Worship Wednesday - With a little help from my friends

Back on the worship team?

When I returned back to my old church this week, I had no intention on really getting involved. However, one thing led to another and I was not only putting away chairs, but I had left with something on my schedule for Wednesday night - worship practice.

I had been on the worship team years before the current team had ever attended this church. Yet I had a reputation with a couple people there, and so I was handed a microphone. After singing a little of a song I didn't know, one of the guys asked me if I was his replacement.  Jokingly I replied that I didn't believe in replacement theology, and, in fact, they were MY replacement - and we all laughed.

One of the disciplines I had learned from being on the worship team before - and the message for this post - was to harmonize. I had noticed everyone on the team was singing the melody. In our old team, we learned each other's ranges and determined who was going to go high and who was going to go low, who was going to ad-lib and who was going to sing the melody. As it was my first time, I might have been a little out of line by encouraging others to sing higher and lower - but I recognized the talent in the room to make a big sound for the Lord. It seems this is what the worship team leader was wanting too!

Harmonize!

A few years ago, I was at a church and an elder was reading from Ephesians 4:11, "So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers," Yes, it was that five-fold ministry talk that I've heard so many times before. Those lofty titles that so many people search for - as if that was the intent of Jesus' ministry.

But what I didn't expect is that the elder continued reading, "to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up!" Wait! What? So the reason for these positions is to equip the body of Christ? That the works of service are the real goal? Not just the positions of church authority?

Paul also talks about the parts of the body - the foot, the hand, whatever the case may be. God may give you a passion for cooking, or a desire for cleanliness. Your purpose may not be being a great orator as many preachers are. You may have a heart for music but be tone deaf. 

Do you see a need in the church? Then that is probably your purpose. My first 10 minutes back I was helping them with a computer issue. During music worship, I notice most men do not sing, so I sing strongly an octave lower to encourage men of deep voices to sing out. Usually I break away from lunch conversation to help the elderly with their empty plates - but my friend (who is in a wheelchair) beat me to it this time.

In one teaching of Matthew 6:7, I heard it explained about the repetitiveness of prayers and words like pagans do - monotone and without meaning to their voices. But according to Revelation 12:11 the triumph comes from the word of our (individual) testimony. The church works better when we harmonize. So if you are good at accounting, perhaps help with the church books. If you are good with children, join the children's ministry - and if your church doesn't have one, work with your five-fold ministers to build one!

Do you like food? Volunteer at the food pantry. The list goes on and on - and there are great benefits when you find your purpose in worship - even if it has nothing to do with music!