Thinking About More Than Music

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volume 34 - number 4 2012

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MORE THAN MUSIC

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Breath as Spirit

Thinking About MORE THAN MUSIC

Front Page

Stan DeWitt with Susan Moore

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Your Ministry Every Day

Rick Muchow

Vernon Sanders

26 Staff

Spotlight on Kay Broughton Bob Burroughs

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Last Page

Principles of Worship for Life and Ministry Ron Man

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Recruiting Without Stealing From Other Churches

Vern Sanders and Members of the Creator Leadership Network

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Select 20 Anthem Reviews

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A Church Musician’s Bookshelf: Icons, Symbols, and Banners

Annette Bender

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Good Stuff Reviews of New Materials Staff

in this issue

sometimes the best you can do in the crush of participating in worship leadership is remember to breath regularly...but Rick Muchow provides some other things to think about to turn your eyes to more than music...and look inside for the chance to participate in one or more of Rick’s upcoming MasterClass presentations on this topic... plus a spotlight interview with Kay Broughton, the Select 20, and more...

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by Vernon Sanders

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your ministry every day...

Volume 34 - Number 4 2012 publisher Vernon Sanders editor Bob Burroughs

Thanks for reading this magazine.

Everybody who has a hand in getting it into your hands (well...perhaps not every postal worker...) appreciates the opportunity to help you do ministry better.

You can enroll in one of our MasterClass events and learn how to do your own ministry better. Addicted to social media? Join the thousands of people who either follow us on twitter or facebook.

But there’s more to what we do than just this printed page. Did you know that over 2,000 people visit our website every day? Or that every day people read 10,000 pages of our content online?

Best of all, most of this is free. Scan the QR code at the bottom of this page, or go to http://cmag.ws/1h and register at our website, so that we can help you do your ministry better.

over 2,000 people visit our website and read over 10,000 pages of helpful content – EVERY DAY If you are one of our website readers, I want to say thank you again. But if you aren’t, my question is why not?

Every week we publish at least two new articles at the site. You’ll find leadership assistance from people like Hugh Ballou, Bob Burroughs, and Doug Lawrence on Mondays, and worship insight from people like Tom Kraeuter, Marcia McFee, Chris Alford, and Stephen Phifer on Thursdays.

But, as I’m fond of imitating the late night infomercials by saying, that’s not all...

You can join the myriad of folks who search our in-depth Select 20 reviews at the website because they trust us to point out great music that will serve their ministry better.

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But we were talking about giving thanks. I’m going to ask you to put down this magazine for just a moment and pick up your (smart)phone. Send someone an email, a text, or make a call, and just say thank you. Wondering who to call? How about someone who mentored you in a way that got you to where you are sitting right now? How about your music librarian, children’s ministry person, or your postal worker?

How about your barista, or one of your ministry volunteer’s spouses? Sit for a minute, and you’ll think of somebody.

Just say thanks, because the rest will take care of itself. Go ahead...I’ll wait.

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editorial board Christine Anderson Hugh Ballou Wendell Boertje Glenn P. Eernisse Allen Henderson Heather Hood Lloyd Larson Douglas Lawrence David Leestma William Lock Lura Milner Carl M. Peters, II Stephen Phifer Paul Satre Thomas Vozzella Edwin M. Willmington Paul Leddington Wright John Yarrington art direction Geyser Ridge Associates printing coordinator Pete Moceri Creator Magazine PO Box 3538 Pismo Beach, CA 93448 (800) 777-6713 creator@creatormagazine.com Creator Magazine (ISSN #1045-0815) is published bimonthly by Creator Magazine. U.S. subscription rates are: $32.95 - 1 year, $55.95 - 2 years, $73.95 - 3 years. Foreign subscriptions (sent printed matter – airmail): Canada and Mexico, add $10 per year to above subscription rates. Other foreign countries, add $25 per year to U.S. rates. (All foreign payments should be made by check in U.S. funds drawn on a U.S. bank.

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feature

thinking about

MORE THAN MUSIC

by Rick Muchow

what i think about when i lead worship

Churches need worship leaders that have the ability to connect a congregation to God through worship. Pastors may or may not know/care anything about music but they are looking for connection. Whether you are a choir member, a tech crew member, a handbell ringer, a reader of Scripture, or a worship band player, a worship leader who knows how to connect a congregation to God will have no problem finding ministry opportunities.

When you lead worship do you feel that the congregation is connecting to God?

Be a Worshipper First Building methodology on Biblical theology is key to the success of every servant leader of God and

especially to those who serve in worship leadership. Effective worship leading is rooted in knowing and loving God with all one’s heart, soul and mind.

Who we are, children in relationship with our heavenly Father, is far more important than what we do for a living or any “act of worship.”

As musicians, we understand the importance of having a foundation in music theory, no matter how much we may enjoy playing music by ear. Rather than learning biblical worship theory, it is common for God’s children to “worship by ear.” Yet it is vitally important that worship leaders understand what the Bible teaches about worship.

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Explore this topic in more depth by learning more from Rick Muchow in an upcoming series of Creator MasterClasses on the 13 Things to Think About When You Lead Worship.

To enroll in one or more of Rick’s MasterClasses go to http://cmag.ws/44

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listen to the voice of God while leading worship... the Holy Spirit is the best worship leader

Rick Muchow served

as Pastor of Worship at Saddleback Church with Rick Warren for 24 ½ years. His worship songs and other resources can be downloaded from < www.encouragingmusic.com >.

Four Foundational Principles Let’s look at four foundational principles of biblical worship. Understanding these principles gives us a correct perspective for leading worship.

Worship must be done in love.

Worship is always accompanied by humility and reverent fear.

Worship is not an optional activity for the believer.

Worship involves surrendering your entire life to God.

Thirteen Things 1. Think About Magnifying God. Avoid substituting Worshipping God for Worshipping Art forms and performance by remembering the foundational principles of worship.

Worship is about God not us! This will eliminate self-promotion.

2. Think About Others. The second part of the Great Commandment is to love your neighbor. It is so important to have love for others on your mind as you lead worship.

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3. Think About Recruiting. Watch the congregation…look for musicians.

Greet people before and after the service. One of the primary roles for a worship leader is to be the Manager of God’s Musical (Artistic) resources in the church and give opportunity for others to use their gifts in worship!

Rather than using phrases like: “Oh please help us,” or “We need help,” offer opportunities for the congregation to use their gifts for God. Most of the time, people are interested in opportunities that benefit them personally.

There is nothing more fulfilling than using one’s gifts for the glory of God. 4. Think About Excellence. Always give your best – physically, spiritually, mentally, and musically. When we are well prepared, we are more available to people and not tied to the “score.”

Plan for excellence. You cannot be better than your material so choose service elements wisely and program and prepare them well.

Think about excellence but don’t worship it. Excellence is a good value but not the goal of a worship service.

Connection is the goal!

5. Think About Thanksgiving, Praise and Joy. Worship needs to be

enthusiastic. Enthusiasm has nothing to do with volume preference. All hymns were not written to be sung slowly and certainly none without passion.

