will add to your creativity if you choose to make it so.
  
  It’s also very important to practice everything you do at a variety of dynamic levels. Use a metronome to play all of the songs and exercises you play. While you do that switch to every type of stick, brush, & rod you have in your bag. Make it feel great with anything you pick up. Even your bare hands! You’ll be amazed how versatile you will become. Adjusting the height of your stroke when you are playing will definitely affect your volume. Practice until you are comfortable playing very high strokes (loud) with a lot of wrist and arm action as well as low strokes (soft) just barely raising the sticks off of the drums. At the softer dynamic levels be sure to use more finger control and less wrist action. It may take time to get your soft playing under control if you have been playing loud for a long time. Be patient and keep practicing it. And YES, with the metronome!
  
  Be aware of the dynamics of your feet as well. Your kick drum volume will have to be in balance with the rest of the kit. Although in most “popular” music the kick is played harder as compared to jazz styles. The main thing is for you to develop your control for whatever setting you are playing in. The hi-hat foot will probably not be as critical, but be attentive to it as well.
  
  I know that many of you have played electronic drums to solve the volume problem. That’s a great idea if there are no options to make your real drums work in the situation you’re in. The technology is amazing for digital drums. Roland, Yamaha, Ddrums, etc. are all making fantastic instruments. If you play electric kits be sure the P.A. system in your auditorium or church can really handle all the extra channels and reproduce the sound. That is big concern in churches. You should also use headphones or earbuds to monitor the sound. NO speakers allowed for monitoring. I would use the small drum or keyboard amps they make for these set ups for the band to hear the kit on the platform. Even though you’re trying to reduce your volume the drums still must blend in and feel like part of the music. I usually put the amp on one side of my electric set up with an extension speaker on the opposite side. This creates the sense that there is a real drum kit on the platform. Using amps and microphones is not to make your drums louder than other musicians, but to create a musical blend and to give them definition in the room. (Hmm. Maybe I should do an article on drum microphones & techniques. - We’ll see.)
  Even when playing a great digital drum kit I still add a real snare to the left of the hi-hat pad. I also add a few real cymbals and some percussion toys for those moments when I want to do something really delicate. But I won’t use the “real” instruments for any loud hits. That is reserved for the pads.
  
  Remember our job as drummers is to create a strong musical & spiritual foundation so everyone can enjoy what’s happening. Our focus is to serve the Lord & the people with the skills He has placed in us. It’s all for His glory!!
  Now go play softly and this time WITH FEELING!!!

  Carl Albrecht

  www.carlalbrecht.com

   

   

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• Receiving the Baton from a Previous Generation

  We need to understand where we came from to know where we are going. The Kingdom of God includes all ages and races, cultures, musical styles and languages.  It is glorious in its diversity, but this diversity can also be a source of tension.  The message of the gospel must always stay the same, but how it is represented through the ages has changed and will continue to change.  How do we deal with that.  I think this article shares some valuable insight.
  Michael Payne, Worship leader, Golgota Budapest

  As I run the final laps of my race on this earth (however long the Lord allows that to be), one of my greatest joys and desires is to serve the next generation.
  
  When I was in my twenties, I assumed, somewhat arrogantly, that my friends and I had better ideas than anyone who was older than we were. That covered everything from music styles to leadership practices to how to raise a family.
  
  Thirty years and many humbling experiences later, I’m aware that no generation starts in a vacuum. Whether we know it or not, we’re standing on the shoulders, wisdom, and experiences of those who have gone before us, and we should seek to learn as much as we can from them.
  
  I realize that sounds a little self-serving coming from a guy in his midfifties. But many of the young leaders I’ve had the privilege of working with, especially in the areas of church music and worship, understand better than I ever did the importance of benefiting from the past while forging a new path into the future. And I thank God for them.

  Last year I gave a message on transferring ministry responsibility to the next generation. In my preparation, I came across some principles for passing the baton in a relay race that are surprisingly relevantfor young leaders.
  
