[Humility]

through much.....stuff...i've been given the opportunity to lead worship at my church. i've been leading worship for my church's junior high ministry for the past couple weeks. sometimes it's been frustrating, but i believe God is going to do something great in due time.

God has given me the vision for it and so far i've been going on with it. i've been leading it the way that i do and it has been a great learning experience. naturally, im kind of a quiet person, but this has caused me to take a little more authority. in something as simple as telling the kids not to talk during the worship, so that they wouldn't cause others to be taken out of worship. and speaking in the middle of the music, like if the spirit is telling me to say something and doing it.

here is my music so far...

One way (B)
Better is one day (E)
Trading my sorrows (G or A)
Grace flows down (D)
Forever (G)
Wrap me in your arms (Bm)
Holy and Anointed One (G)
Holy is the Lord (G)
How great is our God (G)


these are just the songs i've played so far. this is the full list of songs i'm going to place into our worship folder.

Praise songs:

One way (B)
I am free (D)
O' Praise Him (Bb)
Trading my Sorrows (A)
Forever (G)
Filled with your Glory (G or Ab)
Famous one (G)
Holy is the Lord (G)

Worship Songs:

Wrap me in your arms (Bm)
Holy and anointed One (G)
Better is one day (E)
to the ends of the earth (G)
Did you feel the mountains tremble (D)
Rescue (D)
Where the Love lasts forever (D)
Holy is the Lord (C or A)


sometimes i've been given the opportunity to lead worship at lockins and bigger nights (since they used to be apart of the senior high ministry, but they took it apart and now have 2 different ministries, and the JH has really suffered since the HS has been so good) and i played these songs in 2 nights

One way
Spin
famous one
I could sing of your love
Your love is extravegant
I am free
We fall down (kutless version)
trading my sorrows
to the ends of the earth
Sing like the saved

so far it is just me with my acoustic guitar and my friend on vocals, but i want to put together the full band. i have 2 people who are interested, a girl who wants to sing (she's tone deaf, but i think i can work with it) and a girl who wants to play guitar(she doesn't know how to yet, but she really really wants to) and i know a kid who plays bass. im not too concerned with a drummer yet, but i would kinda like a Djmbae (sp?) player.

right now, i have a few questions...

i've been blessed enough to have been able to experience God in some incredible ways, so the concept of not being able to take them somewhere that i havent been is something i know, but what am i to expect in leading more?

musically, how should i go about practicing with the team? the only day i'd be able to practice right now is sunday afternoons, but i dont want to have really long practices on sundays since i also play on sunday night services for the HS service and i'd like to get at least some rest, but also for the other team members to get rest.

personally, how would i go about making sure that the team is continually seeking God. I've seen a big need in teh past with past worship teams i've been on, and i would like to make it as best as possible. two of them are girls and i wouldn't like to step on any toes (especially since one of them is tone deaf)

practice wise, what are your thoughts on practice and playing? meaning, if you miss a practice, you dont play on the night. how strict should i make it?

and just any tips if you guys have them?

God bless, im really excited to be doing this and i think God is gonna do great things.

P.S. the vision i have is ver simple... i want these JH kids to experience God in awesome ways, and get an understanding of what worship is and what it is not so that when they go into HS and leave the Junior High Ministry that they'll be on fire for God and be adding so much more when they leave. and have these kids actively seeking God and Seeking the kingdom.

Jim

[Humility]

no advice?


btw, i found out last night that this sunday night, next wednesday, next sunday morning and sunday night im gonna be leading worship for my church. sunday and wednesday is gonna be cool, and leading it on sunday morning in front of the whole church is gonna be interesting.

only thing is this... usually our worship leader doesn't sing, he just leads the music and has other singers lead it. i'd really like to lead it by myself, but i dont want to come off as selfish or something. i dont know how i should go about doing it...

im considering doing some new songs too, like wrap me in your arms and shout unto God. wish me luck

[gtrdave]

First, praise the Lord for what's happening in your life and in ministry.

