One thing that's dramatically changed in me in the last 6 months is the fact I am more willing to gather ideas and inspiration from others. It used to make me feel uncomfortable, or even lacking in some way to admit that I needed to draw on others' experiences to make me better, or help me grow. Now, I look upon them not as competitors, but equals, some of them as brothers and sisters.
Anyway, the reason for me going into all that - I have lately been spying headlines on various sites and blogs, relating to worship leading, and naturally I've started reading, hungry for inspiration. What I have read though has been surprising. Just a summary:
- Don't play the same thing week after week
- You are not the focus of the church
- Listen to the Spirit - constantly
- This is not a gig/performance/stage show
- Don't play things because "everybody knows it" or "regular crowd pleaser" - what does God want?
- Do something different. Actually, this is Listen to the Spirit again.
- Listen to new music
- Respect the other band members tastes, abilities, strengths, weaknesses and opinions (putting others first, anyone?)
Guys, we are the natural descendents of the Levites. Need a WL out there to start blogging meat.
Some thoughts off the top of my head…
ReplyDeleteOur work of service for the Lord is in actual fact in serving the church. Creating an environment encouraging the congregation to open their hearts in worship. But we can only lead folk firstly where we are prepared to go and secondly where they are prepared to go. I’ve been in meetings where the congregation took over the leadership, leading where the band leader was not ready to go. On those occasions the senior church leader needs to step in and exercise his judgement.
I never met with my team just to prepare and rehearse worship, it was always the real thing… expecting a God encounter. Get yourself ready at home.
Playing the same thing week after week? On band nights I would sometimes pick one familiar song and transform it by using several different musical genres, different speeds, rhythms, modulating through all 11 different keys and occasionally into a different time signature. That sometimes provoked spontaneous creativity in meetings and taught musicians how to listen to the Lord… and how to play their instruments in new ways.
I liked to think of my team as a team of worship leaders encouraging all be sensitive to Godly inspiration with a mandate to take the initiative… even on their day off and just part of the general congregation. Sensitivity, simply laid out boundaries and maybe some prep are the key issues.
And we each have two ears… one to listen to other musicians ensuring harmony and the other to listen to the congregation and their engagement.
There’s only a short step between setting an example of worship to facilitate or encourage and controlling events to ensure the meeting goes the way we ‘expect’.
‘Gig’ worship may be the exception to the rule but still has a valid place, eg the now disbanded Delirious had a wonderful God centred anointing.
Conversely I know a couple of churches where the band is positioned behind the congregation at the rear of the room and thus lead without any visible presence to encourage full focus upon responding to the Lord. Very healthy and humbling for any musicians who may be a little stage struck.