By Spencer Roth
I chose to lead with this topic
because I feel most comfortable talking about how to arrange a worship service.
I feel like those who lead before me knew how to do it well in their own distinct ways and by leading well, prepared me to lead better and more confidently.
I will
start with the practical and behind the scenes type stuff. The things that
seemingly have nothing to do with the congregants, ushers, teaching pastors, or
who ever else aren’t in the band. These also don’t really have anything to do
with the biblical teaching aspect of musical worship. Strictly logistics.
The easiest way to plan a seamless worship set is to plan songs in
compatible or like keys. If I as the acoustic guitarist have to move my
capo (the little black clamp on the neck of my guitar) at the end and beginning
of every song, it has the potential to get awkward. I’ve met guys who refuse to
acknowledge this as worship leaders. Maybe that’s your style, and that’s ok. I
just feel like in my experience, this was an easy step to take to help all
worshiper’s (including myself) focus remain intact.
Plan songs that are fairly easy to sing. No one wants to attempt
vocal gymnastics on a Sunday morning to keep up with Whitney Houston’s version
of ‘Joy To The World’. Also, keep the
key reasonable. Find a middle ground. If you as a professional musician are
having trouble hitting the highest notes consistently, how much more trouble
are the rest of the men in your congregation going to have with the sky high
vocals?
Plan songs within your bands ability. Know your band. Know their
tendencies. Be aware enough to pull the plug on a song if it ultimately is just
going to be a distraction. Better yet, never plan it to begin with.
*If you have a crazy good keyboard player, transitions become
incredibly easy. So find one. (I’m only kind of kidding).
Practice your transitions. One of the biggest breakthroughs I made
in understanding the well-structured worship service was that the transitional
areas between songs are really important. Now sometimes it’s just plain hard to
avoid a bad transition depending on your circumstances, but a well planned and
practiced transition can promote and encourage an unbroken focus on the congregation’s
part.
*If a musical transition is not possible, take advantage of that time
as teaching time. Personally, if I were to point out the biggest weakness
in the structure of my worship service it would be “not enough teaching time”.
I’m terribly uncomfortable speaking. I would love to be able to just sing a
mini sermon. Alas, I’m not a total weirdo.
Find your pocket of moderation and only vary when it feels necessary. There
is almost never a time when a lengthy face melting electric guitar solo is a
good addition on a normal Sunday morning worship gathering. Likewise, although
much more normal and acceptable, an acapella song isn’t always the comfortable
choice for my church body. Some songs need the instrumentations to carry the
song. What I’m trying to say is, don’t be weird. Don’t be distracting. Find a
healthy balance that promotes healthy worship. (I will speak more on this in a
later post).
Make sure the dynamics of your entire set make sense. By dynamics,
I mean the highs and lows, volume and energy wise. Make sure the way you have
arranged your songs promote the continuity of the entire service. For example,
I would not play a loud upbeat energizing stadium rocker, while trying to
reflect or meditate on the significance of the elements of communion. That
would be taking away from the service as a whole.
All of the things above are not “must haves” by any means. I
know I didn’t understand any of this for a long time. But I think as a ministry
team, to ignore the professional aspect of Sunday morning is unwise. It is
unbiblical to be bad stewards of the gifts we are given. Having a terribly
managed worship service doesn’t make you seem honorable and focused on the
“real heart of worship”, it just makes you look irresponsible. This is just part I, and I’ve only dealt with
the things that go towards thoughtful production flow. So don’t get upset quite
yet. Anyone can do this stuff.
Check out Spencer's blog over at Dress Us Up.
Check out Spencer's blog over at Dress Us Up.
WORSHIP WEEK
If you missed previous entries, you can check them out at the link below.
Why Can't We Get Along? - Why is Worship So Divisive by Sean Chandler
Where's the Piper Organ, and Why is There an Electric Guitar?!? - What is the Proper Style for Worship by Sean Chandler
Why is It So Loud and Why Do We Keep Repeating Ourselves?!? - What is the Proper Volume for Worship by Sean Chandler
Worship Service - Take Me on a Journey - How Should a Worship Director Select & Arrange Their Set by Jennifer Chandler
What is the Proper Style for a Worship Service? by Jennifer Chandler
An Ordinary Church Attendees Perspective on Worship by Ticia Messing
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