Second, I can't speak for anyone else but for me your post, while I'm sure your were just trying to give adequate background info, was really long.
Sorry, I don't mean to offend. Just being honest and giving a reason why the thread sunk like it did.

Third, a quick read through the threads of previous weeks would probably reveal questions similar to your own along with answers to said questions.
It could be that folks assumed that you'd maybe find your answers in another thread.
Again, not meaning to offend...just trying to speculate on why your thread resembled a boat anchor in the sea.

Ok, all that said, let me see if I can briefly answer your questions:

Model the very activity of worship to your team.
This doesn't mean that you teach them to raise their hands and close their eyes while they sing along...it means that your very life and everything you do is lived to God's glory.

I encourage you to do a study on what worship really is.
What you find will, hopefully, be an eye opener and might have you questioning every motive you have and really seeking the distinct difference between your will and God's will in regards to everything in the music ministry.

Next, where is it that you want to take your team? The only place I'd want to go is the very presence of God. A very sobering thought when you realize that very broken man has no right to be anywhere near a very holy God...except through Christ Jesus. And know that getting there doesn't require a guitar or drum set or PA system or multi-media software. All that stuff is great but it ain't God.

For the practical stuff; practices, schedules, learning songs, song dynamics and all that...that will all look different at each church due to the limitations of people, their inherent busyness, and frankly their commitment to serve in the (or any) ministry.
You may have to try a few different situations before you find the one that works for you and your team.
As far as people missing rehearsals when they're scheduled to play that weekend...I deal with it every week. I've shared my heart with everyone regarding how I feel about it and some people are mature enough to back out if they feel that their lack of participation is a hinderance.
Others...are still maturing...and we're all praying for schedules to change and hearts to change in a way that will benefit everyone.
You'll need to pray and seek the right way for you to move in that area.
it's tough...

Pray for your team; for those people presently serving with you and for those to come.

Serve, serve, serve...music ministry might be best thought of as ministry first and music second. That doesn't mean that you want a team of Mother Theresa models that can't carry a tune in a bucket. Not at all because team members serving each other will do their best to make it to practice on-time, be well-rehearsed, continue to improve on their instrument of choice, and be willing to serve the Lord and serve each other with no one desiring the limelight...and that means you too...and you be well rehearsed, have all of the musical aids needed for others to learn songs (charts, lyrics, CD's, etc...), be on-time, stay late, and continue to strive for excellence as you serve God and serve others.

Regarding people talking or being disconnected during songs...show grace but teach respect.
If they don't want to be there, allow them the option to leave. If they do want to be there, allow them the grace to grow.

Regarding speaking between songs...be careful. Too many times people on the platform feel the need to talk and talk and explain and expound and in doing so they may be satisfying their own need or displaying nervousness rather than following God's leading.
Just be careful of the 5 minute dissertations between 3 minute songs.

About leading songs yourself vs. others singing/leading...no reason you can't do both.
I regularly let someone else start a particular song vocally. The occasional different voice can break up a musical monotony but just be certain to communicate with the other person at rehearsal what it is that you will do and practice the transitions and flow as much as necessary to eliminate the potential for distraction.

That's all I've got (talk about long?).
Praise God for your heart to serve and to worship Him.

[Humility]

thanks for responding

i've been blessed enough to have been a part of a ministry in the passed that taught about worship as a lifestyle, so that is a big part of what im doing with this group.

i understand that music isn't what it's all about, but how am i to go about letting the people know? for instance, one of the girls who wants to sing, in all honesty cant sing at all. she told me that she's tone deaf, and she definitely is. i dont want to have to flatter someone, or make them think that they're fine when in all actuallity when they sing they'd be distracting other members musically. i dont know all that much about being tone deaf, but is it a thing that can be changed through time? if it is, that'd be great, because the people I have all have the heart for worship.

like i said before, thanks for replying!