Worship & Production

It's about the journey... not the music

by Chris John, Cedar Falls Campus Volunteer

Ever watch a movie where the musical score intertwined with a great story and it gave you goosebumps or caused you to cry?  Think about the type of music that was being played - was it classical?  I would bet that the majority of us wouldn't listen to classical music just for fun - but that didn't stop it from impacting us - when it was accompanied with a great story.

Musical worship (as in the sermon) should always take a worshipper through a spiritual journey that can come through all types of music or songs.  Let's take my last time leading as an example. Here was the set list:

Cannons (You are holy, great and mighty...)

Beautiful Things (You make beautiful things out of us.  You make me new.)

Our God (And if our God is for us, than who can ever stop us?)

Note the journey from praising God for who He is to acknowledging who we are in Him and then finally, the truth that God is with us, for us, and we can live our lives for Him with confidence.  All three of those songs have pretty hard electric guitar solos and "Our God" may be one of our loudest worship songs in our catalog.  Yet, out in the crowd I saw people, young and old, raising their hands to worship God.  The spiritual journey trumped the musical one.

I'm not saying that the type of music never matters, and that we don't sometimes create spaces for a type of music (acoustic set for example - that is different from the norm).  When we let the type of music overshadow the journey we are leading people on, then we have lost our focus on the most important thing: the One we are lifting our praises to.

Let's lead them to Jesus.   

Arts and the Congregation

by John Day, PLC Music Director

The popular cry of many artists is that “I will NOT compromise my artistic integrity for the masses!”  And to the ears of an artist, the cry from those masses generally sounds something like, “Only give us what we want!”  This tension holds true in both the secular and sacred realms. This is not a tension to be solved, but one to be healthily and humbly managed.  And the point of this post is not to point fingers, or justify actions, but to validate and articulate tensions from both sides, because, there is and will forever be a tension between artist and audience with both parties sharing an equal yoke in the burden.   

There are dangers on both ends of the tension, and both parties have significant contributing factors.  As artists, part of who we are is creative and thrives on creating, and we can quickly tire from the “same ol’ same ol” when it comes to music that we play, songs we write, lighting looks that we program, or camera shots we take.  There is even a quote from Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin from an interview he did with the Los Angeles Times in regards to the most famous rock and roll song ever that says, “I'd break out in hives if I had to sing Stairway to Heaven in every show. I wrote those lyrics and found that song to be of some importance and consequence in 1971, but 17 years later, I don't know. It's just not for me.” And to satisfy that creative desire and genuinely pursue how God has wired us, we start pushing new boundaries and abandoning the old.  This desire negatively compounds when our audience starts calling for the old favorites, or pushes back against the new creative elements.  The two temptations there are to dig the heels in, and stand our ground under the banner of “Artistic Integrity”, or the other extreme of scrapping our new projects seeking only the approval of our audience.

While the audience isn’t all artists, all artists are part of an audience, but often we don’t use that lens.  I like a band because of a song they played, or an album they released, and when I go to their concert I really want to hear the music that draws me into that band.   The positive reaction of an audience to artistic endeavors is what grows an artist’s ability to influence people, and often is what gives energy and motivation to continue creating.  In the negative though, an audience can begin to feel entitled to demanding certain elements, such as hearing songs that they like or NOT hearing or seeing things they DON’T like, and begin to become bitter towards the artist if those expectation are not met.  There is a report that fans of the British rock band Radiohead booed and jeered at a concert until the band gave in and played their hit song “Creep”.  Why would an audience choose to attend something that will give them nothing of desired substance to interact with?

So, sweeping generalities aside, from my perspective there are both sides and both sides are right.  And the balance is even more delicate in the setting of a corporate church.  An arts’ ministry is there to serve the church and the congregation, and part of that is shepherding them through new acts of worship.  And there is scripture that seems to support both sides.  Psalm 33:3 says “Sing to him a new song, play skillfully and shout for joy”.  New songs and skillful playing sound pretty appealing to the artists! In 1Corinthians 14:19, Paul says “But in the church, I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.”  That makes the case that in the church, the congregation should be presented with things that are accessible and understood by them.

