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Emmaus General Times

Emmaus Expectations/Commitment

These are things that you need to be aware of for being on a music team for the walk:

Emmaus Music

I have lead or been part of numerous music teams for the Walk to Emmaus. Recently I became the music director for my Emmaus community. I learned what was involved and have seen an evolution of technology affecting how to lead music on a walk. I'm sure every community has their variations but all communities are supposed to follow the same basic structure. I contemplated about how to share this information because I didn't want to give away any surprises to folks who haven't been on a walk. Ultimately I decided I could post it on the web without spoiling anything for anyone.

If you're reading this and you've never been on a Walk to Emmaus, I recommend going. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to hang out with God for a whole weekend without interruptions from everyday life. You just need a sponsor, someone who has been on a walk, to sponsor you (i.e. the name sponsor).

OK, now time to reveal the big surprise. There's music on the Walk to Emmaus. I bet you would've never guessed that. Anyway, the rest of this document discusses all things music-related for the walk, including preparation for the walk. So if you want to know about preparing music for the Walk to Emmaus, keep on reading.

Number one, it's not about you. Music on the walk is not about how great you are, how talented you are, or really about you at all. It's about God, and connecting people with God. It is different than leading worship in a local church though, in the sense that you're together all weekend. Philosophies about song order and style, like talking about God in one song before talking to God in another song don't necesssarily apply based on the amount of time you're together and what is occurring on the walk. You don't need to bring people into the presence of God when they're already there. Keep this in mind as you select your songs and put together your lineups.

Are you leading a music team or serving on a music team? Either way, everyone that 'works a walk' has a certain role to fill but all of those roles are about showing God's love. Each role is important (1 Corinthians 12:15–20).

So when someone asks you to play a song, play a song. When someone asks you to stop playing, find a good spot in the song to stop and end the song. Talk with the lay director and work out signals to continue playing or stopping, or better yet, check with them each time before you play to see how many songs you have time for. Musicians tend to have big egos (I'm a musician so I'm not pointing fingers) and it's easy to get offended. Just keep in mind that everyone working the walk should have the same goal of showing God's love. So again, when someone asks you to play a song, play a song; and when it's time not to play, don't play; all without getting offended.

Talk with the lay director about, and maybe even practice, timing of the song before the talk. Other people have responsibilities to do things during this song. It's nice when it flows smoothly.

Roles

There are 4 music-related roles in the Emmaus community:

Serving on a music team

Leading a music team

Serving on the music committee

Community music director

Weekend Preparation

The role of a music team leader involves a lot more than playing a song. You may

Prepare for the weekend by growing in your walk with God. Participate in your local church. Practice your craft (guitar players, build up those calluses). Oh, and get ready for attacks from the evil one, he doesn't want you to further God's kingdom. The attacks will come. Recognize when they do and turn to God, He put you there for a reason.

Most things that I talk about here apply to the whole team but the music leader also has specific responsibilities. This document is good for the whole music team to lead because folks who are on the team may one day lead it. It's also good to know everything involved in leading a music team so you have a better understanding of the music team's role in the weekend.

What should a music team look like?

Sometimes putting the team together is done by the music team leader, sometimes by others, but often other folks want your input. My philosophy is to have a music team leader who has served on a walk on the music team at least a couple of times. Then there should be leaders in training, which are typically folks who play acoustic guitar and sing. Other musicians can lead too, but my experience has shown that a leader who plays acoustic guitar and can sing lead generally works well in the Emmaus setting.

