Creator Magazine Online for Church Musicians and Worship Leaders > Monday Morning Email > October 2009

October 5, 2009

Ministry Tools
Bob Burroughs

Quote

"At the feast of ego, everyone leaves hungry. " (Unknown)

Scripture
"But with humility...comes wisdom." (Proverbs 11:2)
Prayer
"Father, Master, Provider of the kind of humility that honors Your Name, this day, I bring my brothers and sisters to Your Throne of Grace asking for them the grace of true humility, gentleness of heart, and a way with people that will bring honor and glory to Your name--and not to uplift their egos. This prayer is most appropriate at this time because Your chosen servants are now deep in rehearsals...and performances are right around the corner for the Fall and Christmas Season. Humility is often not kept in check during these times. Humility, as well as maturity, is a constant learning process. Remind us to let others take the bows during this season of performances. Let us put the spotlight on our co-workers and be content to have been a part in the grand scheme of things that are good and honoring to the Christ Child. I pray this prayer in the name of the One who humbled Himself, left His Father's throne room and became one of us - to redeem us unto Himself, Jesus Christ. Amen."

What Think Ye?
It's Hard To Be Humble When ...
Perhaps, most everyone has seen the bumper stickers that proclaim: “It’s hard to be humble...if you’re from Texas!” Or, ”It’s hard to be humble... when you drive a BMW!” And that may well be true. But it is really important for one to be humble in today’s world--no matter what state you are from, what school you attended, or what car you drive, or how good you think you are!

Why is it important to be humble--in all situations and scenarios, especially when you are in the service of the most high God, the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, the God that sees and knows all, the One who called us into His Vineyard to work, to plant, to harvest and to serve His people?

You know, it is really difficult to be sincerely humble when you’re good at what you do, I mean really good! If you have a voice that can sing the stars down, or if you can play the keyboard like one of the contemporary masters, or if you can play your instrument like you were born to play it from day one, or you can act, ring handbells or do whatever is required like an absolute professional, then, if you are not really careful, you can easily find yourself a bit “puffed up” and proud of all you have accomplished and the marvelous skill that are yours.

Christmas performances can certainly challenge your "humility button."

After almost every performance this Christmas, everyone in the audience or congregation will be giving a standing ovation because of job well done, a solo well sung, an instrument well played, acting brilliantly portrayed, or conducting the performance without missing a cue or a beat, and perhaps, even from memory. It feels so very good and is often a “heady” experience.

But--be careful. “Pride goeth before a fall,” says Holy Scripture. It will be well to keep our hat size the same as it was before a performance. Here are some ways to make sure humility stays under control:
Keep giving God the glory and the credit. Keep remembering that it is His gift and skill in your life that allows you to perform and do it to His credit.
Always give away applause to others. Robert Shaw, the late/great Conductor and Choral Master, always recognized everyone else and rarely took any applause or ovations for himself. Always bow to others before you take your bow.
Remember: there are several others in your group who might could have done just as good a job as you--and be grateful the opportunity was yours to sing, play, ring or act--to the glory of God.
When you become so entranced with how good you are singing, playing, ringing, acting, decorating, or conducting the performance, you might tend to lose sight of the task before you and begin to think about how good you are - instead of remembering the next cue or entrance--and the result probably won’t be a pretty sight, sound or motion!
It takes someone very wise and mature to keep their humility under control. "But with humility...comes wisdom." (Proverbs 11:2)

What think ye?

Effective Leaders
Send their time wisely. Effective leaders know where their time goes.
Judge themselves by the bottom line - and are result-oriented.
Develop their strengths. Focus more on your strengths than weaknesses There's nothing wrong with trying to remedy your weaknesses, but if you don't continually grow in the areas where you are gifted, you won't realize your full potential.
Attempt to do the first things first. Being priority-driven is not only utilizing your best abilities. It's using them to accomplish tasks in order of priority. Always say "yes" to what you should do--and "no" to what you might want to do--yet know you shouldn't do.
Think creatively. True leaders have disciplined themselves to constantly search for better answers. They have a knack for finding a creative way to do things and never limit themselves to the first idea that comes along. They continually stretch their minds and their personal skills.