Pastor Andy Stanley said it another way, that “You can make a point without making a difference.”  And in the church, the goal of any ministry is for people to meet Jesus, worship Jesus and have their life changed by Jesus.  The goal is to make a difference, for Jesus.  Jesus works through new and creative elements, and opens people up to encounter Him in a new way.  Jesus also works through meeting people in things they intuitively know and understand and already feel freedom to interact with. 

As an artistic ministry, stewarding this tension, we must always use the final lens of Jesus getting the glory both from the people leading the ministry, as well as the congregation being able to freely worship Jesus through the service we give them. 

Many Voices

by Chris Grisel, Waterloo Campus Volunteer

Over the years I’ve had the privilege of serving on several worship teams. Some experiences were excellent and some not. But one thing I remember them all having in common was the people of the congregation and all of their many opinions.  At first I welcomed this, wanting very much to serve and please the people. After all, I was there to create an atmosphere that invited them to draw near to God. But I soon found out that making everyone happy was impossible. No matter how I did the worship someone did not approve.  The “opinions” never stopped coming.  And to boot, I found I had created a monster. Since I had at one time followed their advise, they only felt slighted when I, out of frustration, stopped. 

As artists I’d bet every one reading this can relate in one degree or another. Most of the people mean well, and some have really good thoughts that can be considered. But God made one thing very clear to me back then as I asked Him for guidance: that He is the only one I needed to please. He also showed me that He always had the people’s hearts in mind when He helped me plan a service. From the regulars to the newcomers as well as the unbelievers, He knows what the people need, even better than they do. He also had me in mind as well. He knew my abilities and my very limited resources and knew how to make the very best out of what I had.

As long as I sought the Lord, I stood before the people with confidence even though I knew not everyone was pleased. I believe I actually performed better also, without this looming pressure sitting on my shoulders.  He has plans for every heart that enters the doors of the church on Saturday night/Sunday morning, and knows each one intimately. In surrendering our opinions, tastes, visions and fears to Him, we allow ourselves to fully serve Him and partner with Him in ministering to others. 

All Team and Auditions!

Here are a few reminders of some upcoming events in the W&P Community:

• In Cedar Falls and Waterloo, THIS Thursday, February 9th, we'll be having our All Team Meeting.  Look forward to seeing you there!
• Coming soon, we'll be holding auditions for Worship Teams at each of our campuses. 

If you would like details about your campus' All Team, OR if you are interested in auditioning, please contact your campus Worship Director for details!

A note from Abby

by Abby Stevens, PLC Weekend Services Producer

Friends –

I was 8 years old and I was having my first ever birthday party/sleepover combination.  Our house was full of 7 and 8 year-old girls, Barbie, My Little Pony, and Rainbow Brite sleeping bags, hair ribbons, pink and purple explosions of cake and streamers . . . it was every parent’s nightmare, I’m sure.  But we were having a ball and the night was only going to get better.  I guess it was about 10 p.m. before my parents got us all settled into our sleeping bags in the basement, and for some reason, my dad decided to come down and tell us a bedtime story.

I should perhaps offer the fact that my dad never told bedtime stories.  That was not his M.O. Ever.  Why he decided that this would be his first and last foray into the bedtime-storytelling-genre I have no idea.  But it was certainly memorable.

He chose as his late-night fare the “escaped-convict-with-a-hook-stalks-and-kills-the-teenaged-couple-necking-in-the-woods” urban legend.  You know which one I’m talking about, right?  If you’re shaking your head in horrified amazement, I’m right there with you.

