Issue 7
Hebrews
10:24-25
"Without wavering, let us hold
tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be trusted to keep
His promise. Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of
love and good deeds. And let us not neglect our meeting together but
encourage and warn each other"
As I was trying to straighten up
my various stacks of books that have accumulated as I work on projects,
I noticed a piece of paper tucked in my Bible. When I opened the book,
the passage from Hebrews was the one that caught my eye. How interesting
to find such a short passage that uses the word "encourage"
twice! As I thought about this word as it relates to our work as a
musicians and worship leaders, I realized that much of what we do
can be labeled "encouraging".
During rehearsals, we encourage our
musicians to reach their full potential through gentle training and
guiding in the interpretation of the music. This is where our own
skills as musicians and leaders are called into play. This is when
we encourage our musicians to trust us and trust their own individual
gifts. It is during the rehearsal that we encourage our singers and
ringers to reach for the best rendering of the music. They encourage
each other with praise for a job well done. They encourage us to reach
higher as they rise to the occasion on a particular piece of music.
Wow!
During worship, we encourage our
congregations to come into the presence of God with the choices we
make for our service music and hymns. How those pieces are presented
can encourage people to praise, pray, rejoice, give thanks, let go,
or reach out in faith. Lively hymns need to be lively to encourage
people to sing with gusto and rejoice. Hymns of meditation should
draw the people closer to God and encourage them to set their mind
on God. Each song and piece of music has its own personality and when
this inherent power is honored, the music can encourage people as
they seek a closer relationship with God.
One the most wonderful things that
encourage me is to hear the congregation singing - sometimes I have
to smile as I play because my heart is so full of joy. This encourages
me to be mindful of what I do as a musician because I see that there
are positive consequences.
Maybe that is why that word - encourage
- is used twice. As we think of ways to encourage our musicians and
congregations to a more intentional song, they in turn encourage us
to be more sensitive to the purpose and use of music in worship. May
we continue to think of ways to encourage our singers, ringers and
congregations as together we worship.
Book Alert: Contemplating
the Cross: A Pilgrimage of Prayer
by Tricia McCary Rhodes
Rhodes presents readings for each
of the 40 days of Lent. Each devotional includes Scripture, a meditation,
prayer and a response. Rhodes writes in the present tense as a way
to encourage us to come closer to Christ. She draws on material from
all of the gospels and weaves them together with historical information.
This is a wonderful book for personal devotion and exploration.
Music Alert: How
Deep the Father's Love For Us
Words and music by Stuart Townend, Choral setting by Larry
Shackley, Hope Publishing, C5268
This choral piece makes extensive
use of unison singing with four-part harmony on the refrain section.
The vocal parts are within comfortable range. The melody is quite
folk-like (think "Be Thou My Vision" or Come, Thou Fount").
The words "How deep the Father's love for us, how vast beyond
all measure, that he should give his only Son" can fit both at
communion and Easter or any time you want to highlight the ultimate
sacrifice of Christ. It is a gentle, refreshing change from the typical
Easter choices and is useful for other times as well, making the investment
of time worthwhile.
Upcoming events:
Piano concert - "Reflections
on the Sacrifice" at First Baptist-West Allis, April 2, 2006
at 6:30 p.m. This is a concert of piano music that focuses on Christ's
sacrifice on Calvary. Join us!
Choirfest 2006 - May 7, 2006
at First Baptist-Waukesha
More information will be forthcoming.
Watch your mail!
Any comments, questions or suggestions
email me at fbwamusic@aol.com
Mary
