• **** (Doug Hanley)
  Good Solid starting point. Covers historical and specific practices. A solid addition to your library.
• **** (Timo Jaakkimainen)
  A great look at worship. Focuses primarily on charismatic worship; not much on liturgical worship today.

• *** (Timo Jaakkimainen) Articles from different worship leaders. Some really interesting stuff, but much seems similar (later articles sound mostly like previous ones).

• **** (Olive Knight)
  Based on scripture, liberally quoted. Very practical.

• ***** (Timo Jaakkimainen)
  An excellent book which covers most areas of praise and worship. It also features a great section on each person in the worship team. Clear, articulate, concise. Highly recommended.

• *** (Timo Jaakkimainen)
  A laid-back discussion and presentation of topics and themes relating to worship in our personal lives.

• **** (Doug Hanley)
  A Solid reference. Lots of practical leading advice, some music theory relevant to Worship leading.

• ***** (Amelia Kleymann) Amazing and applicable, Hanson commuincates what worship will need to become if we shift from the thought of our church as an organization to a living organism. Shift from being the church "Music Department" to being a cell group - a community that meets needs within your congregation and community. A MUST HAVE - complete with outlines, examples and discussion questions (at the end of each chapter) this book will revolutionize the way you view your music ministry.

• *** (Timo Jaakkimainen)
  More enjoyable articles from different popular worship leaders of today. Again, a mixture of humorous tales as well as insightful commentaries. Sequel of sorts to "Things They Didn't ..."

• ***** (Rebecca Walden)
  This book is the best I have ever read on the subject of prophetic worship. All Pastors and church music ministers should read this book. This teaching opens the door for every believer, church and denomination to enter greater depths of worship.

• **** (David King)
  Thiessen has found every single verse about music in the Bible, and has compiled them into this book. For worship leaders, this can be very helpful in studying "why you do what you do." Musicians may find the book helpful as well, as it quickly points to the uses of music, instruments, etc. as given in the Bible. My only negative comment is that, in including every "musical" term in the Bible, Thiessen has also included a word or two that, though a possibly musical term, is not meant as one in context. For example, Luke 24:44 and Acts 1:20, 13:33, 35 use the word "Psalms" - referring to the "book of Psalms," rather than as a type of "song." These were the only two I found.

• *** (Timo Jaakkimainen)
  Supposed to be used in conjunction with WE WILL GLORIFY devotional. Simple, but somewhat helpful.

• ** (Timo Jaakkimainen)
  I found little that interested me and thought that his arguments and presentation was lacking in many ways. Only real positive was the concise list of Scripture references to worship (appendix).

• **** (Doug Hanley)
  This book is a need read for anyone in music ministry, feels called to music ministry, or the like. It breaks down accountability and responsibilty into four categories: To God, To your family, to the church (local and abroad), and to the unsaved. Often we don't think in clear cut terms. Musicians get a primadonna attitude. We need to be in proper submission to our leaders and family members as is appropriate. This short book will challenge you.

• ***** (Chris Shirley)
  I read this book and was moved to a deeper level of appreciation for the presence of God in worship, and in my daily life. Knowing that He is a loving & SINGING God is an awe-inspiring thing. Dr. Storms asks several times in the book, "Do you hear Him singing now?" It makes the reader listen more for the Lord. A must read for those whose heart is toward worship.

• *** (Timo Jaakkimainen)
  Enjoyable articles written by many different contemporary worship leaders. Some are funny stories and experiences while others are informative and thoughtful write-ups.

• ***** (Rod Best)
  It is a book that will assist you in taking your worship team to a new level of excellence. This is 173 pages that are designed to help worship leaders, pastors, music ministers, vocal directors and those on a worship team to improve there skill in leading God's people in praise and worship. It covers arranging for band and vocals, running effective rehearsals, devotions, tips for musicians, singers and worship leaders, basic theory for singers and musicians, devotions for your team and much more.

• ** (Timo Jaakkimainen)
  Devotional. Meant to be used in conjunction with the book PUTTING GOD IN HIS PLACE. Leads reader through 4 weeks of practical devotions on becoming a better worshipper. Simple, plain but possibly worthwhile for beginners, _real_ beginners.

• **** (Timo Jaakkimainen)
  Text from a series of sermons by noted minister A.W. Tozer. Powerful, yet easy to understand and follow, Tozer brings some nice spiritual depth to the topic of worship.

• ***** (Doug Hanley)
  Get this book! This is a great book for understanding why and how to worship.

Worship & Evangelism

• **** (Charles Wolff)
  Provides a good summary of types of worship services, how to choose among them, how to start them in your church, how to organize/ lead contemporary worship. Several sample worship services are presented. Written from a fairly liturgical (Methodist) viewpoint, so there's a lot of comment about how the music serves as the liturgy in a contemporary service. One thing I liked - they understood that it's possible to use contemporary music in worship without making the service a form of evangelism - accepts the idea that you can have contemporary _worship_. Good explanation of the term "seeker" and a lot of thoughts about the types of people who come to church, what they're looking for, what we ought to be providing for them. This book does a good job of presenting lots of information; it doesn't try to be overly "inspirational". Includes some thought/ discussion questions at the end of each chapter.

Worship & Children

Worship & The Arts

• **** (Lori Mroz)
  A comprehensive compilation of English, Hebrew and Greek words that relate to dance or movement throughout the Bible, along with the scriptures written out. It is important for any one who is called to the dance ministry, especially, to have a greater understanding of what we are doing when we dance before the Lord.

• **** (Lori Mroz)
  Lots of dance team tips and techniques, coupled with the fruit of the Spirit for both leaders' and members' success. Whether you are a dance team leader (wanting helpful management tips) or a team member (wanting to be a great team player), this booklet is for you.

• ***** (Elria Kwant)
  "really sensible, balanced and practical . . . I would certainly buy it and make use of it. Fiona writes clearly, without fuss, and has a lot of experience" (Meryl Doney, The Hayward Gallery)

Music Instruction

• ***** (Kim Gentes)
  Easily the BEST music theory book for those who know very little theory. Intensely formally trained musicians will balk at this book, but "garage band" musicians will love it. Covers four main areas: Notation, Rhythm, Chords (4 sections), and Writing Music. This is not written as a Christian book, just a music theory book. It is tremendously helpful for musicians with gift and abilities, but little formal musical training. It gives the basics in EXCELLENT format (simple and straight forward) and style (humorous). Kind of like reading a music book written by David Letterman.

Songwriting

Christmas

• *** (Darcy L. Watkins)
  It has guitar chords AND piano arrangements for 34 carols which makes it good for "jamming" at Christmas parties as well as for churches with musicians who don't sight read.

• *** (Charles Wolff)
  A general purpose Christmas resource book. There are sections on Family and Church Celebrations for Advent; Songs of Christmas (about 15 songs, mostly not the traditional Christmas songs); Prayers, Litanies and Invocations; Plays and Cantatas; International Celebrations; and Christmas Crafts. The Plays and Cantatas section includes five dramas, some with (simple) music; they look like they'd range from about 5 minutes to about half an hour... there are patterns for banners, ideas, all sorts of stuff that looks like it would be good for somebody faced with "what are we going to do at church this year for Christmas?" Anyway, if you're looking for Christmas resources, a buck for this book is a pretty good deal.