Agenda and issues for the meeting to review the Music Group
The spiritual context of our music.
- Before the meeting, please read the Bible passages that follow at least a couple of times. These all relate to worship and some to music in worship.
- Is there anything that particularly strikes you? Please be ready to share this.
- How well do you think our music relates to these values?
Rehearsal
- Wendy and I intend to meet and choose music in advance of each month.
- This would allow for a change of rehearsal schedule, for example, one long practice session once per month, perhaps at a different time. A Sunday or Saturday afternoon might be easier for people working on Fridays and allow school-age youngsters to be involved n a regular basis. Please consider this carefully. This would replace Friday evenings.
Preparation
- What do you do to prepare when there is a song you do not know well?
- For a fee paid by the church, we could have lyric videos available to Music Group members. Would you use this facility?
Fold-back
- Hearing each other has proved challenging. Would you be prepared to use in-ear monitors (or headphones) if provided? Would you find that helpful? (Everyone will hear the same mix.)
Singing skills
- Would you be prepared to spend some rehearsal time each month on singing coaching?
AOB
- Are there any other things that you would like to discuss?
Music and worship in Scripture
Spend some time reading through the texts that follow. (By all means, look up the entire chapters in context.)
(All readings taken from the Good News Translation © American Bible Society & United Bible Societies.)
Isaiah 6:1-8 (God calls Isaiah to be a prophet)
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord. He was sitting on his throne, high and exalted, and his robe filled the whole Temple. 2 Around him flaming creatures were standing, each of which had six wings. Each creature covered its face with two wings, and its body with two, and used the other two for flying. 3 They were calling out to each other:
“Holy, holy, holy!
The Lord Almighty is holy!
His glory fills the world.”
4 The sound of their voices made the foundation of the Temple shake, and the Temple itself became filled with smoke.
5 I said, “There is no hope for me! I am doomed because every word that passes my lips is sinful, and I live among a people whose every word is sinful. And yet, with my own eyes I have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”
6 Then one of the creatures flew down to me, carrying a burning coal that he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. 7 He touched my lips with the burning coal and said, “This has touched your lips, and now your guilt is gone, and your sins are forgiven.”
8 Then I heard the Lord say, “Whom shall I send? Who will be our messenger?”
I answered, “I will go! Send me!”
Romans 12:1-2 (Life in God's Service)
So then, my friends, because of God's great mercy to us I appeal to you: Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer. 2 Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God—what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect.
Psalm 92:1-4 (A Song of Praise / a song for the Sabbath)
How good it is to give thanks to you, O Lord,
to sing in your honour, O Most High God,
2 to proclaim your constant love every morning
and your faithfulness every night,
3 with the music of stringed instruments
and with melody on the harp.
4 Your mighty deeds, O Lord, make me glad;
because of what you have done, I sing for joy.
Psalm 95:1-2; 6-7 (A Song of Praise)
Come, let us praise the Lord!
Let us sing for joy to God, who protects us!
2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and sing joyful songs of praise.
6 Come, let us bow down and worship him;
let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!
Psalm 96:1-3 (God the Supreme King)
Sing a new song to the Lord!
Sing to the Lord, all the world!
2 Sing to the Lord, and praise him!
Proclaim every day the good news that he has saved us.
3 Proclaim his glory to the nations,
his mighty deeds to all peoples.
Acts 16:25-30 (Paul & Silas are in prison)
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a violent earthquake, which shook the prison to its foundations. At once all the doors opened, and the chains fell off all the prisoners. 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he thought that the prisoners had escaped; so he pulled out his sword and was about to kill himself. 28 But Paul shouted at the top of his voice, “Don't harm yourself We are all here!”
29 The jailer called for a light, rushed in, and fell trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas. 30 Then he led them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”