Tempo and dynamics are often thought of as synonymous, but they are not. A slow song does not have to be void of energy. For that matter fast songs don’t have to be loud. The point is that every song used in Christian worship should be presented from a heart of thanksgiving, praise and joy.

6. Think About the Holy Spirit Leading. Listen to the voice of God while leading worship. The Holy Spirit is the best worship leader.

7. Think About Authenticity. Personalize the lyrics. Love and live the Word.

Pray the songs. Enter into worship (don’t get lost in it while you are leading) and be the lead worshipper.

Jesus teaches us not to be like the hypocrites who love to stand up and pray in the houses of worship and on the street corners, so that everyone will see them. A worship leader is not merely performing but living the message. None of us are perfect but all of us can be honest and sincere; sinners in love with a merciful Savior. All believers are trophies of God’s grace.

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knowing how to deal with chaos is very helpful to anyone in a position of worship leadership 8. Think About Navigating The Unexpected Moments. Be ready for the last minute and unplanned moments and use them for God’s glory, making the most of every opportunity!

These moments can be carrying out a change of worship plan without anyone noticing. It could mean transitioning the attention of the congregation from a noticeable “snag” in the service back to God. Strings breaking, missed cues, the fire alarm going off – all can be used as opportunities for ministry that enhance a live worship service.

The old saying “when you get bumped the real you spills out” applies here.

People, especially skeptics, love seeing the real you. The key in navigating the unexpected (even more important than experience) is prayer.

9. Think About Managing Chaos. This is similar but distinct from Navigating the Moments. Being able to navigate the moments is very helpful to managing chaos.

Knowing how to deal with chaos is very helpful to anyone in a position of worship leadership. Experience is helpful here however wisdom is the key to managing chaos.

Chaos distracts so much from connecting people to God and drains joy out of the team. The best way to manage chaos is to stay one step ahead of it and make right decisions calmly, clearly and confidently. Always value people more than the program. Be personal and professional, but the greatest of these is personal. Love as you lead.

10. Think About Urgency. What you do really matters. It is truly a matter of life and death. People all around us are dying without Jesus. This is the worst human disaster on the planet. People need the Lord. We have a job to do – it matters – and we may not get a second chance with some people..

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11. Think About Servant Leadership.

One of my favorite verses regarding servant leadership is Romans 12:10:

“Be good friends who love deeply, practice playing second fiddle.”

for further reading • The Two-Edged Sword (Weston Noble) Nov/Dec 78 • The Duality of Worship (Ray Robinson) Mar/Apr 79 • The Role of Music in Worship (Timothy M Smith) Mar/Apr 79 • Never Should We “Just Sing” (Roger W Hicks) Jul/Aug 84 • Does the Worship Leader Worship? (Lloyd Larson) Sep/Oct 84 • A Called Choir: Playing for Keeps (Dan Bird) Jul/Aug 93 • Whatever Happened to God-Sensitive Worship? (Edwin M Willmington) Nov/Dec 95 • A Theology of Worship (Robert Webber) Nov/Dec 96 • The Choir as Worship Leader: Revitalizing the Ministry from the Loft (Ron Man) Jul/Aug 99 • A Post-Modern Choir Alert (Robert Webber) Jul/Aug 99 You can find many of these articles individually and/or on our Leadership Articles Compliation CD ($19.95) or Worship Articles Compliation CD ($24.95) at creatormagazine.com. All articles are available by calling 800-777-6713.

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12. Think About Involving The Crowd. Throughout the Bible there is an emphasis on they worshipped.

Worship at church needs to be participatory. There is a difference between an Artist and a Worship Leader. An Artist is the fire. A Worship Leader lights the fire.

A great way to get a congregation to participate is to ask them to participate.

I don’t think asking is offensive. If you ask the crowd to clap their hands to the music they might do it. If they don’t respond just be patient and ask again.

Don’t get frustrated, be nurturing.

If you speak their cultural language you have a better chance of getting a positive response.

Learning how to ask is like learning a language. They may be ready to respond but are not responding because they don’t understand what

they are being asked to do. Sometimes we think that if we talk louder and slower to people that speak a different language than we do, our words will eventually be understood. That does not work!

Most of the time when attenders are not involved in a worship service it is because they have simply not been invited to participate. Isaiah 44:23 says to: “tell the heavens and the earth to start singing! Tell the mountains and every tree in the forest to join in the song. The Lord has rescued His people...now they will worship him.”

When Jesus sang in the upper room he sang with his disciples. If anyone could have asked for a solo, Jesus could have, but it was recorded that “they” sang a hymn. Don’t be afraid to ask the congregation to participate and be sure to create opportunities for their involvement in the service.

13. Think About Changed Lives. This is very similar to urgency. When you lead, sing to the lost, hurting and broken.

In every worship service there are people present with genuine needs. Ask God to help you encourage, comfort, serve and communicate the Good News to His precious children especially the lost, hurting and broken. Ask your team to envision God using them to minister to God’s children. Pray for attendees, volunteers, staff and the speaker.

I look at what I do as much more than music. Worship and leading worship is infinitely more than music! Serving the Lord through the Great Commission and the Great Commandment is extremely fulfilling.

I think about these 13 things, as a matter of habit, every time I lead worship: Magnifying God, Others, Recruiting, Excellence, Thanksgiving, Holy Spirit Leading, Authenticity, Navigating the moments, Managing Chaos, Urgency, Servant Leadership, Involving The Crowd, and Changed Lives.

This is a lot to think about when leading worship, but eventually it become second nature. Remembering these things means that when you are leading worship, it is about MORE THAN MUSIC. fine

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Did You Miss This? Monday Morning Email readers get access to information like this every week! Go to http://cmag.ws/s

recruiting without stealing from other churches

Vern Sanders and members of the Creator Leadership Network

In a recent phone conversation with a friend, he asked an interesting question: How do you let the musicians in your community know that there is an excellent choir (or any other) program at your church...without making it seem like you are trying to steal people from other churches?

A lot has been written about how to recruit new members from within your own church, but how do you look outside your campus without stepping on your colleagues’ collective toes?

My own approach over the years, in several cities of 175,000+ and in a suburban venue in a large urban area, has been rather passive. My attitude has been, more or less, that word will get around, and that has been confirmed by my experience. In my current situation (a town of less than 2,000) I don’t feel that in good conscience I can do anything. The town is too small, quite frankly, for there to not be hard feelings if I tried to recruit anyone from another church, and if there are musicians who are not going to any church I know about them, and why they are not church goers.

I told my friend that I basically had no answer for him, other than starting a facebook page for his choir.

