22nd September 2013

Welcome to my blog where I post musings following the 9.30am service at my church. This is the first of my blogs, and I detail in it a little of how our services are structured as well as the songs we sang.

22nd September 2013

So, first of all you should know that I lead the worship for the 9.30am 'all-age' service at our church. This is the first of my blogs where I thought I would talk about the songs chosen, and how I thought the service (and particularly the sung worship) went. We have a fairly well defined structure for the services, which essentially is as follows:

2 songs before the service starts
Welcome
Opening song
Children depart for their groups
Statement of Faith
Confession
Absolution
Song
Song
Sermon
Prayers
Song
Song
Children return and tell us what they have been doing
Final song
Blessing

This means we need to prepare a minimum of 6 songs, more if we sing totally different songs before the service than during it. We make an effort to ensure that the opening and closing songs are 'child-friendly', which is absolutely not the same as 'childish'. We are constantly looking for new songs appropriate for these slots, songs where the adults enjoy singing them as much as the children!

This week we sang:

So Glad
How can I be free from sin? (take me to the cross of Jesus)
My Jesus, My Saviour
The Stand
There is a Redeemer
God, You're Good to me

'So Glad' is a great lively opening song which gets everyone up, clapping and worshipping. Some of the kids know the actions, which always helps as well! We find that a song like this helps to set the tone for the service and lays out what we are trying to do, which is to provide a welcoming, relaxed service where people of any age can worship.

What better song to sing after confession than 'How can I be free from sin?'? We sang this prayerfully, and everyone remained seated. It was immediately followed by everyone standing to sing 'My Jesus, My Saviour'.

There is usually one song which stands out for me after each service. One that seemed to be received particularly well, or which perfectly fitted in with the sermon, prayers and/or Bible reading. This week it was the next two songs together. 'The Stand', which we merged into 'There is a Redeemer'. We had spent a long time in rehearsal working out how to play these two songs. The original plan had been to start with 'There is a Redeemer', and then slip into 'The Stand'. The first thing we did was change the key of 'Redeemer' from E major to E Flat major. We could then more easily move to B Flat major for 'The Stand'. Little changes like this can make all the difference, and can allow you to move from one song to another without a break. After running through a few times in rehearsal, we decided to switch the order round. This worked so much better (thanks Emma - this was your idea I think!). The sermon was about prayer, and was followed by the prayers. I was able to introduce the songs by referring to the offering, and mentioned us continuing in prayer as we sang, offering both our money and ourselves. It felt as though this linked into 'The Stand' perfectly. I had been anxious about how this song would be received. We have not tended to repeat songs over and over again, yet with this song there is little else you can do. I should not have worried. The sight of seeing worshipers with arms raised around the congregation as we sang told me all I needed to know! The transition to 'Redeemer' went exactly as rehearsed, with us seamlessly moving into the chorus of 'Thank You Oh My Father...' It's times like this when I wish we did not have another service starting 25 minutes after our finishes. With us all worshipping together, we could have easily carried on if not constrained by time.

The final song 'God, You're good to me' was energetic and upbeat, and the kids and adults alike loved it. Starting and finishing the service in this way was great. There was even a round of applause at the end of the song!

Once again despite my anxieties, and fairly last minute preparation (a last minute rehearsal the night before) we came to lead people in worship, and God showed up. He always does, of course, but I am reminded each and every time, and just as much this morning as usual, that the quality of the worship is nothing to do with me, and entirely to do with Him.