To this day he can’t tell us why he thought that would be a good story for a basement full of elementary aged girls.  One girl started crying and made us call her mom to come get her, and the rest of us hunkered down in terror for the night.  We finally gave up and decided we needed my mom to come down and sleep with us, but couldn’t decide who would be sent to venture all the way up the stairs and to Mom and Dad’s room to wake her up.  It was either me or my younger sister, and I’ll bet you can guess which birthday girl did NOT brave the dark all alone. 

This month, we’re talking about audience.  As my dad quickly learned, 8 year-old girls are not the right audience for his scary stories.  And sometimes, we’re just as irresponsible and ill-informed about our audience as he was.

As we plan our weekends, execute them, and move forward into ministry at each of our campuses, it’s vital that we regain our connection to our audience.   Who are the people to whom we’re speaking?  Who are we trying to reach?  Are the ideas/strategies we’re using really those that will best equip us to accomplish that goal, or are we just doing what we like and would respond to?

Let’s commit this month to recapturing an understanding of who exactly we’re speaking to, so that the truth of our message isn’t lost.  We don’t want to accidentally send someone home crying.

 Can you think of an audience we could do a better job of capturing?  And did your dad ever tell you a horrible bed-time story?

W&P All Team

 

If you've served in the W&P community, you may know what we're talking about when we say "All Team."  If you're new to serving, if you just signed up at All Access, or if you've just never attended an All Team, you may wonder what all the fuss is about.

All Team is our monthly ministry gathering.  Each campus' All Team looks a little different, but essentially it's a chance for all of our serving teams (hence the name!) to get together, enjoy some community, catch some vision, and get to know each other.  (There's usually food involved, too!)

Because W&P requires  something more than a "show-up-and-serve" committment, and because it's so vital that our tech and worship volunteers operate as one team on a weekend, we really need you to be part of the W&P community.  All Team is one important way we do that.

Depending on your campus, you may find yourself serving a meal, being asked to teach a lesson or write an article for our Inspired Wednesday's here on the blog, or grilling for the rest of the teams.  Sometimes we just hang out and have a good time!

If you're a current or prospective volunteer, please make every effort to attend your campus' All Team this month!  You'll find a place to connect, a place where you can learn, and a place where your artistic or technical expertise will be developed and applauded.

Contact your worship leader or tech director for more information about times and dates at your campus!

Monday Soup

 

Another one bites the dust, huh?  I can't believe that before the week is out, we'll be in February!  My mom always told me that time moves quickly, but it still never ceases to amaze me how quick "quickly" really is!

Here are some recent finds for your creative brains.  Enjoy!

• A great article at Relevant about whether there is a place for creative Christians.  Loved the interviews.
• One of my favorite blogs of all time.  Parker Young is a photographer in NYC and sees the world through a beautiful lens.  
• Great infographic on color!Courtesy of NowSourcing, Inc Great infographic!
• And an album I've very much enjoyed in the last few weeks.

More than just background music

by Jeremy 'JJ' Johnson

It's interesting to see the huge effect the arts play on our lives.  They express who we are and what we believe.  It’s like a backdrop that adds that little something to a Broadway musical.  Imagine a huge blockbuster movie without background music...the last scene of Terminator 2 without the epic score in the background as the hero, played by Arnold, is lowered into the vat of molten metal, or how about a huge concert without the lights and video?  Check out a concert video of Trans-Siberian Orchestra and imagine it without the lights and haze.  What are your fries without ketchup?  They're ok but... The arts add flavor!  They add emotion to God's story and to our story.  The arts make these stories more real and make us more human. 

Take some time and listen to an audio Bible or 'Bible on tape'.  Listen to a chapter, book or a few verses.  If it’s one with music and/or sound effects, great!  Now, listen to the same passage without the music or sound effects and vice versa.  The musical background and added effects seem to put you right there.  They help bring God's story and our story to life!  