So I asked members of the Creator Leadership Network for ideas. A sampling of their resposes is below. You can read the entire article, with their comments at http://cmag.ws/1v: • Get your choir involved in community activities outside of the church building. Search out community service opportunities as well as opportunities to sing (music festivals; large community gatherings; etc). A choir that sings well and gives a meaningful performance will increase the number of conversations around the community about their program. “Have you heard that choir over at _________?” ~ David

Scan the QR code to read the original article

• Even though I have served in a larger city, I’ve spent most of my ministry in a small town and I’m in one now, so I understand the animal. You’re right that it is harder to recruit from outside the church when you are in a small town. One other difficulty that I have had is in recruiting those folks who used to sing in the choir, but for whatever reason don’t sing any more.

I’ve found it especially difficult to pull high school graduates who stay in town into the adult choir when the music they’ve experienced in venue worship within the youth group or in youth choirs built on what is popular in CCM [Contemporary Christian Music] circles right now is so different from the worship style of the church’s Sunday morning worship gathering. In most of the places I’ve served, the youth minister has sought to build an attitude toward worship that is contrary to developing a strong youth choir, so most of the kids don’t get the experience of singing in a choir and when they become adults they have no passion for doing so. I’m in a church now where I get great support from the Student Minister. He serves on the Student Choir Parent Council alongside me. We are beginning to make headway into building a strong youth choir that, hopefully, will build within our teens a passion to continue singing when they become adults. ~ Mark Bowers • It is tempting to prey on programs that are not as intense or that are not staying with the times, etc. I certainly don’t want other directors planting a seed for my folks to sing elsewhere. We are a small coastal town and we recognize that we are all “the church” in Destin and do our best to work with each other for holiday presentations and other events. It seems to me that there are plenty of musicians/singers in the area that are not involved in church and those should be our target, not the “sheep thievery” that has gone on other places.

I believe that part of the answer is recognizing that the Kingdom of God is bigger than any one church and working in cooperation with other directors and having a fellowship where there is open accountability. Encourage each other to promote their own programs and discourage musicians from leaving where they are just to be part of something better. ~ Kim Cannon

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• It is my belief that each local church is a part of the whole body of Christ. And I also believe that God provides the musicians He wants for each local church. Adapting the choir ministry to available men and women in the local body is the way to go. At the same time it is important to pray for God’s leading in contacting present and past attendees. ~ William Lock • Here’s what I’m trying in my relatively new context: let choir members and congregants carry the message and be your recruiters in the community. They’re asking friends and colleagues to share in something they enjoy and believe in, not “head hunting.” ~ Terry Heislen.

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• Your statement “So I basically had no answer for him, other than starting a facebook page for his choir” is so right on target. Interestingly, you make it sound as though it is a negative. Absolutely not, but link your church’s YouTube Video page to Facebook. Take videos of everything your church is doing, post them on your church’s web site (you have one don’t you?) and tell everyone about the wonderful things going on at your church. Then tell them to go to the web site and look at the videos. And invite them to come to church, meet the people and say hello to the pastor and listen to the music.

We may get some musicians to come in and join up. The music may be the hook to bring them to church but the purpose of the music is to hear God’s word and it is up to the pastor to take over. We spread the Good News any way we can and invite all. We have three different services and realizing that people have different preferences as to what church should be, we have an early piano service, a praise and worship service and a traditional choir service. I guess it comes down to something that we have been doing forever...”Spread the Word.”

You [must comply with regulations about] copyrights [when] using YouTube with the church. Promote your church activities on the web and when people respond to that invite them to hear the great music you are doing in church. Speaking of permissions, make sure that you get releases from people for videos going on the internet. ~ Michael Garozzo • I conduct a small choir in a small church in a small town out in the country, north[ern] Italy. I can only say that the only way we have to find new people is to let people talk about [the] good atmosphere, nice songs, [and] relaxed study we have into the choir. In this way someone can become curious and come and try the experience to sing in the choir. I don’t know other effective ways. ~ Matteo Zenatti As you can see by the responses, the best answer to my friend’s question is to build a ministry that people want to talk about and of which they want to be a part. It has been my experience that this is the single most effective tool for growth – and not just in numbers.

Do you have an idea? Let’s keep the conversation going. Leave a comment at http://cmag.ws/1v and let us know what works for you.

let members of your ministry and congregation carry the message and be your recruiters in the community

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13 Things to think about when you Lead Worship! with

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music

breath

by Stan DeWitt with Susan Moore

as

A few years ago, I started a correspondence with Susan Moore, a choir director in Oakhurst, California, about the nature of breath and breathing in choral singing, both from a vocal/musical and a spiritual standpoint. We both had been musing a lot about it leading up to our conversations, and we both felt our conversation helped us coalesce what we had learned.

tensity of a musical phrase is controlled largely by how a singer handles his or her breath. For example, the length of a phrase is determined by the amount of breath; for a solo singer, the phrase is limited by the amount of breath he or she can sustain, or by the ability of the singer to take a catch breath midphrase without interrupting the musical phrase.

Another way the musical phrase is connected to the human breath is in its general shape and contour. We know that when we run out of breath, the volume decreases and eventually dies away. Such it is with a musical phrase, with the ending tapering off at the end.

That arc of a musical phrase mirrors the artistic and narrative arc found in all works: symphonies, novels, and plays.

The Musical Phrase

For a choir, how well the group exhibits control is by practicing staggered breathing, to give the aural illusion that the choir is connecting the breaths together into one whole.

If the length and contour of a musical phrase is so heavily dependent upon a singerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s breath, then what else is contained in the analogy? This is where the journey down the rabbitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hole began, so bear with me here.

I had started my journey by focusing on a single idea, in an effort to help my choir understand the nature of a musical phrase: the shape, direction and in-

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inhalation and exhalation

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Breathing Represents Living and Dying

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In conversations about this topic with my mentor Frank Pooler, I stumbled upon the notion that breathing represents living and dying. Inhalation is

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Stan DeWitt is Minister of Music at Grace First Presbyterian Church in Long Beach, California.

spirit

as living and dying

Quality

the process of giving our body what it needs to survive. Exhalation is the process of expelling what will kill our bodies. When we are born, we first inhale; when we die, the last thing that we do is exhale.

Since life is represented by inhalation, and death represented by exhalation, that means that every musical phrase is a representation on some level of life and, more importantly, death. Furthermore, since everything we say or utter or give to the universe is done on the exhalation, our act of speaking and singing itself is representative of dying.

When we breathe in, we take from the universe and partake in the act of living. When we exhale, we give to the universe and are partaking in the act of dying. (This makes Christ’s death on the cross all the more profound, as perhaps the ultimate example one can give in human form of an artistic gift.)

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The irony of this struck me profoundly: inhalation/not singing = life = taking from the universe; exhalation/singing = death = giving to the universe.

Ruach Susan was exploring the definition and use of the word Ruach, which occurs in the Old Testament 389 times, and which is defined loosely as “breath,” or “spirit.” Its larger definition is understood as more than just the essence of breath or wind, but rather the power encountered in both. It is the origin of the concept of the Holy Spirit found in the New Testament.

She found that Ruach is the active force, that which pushes us to action.

It is motion, like the wind on the deep.