  The race is about the baton, not the runners

  A relay race is meaningless unless the baton is successfully passed from one runner to the next. A runner without a baton is running in vain.
  
  For Christians, the “baton” is the gospel. As he neared the end of this life, Paul wrote to Timothy, “By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you” (2 Tim. 1:14). These are the words of a man who knows he will soon face death and is more aware than ever what must be passed on. “Guard the good deposit.” Guard the good news that Jesus Christ has “abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (1:10). Of all that we receive from those who have gone before us, nothing is more important.
  
  When we’re being mentored, we naturally hope to pick up ways of thinking, practices, and methodologies that are helpful. That’s a good thing. When we spend a lot of time with someone, we might even develop similar vocal inflections, mannerisms, or a way of laughing.
  
  But whatever else you learn from those you’re looking to, make sure you receive the gospel. Whoever your teachers and mentors might be, they aren’t as important as the gospel they’re proclaiming.

  The point isn’t to become the next Billy Graham, the next John Piper, or the next whoever. The point is to be faithful to the unchanging
  gospel: “Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). As you apply what you’ve learned from others to your life and ministry, make sure you don’t miss what matters most.
  
  A relay race involves more than one person

  In the often individualistic world of track and field, the relay is a unique race. It requires teamwork that other races don’t. The runner who crosses the finish line is integrally dependent on those who have run before him.
  
  Likewise, we need those who have gone before us. We’re running the same race. Hebrews 11 is a clear reminder that we are but one piece of
  the glorious tapestry God is weaving together for His glory.
  
  Having a relay mindset means being one of the faithful men Paul describes to Timothy (2 Tim. 2:2). What can keep you from being part
  of the relay team? Rarely interacting with those from another generation. Spending the majority of your time reflecting on the ideas of your peers. Criticizing any idea or practice that doesn’t rate high on the relevance or coolness meter. Only reading books that were printed in the last decade — or worse, confining your reading to the blogosphere or Twitter.
  
  Cultivating the humility that recognizes the need for voices older and wiser than your own isn’t easy. But it’s well worth the effort.
  
  Runners must develop a mutual dependence and trust

  Relay runners spend hours together practicing their handoff. They study each other’s habits, know each other’s speeds, and understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

  While simply listening to teachings of more mature Christians will bear fruit, a secure transfer requires a bond of trust. That trust is developed through shared experiences, open-ended discussions, applying the gospel to sins and successes, and demonstrating a steadfast trust in God in the midst of disagreements and difficulties.
  
  Work hard to find someone you can not only learn from, but share life with. Practice eagerly learning, humbly receiving, and faithfully implementing what you’re learning, all the while trusting God’s Holy Spirit to bring fruit through your labors. Make it easy for those who
  have run the race before you to pass on what they’ve learned.
  
  After all, before too long, you’ll be passing the baton to someone else.

  Bob Kauflin
  Worship Leader/Pastor
  www.worshipmatters.com

   

   

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• Student of the Word

  Although through God all things are possible, it is not in your best interest or that of the church's if you lead people in the worship of a God you do not know.  Though it is true that we will not truly understand our Creator until we see Him face to face in heaven, He has given us His Word revealing a glimpse of what that joyous time in heaven will be like.
  
  We need to become experts in this revelation for several reasons:
  

  • Your relationship with the Lord will continually be refreshed as you learn more and more about Him.  His greatness, goodness, mercy and grace will lead you as you lead others.
  • Your sensitivity to the Spirit of God will increase causing the worship ministry and teaching ministry to continuously complement one another.
  • Your song selection will be in line with what God is doing in your church and with the vision that God has given the pastor. 
  • 
    
  • If you have a gift for song writing, you will have greater insight and in turn more creative and powerful songs. 
  • Discipleship – as a leader of your worship team and within the church itself you have a responsibility to lead by example, but you will also be called on from time to time to disciple others, whether in your worship team, or church as a whole.  God has called us all to be a shepherd to someone, and we need to be able to instruct and pass on the things God has given us in His Word.
  • Greater Discernment

  Error always finds a way into a church.  A student of the Word will recognize error and expose it. Error has crept into the church through songs whose lyrics contain unbiblical concepts or just don’t have any redeeming value at all.  Bad translations are also a source of this error.  We need to be careful that what we sing is the ‘Word of God’.
  
