Each term it’d be good for you to take the opportunity to write a newsletter to the music and sound teams. There’s very little time to communicate with the teams on a week-to-week basis, and for that reason it can be hard to keep the team mindful of the reason they’re doing the ministry – let alone helping them grow in their understanding of why/how to do it. Nothing will substitute face-to-face teaching and training in music ministry – that’ll always be the best way to help them (and you!) grow. But the term newsletter is an opportunity to write something to the teams that will encourage them to keep on keeping on, and to do it for the right motivation. Distributing it to the sound team as well as the music team communicates to them that they’re an important part of the ministry, and will prove to be an encouragement to them too.
It’s really up to you what to write – but remember that it’s all about Jesus. There are usually issues that will present themselves over time that you’ll want to address – but remember to bring it all back to the cross. Everything you say needs to be said under the shadow of the cross, or it’ll just be legalistic and ineffective. For example if several people on the music team have been slack in their attendance – and seem to have forgotten that important part of the music ministry paper – then it might be good to write something about he importance of responding to the access we have to God through Jesus’ blood by not giving up meeting together (based on Hebrews 10:19-25), and how the music team are role models and key encouragers to the congregation since they’re out the front every week. If the team seem to be getting half-hearted in their singing, you might want to encourage them to make sure they’re always indulging in their own personal Bible reading and prayer, since wholehearted singing will only come from a heart that’s ruled by the peace of Christ (based on Colossians 3:15-16). Sometimes you might’ve read something in the Bible or written by someone else that was so helpful you’ll want to relay it to the team – either in your own words, or by just including the whole passage/article. Obviously if you’re always reading this sort of material yourself – and keeping your eyes open for stuff that could be potentially helpful to the team – then it’ll be a lot easier for you when it comes time to write the newsletter. You might want to keep a list on your computer of ‘newsletter ideas’ which you can always easily add to.
Remember to write in a way that makes people actually want to read it. You can expect much more of the music/sound teams than you can of the congregation – but still, remember that you want to make it something reasonably easy and helpful for them to read.
Another thing to keep in mind is that it’ll be a good thing to get a Pastor to write the newsletter to the team at least once or twice a year. It’ll be a good opportunity for the Pastor to say what they’d like to say to the team, as the main Pastor/Teacher of the church family and ministry teams.
Usually the newsletter will get printed on the back of the term song program, so that each term there’s only one bit of paper you’ll need to distribute to the team (other than music/lyrics).
Other ideas are:
- CD reviews
- Book reviews (something on music ministry or worship etc)
- Song reviews
- Bible study on new song/s
- an article from someone else that you’ve found helpful (eg. Bob Kauflin, Keith Getty, Justin Taylor, Andy Judd, Craig Schwarze (and many more) are a handful of guys who post regular articles about music ministry on the web. Google and pilfer away!
- Short Bible study
- a sheer letter of encouragement from you to the team on how they’ve been encouraging you (it doesn’t always have to be a challenging newsletter)
- Testimonies from people (from the team? from the congregation?) about how the singing in church helps them in their relationship with Jesus
- Testimonies from people (team? congregation?) about how listening to Christian music during the week helps them to keep their eyes fixed on Jesus
- and so on….
Remember: keep it simple. Make it something that people will actually want to read, and be encouraged by it.
Leading Music Ministry #10 – Music Ministry Blurbs for the Church Family
February 17, 2011
Each term it’d be good for you to prepare a blurb about music ministry so that the church family can read about what the music ministry team have been up to. It’s an opportunity to keep the church family informed of what’s going on with the ministry, and even to help them grow in their (biblical) understanding of our time singing together in church. Remember that, although your head’s probably full of what’s going on for your ministry team, the vast majority of the congregation have absolutely no idea. It’s a good opportunity.
Probably the best way to approach writing your bit will be to consider what it’s like for you read blurbs about other ministries. Do you read them? Why/why not? Are they boring? Are there any photos? Do you get to know a bit more about people at church?
If you want people to read your page, it’ll need to be:
- simple
- entertaining
- personal (so they’re getting to know you or team members better)
- lots of photos
Resist the urge to write a thesis on music ministry – hardly anyone will read it. Some good ideas are:
- Interviews with team members (one or several)
- Reports of team events (eg. music training weekend, Twist conference, singing in Fiji etc)
- CD reviews
- A blurb about one of the new songs – maybe a bit about the composer, or the story behind the song
- A step-by-step of how to use the ‘Music Resources’ page on the website
- Testimonies from people (from the team? from the congregation?) about how the singing in church helps them in their relationship with Jesus
- Testimonies from people (team? congregation?) about how listening to Christian music during the week helps them to keep their eyes fixed on Jesus
- and so on….
Remember: keep it simple. Make it a page that people will actually want to read, and be encouraged by it.
what’s going on?
When we celebrate the Lord’s Supper we’re remembering together what Jesus has done for us on the cross – that his body was broken for us, that his blood was poured out for us. We’re ‘feeding’ on his sacrifice, and proclaiming it until he returns. That means that Lord’s Supper is all about:
1) Remembering and ‘feeding on’ Jesus’ sacrifice (by faith);
2) Proclaiming what Jesus has done (to ourselves and to each other); and
3) Remembering and proclaiming that Jesus will be returning soon (Jesus’ return is an often over-looked aspect of the Lord’s Supper).
what’s the go with songs during the Lord’s Supper?
