I've had the privilege of playing in a variety of different worship styles. I've played timpani for Christmas services with much pomp and circumstance, sometimes with members of the Philadelphia Chamber Orchestra. I've covered intricate drum set grooves for the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir repertoire with full orchestra and rhythm section. I've played for contemporary services that have as much liturgy as one might find in the Catholic Church. On the other hand, I've also played for small charismatic services that might spend a full fifteen or even twenty minutes on one song "as the spirit moves the leader," and then after finishing the song hear from the pastor, "Let's hear that chorus again," usually after a compelling exhortation to the congregation about the spiritual implications of worship at that moment.
Worship can be planned and still be spirit-led. The ratio between rehearsal and the Holy Spirit depends on the framework, determined by the leadership. Here are two very different, widely divergent examples:
*Please note that neither example is meant to degrade or uplift one over the other.
Let's Just Praise God (Charismatic)
Musicians arrive early and pray. Prayer can take anywhere from 2 minutes to 15 minutes (and to those not used to this, it seems like an eternity). This time can include praying for the congregation, for fellow musicians, reading and declaring scriptural passages, speaking in tongues, laying hands on musicians for the Holy Spirit to fill them, etc. Once finished, songs are rehearsed to establish some order, but within rehearsal there is still a greater sense of worship. After rehearsal is finished, there is a small time to rest as the congregation arrives. Just before worship begins, another prayer is led by the worship team but this time the pastor and similar leaders in the church are included.
Worship begins. Many song lyrics include words like, "lifting holy hands in praise," "shout to the Lord," and similar phrases that encourage a more active role from the congregation. Dancing is not uncommon (usually from women because America has lost a significant part of the culture of dance) and congregants' hands raise, wave and clap loudly without much provocation needed from the leader.
Let's Plan to Praise God (Liturgical)
Musicians arrive early and pray, but prayer only lasts a minute at most. A comprehensive sound check is done for all instruments and then rehearsal is the main focus. Worship isn't discouraged during rehearsal, but the focus is to rehearse. Before worship begins, prayer includes the pastor but again lasts less than a minute.
Worship begins. Each song is played as is without repeating choruses and the longest any song will last is around 5 minutes. There is no time to say, "Let's sing that again," as the liturgy dictates available time and the confession, sermon and perhaps communion still need to take place. For some songs, the congregation is sitting down and usually needs to be told, "let's rise," or "you may be seated."
Both of the above examples could be combined in numerous fashions with much or little liturgy and more or less spirit-led worship. There are many factors, but the question is not which worship form is "correct." This is why so many different forms of worship exist and praise God equally.
In the next blog, I'm going to break down specific steps to creating what I think should always lead to quality worship, no matter what denomination or liturgy is in place.