What's your story?

by Abby Stevens

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”
Maya Angelou

There is a story being told.  From the time before there was time, there has been a story unfolding.  Each moment, each event, each birth, each dream . . . the Author of Life has been weaving a grand narrative that tells his story.  We are woven in and out, characters who sometimes walk and often fall, protagonists and antagonists, heroes and villains, all of us playing some role in the conflict and rising action of the story he’s telling.

This is why we love stories.  Take a look back through the history of humanity.  Story is how we understand our lives.  It’s how we make sense of things.  Stories are the things we carry home with us at the end of our day to share with our wives and husbands and kids.  Stories move us to action or to tears they inspire us or defeat us.  Stories help us to understand ourselves in light of some greater truth.  Jesus used stories to speak truths that his followers – and by extension, we, ourselves – could not have otherwise understood.

Hollywood makes millions upon millions of dollars every year, because the human race is uniquely wired to understand and seek out stories.  They entertain us, they help us define who we are and what we’re about, they can move us to great courage or great fear, and they give us a glimpse of life both as it is, and as we know it should be.  Stories give us hope that we are not alone, that others have travelled this road long before us, and that perhaps the stories we leave behind us that litter this well-worn road might help some other poor soul following behind.

Life happens to us in narrative.

As an artistic community, these stories play an incredibly important part in what we do.  Every weekend, we are handed these stories – the story that God has been telling since he jump-started history, and the stories that are gathered in our Worship Centers each weekend.  These two stories intertwine and intermix and the goal is that at the end of our lives, we can’t tell where one begins and the other leaves off.  That’s how deeply he wants to be part of our stories.

So, we take out our magic lassos of music, art, words, images, time, and space, and we attempt to wrestle these two stories to the ground.  We do this so we can help people understand the story that God is telling, and help them understand the ways he is inviting them to let him take over the writing of their story to make it part of his.  He is constantly adding characters and conflict and resolving this part of the story only to open up and unfold another part on a different page . . . He’s a master author, with every part in play and every character being developed, and he won’t stop writing until the story is told.

So we keep gathering these stories.  We sing them and we sing about them, we use a musical journey to capture the way our lives move from places of intense praise and joy to deep places of meditation and reflection.  We capture these stories inside of cameras and screens and we see how the story of one person is reflected in his word, or how my story is reflected in yours, and we see how God has left no part of these stories to chance.  We write about them, we draw them and we see just a moment of the story, paused for all time on a canvas or screen.

There is a story being told, from the time before there was time.  It’s a story of redemption and grace, a story of justice and mercy, a story of love and rebellion.  And we’ve been invited to help in the telling of this story. 

All art tells a story.  In the coming months, we’re going to talk about how to become faithful storytellers. We’re going to explore the stories we’re telling, the ways we think about our audiences in our telling and the parts to our stories that we, in order to be honorable narrators, must not shirk from or shrink from telling.

Until then, though, I have a question for you: is he inviting you into a unique story?  Is it one of new risks and adventures?  Is it a love story?  Is he bringing a chapter in your story to a close?  Is he beginning a new one? 

Tell us your story.

All Access and All Team

ALL ACCESS
This weekend, across all three campuses, we'll get to look at the current volunteer opportunities in and outside our church.  So, if you've got a friend or family member who's interested in serving, this is a great chance for them to speak with ministry leaders and take next steps into exploring a serving role at PLC.Here's the link to our website that lists each campus' serving opportunities: http://www.prairielakeschurch.org/next-steps/serve-at-plc.aspx 

ALL TEAM MEETING
All Team Meetings are our chance to gather once a month [2nd Thursday of the month] as a Campus, share a meal and build community with our teams.  If you're a rotation team member, alternate or just interested in this ministry... this invite is to you! 

Mark your calendars!  February's All Team [Thursday, Feb 9th, 6:30-8:00 PM] will hopefully have some new folks who signed up at All Access weekend, so you won't want to miss it!  If you serve at the Cedar Falls Campus, meet in the Lobby at the Cedar Falls Campus.  If you serve at the Waterloo Campus, meet at First Lutheran Church.