  We will have discernment concerning new people in the church who seem to have these great new ideas for you worship team, who might be overflowing with zeal but lacking in knowledge, or they just have their own private agenda.  God's Word gives us tools to confront these issues and not get sidetracked by the latest trend happening in Christian music.  
  
  I’m sure there are many more reasons you can think of for why being a Student of God’s Word is important. The gift of music that God has given you is an extension of the relationship you have with Him, which is why the knowledge of Him should be the foundation for all that you do.  
  
  Blessings,
  
  Mike Payne
  
  

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• all watermelons look alike

  Have you ever traveled out of Debrecen heading out on the 4 highway during watermelon season and seen no less than 20 watermelon stands all selling watermelons?  How do I know which one to stop at, or which one is the best, they all look the same?  I just recently came back from a trip to Korond in Romania where they make a lot of pottery.  Every store looked the same to me.  Some of the more courageous and energetic shoppers (mostly women) found some interesting differences, but to me it all looked the same.  The same thing, here in Budapest down at Deák tér during tourist season.  The same hand bags, same tablecloths, no variety, no creativity.
  
  
  We are a world who likes formulas, we like our comfort zones.  I know when I go into McDonalds the bathroom will be clean, the menu short, the coffee hot, the tables clean.  I always seem to order the same thing when I go to a restaurant.  (Now my wife on the other hand loves to try new things.)
  
  Unfortunately this lifestyle has crept into the church. We like everything to be in its place and we don’t like any surprises. Creativity is not encouraged from out of community, but is left to those who are brave enough to go against the flow. This is especially true in music. As the years go by and God does new things through different kinds of music, some churches embrace it, and some give the famous line –  “we have never done that before”. 
  
  I see two extremes happening in the church, both lacking the creativity God himself displays for us in the pages of the Bible. 
  
  The first is never breaking free from the traditions of the past.  Unfortunately this usually always spells death for any movement of God. History clearly shows that whenever God wanted to do something new, he used someone new. Many times this person was outside the mainstream Christian establishment. And many times the music was outside of what was considered normal in those times. Consider Martin Luther putting Christian words to common bar tunes of his day, or many of the famous choruses that came out of the Jesus Movement in the 70's in the USA. In this extreme, creativity is seen as rebellion and is discouraged and usually leads to bitter divisions. 
  
  (Let me make an important distinction here. Creativity in this context could be interpreted as not conforming to the old way of thinking, but should not be confused with contradiction of the biblical foundations of the bible.  Anything new in the church should always be checked with the bible (I Thessalonians 5:1, Jude 3).  Creativity and innovation in music and art should not be without boundaries and structure, but build on the foundation of God’s Word.)
  
  The second lends itself equally to the quenching of the spirit, but is not as readily recognized because of all the earthly effort that goes into it –  When churches find themselves following whatever trend is happening in the mainstream Christian establishment. The style of music, the delivery of the gospel, etc... This extreme also has a famous saying – “This is the way they do it at their church” No one stops to ask – “What is it that God wants to do in our church?” No!!, we must have this song or that preacher, or this program, or God will not show up.  Burnout and disillusionment are the by-products of this extreme.    
  
