Green Pond Bible ChapelGreen Pond Bible ChapelWorship Ministry Worship Ministry OverviewOverviewMike RuelOctober 2009

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……on the quest for “good” on the quest for “good” worshipworship“We cannot find excellent corporate

worship until you stop trying to find excellent corporate worship and pursue God himself.

…If you want to deepen the worship of the people of God, above all deepen their grasp of his ineffable majesty in his person and in all his works” – D.A. Carson

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other thoughts to start other thoughts to start with…with…When we meet for corporate worship, we must

consciously begin with the question: How must we conduct our lives and shape the meeting (“service”) so as to glorify God? Because:

1. Corporate worship that is informed and shaped by the Scriptures’ vision of God will cast off idolatries and foster worship in the truth and Spirit.

2. A stunning vision of God will promote holy living3. Such a vertical focus will enhance horizontal (ie.

among the body) unity4. A massive vision of God and worship will keep our

hearts from wandering…the proper approach to worship must but God-

focused and then human sensitive. Only when the question of God’s glory and pleasure is addressed can the second question, regarding humanity, be pressed.

3“Worship by the Book”, Carson, pg 150-151

More personally…More personally…A Living Sacrifice = A Living Sacrifice = WorshipWorship 1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers,

by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. [Rom 12:1-2]

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TeamsTeamsTeams Involved:

◦Worship Team◦Sound Team◦PPT Team◦Choir◦Special Music

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SUGGESTED SUGGESTED PROCESS REVISIONSPROCESS REVISIONS

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Suggested Process Suggested Process RevisionsRevisionsInitiate Weekly RehearsalsInitiate Revised Service CreationRevise “day-of” Sunday scheduleInitiate Post-Service Review

Touch Points

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INITIATE WEEKLY INITIATE WEEKLY REHEARSALSREHEARSALS

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Initiate Weekly RehearsalsInitiate Weekly RehearsalsInitiate weekly (weeknight)

worship team rehearsals to specifically review Sunday AM sets◦Goal : review ONLY the coming

Sunday’s setThis would eliminate the monthly

rehearsalsSundays are not “rehearsals” they

are “sound checks”

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Online Poll ResultsOnline Poll Results17 total votes7 for Thurs 6:30-

7:304 for Wed 6:00-

7:00Upshot – we’ll try

for Thursdays but will be flexible and may do a Wed here or there

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Initiate Weekly Rehearsals Initiate Weekly Rehearsals Draft AgendaDraft Agenda

Time Item

7:00-7:15pm Prayer & Brief Time in Word Lead by Mike Ruel

7:15-7:20pm Set overview by WL

7:20-7:55pm Rehearse set

7:55-8:00pm Close in Prayer

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INITIATE REVISED INITIATE REVISED MORNING SERVICE MORNING SERVICE CREATION CREATION

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Initiate Revised Service Initiate Revised Service CreationCreationWeekly Due Date Task

By EOD* Sunday before Service 1. WL e-mail set to Mike Ruel2. Special music e-mail song title/artist

and lyrics to Mike Ruel

By EOD Monday before Service Mike to send any comments/questions to WL

•Focus: theological content and flow

By EOD Tuesday before Service(*Also serves as reminder for rehearsal)

Mike to input into Planning Center and send e-mail to:

1. Gerrie (PPT)2. Scheduled Vocalists3. Scheduled Instrumentalists4. Pastors

By EOD Wed/Thursday for rehearsal 1. PPT Team loads slides into Sanctuary PC

2. PPT sends song slides to WL +Mike Ruel

3. PPT Team loads Special Music lyrics

By EOD Wed/Thursday before rehearsal Mike to receive any input from Pastors on service

By EOD Friday Mike to revise and resend any changes

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*EOD = End of Day

e-Mail Sample / e-Mail Sample / ConfirmationConfirmation

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Sample Master Service Sample Master Service OrderOrder

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on Music and Selection…on Music and Selection…“Music has validity in Christian

worship only as it participates in, and contributes to, as service of the Word from beginning to end…Music serves preaching” – R. Kent Hughes

“The selection of appropriate worship music is not merely a matter of choice between traditional and contemporary Christian music. The decision must be made on principle. Whatever the genre of music it must meet three criteria: text, tune, and fit.”

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On preferences…On preferences…“When the Bible calls us to sing God’s

praises, we are not given the tunes or the rhythm. We are not told how repetitive the lyrics should be…so to give any concrete form to our gathered worship we must ‘fill in the blanks’ that the Bible leaves open. When we do so, we will have to draw on tradition; on the needs, capacities, and cultural sensibilities of our people; and on our own personal preferences. Though we cannot avoid drawing on our own preferences, this should never be the driving force.” – Timothy J. Keller

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INITIATE POST-INITIATE POST-SERVICE REVIEWSERVICE REVIEW

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Post-Service ReviewPost-Service ReviewGoal is to review with all involved:

◦What went well◦What didn’t go so well◦What we can do to increase chances

of it going well next time!10 minutes maxLead by Mike Ruel and will take

notesLocation: by Sound Board/PPT

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……on expectationson expectationsWe cannot suit every taste present in our

congregations in everything we do, nor should we: it could be a bad sign if someone leaving at the end of a church service remarked, ‘Every aspect of that service was exactly how I wanted it to be.’. Every church service ought to be a mixture of tastes, challenging all of us to make greater allowances for the tastes and preferences of others present. It ought to widen our ‘comfort zones’ without getting to the point where we find the mixture too threatening.” – Mark Ashton

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INITIATE REVISED INITIATE REVISED SUNDAY TIMELINESUNDAY TIMELINE

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Revised Sunday TimelineRevised Sunday TimelineTime Task Who

8:20-8:30am Set up, line checks Sound tech, MR, WL, Band, PPT

8:30-8:35am Prayer Sound tech, MR, WL, Band, Vocalists, PPT, Pastors?

8:35-9:00am Worship sound check, slide review, last minute run-thrus

Sound techs, MR, WL, Band, Vocalists, PPT

9:00-9:10am Special Music sound check, run thru

Sound tech, MR, WL, Special Music, band as needed

9:10-9:20am Choir Run thru (2x/mo) Choir director, Sound tech, MR

9:10-9:25am Quick break! Sound techs, WL, Band, Vocalists, PPT

9:25-9:30am Piano prelude Pianist

9:25am Back to sanctuary Sound techs, MR, WL, Band, Vocalists, PPT

9:30am Service 1 Begins 22

Revised Sunday TimelineRevised Sunday TimelineTime Task Who

10:35-10:45am Post-Service Review Meeting

Sound techs, MR, WL, Band, Vocalists, PPT

10:45-10:55am Quick break Sound techs, MR, WL, Band*, Vocalists, PPT

10:50-11:00 Piano Prelude Pianist

10:55am Back to sanctuary Sound techs, MR, WL, Band*, Vocalists, PPT

11:00-12:00pm Service 2

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*Service 2 band is only piano, acoustic gtr, and bass gtr

……on what’s really on what’s really importantimportant“We will want to be sure that our

services pronounce clearly on the foundational truths of Christianity: the deity of Christ, salvation by grace alone, the centrality of the cross, the authority of the Bible, and so forth…so long as the center is clear, the edges can be fuzzy.” – Mark Ashton

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Open Questions to Resolve Open Questions to Resolve After Kick-off: Worship After Kick-off: Worship Leader ScheduleLeader ScheduleGetting a central repository of sheet music,

master song listGetting worship website – songs, etc.Other ideas? Please let me have ‘em!

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