We've had a contemporary service at a conservative Presbyterian church for six months. Tiny congregation, especially in the summer. Baby grand piano, unamplified, and my 12-string (Guild JF 30-12), mic-ed to the PA, and a four- or five-person choir. Percussion: a tambourine on some songs. Altogether, a very acoustic sound. We would like more musicians, but are not really actively recruiting--it's on one's job.
After six months, we have funding to upgrade the PA. I know many of you are into the gear, but I can't tell you what we've got or what we're getting for PA. We mic the guitar, but have no real monitor to tell how the ensemble sounds, other than to send someone to the back of the church to tell us whether it sounds OK. (In most cases, the most important sounds are the ones coming from the congregation as they sing along.)
We do six or so songs a week. My wife plays the piano, and provides a musical foundation for us. (I'm an advanced three-chord player.) Every other week my wife and I play a hammered dulcimer/guitar instrumental during the offertory. Every other week, I get to play five minutes of solo fingerpicking as the congregation finds seats.
Prior to this gig, I had next to no performance experience. Lots of good things have come out of it. The importance of timing and counting, how to play an introduction so the vocalists will know when (and where) to come in, when to hammer a bass for emphasis. A highlight for me is accompanying soloists with fingerpicking. Did it once with As the Deer... and again with a very bluesy version of on of our hymns. Plus, it's not a bad idea for me to show my face in church regularly.
I have just added an electric archtop (
Hofner New President) and amp (Evans JE 150) to my gear, and will play electric probably every other week, once I get the feel for how to control the thing (my first electric).
So far, we are a pretty compatible group, and I am sorry to hear about that some had to quit for various reasons. To King Elvis, who started this thread, if you are dying to play, you might think about getting out and talking to other worship groups, to see if you can spell their musicians (which you should be able to work in without turning your back on your present church). We have no backup, literally. I have missed a couple of services for work and play, and those services had piano only. When our family goes on vacation, it might be acapella....
