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Oct
03
2011
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Posted 1 years 232 days ago ago by Bob Burroughs  0 Comments
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3 likes  
Quote
“If we are going to worship in Spirit, we must develop a spirit (an art) of worship.” Michael Catt
Scripture
“Everything went without a hitch in the worship of God that day.” 2 Chronicles 35:15
Prayer
Great God, Creator God, Lavish God, Redeeming God, Celebrating God, how I bless You this day for the privilege and honor that so many men and women have in planning, preparing, and exciting the power of worship in their churches. What an awesome challenge it is for them to be so in tune with You that the worship experience becomes something of mystery as well as an art. Both bring holiness to the worship experience. Grant that Your people will be careful in how the worship is brought forth to the congregation. Let it be God-ordained from start to finish. In the strong name of the One who worshiped even unto death, Jesus. Amen, and Amen.
What Think Ye?
The Art of Worship
Regardless of what some may say, there is an "art" to the worship experience. "Worship" just doesn't happen. Scripture tells us time and time again that the Biblical worship experiences were well-planned and carried out--with great fear and trembling as well as excellence.
The Art of Worship is often a mystery to those who plan it week-after-week, month-after-month. For the next issue of Creator magazine, I asked some music ministry leaders to share their thoughts on this delicate subject. One of the responses is printed below. I invite you to add your thoughts about this subject below. If there are particularly good responses, they will be considered for inclusion in Creator. If you are not a subscriber to Creator, click here to get a sample copy of this issue.
Art, in whatever form, is the result of someone’s creativity. The ‘art’ in the “art of worship” is the same. It is the crafting of an event whose objective it to point attendees toward God. Attendance at such an event does not guarantee that worship will occur; but if the preparer approaches worship as a work of art, carefully thought through, planned, prepared and executed, is there not a much greater possibility that it will? Are you not more inspired viewing Michelangelo’s David, than my stick-figure drawing of a man on a horse?
An artist crafts her sculpture. He paints carefully, hoping to inspire the viewer at some personal level. The ‘art’ in the “art of worship” comes down to the planner of the event – the artist – crafting, preparing and executing each detail of the worship event with the sole objective in mind that each element should point those present toward God. ~ Hart Morris, Music/Worship, Ashbury United Methodist Church, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Do you agree with Hart? Be sure to leave a comment below.
What think ye 
Leadership
Do The Right Things
Remember the opening words from last month? The two best-kept secrets of leadership are:
- The less you do, the more you accomplish
- The less you do, the more you enable others to accomplish
This leadership secret has always worked! What is the result of this decision? Acts 6:7 tells us "So the Word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith."
Three things happened as a result of this very important decision:
1. The word of God spread
2. The number of disciples increased rapidly
3. Key influencers in the city were converted
The apostles played to their strengths and delegated their weaknesses. As a leader, gifted by God, you do a few things well, and it is just not right for you to do everything by yourself! This one decision--to play to your strengths and delegate your weaknesses--will do more to enhance your productivity than anything else as a leaderThe apostles played to their strengths and delegated their weaknesses. As a leader, gifted by God, you do a few things well, and it is just not right for you to do everything by yourself! This one decision--to play to your strengths and delegate your weaknesses--will do more to enhance your productivity than anything else as a leader.
Dr. Howard Hendricks says: There are many things I can do, but I have to narrow it down to the one thing. The secret of concentration and focus is elimination!
The leadership guru, John Maxwell says: You are most valuable--where you add the most value. Leaders need to evaluate their current leadership environment and responsibilities often and answer some hard questions, such as:
1. What is on my plate that can be eliminated?
2. What am I doing that I have no business doing?
3. What am I doing that is not right for me to continue doing?
(Article is based on the out-of-print book, THE NEXT GENERATION LEADER, by Andy Stanley. If you can find a copy, get it!)
This Idea Will Work
Find the Time...