God set up living things with active forces moving them. We might call them passions or emotions or desires or instincts. Ruach is used to describe some of these things. The Holy Spirit – Spirit of God – Ruach HaKodesh – would be God himself pushing us to action, outside our own ruach (which is also from God) attached to our physical being.

and singing is one of the purest human expressions of that force.

What Does It Mean?

Depending on your point of view, all of this either means not much or it means everything.

If you consider music as a utilitarian venture that provides entertainment or a chance for socialization, then this all seems pretty silly. Likewise, if your only concern as a music director is how to get your choir to sing in tune, cut off on beat three and show up on time on Sunday mornings, then this is all probably a bunch of nonsense.

However, if you are (like me) someone who asks about music, “why,” then it is not nonsense; it is actually the core question.

Why do we love music so much? Why does music affect us the way it does?

Why is some music very emotionally effective at hitting us in the heart, while others miss the mark?

For me as a church choir director, half of the battle is about motivation and

once you are part of a chord in tune, you are never the same I found it interesting that she was connecting the concept of breath/ wind, through Ruach, to other forces, such as light, hunger, and emotions. I add to that list music itself, which is a type of force, a wave of sound that is carried across the air, creating a bridge between performer and listener, or as W.A. Mathieu would call it, a bridge of waves.

There is more to it than can be summoned in this tiny essay. But suffice it to say that Susan and I were both exploring the idea that breath as an animating force unites us with God,

inspiration. If you yell at your choir to sing in tune, they’ll never do it. If you teach them how, they will have a fighting chance. But if you can show them how music can change their lives, you will have inspired them to dig deeper themselves. And then they will never want to sing out of tune again. As Pooler used to say to his choir, “once you are part of a chord in tune, you are never the same.”

To me, there is something about breathing and music that is vital for our understanding of how music moves us. Even though it is an understudied subject in the sciences of psychology and physiology, there is a whole cottage industry now of authors – like Oliver Sacks, W.A. Mathieu, and Victor Wooten – who write voluminously on why music triggers our synapses the way it does.

Why Is It Important?

Let me recap these ideas: •

Singing is the supreme artistic human endeavor that requires breath.

•

Inhalation and exhalation represent life and death.

•

Since they also represent taking from, and giving to the universe, artistic expression through singing is an act of a dying gift to the universe.

•

The spiritual concepts of breath in the major religions (Ruach, spirit, Holy Spirit) mirror this.

It is also true that our brains seem to be hard-wired to understand the complex mathematical/overtonal relationships contained in a musical note. The comprehension of musical expression is built into our DNA, much in the same way that our comprehension of images, coded through light and the receptors in our eyes, is part of our DNA.

For those who lead worship!

TheWorshipRenewalCenter.com has resources and ideas to help you do worship ministry better

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In the movie Contact, Jodie Foster plays a scientist working on the SETI project listening for extra-terrestrial life who one afternoon stumbles upon a signal from the galaxies. She and her colleagues finally discover that the signal is an elaborate blueprint for some sort of huge device, although no one knows what it will do. But the discovery process is complicated, because the massive blueprints are encoded in a puzzle inside an image inside a sound wave.

The trek down that rabbit hole for them takes many winding turns that no one could predict. When they finally reach bottom and build the device, Foster goes through it and experiences a journey through time and space that gives her belief in both extra-terrestrial life and God, but no one believes her.

I wonder if trying to understand music is a similar journey? If we travel down the rabbit hole of sound waves and the overtone series, will we get to the bottom and discover that what is there is something that we should have had faith in all along? Will we find that our faith in the transformative power of music is rewarded, but ultimately completely beyond our grasp to comprehend?

of the mathematical properties of the overtone series encoded in our physical DNA, the comprehension of the spiritual properties of music is encoded in our spiritual DNA. The very concept of a musical phrase – its length, shape and expressiveness – is inextricably tied to the things that we hold as spiritual.

The Torah (Old Testament) says that “God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life” (Genesis 2:7).

the magazine... over 30 years of resources in

The New Testament says that when Jesus appeared to his disciples, “He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22).

Paul wrote: “He is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else” (Acts 17:25). In short, our holy scriptures are covered with allusions to breath as God. The truth of the matter is, then, that the act of singing is truly one of the most spiritual acts in which we can partake.

When singing, we resonate with all that is around us through music, and by doing so become one with each other and all of God’s creation. fine

This is where, I think, the concept of breath and breathing in music is pointing us. Not only is the comprehension

the comprehension of the spiritual properties of music is encoded in our spiritual DNA

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Helping YOU do Ministry Better!

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17

by Annette Bender

education

a church musician’s bookshelf

You want to learn more about how to do your ministry better, but you don’t have the ability to go to seminary.

What can you do?

Cooper, J.C. An Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Traditional Symbols, with 210 Illustrations. Thames and Hudson, Inc., 1978.

Mazar, Peter. To Crown the Year; Decorating the Church Through the Seasons. Art by Evelyn Grala. Liturgy Training Publications, 1995.

You can read all about it by assembling a bookshelf of valuable resources. The books on this list form a core collection in the areas of church growth and outreach. They are taken from an extensive collection assembled by a person with a career of more than forty years as a church musician and worship leader, and can be considered classics.

Enjoy!

Eliade, Mircea. Symbolism, the Sacred, and the Arts. Edited by Diane Apostolos-Cappadona. Crossroad, 1985.

Moe, Dean, with symbol designs by Avis Benson. Christian Symbols Handbook; Commentary and Patterns for Traditional and Contemporary Symbols.

Augsburg Publishing House, 1985.

Fisher, Leonard Everett. Symbol Art. Four Winds Press, 1985.

Guelzow, Diane. Banners with Pizazz; a Step by Step Guide. Resource Publications, Inc., 1992.

Icons, Symbols, and Banners Bradner, John. Symbols of Church Seasons and Days. Morehouse Publishing, 1977.

Chinn, Nancy. Spaces for Spirit; Adorning the Church. Liturgy Training Publications, 1998.

Collopy, George. It’s a Banner Year; New Directions in No-Word Banners.

Resource Publications, Inc., 1990.

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Annette Bender recently retired from a position she loved – being a school librarian – and is an alto in her church choir.

volume 34 - number 4 | creatormagazine.com

Holy Image, Holy Space; Icons and Frescoes from Greece. Greek Ministry of Culture, Byzantine Museum of Athens, 1988.

Krier, Catherine H. Symbols for all Seasons; Environmental Planning for Cycles A, B & C. Resource Publications, Inc., 1988.

Post, W. Ellwood. Saints, Signs, and Symbols. Second edition. MorehouseBarlow Co., 1974.

Sourcebook 2002. Stained Glass.

Stained glass Association of America.

Symbol and Art in Worship, edited

by Luis Maldonado and David Power.

Concilium; Religion in the Eighties.

Seabury Press, 1980.

Tregubov, Andrew. The Light of Christ; Iconography of Gregory Kroug. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1990.