  1. A team should ideally be between 3 and 5 people
    • I worked a walk with 5 musicians and I did one with only 2 of us
    • I've heard and discussed the 'no drums' topic more than once in church settings, but I'm a drummer, so I have drums (Psalm 150)
    • The more people you have, the more challenging it is; I prefer a team of 4 people; here's what a typical team looks like
      • Music leader that plays acoustic guitar and sings lead vocals
        • Playing rhythm guitar and singing is about as easy as it gets as far as playing an instrument and singing
        • Playing lead guitar and singing is more difficult but can be done
      • Drums
        • Playing drums and singing is very difficult; it can be done but it's not common
      • Bass
        • Playing bass and singing is pretty difficult; it's mildly common
      • Keyboard, lead guitar (electric or acoustic), other instruments; vocals
        • Usually these musicians can play and sing at the same time
    • Use what and who you have
      • I've played on teams with country musicians, rockers, young people, older people, fiddle players, multi-instrument musicians, etc.
      • Each walk has been different
      • Each person on a walk is there for a reason
      • Use each person's strengths and plan appropriately
      • Select songs the you're very comfortable with
        • I've had people drop out at the last minute
        • Select music that you can lead on your own if necessary
      • The music team leader should be able to lead on their own if necessary
  2. Tech person
    • The tech person may not officially be part of the music team, but they play an integral role
    • Make sure they're comfortable with the technology used to display lyrics and "PowerPoints" used during the weekend
    • Make sure they know how to find the next song or a random song that you decide to do at the last moment
    • Put together the songs and lineups for them

Songs

  1. I recommend preparing 35 songs that you select
    • Pick Christian songs (just in case you weren't sure)
    • Pick some hymns
    • Pick some very new songs
    • Pick one or two 'new to everyone' songs if you're game for it
    • Pick general favorites
      • You may use some of these with the community
      • Pick at least 4 songs that people know where they can sing without providing lyric sheets or lyric projection
    • Pick easy, 'non-performance' style songs
      • Your team may be made of folks you've never played with before and could be at many different skill levels
      • With only a handful of practices, playing songs with special riffs, cuts, etc. could be a challenge
      • Be realistic and also communicate your time commitment and practice commitment expectations to your team
      • Go over with your team your style of leading; how do you do impromptu repeats if you do them; how do you tell them to keep playing, to stop playing, etc.
      • When I lead, I usually tell the team that everyone doesn't have to play all of the time (including me); I tell them if they get lost or out of time to stop playing until they can jump back in at a good spot (usually at the beginning of the measure), and that if I tell them not to play, don't get offended; as the music leader it's your responsibility to do what God is telling you to do, or not to do
    • Pick fast songs
    • Pick slow songs
    • Provide samples of the songs that you select with your team when possible
      • Folks used to make CDs back in the day
      • YouTube is a great (free (except for ads)) resource
      • Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora and the like require subsriptions so you'll probably want to look for other options
    • Decide on the key for each song before you practice
      • Is there anything more annoying than practicing a song over and over in different keys because the leader can't decide what key it should be in?
      • If you change keys 'from the original key' or from samples that you provide, let the team know
    • Make sure you're comfortable with all songs that you pick
  2. Song before the talk
    • The lay director may have a song in mind or may ask you to select one
    • Usually you just need the chorus of this song since you do it so many times
    • Don't pick your favorite song, you'll get tired of it, sorry, that's just how it goes
    • You may want to play the song before the talk in multiple versions or styles to keep it interesting
  3. Pick 2 solo songs that can be done unplugged in a chapel 'meditative' setting
    • Usually acoustic guitar and vocal
    • Plan 2 songs that you can do yourself
    • Offer for your team members to do a song; but you need to be prepared to do them if something happens
  4. Here is a list of 'Emmaus standard' songs (and expandable section with chord charts) that you'll need to do
    De Colores
    Emmaus - De Colores
    Verse 1:
C                                           G
De Colores, De Colores
 the fields love to dress in all during the springtime
                                                C
De Colores, De Colores
 the birds have their clothing that comes every season
                                       F
De Colores, De Colores
 the rainbow is vested across the blue sky

Chorus:
     F                      C
De Colores and so must all love be of every bright
G                      C
color to make my heart cry

Repeat Chorus

Verse 2:
De Colores, De Colores
 we witness the sun up on clear and bright mornings

De Colores, De Colores
 the sun gives it's treasures God's light to God's children

De Colores, De Colores
 the diamond will sparkle when brought to the light

Repeat Chorus 2x

Verse 3:
Sings the rooster, Sings the rooster
 with his quiri quiri quiri quiri quiri

And the cluck hen, and the cluck hen
 with her cara cara cara cara cara

And the babe chicks, and the babe chicks
 with their pio pio pio pio pi

Repeat Chorus 2x
    Blessing Before and Blessing After Meals (Gary Mattingly - Upper Room)
    Emmaus - Blessing Before and Blessing After Meals (Gary Mattingly - Upper Room)
    Blessing Before Meals