Family Leadership
A Modern Day Sleigh !

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells! Jingle all the way

Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh!

OK--I know this is the October Issue of MME! But, it is never too early to began planning for the Christmas Season and special things for your family, especially before rehearsals and performance pressure starts to build! Plan now and you will be ahead of the game!

Riding in a decorated sleigh is fantastic winter experience that most people will never get to do--that is, until now! Do you realize that your CAR can be the modern day sleigh? It may not have the same charm, but it can become a ‘sleigh’ just the same. If you want to surprise your your family and take them on an old-fashioned sleigh ride, here are a few suggestions to consider:

Decide in advance where you want to go. Ideas include driving through neighborhoods with great decorations; driving downtown to see the community tree and lights; driving somewhere for a special Holiday Dinner
Put pine-scented air fresheners in the car early in the afternoon of the event
Have a mix of holiday music to play in the CD
Get some battery-powered twinkly lights and decorate the vehicle. Let everyone help. Make it a fun experience
Bring along a container of hot chocolate, real cups and of course, cookies!
Find a personal "Santa" to dress up and chauffeur the family around to see the holiday lights or whatever you have planned
Roll down the windows. Bring lots of warm blankets
Hang some sleigh bells from the rearview and outside mirrors
Warn friends in advance. Drive by. Pose for pictures
If possible, end the evening with a bonfire somewhere, complete with a marshmellow roast!

And...away you go!

Inspirational Corner - Mark Edwards

Mark Edwards is currently the Worship Resource Manager for the new Celebrating Grace Hymnal for worship that honors God and continues theology and tradition of meaningful congregational singing. The goal is to compile a collection of timeless hymns and new expressions of Christian faith that glorify God who is both changeless and ever-changing. The World Premiere of this hymnal will be two nights: March 7 & 8, 2010, Second Ponce DeLeon Baptist Church, Atlanta, GA. Mark was a Minister of Music for 40 years and 30 of those years were spent at First Baptist Church, Nashville, TN, and he built a solid and stellar program for this great downtown church. He is a very fine, disciplined conductor, arranger, loves great hymns and is a very good friend. I am happy to introduce our MME readers to Mark Edwards. If you wish to contact Mark about this hymnal project or anything else, his email address is: mark.edwards@celebrating-grace.com

Are You Seeing Anything Out There?

I saw it again just the other day.

Serving as minister of music for nearly forty years--exactly thirty of those under the same steeple, I didn’t have the opportunity to observe and participate in worship in other churches. But several years ago, my wife and I found ourselves at home on a vacation Sunday. We decided to check out some of the “competition” in town, so we attended the early service at one church and the late service at another down the street. These were large churches of roughly the same size and same socio-economic population. The first relied on their hymnals for congregational singing and depended on the organ and large choir to blaze the trail for them. Most people around us seemed engaged, although not all sang energetically. But it was fairly good for 8:30 in the morning.
Down the street two hours later and sitting midway back in the room, we stood to join the singing, led by a tenured and talented leader, six or eight singers with him holding mics, with a dozen or so orchestra players, and about the same size choir as the first church. Words on twin screens were provided to help the congregation sing. The first selection was one of the popular worship songs of that day. A couple of people over there raised their hands and a few over here were swaying. There was plenty of sound and support in the room, but nearly no one was singing! After several minutes, the opening uptempo song transitioned into a more ballad-like worship song, but the congregation made absolutely no visible or audible transition; people’s eyes seemed glazed and their faces were mostly blank. Several minutes later, there was a smooth modulation, the supporting cast cooled a little, and the group began to sing:
“I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene,

And wonder how He could love me, a sinner, condemned, unclean.