...to plan...to dream...to think...to promote...to minister...to share yourself with someone else...to prepare your music ...to be a better conductor ...to become a better musician...to be a better leader of worship...to work with your accompanist...to ask for assistance where needed...to read your Bible and pray...to love your children...to kiss your wife...to study to show yourself approved unto God...to lead your group spiritually as well as musically.
October is a grand time to find the time to do some or all of these suggestions!
Humor
You (or your parents) may be a Missionary if. . .
• You speak two or more languages, but can't spell in either.
• You have a name in at least two different languages, and it's not the same one.
• You don't think that an hour and a half or more is a long sermon.
• You always haggle with the checkout person for a lower price on everything.
• Fitting 15 or more people into a car, small van or pickup seems normal to you.
• You cruise the Internet looking for fonts that support your "native" language's alphabet.
• You realize that a "furlough" is not a vacation.
• You can cut grass with a machete, but can't start a lawnmower.
To read more of this week's MME, including new music reviews, please look to the right.
© 2011 Creator Magazine All Rights Reserved
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The Art of Worship Anthem Reviews
New Product Reviews
Anthems
The four excellent pieces in this month's review section are from SoundForth Music. Soundforth is the music publishing arm of Bob Jones University. If you would like to have a copy of the four reviewed pieces, included in a Choral Octavo Review Booklet, with 15 additional pieces in the book and on an excellent CD, call 1.800.258.7288, mention MME, provide your name/address, and a packet with be sent to you--FREE. Such a deal - and it is your just for calling!
Good Christian Men, Rejoice, Arr. James Koerts; SATB, Keyboard; # 279695; $1.75; Orchestration: $54.95; #279844.
 James Koertshas provided a very usable and quick-to-learn setting of this most wonderful Christmas Carol. There are absolutely no problems in this piece and it would be exceptional for a "quick" turnaround without weeks of rehearsal. It has a BIG ending that the congregation will love. If you need a "Christmas quickie," that is really fine, get this one. The orchestrations are outstanding, too.
O Breath of God, Keith Getty/Phil Maderia, Arr. Molly Ijames; SATB, Keyboard, with C-Instrument (Violin preferred) Optional Congregation; # 279612; $1.85
 I love the music of Molly Ijames.She has taken a hymn tune by the very gifted writers, Getty and Maderia, and given us a very reverent, compelling arrangement that includes violin (or C-Instrument) and involves the congregation! What a treat for them to sing with the choir. This would work beautifully as a call to worship or benediction - or as the main anthem.
Praise To The Lord, Nathan Burggraff; SATB, Keyboard; #279679; $1.85; Orchestration: $54.95; #279828
 I love a brave soul--who can venture out and create something new from something old.Burggraffhas taken the very familiar text of this grand hymn--and been so bold as to add new music! The new melody is powerful and compliments the text wonderfully well. A very rhythmic keyboard accompaniment drives this piece to a great ending! It has energy, drive and would make a grand anthem for festival, celebration or a worship service. The orchestration is excellent.
Emmanuel Shall Come, Dan Forrest; SATB, Keyboard; # 279687; $1.75
 Dan Forrest , is fast becoming a household name. His music is being performed everywhere through publications, commissions and more! He is quite prolific in his writing. He teaches composition at Bob Jones University and his students are certainly fortunate to study with him! This bright and cheery 6/8 tune is a brilliant new capsule of the familiar Carol for Advent: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” Forrest gives both the pianist and choir an enjoyable challenge as they rejoice in the coming of the Savior. The piece moves quickly and there are some surprises along the trail! I love surprises. This is a very fine Advent piece, if you are looking for something new and fresh!.
Collection
Bring Them In!, Ten SAB hymn arrangements compiled and edited by Larry Carrier; #231662; $10.95; Companion Products are on the website, where you may also hear each of the ten pieces
 You get ten (10) SAB pieces for a bit more than $1.00 each in this outstanding collection! You can't go wrong here. Carrier knows how to arrange for SAB voices! The collection includes outstanding choral arrangers who have contributed to this collection, including Faye López, Joan Pinkston, and James Koerts. Seven of the ten selections have traditional texts set to new melodies that are fresh and appealing to both choir and congregation. If you use SAB material in your music ministry for youth, adult and/or senior adults, this collection is for you.
