Our                 Team.

September 17 and 23 rd - 2023 - Giving your all,   We have had three posts so far.   Are you giving your all and learning from the posts?   Take this survey after reading these posts and let us know at least two takeaways from one of the posts and how you intent to use them to grow as part of the worship team.   

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe-1am8xtAxKzK-DTZ7ToAhQSXMy3uyCtiiQB5917A6teF7Zg/viewform?usp=sharing 

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September 8, 2023- I came across this devotional this week & really wanted to share with you guys. -Mike Jr.   

                                                    How Can I Keep From Singing

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Although worship can’t be contained in one expression such as music, it is evident from
scripture that singing is a significant response to God’s revelation (Ps 63:5; Eph 5:19; Col 3:15-
17). 
Reggie Kidd wrote, “Think of singing as a language that allows us to embody our love for our
Creator. Song is a means he has given us to communicate our deepest affections, to have our
thoughts exquisitely shaped, and to have our spirits braced for the boldest of
obediences. Through music, our God draws us deeper into a love affair with himself.”
When writing about the future of Jerusalem, the minor prophet Zephaniah wrote, “The Lord your
God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his
love, he will rejoice over you with singing” (Zeph 3:17). So if the Father is singing over me, then
how can I keep from singing?
John Wesley was a theologian and evangelist. He said this about singing…“Above all sing
spiritually. Have an eye to God in every word you sing. Aim at pleasing him more than yourself,
or any other creature. In order to do this attend strictly to the sense of what you sing, and see
that your heart is not carried away with the sound, but offered to God continually; so shall your
singing be such as the Lord will approve here, and reward you when he comes in the clouds of
heaven.”
With biblical and practical instructions such as these, I should be joining in full-throated singing
no matter how well or poorly I’m able to sing. Then my voice will be united with the voices of
others in communal utterances of praise, thanksgiving, confession, dedication, commitment,
lament and response. When that corporate singing occurs our songs will communicate vertically
and horizontally in a unified voice so compelling that they can’t possibly be silenced (Ps 30:12).
So how can I keep from Singing?

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September 2, 2023

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  This week we are focussing on the  Disciplines of Worship Leaders:

Joshua 3:5 ESV ….Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”

As we press forward into Leading Worship.  There are some key disciplines we all need to work  and commit to.  AGAIN… "Talking to myself here”

Look at this list and evaluate where you are in these areas and then pick one to focus on this Month. *#6 we will need some time on for the obvious reason!

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1. Make Worship a daily part of your life.   Praise him when you pray. Sing songs you are listening to that edify the Lord.

2. Improve your craft … whether that be music, video, choral singing, directing congregational  music or instruments. Read up on it look at YouTube videos on the subject then TRY IT!

3. Learn the Great Worship songs from the past and Present not just one genre

4. Model this new found excellence you are learning… in this way it becomes part of your ministry not just a head game.

5. Pastor and Disciple other members of your team.   Midway does this very well.  But make sure you are part of the group in this way.

6. Embrace the vision of your Lead Pastor *

7. Become a student of doing life with the members of your congregation.   Fellowship with the believers around you invite folks over.

8. Learn to communicate in front of your congregation. Write it and read it until you become comfortable.  Stay on point

9. Pursue and ever expanding view of God.  Through more diving into your bible not just one verse here and there but even if just one verse… Look into the meanings and context of the  verse and the other references that goes with it.

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I pray for you all to add these disciplines to your lives as I focus on the ones I am lacking in as well..  I ask that you join Mike and I in this walk as we work to lead others in worship of the one and only God.

Gordon  

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August 25, 2023. 

Hello,  Worship Team members!

      You might be asking yourself, “Why is Gordon saying I’m a Worship Team member”? Well, it is simple, anyone who stands before the congregation and sings, controls audio, video speaks, or plays an instrument, is part of the Worship experience in Midway Baptist Church.   All of us need to perform our instruments, our voices, and our support tasks to bring praise and honor to the Almighty God we serve.   You may say that it is not that simple, and you would be right.  It is a collective effort to lead the members and visitors to know who God is, what he gave for us to be able to know Him, and the grandeur of His Grace.  That takes a team of people and does not rely on any one individual to achieve this.   So, in short, welcome to the team.

As with any team practice is key.  Each of the musicians must face practice as a time to hone their craft to excellence.   We may not always achieve it but we are to work towards it.

Colossians 3:23-24
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men. Knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Each of the AV Team needs to know and practice the things they are to do on Sunday morning and not just hope for the best during a service.   Each choir member or instrumentalist must practice and more than just when we warm-up on Sunday morning.  Practice is not a time to just perform but to better the performance that is coming up.  You probably have heard that "practice makes perfect" but in fact “Perfect Practice” makes perfect.  Something that is only achieved by not just going through the motions but honing your craft to strive for perfection.  I am also talking to myself here!  None of us are perfect and we have our days but when the days of imperfection outweigh the perfect days we then have to look inward to change.   

I know we be in “Wingit” but let’s have the church family and especially anyone that is visiting see our God as perfectly as we can portrait him.   Let’s all hone our crafts this year starting this week.   

Thank you for all your hard word thus far but look into your hearts and ask, 

Am I doing my best for Him?   

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Thanks all,

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Gordon

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