How marvelous! How wonderful and my song shall ever be;

How marvelous! How wonderful is my Savior’s love for me.”
I’m telling you, it was as if everyone in the house was given a battery change. For sure, there was plenty of sound now, but this time it was the sound of people all around singing --young and old, male and female, white and black, suits and shorts. I couldn’t believe it. I had heard friends talk about that kind of thing, but surely, I thought they were exaggerating. No, they weren’t! I wanted to shout to the stage: “Hey, Mr. Worship Leader, did you notice anything out here? Do you see it?” I guess not. In a couple of stanzas, they crossed back over to the other side and so did we.
Two weeks ago on vacation, we attended a prominent church in the West and I saw it againl The leader was a good singer, the ban was tasteful and tight; the state singers were expressive and the choir was energetic. The congregation was present and willing, but mostly stood and seemed to wait patiently for:
“’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His word;
Just to rest upon His promise, just to know, ‘Thus saith the Lord.’
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him, how I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! O for grave to trust Him more!"
The "lights" came on, faces young and old lit up, voices were raised as were a few hands and many hearts. I wasn’t looking for it, so it startled me yet again. But it didn’t last long; evidently the leader didn’t notice.
People come to worship to express their love and loyalty to the triune God, not necessarily to sing the latest or watch others perform the most popular. The worship leader is in the best position to see what’s going on in the congregation. Hopefully a few arms waving will not distract us from noticing if mouths are moving or not.
Are you seeing anything out here?

This Idea Will Work

Be Prepared !

That is the Boy Scout Motto! It should also be the motto of the conductor/director of any ensemble--especially in preparation for major performances, such as Thanksgiving or Christmas! Here are some suggestions for consideration that may make rehearsals a bit more interesting and exciting for the ensembles:
Know your music--well! Know all the trouble spots in advance.
NEVER--EVER sing with the ensemble! Listen carefully!
Have all the proper music in the folders. Clean the folders regularly.
Make sure everyone has their own copy of each piece of music.
Have the rehearsal room a comfortable temperature--even a bit chilly. It will warm up--or it should!
See that the room is clean, the chairs straight and in place, and the evening’s order or addenda is on the board. If there is no board, get one!
If you have a weekly ensemble newsletter, put it in the folder slot or on each chair. If you don't have a weekly ensemble newsletter, start one.
Don’t make any announcements in the ensemble rehearsal. Put them in the ensemble newsletter and let it take care of all details. Teach your people to read the newsletter! If there is no weekly newsletter, allow the Choir President to handle the last part of each rehearsal and use part of his time to emphasize all announcements.
Begin on time--every time--and end on time--every time! This is a very important point! It is just not fair for the rehearsal to begin ten minutes late--while the director waits on five or seven people or talks with the accompanist--when there are ensemble members ready to go.
Begin the rehearsal with something familiar, in a good low register so as to warm up gently--yet, still teaching and working on ensemble tone and blend.
Work fast, work hard, and keep the ensemble busy at all times--not allowing any time for whispering, jokes, or conversations. The highest compliment a conductor can be paid is this: “You didn’t give us any time to talk tonight!” Always stay ahead of the ensemble!
When finished with the rehearsal, even if it is not 9:00, quit! Give the rehearsal to the President and go sit down. Let the president finish the time with prayer requests, a devotional thought, any major announcements and a prayer.
Rehearsals that are consistently stimulating, interesting, refreshing, innovative,challenging, exciting, humorous and fun, spiritual beneficial, and never boring...will entice the ensemble members to come consistently, for fear that if they miss a REHEARSAL, they may miss something really great. Build this spirit in the ensemble and it will work for you.

Wisdom
"Ego is to the true self what a flashlight is to a spotlight." John Bradshaw

Humor
The signs of the times are everywhere! Read this carefully!

To read more of this week's MME, please click here.