Now EVERYONE Likes the Worship Team!

by Jackie Hall
(Gainesville, Florida)

When our United Methodist church came to the realization that our worship services were too traditional, that we were too set in our ways and we weren't growing (and there was mostly gray hair in the congregation), we set out to achieve a blended worship service - that glorious middle ground that many strive for but few achieve.

First order of business - form a Praise Band. We had an applicant for our accompanist job who couldn't read music very well (so he didn't get the job), but he liked us and still wanted to be involved with our church. He DOES, however, play beautifully by ear and from a lead sheet.

We also had a burgeoning bass player who had come from another church and was eager to play again. But we had no guitarist. And guitar seems to be pretty critical to a good Praise Band, so we tried to recruit a guitarist - without success.

Also in our congregation we have an excellent flute player and a former professional jazz band drummer, both of whom are in their 60's. And we have a 27-year-old who used to play the tenor sax but hadn't played since high school.

We have two established members who have been serving as Praise Singers for several years (singing along with worship DVD's - yuck), and we also have two teenagers and a middle-aged couple interested in singing.

So let's give it a shot with what we have - piano, bass, drums, flute, tenor sax, and SIX singers. Well, our first "rehearsal" was pretty sad, but we kept at it, trying to learn a song the bass player (who doesn't read music) knew from his previous church.

As the music director, I have learned a lot in getting our fledgling group up and running. The first thing I learned is how to write out a bass chart (just the words with the note he should play written above). Well, we can't have the flute and sax play the melody line all the time, so I have to write out harmony parts for them (good thing I'm also an arranger).

One of the toughest things is figuring out what key to play a song in so the singers can sing it and the poor tenor sax player doesn't end up playing in six sharps. Fortunately, CCLI (with their upgraded package) allows you to print lead sheets (or hymn sheets) for any song in any key you want.

Now we're faced with three weeks to practice and then we have a WHOLE service to do since our regular accompanist had plans to be gone for a week. That's 10 songs, including some contemporary songs and some traditional hymns. Even the Doxology. Yes, my computer music program and my printer were working overtime getting ready for that.

THE RESULT - EVERYBODY LOVES THE NEW PRAISE BAND. The younger folks like it because it's upbeat and it's the kind of music they like to sing and move to. And the traditionalists (of which I am one) like it too because we have shown them that we can play their favorite hymns as well.

The best part - because of the varied ages of the people in our Praise Band (we're not a Worship Team yet) - everyone in the congregation can find someone "up front" with whom they can identify.

So my "tip" for you is, look for the established members of your congregation who can play an instrument (ANY instrument) and include them. You'll have to write parts for them (or pay a lot of money to buy the full orchestrations), but it's worth it.

Our church now has a TRULY blended worship service that offers something for everyone. The older folk get to hear and appreciate the newer music, and the younger ones are exposed to the old hymns, many of which are beautiful and have amazing words, especially in the inner verses. And we have a repertoire of about 15 Praise and Worship Songs (mostly from CCLI's "Top 20" list.

Our church is growing by leaps and bounds, and I believe the Praise Band is ones of the reasons for that growth. Everyone who comes in the door finds something in the service that they like, so they keep coming back. And they bring their friends.

We are now in the planning stages for a second Sunday morning worship service (because our sanctuary is overflowing). And both services will be blended because of the success we've had with it. To God Be The Glory!