"Is It Worth It All?"

Have you ever sung or played a special and felt a little down after it was over?  I have to tell you that I have.  Sometimes you may have thoughts like: "What was that all about?", "That song lasted 2 1/2 minutes, it took me five hours to write out the parts, six weeks of rehearsal, and several hours of other types of preparation.", "Did anyone even hear the song?", "Why did we even work that hard for that result?"
These are natural and human thoughts but, as Christian musicians, we have to learn to ignore those types of feelings.  It is easy to feel that way if you're tired or have had a demanding schedule.  Holidays, revivals, programs can often make you feel like a Baptist jukebox, just push a button and expect ten or twelve specials to pop out perfectly.
But that is not what we're about.  Music is a service ministry to serve the people of your church and to serve the Lord. Each note and word you sing is for the glory of the Lord, not for the glory of man.  It is not about us.   We should be willing to be anonymous as musicians.  We should not be concerned about getting our names out there in the recording industries, publishing, etc. If that's the will of the Lord, great, if not, we have a place of service and should be content with the opportunity to use our work for the Lord.
Your ability, opportunity, and ministry are gifts and must be treasured. They could be affected so quickly, changed, or removed completely.  Enjoy your usability and forget about instant results, gratification, or recognition.

I Corinthians 15:58 - Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

"Group Personalities"

Have you noticed that every group rehearsal is different?  Every group member is individual and so every group personality will be its own.  It's been over ten years since we've started a mixed adult ensemble.  We've had Voice of Triumph ensemble for thirty plus years and Strength and Beauty Ensemble for almost fifteen years.  I had the privilege of starting a brand new adult ensemble just a few months ago and I can tell that this group will have its own sound and learning style.  As a matter of fact, I'm having to be very flexible with the song selections.  I had five songs chosen for the first month of rehearsals and only two seemed to fit their likes and learning style.
I think it also goes the other way.  They are learning my directing style.  I hope they will be patient with me as I "get the feel" of this groups' personality.
The group has sixteen members (eight couples) and is very talented.  They are also very faithful and prompt to rehearsals.  We practice in the fellowship hall because of the size of group and also because there are nineteen children who attend with their parents!  All together there are thirty-six of us in the room! So, I've learned that we need to get right to the point in rehearsal, not wasting time, because the longer we practice the louder the room tends to get!  No problem, just the stage of the families in the group.  I'm sure in the next few years this number will grow!
I'm looking forward to a great first year with this group.  This group has reminded me of what makes groups work, regardless of personalities.
1. Plan rehearsals at a convenient time for all who attend
2. Have a clean and comfortable room to practice
3. Have music prepared and organized in individual folders.  Group members may leave them with you or take them home to practice.
4. Add a new song every few weeks.
5. Be willing to make practice recordings for group members to practice at home.
6. Arrive before the group members and get the room ready and music laid out for distribution.
7. Start on time, even if all of the group members have not arrived.
8. Finish on time.
9. Announce to the group when they will be singing next, several weeks beforehand.
10. If the group is struggling with a song, hold off on it and find one that "clicks" for the group.
11. Try to make eye contact and greet each member of the group at each rehearsal.  Thank them for their faithfulness.:)

"When You Lose Your Piano"

What has Jesus commanded us to do?  

Matthew 22:36-40
³⁶Master, which is the great commandment in the law? ³⁷Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.³⁸This is the first and great commandment. ³⁹And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. ⁴⁰On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Musicians, there may come when your ministry as a musician changes or even disappears.  I know a wonderful Christian lady who has served faithfully as the pianist of her church for many years.  She no longer is physically able to fulfill that position.  Has her role at the church changed? Yes.  Has her value as a servant of God changed? Absolutely not!  As a matter of fact, she may be able to be a blessing in a more crucial and life-changing part of the ministry.  She might have more time for: prayer, spending time with the Lord on behalf of others, encouraging missionaries, loving her family, writing books, writing music, etc. 

My role as a musician has changed drastically since I first began playing in church thirty-three years ago.  Being the only pianist left at the church (for a few months) meant that I had my "finger in every pie".  I played for the congregational songs, choir, jr. choir, music groups and soloists, and for the offertory every single service.  Did I feel needed? Yes.  Was I good at every position? Not really.  Would I last long doing that? Probably not.

I praise the Lord for the day that Mrs. Joyce Kiefer walked in the church.  I praise the Lord for the day that Mrs. Jo Hovind walked into the church.  After they arrived, I no longer played for the congregational singing, I no longer played for the choir, I no longer played for the offertories, specials or solos.  I only played for the jr. choirs and one singing group.  Wow, talk about a role change.  During those years I began the "C" Sunday School Teen ladies class, worked on the first bus routes to Tyler, Texas, and Shreveport, Louisiana, started college, practiced until my arms dropped off, and began a real walk with God.  God used that time in my life to give me a heart for every ministry around the church.  I believe if I lost my "piano" today, I could find more ministries to keep me occupied! 

Eventually, I did again become the church pianist.  I did regain the position of playing for most all of the groups, but this was because of necessity, not design.  Church splits and staff changes can cause this responsibility shift.  Today, we have many great pianists who can stand alone as a primary church pianist, but that is not necessary in our ministry at this point.  We have a team and no one person is carrying the load. We are able to function in all of the ministries in the church and also have time to be wives and mothers, sisters, and friends.

What if you lost your "piano"?  Would you still love your church and love your God with all of your heart?  I sure hope so.  God might be giving you some space to know that there are so many ways to love and to serve Him.  Prepare yourself for any task and always be ready to be used wherever God wants to use you.