Zibawi, Mahmoud. The Icon; its Meaning and History. Preface by Oliver Clement. The liturgical Press, 1993.

fine

by Bob Burroughs

spot light

ministry

Kay Broughton

Leader of Traditional Music Faith Evangelical Church Loveland, Colorado Creator: Kay, what is your current position?

Kay Broughton : I’m choir director and leader of traditional worship at Faith Evangelical Church, a member of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

Creator: How long have you served this church as the Traditional Worship Leader and are you full time or parttime?

Kay Broughton : I was a volunteer choir director for over 25 years, and ‘evolved’ TM

TM

into worship leader, mainly because we had several pianists and organists, and we needed someone to keep us all together. Honestly, I started leading worship reluctantly, but have embraced the opportunity to create and lead worship that is glorifying to God, and brings our worshippers into His presence on a weekly basis. I’m now a part time staff member.

Creator: Where did you serve before you came to this church? What sequence of events led you to this church?

Kay Broughton : My husband and I were worshipping in a small church where an energetic pianist was also directing the choir. After several pleas and bulletin announcements for a choir director, I said that I could direct her choir, so it went from there. I was a ‘baby Christian’ and an instrumentalist, so obviously I had a lot to learn!

Creator: Tell our readers a bit about your background. Where did you go to school, and what was your major?

TM

TM

leadership network

creator celebrates every church musician and worship leader...

TM

and the ministries of which they are a part. We regularly turn the spotlight on people involved in ministry in order to help inspire and provide ideas for others. If you would like to recommend someone for our spotlight let us know.

2012 | creatormagazine.com

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Kay Broughton : I have a Bachelor of Music Education with a clarinet major from the University of Colorado, Boulder. After marrying my college sweetheart (who still puts up with me 40 years later) I left music for several years. When I re-entered the music world, my passion quickly became choral conducting in the church. I also began playing clarinet in the Loveland Orchestra and the Fort Collins Wind Symphony, where I still play today.

I have maintained a private clarinet studio in my home for over 25 years.

Creator: You serve a church that is in a wonderful and beautiful city! What is it like to minister in this city, so diverse and complicated – and yet, I can imagine, somehow simple! Right?

Kay Broughton : Colorado is a great state, and I consider Loveland to be the “Cream of Colorado!” Our town heartily supports the arts, boasting the largest outdoor sculpture show in North America, drawing 250 professional sculptors from around the country. We have a symphony orchestra, a concert band, two community choirs, a community theater company, and an opera company. The people of Loveland support them all!

Creator: How large is the music ministry program for which you are responsible?

How large is Choir that you conduct?

Does the church have a vital and active Youth Choir, Children’s Choir, Instrumental program, and more? And, are you responsible for these?

Kay Broughton : Faith Church is one of those churches with two different worship styles: a classic (or traditional) worship service, and a contemporary (band led) worship service.

I say with total honesty that there is no hint of the proverbial Worship Wars in our church. (People have definite preferences, or we wouldn’t have 2 services.) Our two worship leaders feel we enhance each other rather than compete. Sometimes we join forces for special worship services.

In the traditional service for which I am responsible, we have a growing choir (40-50 singers/worship leaders). We are blessed with 3 organists and 4 pianists, and many instrumentalists: all quality musicians bringing unique talents to the table! We even have a cello quartet in our congregation – and they rock!

It’s often been said that “traditional worship” is not a good label for our service. It’s traditional in that we use primarily organ and piano to accompany worship. We use a combination of traditional hymns, gospel songs, worship choruses, prayer and scripture to create an extended time of worship (20-25 minutes). Few liturgical elements are incorporated in the service.

Creator: I’m sure you are a busy lady!

Tell us about your family. Are they involved with you in the music ministry of the church?

Kay Broughton : My husband Rod, a certified public accountant, has always been supportive of my ministry. Our son Ryan, and his wife Kristin (who is a wonderful soloist and has sung with our choir,) and their two children live in Raleigh, North Carolina. Our daughter Kim is an orthopedic surgeon in the U.S. Air Force.

Creator: What is it like to be a female Minister of Music in your church and city? Can you outline some of the highs, as well as the low points of your service in this capacity?

Kay Broughton : I don’t consider being a woman in music ministry to be an issue at all. It’s not about ‘me,’ or who I am, but about worship, and my small part in helping enhance that experience for our congregation.

Creator: I know you have strong feelings about the direction of church music today, especially when it comes to the choral music that is being published for the church music market.

Would you please share those feelings?

Kay Broughton : I listen to hours of newly published demo music, go to

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reading sessions every year in the Denver area, and attend American Choral Directors Association workshops – searching for great anthems for my choir (as, I presume, does every other person in music ministry).

There is a huge amount of very good music available with all varieties of accompaniments, so this question made me stop to evaluate what makes that perfect anthem. I determined that I don’t want to have to convince myself to love a piece, but that I want a piece of music to ‘grab’ me.

Today’s songwriters are producing some fabulous texts (this, of course, is paramount.) But beyond that, an anthem has to have something that sets it apart from the others.

It could be something unique in the text and the way it is enhanced by the music. It could have some infectious rhythms or a fabulous, intricate piano accompaniment. Or it could be just a simple, beautiful melody that just “washes over” the listeners, drawing them to the throne of God. Another thing that will grab me is an anthem with harmonies that leave me speechless – whether they are warm and lush, or haunting and dissonant.

After I hear that perfect piece, I need to make sure it ‘fits’ who we are as a church – and that we have the capabilities to make it work.

When a piece has none of the above qualities, the result, even if it’s well written, can simply be nondescript: ‘vanilla,’ if you will. The last thing we want to do is sing music that is boring, so I work hard to find anthems that also ‘grab’ our worshippers!

I would never want to see anthems in a traditional choral style, as opposed to band-led, contemporary music, go away. But I realize what a huge job publishers have with so many unique groups/types of churches/tastes/sizes to satisfy: big choirs, little choirs; ones with limited accompaniment abilities and those with university quality orchestras; from anthems written for liturgical church services, to music for choirs which function solely to back-up the praise band.

But in my search, from a practical standpoint, I regularly find anthems that need the worship band to complete an otherwise boring accompaniment.

Often, they are in the key of Eb or Ab.

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I have learned that a complex piece, even when sung well, is often not as well received as one that is easier to understand It would seem that those pieces would be written in keys that would more easily incorporate the average praise band.

Creator: What do you do for “fun” – or just pure enjoyment?

Kay Broughton : Most of us in the music field feel blessed (as I do) to have our vocation also be our avocation! Making music is a huge love of my life.

I am involved with the Northern Colorado New Horizons Band as associate conductor and instrumental instructor. Roy Ernst at Eastman School of Music started New Horizons International Music 20 years ago for folks over

50 years old that want to learn to play a musical instrument.

Different from a typical community band, there is no experience required: we offer beginning instrumental instruction to our players. What a joy to see 50-99 year old musicians (really!) loving the process of learning to play their instruments and creating music – for some, it’s their very first musical experience (See www.newhorizonsmusic.org).