  So what is the balance to all this.  First of all it is an understanding that God wants no image made of Himself (Exodus 4:4) – 3^rd commandment.  Second in answer to the woman's question at the well (John 4) – we are not to worship on a particular mountain, but in Spirit and in Truth.  We are so prone to put a face on God,  to try and put Him in a box, mold Him into an image we can see and touch and feel. The ministry of Jesus was full of creativity, and it is very hard to create formulas from His life. He did what His Father in heaven told him and the result was beauty. The religious establishment of the day was incensed by his methods.  So much so, that they killed him. Are we in danger of killing true creativity in our churches? Are we free and willing to be used by God as an instrument in His hand? Are we as leaders in our churches encouraging creativity in music and art as a community? What is the Spirit of God wanting to do in your church are you willing to join Him in accomplishing it?
  
  
  In His Grace,
  
  Mike Payne
  Calvary Chapel Budapest
  
  

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• guitar 101

  Your guitar is a very versatile instrument and is only limited by your ability to play it. I once read that the guitar is the easiest instrument to learn how to play, but the hardest to master. A couple of hours a day will have you playing some of your favorite worship songs in a month.
  
  Great musicians and mediocre musicians are separated only by desire. As with most things in life – nothing comes easy, it requires hard work and the guitar is no exception. Guitar playing boils down to understanding a few musical concepts and a lot of muscle memory. And even little or no understanding of music theory will not hinder you from sounding great on your guitar. As long as you know you alphabet and can read G, C, D – you will be sounding good.
  
  I would like to share a few basic concepts that will expand your guitar playing, adding color and style to your music. If you are a worship leader this will help you add personality to your songs, so they don’t all sound the same, removing some of the monotony that so quickly creeps into music.
  
  1. You should think of your guitar as a six instrument orchestra. The low bass section with cellos and rhythm, the highs with the flutes and violins, and the horns in the middle. The guitar covers a wide frequency range.  In an orchestra all the instruments do not play all the time all the way through the song.  The instruments come in and out creating different dynamics and colors, making the music live, giving it emotion. This same idea is carried over to your guitar. You don’t need to play all the strings all the time. This will get boring really fast. Create rhythm with the bass strings, color with the high strings. Strum and finger-pick, trying to bring your song to life.  Play quiet, play loud.  Compliment your playing with the words of the song.  How you play a song, is almost as important as the song itself. You can add to or take away from the effectiveness of a worship song by how you play it.   
  
  2. Chords, chords, chords – learn as many chords as you can and incorporate them into your worship songs.  Learn how to play chord fractions [i.e. ^D/_fisz, ^G/_H, ^A/_E, etc...], learn about chord subsitutions.  The types of chords you use can turn a boring song into a powerful one. 
  
  3. Rhythm is one of the hardest things about playing guitar as a worship leader or in a worship band. It is very easy to get stuck on one rhythm and play it in every song. This might not be so bad if you are in a band, but if you play alone, this can get boring very soon. Learning to play rhythm can be accomplished by reading rhythm charts, or as I did it, by listening to music and trying imitate the rhythm with my guitar. The best way to do this is by listening to the relationship between the drums and the bass and then trying to mimic that with you guitar. Not an easy task, but well worth the effort if you give it a try. The more you do this, the easier it becomes. 
  
  4. Learn how to play clean. Don’t play strings that are not supposed to be played.  Learn how to use your other fingers to mute strings that are not supposed to be played. There is nothing worse than listening to someone play a D-Chord and listening to them play the E and A Strings as well. It sounds horrible.  Learning what notes not to play is also important to making your guitar playing sound good. 
  
  5. Practice, practice, practice and when you are done practicing, practice some more. Work on your new chords or rhythm until you really know them.  The indicator for me is when I can play something new in front of people without feeling nervous about it. You need to get a new concept from your brain into your fingers.  People sometimes ask me – “Do you know this or that song?” –  and my reply is no, but my fingers might know it. You have to practice until your hands move automatically without even having to think much about it.  If you sing and play at the same time, this is essential. 
  
  I hope that some of these concepts will be useful to you, they have helped along the way to develop my abilities as a guitarist and worship leader.  Maybe we will explore some of these concepts deeper in later lessons.
  