There’s a couple of reasons we listen to songs during the Lord’s Supper. The main reason is that songs can help us to DO the above 3 things: a song about Jesus death will help us remember Jesus’ death – to put our faith in him – to remember his impending return – and to proclaim him to each other. The other reason is just that it takes time to distribute the bread and the juice, and it’s good to fill that silence with something that will help us to reflect on what’s going on.
what’s the criteria for Lord’s Supper songs?
Basically you want to choose something that focuses on one (or more) of the 3 things above, and that’s musically appropriate. A heavy-rockin’ song about the cross probably isn’t going to help people reflect. A great song about God (or Jesus or the Holy Spirit) that doesn’t focus on one of the above 3 things isn’t going to be helpful for what’s going on either. For example ‘Sons of God’ isn’t musically appropriate (too heavy) and it isn’t thematically appropriate either, since it’s about adoption, and not the cross or Jesus’ return. ‘Father’s World’ by Garage Hymnal is a biblical and cool song, but it’s not about the cross or Jesus’ return either. Same deal with ‘Blessed be Your Name’. A song like ‘Holy Father’ (for the cross) or ‘Soon’ (for Jesus’ return) will be much better. Try to avoid using a song just because you like it – make sure it’s because it’ll complement what’s happening with the Lord’s Supper (and if possible ALSO ties in with the talk).
Whether or not you do the song as an item or from the CD will be your call – obviously you’ll have to weigh up whether you’re able to find (or write) a chart for the song and rehearse musicians for it. It’ll depend on how many other items you’ve planned for the term. You can alway plan to use the CD and then decide to play it as an item later if you change your mind – you’ll just need to communicate it to everyone. Make sure you include your plan on the program (Eg: ‘Lord’s Supper CD: Soon’ or ‘Lord’s Supper ITEM: Soon’).
You’ll need to type up the song words for the Ministry Coordinator and give them a copy of the recording so they can listen to it as they copy it onto the Powerpoint display.
Burn a copy of the CD with no other songs on it to give to the sound team the morning of the Lord’s Supper. Giving them a CD with other songs on it just increases the likelihood for error at a key moment in the service. Make sure the PM sound guy knows what to do too. You can make a decision about whether the song gets added to the before/after-church music playlist too – most of the time it’ll be a good thing to add it and keep hearing it.
One other thing worth considering is: What’s the plan if the bread/juice are distributed and we’ve only listened to half the song? Does the sound team fade it out early, or do we listen to the whole song before we eat/drink? Obviously if the song’s being performed they’ll finish the song. But if it’s a CD I personally think it’s very distracting to fade a song out halfway, and that it’s taking away the opportunity for the song to help the congregation reflect on the cross/Jesus’ return. On the other hand if it’s been a long sermon then parents might be needing to go pick up the kids. Whatever you decide, make sure you have a talk with the Pastor, the Sound Team, and the Data Projector dude (who’ll be controlling the song words on the screen) before the service so that you’re all on the same page.
Leading Music Ministry #8 – Choosing and Preparing Musical Items
February 3, 2011
why items?
Having musical items in church – songs that are performed by a handful of musicians while the congregation sits, listens, and follows the worlds along on the screen – is a good idea for a bunch of reasons:
- It helps people connect with the ‘Big Idea’
- It helps people to reflect on the song words in a different way than when they’re actually singing the words
- It’s a way of ‘musically serving’ the congregation without their active participation
- It helps people to learn and become familiar with a song they’ll be singing together at a later point (usually the following week or later in the same service)
- It mixes church services up a bit
- It gives the musicians/singers involved an opportunity to serve in a unique way that will be enjoyable and memorable for them and their family/friends
- It creates an opportunity to use good Christian songs that won’t actually work as congregationals
- It gives an opportunity to incorporate secular/non-Christian songs that help us reflect on life in God’s world (which is appealing to both Christians and non-Christians)
criteria for choosing musical items for church
1) Will this song help us to connect with or reflect on the ‘Big Idea?’
2) Will this song be musically appropriate (is it in an appropriate style? will the musicians/singers be able to learn it?)
3) Do you have the time to prepare the chart/lyrics and get it rehearsed?
4) Does the Pastor agree that this song as an item is a good idea?
making items happen
The time for choosing musical items is when you’re preparing the term music program. Make sure each new congregational song being introduced is performed as an item before it’s taught congregationally. Other than that, it’s up to you. When you’re reading through the Big Ideas and the Key Questions for the term ahead, take some time to think through songs you know – both Christian and non-Christian – and see if anything good comes to mind. Run your ideas by the Pastor – if it’s all good then whack it on the program. Feel free to welcome suggestions from others too.
Here’s what you’ll need to do once items are chosen:
1) Find or write a chart
2) Type up the lyrics
3) Decide who will be involved in the item (don’t always use the same people, and don’t always do it yourself), ask them if they’re keen, and distribute the music/lyrics/mp3 in advance
4) Organise a rehearsal during the week leading up to the item (you’ll usually need to be there whether you’re in the item or not)
5) Send an email to the sound team notifying them that the item is happening