I do my best to keep up with my family, volunteer for developmentally disabled, play bridge, strive to improve my golf game, and every year I have hopes of planting the perfect vegetable garden.

Creator: Do you attend music conferences workshops and reading sessions to keep yourself updated, fresh and on the cutting edge? If so, tell us the kind of events you enjoy.

Kay Broughton : In addition to attending reading sessions in the area and Colorado ACDA summer workshops, this year I attended Gary Bonner’s Music Quest in Riverside, California, for the first time and found several wonderful anthems for my choir!

I have attended Dr. Bonner’s 2-day choral workshops in the past, where up to 400 singers gather to read and learn 15-16 anthems, then present them in concert at the end of the workshop.

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The art involved is that of being in tune with the Holy Spirit so that worship can be truly a connection with our great God These were great fun, worshipful, educational, and a resource for fine choral music.

Creator: What advice or tips would you provide our readers concerning the “art of music ministry?” In other words, how can the church musician/conductor/ singer/educator keep his/her sharp and in tune with the craft and art of church music? Or is the art of music ministry no longer an art?

Kay Broughton : It seems important when planning worship, to be aware of

what music my congregation loves to sing/worship with and what will most effectively lead our people to Christ.

The art involved is that of being in tune with the Holy Spirit so that worship can be truly a connection with our great God. With regard to anthems sung by the choir, I always try to keep in mind that our congregations don’t have the opportunity to study the music in depth like I (and the choir) do. Because of this, sometimes people need a little guidance on ‘how’ to listen to a new

Say!

everything you need to know on one DVD

anthem: direction in the meaning of a text, or how it is enhanced by the melody, rhythm or harmonic structures, etc.

I have learned that a complex piece, even when sung well and is satisfying to the choir, is often not as well received as one that is easier to understand. Putting a poetic text or foreign language translation in the bulletin or projected on the overhead screen while singing is helpful for congregations to fully grasp the meaning of an anthem.

Truth be told, I’m sure there are folks in every worship service that are not at all interested in what the choir sings (how could THAT be??), but hopefully our music will draw them in anyway and bring them closer to God. Creator: In your opinion, what are the ingredients that make a person an effective Worship Leader?

Kay Broughton : Integrity, honesty, humility, and a passion for worship. A great smile is always helpful.

Your Choir und o S n ca Better!

22

I learned something from Ronn Huff back in the 1970’s: “Your body should always exude enthusiasm.” I encourage the choir as worship leaders to do just that! I also learned long ago that I cannot do this myself. I rely on feedback from trusted individuals in my congregation whose opinions I highly respect. But the bottom line is that I try to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.

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When planning worship sets I offer lots of variety – using the old and the new hymns and songs; lots of soloists leading songs; I encourage my accompanists to be creative; and use additional instrumentalists when possible. I don’t like to be predictable.

When an anthem is successful, I don’t hesitate to use it again, even sometimes teaching it to the congregation. (On Easter morning, our entire

congregation joins in on the “Hallelujah” chorus from Handel’s Messiah, for example.)

Creator: Would you please tell us the names of a couple of your personal heroes...those persons along the way who have meant a lot to you in your career, musical and/or spiritual pilgrimage?

Kay Broughton : My pastor for 25 years, Dr. James Murphy, now retired from Faith Church and in the mission field, mentored me and always encouraged me throughout my spiritual and personal journeys. Ms. Betty Grewell, who cried out for a choir director so many years ago, became my choral music mentor for many years. And last, the Holy Spirit who nudged me to jump in to a ministry when I knew I was not spiritually qualified and helped me grow.

Creator: It has been said that the institution of the church choir has been under attack across America. Is your ministry endangered?

Kay Broughton : Our choir has not fallen to that narrative . It is a vital part of our church, and I think a large part of that is that we have worked very hard to not allow ourselves to be old-fashioned. (“Just plain old” is a fact of life...) Some things we have done:

• We eliminated choir robes. Once a month we have a dress code of jewel tone colors – like a stained glass window, someone commented. Special times require special dress: Christmas, Easter, Maundy Thursday, Independence Day, and special performances.

When gospel/country singer Chuck Day sang during worship at Faith Church, the dress was “denim and boots!”

Creator: If you could do anything you wanted to do at this time, what would it be...or are you doing it now?

• We sing all styles of anthems, from classical masterpieces to contemporary worship songs, sometimes accompanied by worship band.

Kay Broughton : Definitely, I’m doing it right now!

• We took out the ‘modesty panel’ in front of the choir.

Creator: What was your greatest accomplishment in the last three years?

• We project the words to hymns/ worship songs on screens in front. This helps tremendously with congregational singing. The monitor screen at the back of the church helps the choir from being buried in hymnals and allows them the freedom to connect with the congregation during worship.

Kay Broughton : The development of a “Drop-in Summer Choir.” Our church loves the choir, and our choir loves to sing, even in the summer. But some time off is greatly appreciated.

During the summer, we don’t have Wednesday night choir practices; instead, on Sunday mornings anyone who wants to sing meets 45 minutes before the service to prepare the morning’s anthem and worship set. (There are ‘invitations’ to the congregation in the bulletin and church newsletter in May.) This gives regular choir singers freedom to take a ‘break’ from choir, and lets others try the choir ministry without feeling ‘committed.’ It’s a win-win situation for all. Our choir has grown because of it.

• We lead a ‘worship set’, similar to the contemporary service, but accompanied by piano and organ as discussed above.

I would like to have our music memorized, but that is one hurdle we have not been able to jump. I’m open to ideas on that one!

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Creator: Is there a special ‘glue’ that holds your choir together?

Kay Broughton : Our choir is a family and we treat each other as such, doing

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23

tional style of worship, the fact remains that most young families attend the contemporary worship service at our church. Many people have told me that they would love to sing in the choir, but their family goes to the other service.

Creator: Could you give us the name, author, and publisher of the last book you have read and would recommend to us?

lots more than just learning anthems!

Some things that help foster closeness: 1) We pray together every time we meet. We share concerns and joys, and follow up with each other.

2) We have lots of choir retreats. To kick off new music for the fall we often have a Friday night and Saturday retreat. To begin Easter music it’s generally a Saturday retreat. Another day-long retreat often happens to begin Christmas music. We used to go to the mountains, but most often its right at the church. An extended time together gives us the opportunity for lots of worship, learning, praying, building relationships, eating(!) and just plain fun.

3) We keep lines of communication open. I think this is key. I send an email to the choir weekly, reviewing what went well (or needs to be fixed) in Sunday’s service, announce the upcoming anthem and the dress for the day, include scheduling information with special rehearsals, and any other announcements that pertain to the whole choir. I include prayer requests, and often an inspirational ‘blurb’ or scripture to ‘chew on.’

Creator: What was your greatest challenge in the last three years?

Kay Broughton : Attracting younger singers to join the choir. While it may be true that many younger folks are going back to preferring a more tradi-

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Creator: What was the last concert you attended and who were the performers?