Book
Mentoring in the Ensemble Arts (Helping others find their voice), Tim Sharp, GIA Publications, Inc.; G-7961; 173 pages; $21.95
 Tim Sharp is the current Executive Director of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). He has provided for us a book that is needed more than ever in today's world--how to mentor those involved in your groups in addition to conducting them! Remember this: conductors are artists, but they also should have a responsibility to go beyond the music and learn to nurture not only the voices of their ensemble members, but know their personalities, helping them to become the kind of men/women God wishes for them to be. In this book, Tim examines the mentor/protégé dynamic and critical impact on the lives of ensembles and as well as their conductors. The result is a profound portrait of this rarely discussed but very important aspect of a conductor’s life. The goal of this book is to help the conductor realize the full potential of the mentor/protégé relationship and to assist both mentor and protégé in achieving the best possible benefits of these relationships. The result will be better music making and more fulfilled human beings for generations to come. I wish I had had this book when I first began my career. It would have been such a huge help as I struggled to balance the music art with the relationship art! Double click on the book cover and be taken directly the GIA site and order the book. It is also available on Amazon.
Conferences
Go ahead and mark your calendar for one of two outstanding clinics/conferences provided by the well-known and established company, Kempke Music Service.
• The East Coast event is Music Florida, January 2-5, 2012 at the Host Hotel, The Wyndham Orlando Resort (407) 351-2420. A great conference rate of $84 is available for this event! For full details, go to:
http://www.musicflorida2012.com/
• The Western event is Winter Texas, January 2-5, 2012, on the campus of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in the Smith Center for Leadership. There are 55 hotel rooms in the Center--first come-first-served - and these rooms are very nice and convenient to the conference! http://www.kempke.com/online/pages/Clinicians.html/
Bits 'n Pieces
I hope that you noted that during the 9/11 remembrances, Amazing Grace was sung 4 times by a variety of groups, and was played by an exceptional flutist and by the renowned cellist, Yo Yo Ma. Interesting that this classic hymn tune/text seemed to "cornerstone" the celebration. It made my heart glad.
This month's anthem review materials are from SoundForth Music. I enjoy their products, and encourage you to go to their website and check out what they are offering.
Samford University School of The Arts is this month's MME sponsor. I served there on the music faculty for 9 years in the 70s and 5 years after retirement. I loved my time there. It is a remarkable school with an absolutely beautiful campus, a growing number of music majors and minors and a loving and caring faculty. Dr. Joseph Hopkins is the Dean and has heart for excellence in everything he touches. MME highly recommends Samford University.
Remember that you can now respond to each edition of MME by expressing an opinion, or making a comment. I would love for you to do so. The August issue, dealing with whether or not a conductor should sing with the choir brought many comments - a majority of them against this practice! So if you have thoughts to share, just look to the left to leave a comment.
Final Thought
A.W. Tozer once said: "To great sections of the Church, the art of worship has been lost entirely, and in its place has come that strange and foreign thing, call the "program." This word has been borrowed from the stage and applied with sad wisdom to the type of public service which not passes for worship among us."
Wow! What a striking condemnation by one of the great theologians of our time--and this was from a 1948 book. Wonder what he would say of today's worship if he visited churches today?
The Art of Worship is an art form of the very highest calling. Let's not ever forget that.
Finally, for another look at the art of worship, take a few moments and see this video.
Bob Burroughs is a husband, father, grandfather, composer, arranger, educator, clinician and the Editor of CREATOR magazine. In his spare time, he loves gardening, yard work, reading, and traveling. You can reach Bob by clicking on his name above. Please don't ask for money!
© 2011 Creator Magazine All Rights Reserved
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