Exploring Christian Worship

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Why This Is a Good Time to be a Music and Worship Leader – Part 4

3/2/2015

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The Opportunities are Great 
The most frequent question I am asked by those who are considering music and worship ministry as a possible vocation is “Can I get a job?” Fortunately, the answer is a resounding “yes” — there are many positions open and they are diverse and often flexible. At a time when some other fields find it hard to secure positions, our field seems ripe with possibilities for finding employment. While position descriptions continue to change as churches transition, positions are available for those who want to serve.

Diverse Positions and Skills

Never before have the position announcements been so diverse. The combinations of skills that churches are seeking are broad – contemporary band leadership, organ playing, choral directing, guitar, keyboard, technology, sound reinforcement, graphic design, media, arts management, etc. Often times, the combination of skills are non-traditional and reflect the particular needs of the local congregation rather than the usual skills of people who may be preparing for this vocation. Position announcements often reflect the need for immense flexibility and continued preparation for skills that may need shoring up.


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Why This is a Good Time to Be a Music and Worship Leader – Part 3

2/2/2015

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Music As Healing 
Needs are everywhere. People are anxious for their jobs, their finances, and the state of the world around them. They worry about the safety of their children, long-time security of their employment, and their wayward children or ailing parents. We seem to have too little time to handle the ever-growing list of expectations that we either impose on ourselves or others hand to us.

While technology helps us to accomplish many tasks more efficiently, it also makes us continually available and connected to others, and we are left with little time to retreat and reflect. Commuting from bedroom communities in the suburbs for long distances means constant traffic negotiation and less time at home with our families. In short, we and the people to whom we minister in our churches have unprecedented needs — they need pastoral care in ways beyond what we sometimes believe we can offer.



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Why This is a Good Time to Be a Music and Worship Leader – Part 2

1/5/2015

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The Best of Music 
Never before have their been so many styles and genres of music both in popular music forms and in the field of art music nor have we had such access to them. With the roots of popular music as we know it having come into its own with the advent of rock and its many derivatives in the 1950’s – now well over a half century in our past – the development of art music ongoing and vibrant, the resurgence of folks idioms in the 1960’s, the emergence of dozens of alternative styles since the 1980s, and the immense cross pollination of these forms; the creativity and sheer output of music in our day is unprecedented.

While the church and its musical productivity do not rival the musical yield of the culture at large, it is nevertheless prolific. This abundant output combined with the ready access that most in our culture have to it through the internet and technological devices, and the sheer near-addiction that many have to “their” music, exercises a large influence on the music of the local church and our role as leaders and curators of its song.



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Why This is a Good Time to Be a Music and Worship Leader – Part 1

12/1/2014

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The Best of Times 
These days it is hard not to hear about the challenges facing the church. News of Christian infighting, forced terminations, and worship disputes often dominate church news sites, and it seems we are bombarded by those who tell us that the church’s music is losing all sense of quality. Others tell us that the church’s music is no longer relevant and that some styles are superior while asserting that some music should assume a lesser place in the church’s worship.

At this Thanksgiving season, it seems only appropriate to reflect on what’s right about the church’s music – to express gratitude for what is and for the privilege of serving in this particular time in history. In short, I think it might be helpful to talk about why this is a good time to be a music and worship leader.



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Building Community in the Music Rehearsal

11/3/2014

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Reconnecting with People 
Before we start, I want to make one thing clear: while I refer to choral ensembles throughout this article, the principles are just as valid for worship teams, orchestras, handbell choirs, and any other musical ensemble.

Through my years of working with choirs (both in church and university), I have come to believe that building a true sense of community through choir is one of the most important aspects of our ministry. In fact, I’ve come to believe in it so strongly that I’m no longer willing to go without this important aspect of music making, and I don’t believe music can be at its best outside of a genuine sense of community.

I believe that we’re all in search of community – whatever our ages. We all long for a place and a group of friends who value and accept us. What exactly do I mean by community, and how can it be built? The following categories and comments which follow help to unpack this issue a bit.



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    C. Randall Bradley
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  • Home
  • About
  • Publications
    • Christian Worship: It's Theology & Practice
    • From Memory to Imagination: Reforming the Church's Music
    • From Postlude to Prelude: Music Ministry's Other Six Days
  • Blog
  • Media
  • Contact