C                G      F           C
Gathered at this table, Holy Spirit come
F                 C         Dm7                G
Fill us with your presence, bind our hearts as one
C                 G       F             C
Bless this time together, Jesus give us peace
Am           Em       Fmaj7         G
Come Lord be with us, join us as we meet
Am           Em       F          G       C
Come Lord be with us, bless this food we eat



Blessing After Meals

C                G      F               C
As we leave this table, fed by Your own hand
F           C        Dm7         G
Holy Spirit fill us, til we meet again
C           G           F                C
Jesus as we leave here, let us walk Your way
Am            Em         Fmaj7        G
sharing God's blessings, as we do and say
Am         Em    F         G      C
sharing forever, Your love here today
    Let Your Light Shine
    Emmaus - Let Your Light Shine
    C              G            Am        Em
Let your light shine before others so they may know,
F          C             Dm      G7
Our God of love's in the land,   and
C              G            Am        Em
Let your light shine before others so they may know,
    F          G         C
The Kingdom of God is at hand.


Descant:
Let your light shine so they see Him.
Let your light shine, the Kingdom of God is at hand.
    Love Love
    Emmaus - Love Love
    Capo 5

Verse 1:
Am    Em    Am    Em
Love, Love, Love, Love,
Am     Em     Am      Em
The Gospel in one word is Love.
Am       Em       Am Em
Love you neighbor as yourself,
Am    Em    Am   Em
Love, Love, Love.

Verse 2:
Jesus, Jesus,
Can I tell You how I feel?
You have given me Your Spirit.
I love You so.

Verse 3:
Alleluia, Alleluia
Alleluia, Alleluia
    They Will Know We Are Christians By Our Love
    Emmaus - They Will Know We Are Christians By Our Love
    Em
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord.
       Am                        Em
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord.
       Am                      Em           C
And we pray that all unity may one day be restored.

Chorus:
            Em           Am               Em           Am
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love.
             Em          Am                Em
Yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.

        Em
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand.
        Am                            Em
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand.
      Am                                Em            C
And together we'll spread the news that God is in our land.

Repeat Chorus

        Em
We will work with each other, we will work side by side.
        Am                            Em
We will work with each other, we will work side by side.
          Am                           Em              C
And we'll guard each man's dignity and save each man's pride.

Repeat Chorus

    Em
All praise to the Father from whom all things come;
        Am                          Em
And all praise to Christ Jesus, His only Son;
        Am                       Em       C
And all praise to the Spirit who makes us one.

Repeat Chorus

Outro:
             Em          Am                Em
Yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.

  5. Emmaus Music Team Lineup Template

    • The songs listed in the template are 'Emmaus standard' songs
    • These songs are "prescribed" by the Upper Room, I would call these songs "required"
    • Teach them early to the pilgrims during the weekend and reinforce them so they can be sung without providing lyrics to read
    • Put together your lineups after you have practiced with your team
    • Consider space to add songs by request that happen during the weekend
    • You probably won't use all of the songs that you select, that's ok
    • You may want to repeat some songs, that's ok too
    • Your favorite song might flop on the weekend, don't get offended
    • Plan to do 3 songs before each talk but understand that you may need more or less, always have an extra one ready to go
    • As the weekend goes along, people get physically and emotionally drained, put the songs that you really want to do in your early weekend lineups
    • Your lineups WILL get changed on the weekend, make sure the whole music team knows this
    • Don't get offended, remember the evil one doesn't want you to be doing what you're doing
    • Put together your lineups using a method comfortable to you, use my template if you like, or don't, either way is OK

Downloadable Media

Southeastern Indiana Emmaus Community Gear

The community provides 2 sets of gear. One for the conference room and one that we'll call 'the traveling sound system'. The conference room gear gets setup before the weekend by the Music Board rep and crew. The traveling sound system is moved around by Agape and setup by the music team. The music team should discuss if they need things outside of what is provided.

Conference Room Equipment

Traveling sound system(s)

Bring your own - equipment list