How much prep time?

[HelenaZF]

Planning a service can take me from 10 minutes to many hours spanning several days. It depends on the inspiration level, and of course the scope of the service.



As Dean said...if you are planning for a 3 hour worship "course", it's a whole different ball game than if you are doing a 3-song set.



It's always easier if there is a jumping off point...say a sermon theme, a set of proscribed scriptures....and certain song that is "alive" to you at the moment. Then you can easily weave other complimentary songs around your "inspiration point".



What's difficult is if you have nothing to lead you in any particular direction and have to pull a theme out of your....er...hat. If I find myself in that situation, and it is a feasible way to proceed, I might not make a plan at all. Just gather up a sheaf of good songs, and wait until something happens to spark a direction. Possibly pick one generic song as an opener an opener and hope that will bring inspiration for what follows. Not always possible, but preferable to putting something lifeless together.