  
  Blessings,
  
  Mike Payne
  Worship Leader
  Calvary Chapel Budapest
  
  
  

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• the fear of God

  In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.  Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.  And one cried to another and said:  “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!”  And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. (Isaiah 6:1–4)
  
  We can learn a few valuable lessons from Isaiah’s encounter with the presence of God. Lessons which can bring back the sincerity, love and adoration that maybe lacking in our relationship with our Father in heaven. We all encounter times in our Christian walk when our worship is mediocre, lacking in sincerity. Maybe we are just going through the motions, overcome with distractions in the worship service or in our private devotions. We’re always talking of how great it was in the past and our worship experience of God is not something of the present. Maybe our priorities in life have changed and our devotion to God is somewhere at the bottom of those things important to us.
  
  
  Consider Isaiah’s reaction as he was there in the presence of God - “...woe is me, for I am undone!  Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips;  For my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts.” (Isaiah 6:5). 
  
  Isaiah realized he had no business being anywhere near the presence of God. The idea in the text is that death was eminent for Isaiah unless there was some outside intervention. The chasm that has separated man and God since the fall of Adam was made clear to Isaiah. And as a burning match could not survive in an ocean of water, so Isaiah realized his predicament. The fear of judgement for his sin was real.
  
  As Christians we don’t need to fear God in the sense that He is waiting to punish us at every turn. This is condemnation and there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:1). Jesus bridged the gap that separated us from the Father (Eph 2). But the bible also says “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy understanding.” – Proverbs 9:10.  This is a healthy fear, as someone might have with fire; if it is respected it can be used for good, if abused it can kill.  The fear of the Lord is manifest in reverence and respect, and when in His presence, it means complete focus and devotion to Him, recognizing Him not only as our Father, but also our creator and Lord; all powerful, all knowing, righteous and holy.    
  
  The theme for this article was sparked by an experience I had at a 24 hour worship event.  I was amazed to see how people could be at one moment engaged in worship and the next grabbing for their mobile phone as it rings, not only disturbing those around them, but bringing into question their level of engagement in worship. I’ve seen people run out of prayer meetings to answer their phones or even right there in the meeting. Is God big enough in our eyes to take care of our lives for at least 2 hours a week? Allow me to rephrase Isaiah's experience to represent some of the things I have experienced over the years as a worship leader {caution - sarcasm} – “Woe  Lord, let us get to the point, for I am a man of little time, and I dwell in the midst of a people with little time.  And my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts, and that robe he is wearing is just not 20^th century.  We need to get Him some new threads to make him relevant.  And can they sing another song, I know I have heard this one before – “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord”, I think we have worn this one out.  And...just a minute Lord, let me answer my phone before we do the whole burning coal thing"
  
  Much of the church today wastes time trying to make God relevant to the people instead of presenting Him as the scripture does – Holy, Righteous and full of love for His children. A God full of grace who desires to give blessing and gifts to those He loves. A great worship band, the latest songs, an entertaining preacher might create a great atmosphere for people to encounter God, but our experience comes down to our knowledge of His greatness, His holiness and His love for us and consequently our disparity without Him. A true encounter with God transcends any generational, ethnic, denominational or cultural gap.  
  
  Humbleness is key in this discussion and is shown to us by the seraphim in vs. 2 of Isaiah 6.  They had six wings, four of which they used to cover themselves – a sign of humbleness, and two they used in flying.  Our humbleness before the Lord should exceed our activity for Him.  Lack of humility usually is accompanied with lack of reverence and results in a lot of our flesh being shown to the world.   Not enough time at the feet of Jesus results in a life of distraction and resentment of those who are not working as much as us.  (i.e. Mary and Martha).  “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.” – James 4:10  What freedom we have when God lifts us up.  We fly instead of walk, life is full and abundant, His presence is a place of refuge and love.  Not a place we dread to go.  
  
