"Many of us artists are longing for a place to belong, a place where the arts are flourishing, where God is using the arts in a powerful way. A place where artists can experience meaningful fellowship with other Christian artists, where we can learn from each other and cheer each other on. I believe that's part of what God wants our churches to be: a place that harnesses the arts for His glory and nurtures artists." (89, Heart of the Artist)
This belonging comes from a mutual respect of what each person brings to the team as well as an understanding of what you bring to the team. Leading worship is a team sport and we can only lead and serve our congregation as so much as we all respect and understand each of our roles on our team.
Romans 12:3-8 explicitly states that we were all created for a purpose:
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
All of that is to say that being a part of our worship team means that you belong for two reasons:
1. Your gifts and abilities have created a niche for you on the team. (92, Heart of the Artist)
2. Your personality has created a place for you on the team. (92, Heart of the Artist)
As you take the time to digest the power and responsibility that comes with being on our worship team, reflect on what you specifically bring to our team and what ONE other member of our team brings to the table by replying to this post. The catch is that you must pick ONE member of our team who has NOT been mentioned by someone else. In this way, each person will reflect upon themselves and have someone else reflect up them.
Judy Paul
ReplyDeleteThis member of our team always has a smile on her face. She is supportive, loving, makes me laugh and truly puts the worship above all else. She has been a mentor, an example, and a friend.
I believe my purpose on the team is to allow God to use me to teach patience and grace to the band. It's a role I embrace.
ReplyDeleteJay serves a similar role but does it with more humor. He is also very useful when we break things.
Yeah for Anonymous...;0. We need your patience and grace... cuz I need IT. Since I am new to the worship team (guess who I am) all of you need to know that for the last almost 7years that I attended (as a phantom member of 1st Pres...breezing in and breezing out) the part of my whole spiritual healing came through primarily the WORSHIP...Idk if any of you realize the Spirit that comes through worship, but it definitively sustain me and my hurting husband. I need to thank you all...whether you were on the mountain top or in the valley of woes and toes... God used you all! Thank you. Hopefully I can repay with my itsy bitsy contribution on the keyboard..Now do you know who I am....?
ReplyDeleteYou misunderstood. I don't teach patience and grace by example. It's just a requirement for being around me for long periods of time.
DeleteI had someone tell me recently to sing as though I'm doing a personel concert to God and that past fews months Ive changed so much. I feel this new power going through me when I'm up there infront of the congregation.
ReplyDeleteWendi is such a good leader. I know if Im ever stuck on what to sing or where to come in on a song she will help me out. Even if it means singing off the microphone with me when Im not sure when to come in when Im doing a solo.
I think that the most challenging part of this post is that I have to think of something to say about what I bring to the team. It would be a lot easier to mention what each of you do instead. I feel as if I am still just trying to figure out what God wants me to do on the worship team. Every Sunday that I am "on," I always pray that I can engage at least one person in the congregation well enough that they will experience uplifting worship and that I may not detract from anyone's worship experience. As for what I directly bring to the team, I try to be someone that everyone can count on.
ReplyDeleteLarry definitely stands out as one that can truly bring others to worship through his music and his focus on worship. He is also able to add to the congregation's ability to worship by adding musical interludes. Yet, one of his best qualities is his ability to say "yes" to where God is calling him even though it might be completely out of his comfort zone. I admire his ability to sing (and sing well) even though he may feel incredibly nervous at the thought of doing so.