03
Mar

Email Updated-03-02-2010

I just wanted to post the content from the email update I sent out yesterday:

Hey, I just wanted to let you know about a couple of things going on in the Worship Arts Ministry around Gateway.

First, I posted a new podcast over on our worship blog, worship.gateway-community.com. I shared a story with the choir on Sunday at rehearsal, and I thought I’d share it with everyone. There’s also a recording of a song in that podcast you might want to check out.

Second, Easter is coming! (very quickly…)
One of the things we’re doing for Easter is having the choir sing a few songs. Before you skip over this section, hear me out. Choir is an opportunity for more than music. I’ve had discussions with some of you over my time here with a desire to have more community within the Worship Arts Ministry. Choir is a very real way to do that. In fact, right now it’s our only consistent way to do that. It’s not a big commitment at all, an hour after church on Sundays. Regardless of whether you’ve been in choir in the past, never sung before or think you can’t come give it a try. Not just to sing, not just build relationships with people there, but so all of us can get to know each other.

Third. One of my big goals for this year is for us a worship leaders. Every one of us is a worship leader. Worship Leaders are not defined by their altitude (ie being on stage). We are worship leaders from wherever we are. When you are in the congregation participating you have an opportunity to lead the people around you. As you respond, you’re leading them, breaking the ice for them, giving them the opportunity to respond in a similar manner.

One of the things you’ve probably heard me say this year is that as worship leaders we need to do what the congregation needs from us to lead them in worship, not what’s comfortable for us. In private we may be very solemn in our worship, but when we are leading others in worship, we need to be engaged and engaging. We need to be selfless and do what others need us to help get their foot in the door.

Isn’t that performance? It could be, but done with a heart for serving our congregation it is worship. “Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” It may feel like that to you, it may be a huge sacrifice for you, but that’s exactly what we’re called to – bring a sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord.

I could go on and on about worship, but I’ll stop there for now. Check out the blog (worship.gateway-community.com) as there are new posts about things going on and our values, etc. Don’t forget about our facebook group. I’d love to see us use that more as a tool for building community, along with our blog. I started a discussion in our facebook group about your favorite worship songs, go check it out and let me know what you think. If you don’t have a facebook account, think about getting one. Everyone’s doing it (even pastor Bob) and it’s not the anti-christ!

I love and appreciate you and all you do for Christ and His Kingdom at Gateway!