Kay Broughton : The Moody Chorale from Moody Bible Institute sang at our church as part of their Spring 2012 tour.

A wonderful evening! My favorite piece was Conversion of Saul by Z. Randall Stroope. It was so well done, and simply riveting!

Kay Broughton : Dave Williamson’s great book, God’s Singers: a Guidebook for the Worship Leading Choir absolutely nails what church choirs should be all about in my opinion: not a self-serving group, but a family of believers who love each other, and are passionate about worship and helping our congregation to be the same.

Creator: What final thought would you like to leave with us?

Creator: What is the title, composer or arranger, and publisher of the best received choral piece you used in 2011?

Creator: Thank you, Kay. May the Father continue to bless, encourage, and guide you in music ministry as you lead your people in the experience of worship. fine

Kay Broughton : This year on Maundy Thursday, we presented Prayers at the Cross, a suite for Holy Week, by Lee and Susan Dengler (2011, Jubilate). Using scenes from Mel Gibson’s Passion of the Christ, and the addition of violin and cello soloists to a fairly simple accompaniment, I think this has the potential to be an all time Holy Week favorite having many of the qualities discussed earlier for great music.

A piece that has become one of our congregation’s favorites: Keith Getty and Stuart Townend’s The Power of the Cross, arranged for choir by Gary Rhodes (Word Music). It’s easy to add the congregation on this arrangement, and the huge climax on verse 4 with piano, organ, and band just raises the roof!! Try it next Easter!

Two of my all time favorites are: The Mind of Christ (adapting Phil. 2:5-11)

by Mark Hayes (Lindsborg Press), and This is My Word (based on Is 55:10-12)

by Pepper Choplin (Glory Sound).

Kay Broughton : A reminder to myself, as well as others, that our main goal as church musicians should be to help usher people in to the presence of God, through quality worship. This is huge! Don’t sweat the small stuff.

Kay’s Favorite Anthems Conversion of Saul Z. Randall Stroope Alliance

Prayers at the Cross

Lee and Susan Dengler Jubilate

The Mind of Christ Mark Hayes Lindsborg

The Power of the Cross arranged by Gary Rhodes Word

This Is My Word Pepper Choplin GlorySound

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25

TM

select twenty TM

TM

codes

what it is Creator’s Select 20 has always featured the best new church choral music – 20 anthems that will serve most any ministry. We choose by using criteria which include the full spectrum of musical and worship styles. We draw from all publishers, traditions, and styles, regardless of our personal taste.

On the actual review (see below to find the detailed reviews) we include a “worship-style bar-graph” to assist you in applying a S20 title to your ministry.

The graph, and the “theme” graphic identifiers on the next page, are not used to “pigeonhole” music, but to help our readers in understanding style.

The left edge of the graph would be complex music which is less predictable, often incorporating mixed or no meter, and less familiar tonalities. Texts here focus on poetry or more abstract word painting. The graph’s center represents present-day anthems written in a traditional, non-pop, non-gospel style, with texts that are commonly scripture based and written in second or third person. The right extreme would be pop, gospel, and rock musical styles, commonly including chord symbols in the accompaniment.

Texts will be less poetic, more straightforward, and primarily written in first and second person.

V

voicing

#

catalog number

C

composer

M

music sources

E

editor or arranger

T

lyricist and/or source

A

accompaniment information

U

usage

P

publisher imprint

©

copyright year and holder



highly recommended

The following are used at the end of each full review/comment: L End

read the full reviews online Creator has changed the way we list Select 20 titles. We now list important information for each Select 20 title here in the magazine, with complete reviews on our website at http://cmag.ws/2m.

Our general rules for inclusion in each issue through the editorial selection process are as follows:

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• No more than two titles by any composer, arranger, or publisher

D

length using (S)hort, (M)edium, and (L)ong dynamic level of the ending difficulty using (E)asy, (M)edium, and (D)ifficult

Advent

Easter

Palm Sunday

All Saints

General

Pentecost

Baptism

Good Friday Maundy Thursday

Praise

Benediction

Lent

Call to Prayer Prayer Response

Call to Worship

Lord’s Supper

Offering Stewardship

Christmas

Missions

Thanksgiving

• Copyright dated this year or last year Scan the QR code to the left of each title to be taken directly to the complete review. The graphic gives an indication of the anthem’s primary use in a worship service.

Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness

Christmas Angels

Great I Am V: SATB #: 6-34337-252681 E: Ken Barker A: Keyboard, opt. Orchestration; opt. Trax U: Adult • Praise, General P: Lifeway ©: 2012

The Music of Living  V: SATB #: HMC2321 C: Dan Forrest A: Piano U: Adult • Praise, Call to Worship, General, Concert P: Hinshaw ©: 2012

Drop Your Dew, O Clouds of Heaven V: SAB #: 005839 E: James E. Clemens A: A Cappella U: Youth • Advent • Small Church P: World Library ©: 2011

Gesu Bambino V: SATB #: A08632 E: Jay Rouse A: Piano, Violin; Orchestration; Trax U: Adult • Christmas P: PraiseGathering ©: 2012

What Feast of Love V: SATB #: MSM-50-7510 C: Thomas Keesecker A: A Cappella with two opt. Handbells U: Adult • Lord’s Supper P: MorningStar Music ©: 2012

Tune My Heart  V: SATB #: BG2576 C: Glenn Pickett A: Keyboard, opt. Bluegrass Instruments U: Adult • Call to Worship, General P: Fred Bock ©: 2012

O Come, All Ye Faithful  V: SATB #: CU1011 E: Dan Forrest A: Piano with opt. String Quartet U: Adult • Christmas, Concert P: Beckenhorst ©: 2012

Infinite and Everlasting V: SATB #: 35071 E: Sheldon Curry A: Keyboard, opt. Orchestration ; opt. Trax U: Adult • General, Prayer P: Alfred ©: 2011

The Power of His Blood  V: SATB #: 10/4053L E: Craig Curry A: Piano with opt. Rhythm U: Adult • General, Concert P: Lorenz ©: 2011

V: SATB #: 978-1-4514-2404-1 C: Scott Perkins A: Organ U: Adult • Lord’s Supper, General P: Augsburg ©: 2012

scan the QR codes to the left of each title with your smartphone for the complete review, or go to http://cmag.ws/2m

scan the QR codes to the left of each title with your smartphone for the complete review, or go to http://cmag.ws/2m

V: SATB #: 08753975 E:John Leavitt A: Piano U: Adult • General, Prayer, Concert P: Hal Leonard ©: 2012

Star of the Morning V: SATB #: 7L0180 E: Jay Rouse A: Piano U: Adult • Christmas P: Lindsborg ©: 2012

Every Knee Shall Bow V: SATB #: CU1011 C: David Rassbach A: Piano U: Adult • Prayer, General P: Beckenhorst ©: 2012

Thanks Be to God  V: SATB #: 35100 E: Sheldon Curry A: Keyboard, opt. Orchestration; opt. Trax U: Adult • Thanksgiving, General P: Alfred ©: 2011

