Worship Team Manual. Bidford Baptist

Transcription

1 Worship Team Manual Bidford Baptist

2 Mission Statement Bidford Baptist Church exists To see God s kingdom come Where the King is honoured, His people are prepared (empowered, equipped and mobilised) and His purposes are advanced (the gospel is preached, the lost are found, the sick healed, captives set free and the broken made whole). Matthew 6:33 - But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Vision Statement The church we see is alive: vibrant, welcoming, joyful and fun; our services are bright, positive and celebratory. The church we see is Spirit-filled: passionate in worship, where His presence is tangible, where the gifts of the Holy Spirit are in operation, where those in need receive personal ministry, and where services are not religious rituals but encounters with God. The church we see is growing: attractive to seekers, welcoming to guests, reaching out to the ostracised and the hurting, has multiple arms extending into our communities, and then challenges people to respond to the gospel such that confessions of salvation, baptisms and changed lives are the norm. The church we see is transformational: where broken lives, relationships and families are restored; where dead religion is replaced by dynamic relationship, unbelief by faith, hopelessness by joy, where sick people become 2

3 healthy, the broken become whole, and new Christians become fully devoted followers of Jesus. The church we see is a family: we started as a family and will continue to be a family. Our program will include large, weekly, communal meetings, but also small gatherings in people s homes, where authentic friendship, honesty, trust, mutual support and accountability are cultivated. The church we see is equipping: maturing people in their faith, encouraging them in their gifts, developing them in their leadership, and releasing them to be everything they can be for the Lord. Worship Team Mission Statement The Worship Team s role is to: 1 Cultivate a spirit of praise, joy and thanksgiving in the church. 2 Lead the body of the church into the presence of the Lord in worship. 3 Set an example in a lifestyle of worship. 4 Encourage, instruct and inspire the body of the church in their faith. 5 Above all, to glorify the Lord of Glory in music, word and action. 3

4 Worship Team s Goal How do we know we ve won? When the members of the congregation have connected with God. What does that mean? They ve taken their eyes off self and onto God. They ve laid down their burdens, distractions, moods. They re ready to receive from the Lord. What does that look like? Physically engaging in the songs: Clapping, toe tapping, hands raised, on their knees at the altar. Their faces show that they ve got it. We can feel the draw rather than resistance. How do we do it? Practise thoroughly to perform with excellence. Seeking to draw attention to the Lord, not our talents. Honour the presence of God and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Exhortation, example and encouragement. Live a lifestyle of worship. Turn your eyes upon Jesus Look full on His wonderful face And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of His glory and grace (Written by Helen Lemmel Public Domain) 4

5 Ministry Guidelines 1. Dress Code a) As worship leaders we are responsible to set an example. Choice of dress should always be appropriate, tidy and modest for both men and women. i.e. There should be no flesh showing that shouldn t be. We are there to be an asset in drawing people into God s presence, not a distraction! b) On Sunday morning band members should dress up meaning business formal / casual; trousers or skirts are equally acceptable for the ladies. For other services a slightly more relaxed dress code is acceptable, but please remember that you are representing the King of kings. 2. Service Preparation a) Come to every service prayed up. Be ready to enter straight into His presence. Listen to worship music in the car on the way; do not let the devil s traffic demons upset you! b) Respect the meet time because if you re late everyone is affected. Constant lateness may lead to you being asked to step down from the team for a while. Be ready to sound check on time so we can practise and pray on time and be ready on the stage by start time. It is our responsibility to start the service on time. c) Make sure that your instrument is tuned, strings replaced, etc. and that your voice is properly warmed up (that s what the worship CD in your car is for!) d) Every musician and singer should keep their own up-todate music file. You will be notified of songs for each service in advance by so you can be prepared. e) If for any reason you are unable to make a particular service, please could you find and arrange a suitable replace- 5

6 ment, and let the worship leader know in as much time is as possible. f) Worship schedules will be ed approximately every six weeks. If there are services you cannot make, please let the Worship Leader know in advance, as we draw to the end of the previous rota. 3. Accountability a) Lines of submission run like this: The worship leader is responsible to the pastor / service leader. The musicians and singers submit to the worship leader. b) The worship leader will choose songs prior to the service, but we must all be prepared to adapt as the Holy Spirit leads. c) The Worship Team should be prepared to flow with the pastor / service leader, to support him / her, particularly during response times. Follow the lead of the worship leader, but be open and prepared to step out boldly as the Holy Spirit directs. 4. Service Logistics a) We will meet at 9.15 on Sunday mornings, ready to pray, sound check and practice. The aim is to be off the stage by about and then ready to start on time. For other services and events the worship leader will let you know the equivalent times. b) Singers and musicians should sit towards the front, at the edge of a row, on their side of the platform. Whenever the team is called forward, they should be able to do so quickly and discreetly the aim is to be hardly noticed. Under no circumstances should anyone be walking across in front of the pulpit. 6

7 5. Making a Band that Works a) Listening to others: It is not a matter of how much noise I can make and how good I am. Blend in and allow space for others. b) Tight rhythm: Follow the lead rhythm instrument carefully, whether it be drums, guitar or keyboard. Keep it tight and remember that congregations, as a rule, need to be taught how to clap! c) Backing Vocals 101: Learn how each lead vocalist sings their particular songs. Copy their length of notes, phrasing, dynamics (loud and soft), etc. Your job is to exactly mirror the way they sing. In quality vocal arrangements, it is as though you can only hear one voice, because the singers are glued together so tightly. Harmonies: Harmonies follow the notes of the melody line. Learn that melody line and practise, practise. We discuss who is singing what for each arrangement. Only sing a harmony line if you have been authorised to do so and we have practised it, otherwise there is a danger it becomes a free-for-all. Listen to good vocal arrangements on CD, and learn where and when to sing them. Learn to use your voice appropriately. Don t try things you cannot pull off (i.e. high notes, fill-in lines, etc.) What you do not sing is just as important as what you do sing. Vibrato: A backing singer should not put vibrato in their voice. It is virtually impossible to match the vibrato of the lead singer, and failure to do so will, by definition, create a clash. Learn how to sing without it; control is possible. 7

