What an incredible message.
John 12:24
I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.
A simple but powerful message. Are you willing to die?
I had a hard time getting there. I don't mean the message. I mean the service / worship time that surrounded the message. I usually am someone who prefers to sing rather than to listen but on this morning of an area wide worship service where the whole of the Portland-Metro Area is invited to attend, the part where I am an active participant, I had trouble engaging.
I am getting older and a little more set in my ways but I also try to find the good in others efforts even when they don't fit my needs. I hope I am not just wining but here are some things that others are discussing with me and I am going to air some of my thoughts out.
I am a worship leader and have a good bit of music background not just with general music but with music of the church - specifically accapella church music. (the term accapalla has a unique origion that is not Church of Christ specific but that for another entry) I have tried to define my efforts as a worship leader for a long time. The best identification (so far) of what I want to do is to encourage people to participate. My skills and efforts need to reflect some knowledge of who I'm leading and the needs of that body of Christians.
If my effort is to have people participate then I need to present and plan for music that most participants will find familiar and useful for the intended purpose. I also need to lead in such a way that encourages and invites others to participate with me and with the music that I am presenting.
There are some other things that I try to consider when leading a group in worship and I often miss these more than I would like but these still need to be addressed.
I'm going to begin with confidence or trust. If you do not sing the music that is with the words it is easy for those singing the parts loose confidence in the process and pull back with a "wait and see" attitude because they don't know where you are going or what you will do. It's great when a worship leader gets into the worship but the tenor that is having to work on those high notes only to have the worship leader cut out some beats and move on early will quickly pull back and loose that sense of trust.
Is there a time and a place for new music? The invitation on Sunday morning is probably not the best place to introduce a new song. This is the culmination of the message and the invitation to the congregation that there is a call to action. When I get that new song that I am not familiar with either here or before our participation in communion, it becomes a distraction and it takes away from my participation (I've been told that I am not the only one...). There are exceptions and I have presented new music on a Sunday and yes, new music needs to be included at some point, but to present it cold and for the first time in a key position for us to use as worship may not be the best choice.
There are those who feel that energy = speed, speed = emotional response and that speed/emotion = good worship. I disagree with this equation. I believe there are times for the lung buster/go for it type of worship but that requires the leader to be in tune to the congregation. Some leaders mow through the field whether the mower is doing it's job or not. I do enjoy and appreciate a song or moment in worship that seems to connect everyone as we join in worship but sometimes it feels like the worship leader is trying to force this response rather than allowing it to happen. When that feeling is not genuine or forced and the congregation is not joining in or participating with that energy or excitement (maybe because of a lack of confidence or they don't know the music well enough) to do something different. I don't like being drug through a service. A leader needs to stay in tune with the group being led or you end up with the courtesy participation which presents itself as a halfhearted activity. We've all been there. You know, sometimes it's a good song but people have trouble saying the words that fast. (Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesusmyblessedredeemer....) Or you want to praise but the music is simply moving at a pace that makes it a struggle to keep up and you can't relax and enjoy where you are. It can also be the opposite. Sometimes the pace drags so much it's almost painful. (Toiling ooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnn, Toiling oooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnn...) This sounds like a lot of fun. (Sorry...my attitude is leaking out here)
I also want recognize the effect of the feeling tone of a worship. Feeling tone is the emotion that is presented by the one leading which has an effect on the whole process. Most leaders are not even aware of it and some leaders deny that they have an effect on this at all and say that a congregation either connects with them or doesn't. Others try to force the feeling tone by exagerating their excitement or enthusiasm and then they over do the emotions to the point of being less than genuine. Still others are so flatline that you wonder if they feel anything. I need to spend more time discussing this one but the root of this is that if those being led don't feel a genuin encouragement from the one leading to participate, my experience is that they will not fully engage in the worship.
Let's talk about worship teams for a minute. I don't have a lot of experience participating or leading worship with a worship team but I offer this opinion and observation.
I am a bass. When I sing I hear the bass line and follow the harmonies connected with that part of the music. When there is a worship team participating with the worship the team should be singing what is written especially when the music is displayed. I don't' want to get into the reasons for or against having a worship team but I do feel that if worship leaders want to encourage participation then they should invest their time with a congregation in singing and confidence building. Maybe then there may not be as much of a need....
I am sure many could add to my list of things that worship leaders need to be aware of when leading but this is just observations from recent worship experiences. I also realize that I am one person. I don't expect every worship to be ideal for me but I do feel there are some things that can be done to help encourage more participation.
This brings me back to my original point. The message last Sunday was wonderful and powerful but the path that got me there was filled with a lack of confidence and wonder which made me a hesitant participant.
Anyone else have a thought on this?
No comments:
Post a Comment