Welcome to the Family V: SATB and Congregation, accompanied #: EH1030 E: John Helgenj A: Piano U: Adult • Baptism, General P: Epiphany House ©: 2012

Star of the East  V: SATB #: 008466 C: Kathleen M. Basi A: Keyboard with opt. Instruments U: Adult • Christmas, Epiphany P: World Library ©: 2012

How Lovely and How Pleasant V: Two-Part Mixed Voices #: MSM-50-5250 C: Michael Burkhardt A: Organ U: Adult • General • Small Church, P: MorningStar Music ©: 2012

Most Holy V: SATB #: 6-34337-212296 E: Dave Williamson A: Keyboard, opt. Orchestration; opt. Trax U: Adult • Call to Worship, General P: LifeWay ©: 2011

Jesus Christ the Apple Tree V: SATB #: HMC2293 C: Eleanor Daley A: A Cappella U: Adult • General, Concert P: Hinshaw ©: 2012

Christmas Hosanna V: SATB #: 08753942 E: Keith Christopher A: Handbells with opt. piano U: Adult • Christmas P: Daybreak ©: 2012

2012 | creatormagazine.com

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Great Things He Has Done!

Mark Hayes Lorenz ©: 2012

good stuff

Lloyd Larson Selects

Season of Joy

This book is Mark’s new collection of things for Piano, four hands, and it is not an “easy pick up” book. Prepare to spend some time in rehearsal to do this well.

new stuff

Arranged by Daniel Semsen Word ©: 2012 A Celtic Christmas Celebration featuring traditional Irish instruments.

Piano Arrangements Fred Bock Music ©: 2011 Lloyd and other great arrangers provide a collection containing 10 general and seasonal titles of medium difficulty for the church pianist.

Things we think would be helpful resources for church musicians and worship leaders...

The Practice of Prophetic Imagination

And On Earth Peace Randy Vader, Jay Rouse, and Rose Aspinall PraiseGathering ©: 2012 The latest Christmas musical from the talented crew at PraiseGathering.

The Cry of Jeremiah Rosephanye Powell Gentry ©: 2012 Comissioned for and first performed at the most recent American Guild of Organists conference, the four movement work is textually based upon Jeremiah: 20.

A Merry Clydesdale Christmas Arranged by David Clydesdale Word ©: 2012 Twelve collected “classic” Christmas selections for a variety of voicings from the pen of David Clydesdale.

Preaching an Emancipating Word

Walter Brueggemann Fortress Press ©: 2012 Any book by Brueggemmann is worth reading, and this one is no different. Although aimed at the preaching pastor, the church musician and worship leader can benefit greatly from the author’s insight into the public articulation of YHWH as a real presence in the modern world.

Seven Christmas Fantasias for Piano with Violin Lee Burswold Latham Music ©: 2011 This set is described as “moderately difficult,” but the passagework should not be a barrier for the typical church pianist or string player. The music is probably best suited for a more “traditional” worship setting and concert use.

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God Has an App for That!

Dudley Rutherford Regal ©: 2012 Rutherford makes a compelling case that the book of James contains valuable “apps” for use in everyday...and extraordinary...circumstances.

by Ron Man

last page

Ron Man is Pastor of Worship/Missionary in Residence at First Evangelical Church, Memphis, Tennessee, and Director of Worship Resources International.

principles of worship for life and ministry

Through the writings and influence of John Piper and others, I have gained a new appreciation for the critical importance of a intensely God-centered view of life and ministry; out of this perspective grow a number of principles which govern my view of life, ministry, the church, and the work of missions.

Principle 1 All things exist for the furtherance and display of the glory of God. (Isaiah 42:8; 43:6-7; 66:18; Psalm 19:1; 72:18-19; Phil. 2:10-11; Rev. 21:23)

Principle 5 What unbelievers must respond to is the glory and majesty and beauty of God, once the Holy Spirit has brought them to desire and value this above all else.

Principle 6 It stands to reason that we as Christians must ourselves desire and value the glory and majesty and beauty of God above all else, if we are to legitimately offer that to others; we must make that a priority so that we can minister out of delight in God rather than duty.

tive on life and ministry, as it builds confidence in God and hence dependence on Him. Principle 10 The church’s outreach must have a God-centered motivation – i.e. to glorify Him by winning more worshipers for God; and its edification activities must similarly seek His glory by developing better, more wholehearted worshippers for God. Principle 11 A deep-seated love for the glory of God and satisfaction with all that He wants to be for us in Jesus will be our most attractive and powerful testimony. fine

These principles govern my view of life, ministry, the church, and the work of missions

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Principle 2 Therefore the ultimate purpose of ministry and missions is to see God’s glory manifested among the peoples of all nations. (Psalm 96:3) Principle 3 As believers and as Christian workers we must keep before us the glory of God as our explicit goal in all of our life and work.

Principle 4 What we are offering to unbelievers is ultimately not fellowship, a place in the church, a sense of belonging or meaning, or a ticket to heaven (all of these important, but secondary) -- rather we are offering God Himself.

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Principle 7 Worship, in its broadest as well as its most localized understanding, simply means to recognize, embrace, proclaim and celebrate the glory of God. Principle 8 Local churches must first of all be worshiping churches so that God has first place in our attention and in our affections, and is thus duly honored.

Principle 9 Corporate worship, because of its purely vertical nature [Piper: “Of all Christian activities, only one is an end in itself--worship.”], will in turn feed a God-centered perspec-

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In each issue we give one church musician or worship leader a chance to have their say. There are no restrictions on topic here (other than the obvious ones of slander, libel, and silliness). If you’d like to contribute your thoughts email us at creator@creatormagazine.com.

The Newest Choral Releases from

Beckenhorst Press Fall 2012

We will send you one copy each of our 20 new Fall 2012 releases for just $5.00 to cover the cost of shipping and handling.

Send your check with a copy of this ad to: Beckenhorst Press, Inc. 960 Old Henderson Road Columbus, Ohio 43220 Church__________________________________________________ Attention_________________________________________________ Street___________________________________________________ City_____________________________________________________ State______________________Zip___________________________ Payment must accompany all orders before they can be sent. www.beckenhorstpress.com phone: 614-451-6461

MusicAtlanta Jan. 15-17, 2013

at Dunwoody Baptist Church 1445 Mt. Vernon Rd, Atlanta, GA 30338

Music Atlanta is a church music conference of new choral releases, concerts, premieres, worship times and workshops.

Plan now to attend this encouraging, ministry-recharging event.

Special events include premieres of Where Love & Mercy Meet by Marty Parks, Indivisible by Randy Vader & Jay Rouse and Carry Your Name by Cliff Duren.

Our guest musicians include Regi Stone, This Hope, Cliff Duren & Overflow and The Annie Moses Band.

The Annie Moses Band

Regi Stone

This Hope Cliff Duren & Overflow

for more information and to register, visit

PineLakeMusic.com