  • Is there a healthy fear of the Lord in our lives resulting in a true understanding of His nature and our response to that?  Maybe our lips of flesh need to be burned with fire so that the Spirit of God can speak more effectively into our lives and through our lives (Is 6:7).
  • Do our priorities need to be re-sorted, giving our creator the pre-eminence? (Col 1:18)
  Maybe it is time to turn our mobile phones off long enough to worship God as He deserves, putting aside the cares of the world, trusting that God knows.  He longs to bless us, but sometimes we don’t stay in His presence long enough to receive it. 
  
  

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  Verses for further study on the ‘Fear of the Lord and wisdom’ – Job 28:28, Psalms 111:10, Proverbs 1:7, 9:10, 15:33, Isaiah 11:2, 33:6
  
  
  God bless,
  
  Michael Payne,
  Worship Leader
  Calvary Budapest
  
  
  
   

interview

interview with Mike Payne

sound team

sound team

The sound team performs a vital role in our worship.

The team works on a rotating schedule – so that 1 sound guy is always at worship practices on Saturdays, and then at church early on Sundays and Wednesdays to setup the sound.

If you are interested in being part of the sound team, even if you don’t have any experience in sound, please talk with Mike Payne, our worship leader.

song book

song book

To download the songbook in pdf, please click here .

news

• Nagy Vagy Urunk – Behind the Scenes video

  In 2008, our worship team recorded the live worship album “How Great is our God”.
  
  A new, two-part “Making of” video gives a little glimpse into some of the people and stories that happened behind the scenes .....
  
  To watch the video, please click on the “video” tab on this page.
  
  

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• elindult a webshop

  
  ELINDULT a golgota webáruház, ahol online megvásárolhatod a gyülekezetünkben kapható cédéket, dévédéket, könyveket, kottáskönyveket
  stb. A kapható cédék dalait egyenénk mp3 formátumban is megvásárolhatod.
  

  
  Legújabb cédénk Dobner Illés: Állomások c. albuma, amelyhez 2900 Ft-os áron a Könyveasztalnál is hozzájuthatsz.
  
  
  Nézz körül a webshopban még ma!

   

   

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• Classical worship on DVD and CD

  
  
  
  
  „Klasszikus Vasárnap Este” (Classical Sunday Night) is a brand new DVD & CD featuring our Classical Worship Team.
  Watch their live worship concert from a Sunday Night service that was held in February 2009. The interviews with the team and the bonus audio CD makes this new release a real treat.
  
  Available at the Book Table for 2000 HUF.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

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• new live worship CD

  The new live worship CD or our worship team is now available in our church (2500 HUF) and in the Christian bookstores.
  To watch a short film of the CD, please click here
  To download the chords and lyrics of the songs, please click here .
  
  
  Songs on the CD:
  Rám találtál
  Barátom lett az Úr
  A kegyelmed elég
  Több mint elég
  Áldom szent neved
  Nem engedsz el
  Fenséges Isten vagy
  Ha indul a dicséret
  Leborulva
  Arcra borulok
  A mennyben fent
  Nagy vagy, Urunk
  Nem miénk
  
  

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• Rólad szól 1: new sheet music songbook

  
  
  
  Rólad szól 1. the new hard cover songbook has been published!
  
  
  You will find sheet music and chords for 37 worship songs including the most popular songs from the best Golgota CDs (Nagy vagy, Urunk; Te éltetsz engem; Mea: Az életem legszebb napja; Hûsége végtelen) and yet to be published songs of Hungarian songwriters (Illés Dobner: Köszönöm a vért, Gábor Dobrocsi: Trónodnál).
  
  
  In the appendix of the songbook there is a selection of useful guitar chords and empty chord chart pages which are very handy for jotting down your own chord ideas.
  
  
  This is a great resource for worship leaders, but also highly recommended for any musicians.
  
  
  
  It is available at our book table and also in the Christian book stores.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

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