8 Set your monitor mix with the lead vocalist up loud and clear so you can follow it closely and add in any other vocalist with whom you are trying to blend (i.e. other harmonies). d) More is less: Good music is generally not fancy, elaborate and complicated, but simple and structured. If there is a gap, only one person should be filling it, whether musician or singer. Having said that, gaps in themselves are good things. As a vocalist make sure that what you are singing allows the lead singer space to do what they need to do. e) Good communication: Follow the leader, look for hand signals, remember arrangements, introductions and endings from practice... if necessary make notes. 6. The Psalmists a) As in Old Testament times, music leaders are required to lead the way, bear the standard, and set an example to the people. We should smile, encourage, lead and draw out. Connect with the people, but make sure you are participating in worship not just looking pretty. If you do not enter in, neither will they. b) When David played his harp the Spirit of God moved. We play sensitive background music to create an atmosphere of worship, stir up the corporate anointing and support the minister. The true psalmist is still playing during ministry at the end of the service and probably when everyone else has gone home! c) At the end of the service, the worship leader will go forward first as the minister prays. The rest of the musicians and singers should be attentive to the leader s signal to come forward. We may or may not be required to assist with ministry time or to sing a closing song. 8

9 7. Gifts of the Holy Spirit a) Everyone leads: It is the responsibility of the entire Worship Team to lead the congregation in worship. Be prepared to step forward to encourage, inspire and instruct. There is a prepared framework, but leave space for the Holy Spirit. b) Everyone listens: He wants to use you. Be sensitive, be prepared, be still and be bold! c) Everyone respects: Do not grieve the Holy Ghost. Our conduct on the platform should always be befitting of the presence of the Lord. We set an example to the people. Be particularly sensitive during ministry time: do not chat, walk about, etc. 8. Sound Team a) Sound board operators are a very important part of our team. They are there to serve us, but must be treated with the utmost respect. Their job is hard please do not be too demanding. A smile and rehearsed signal is better than a bad attitude. b) Monitor mixes are always tricky to get right. Remember that the louder you are, the louder everyone else will need to be to hear themselves. So, if possible we try to keep stage noise at a minimum. Work with the sound team to get your mix right, thinking carefully who really needs to be in your mix (you may, of course, be sharing). But do make sure you can hear the lead vocal / instrument clearly. c) The sound team should lead the sound check in liaison with the worship leader. So, let them lead that process and take direction from them, rather than the other way round. d) The sound team are responsible for the overall front of house mix, so you can leave that in their hands. Remember what you can hear from your monitor mix is different to what the congregation can hear. 9

10 9. Qualifications for the Worship Team a) Faithfulness: You are dependable, prompt, well-presented and professional. b) Support the vision: Both of the church and the Worship Team. c) Worshipper: If you do not worship the Lord in private, you will not be able to do so in public. d) Musicianship: A good musical ear is crucial, because most music will be from chord charts rather than sheet music. e) Rhythm: If you have no sense of rhythm you will find it impossible to play within a band context. f) Experience: We are here to develop musicians at a variety of levels and to help you reach your God-given potential. A competent level of musicianship is clearly necessary for public performance, but it is our intent to teach, instruct and develop musicians and singers of all levels of technical ability and experience. 10. The Integrity of a Worship Leader a) As we stand at the front, in the presence of the Living God, we cannot afford to be hypocritical or false in any way. b) If your heart attitude is not right before God, for whatever reason, stand down, whether it be for a single service or an agreed period of time. We will respect your decision and endeavour to support, pastor and encourage you. c) If you wish to take a time-out from the team, feel free. It is easy to be burnt out, and there are times when you may feel the need to worship in the congregation for a while for refreshing, ministry and refocusing. 10

11 11. Service Worship Leader a) Prepare thoroughly: As the leader you must be better prepared that your team. b) Get a vision for the service: A song list is birthed, not drawn up in a rotational or random manner. Ask them what they re preaching on or what the likely response will be and try to flow with that. c) Lead positively: People can only follow you if you are leading. d) Please produce song-lists for the audio-visual team and make sure they have the words in advance for any new songs. Similarly, please let your team know the songs as early as possible so they have time to assemble their music. Remember that we are servant-leaders and as such our aim is to make it as easy as possible for them to do their individual jobs well. e) Flow with the pastor / minister throughout the service. Be prepared for any request they might have. That s why it s crucial to have a good music folder with you. You may well wish to take that back to your seat during the message so you can pull out an appropriate response songs as they arise. f) Be prepared for songs for ministry and a song to close the service if required. It is always worth having more songs prepared than you think you ll need. 12. After the Service a) We play and sing until the service is over and / or the Holy Spirit is done! b) Then we leave the stage tidy (please file lyric / chord charts) and mingle. When the last note is played our work is not yet done. As a platform minister, you are a rolemodel for the people: they look up to you, so befriend 11

12 them and serve them. c) Don t forget to thank the sound team who support you faithfully and to make you sound good! 13. During the Week a) Pray: For the church, the pastor, the Worship Team, the worship leader and get into His presence. b) Worship: Saturate yourself with contemporary Christian music. Listen to worship CDs and new music as much as you can. c) Practice: Technical / vocal work and learn new songs / arrangements in advance. It s always good to listen to original versions so you can imitate the riffs, solos and harmonies the experts have produced. 12