Church Music 2014 simplified

Hello fellow church musician(s),
I'm not sure if I'm writing for anyone else to read or just for my benefit.  Either way, I've had a year off from the blog in exchange for using my pen and notebook.  The Lord has done a work in me as I'm sure He has in you this past year.  I am praising Him for all of His wonderful goodness and faithfulness!  I've posted an old photo from 1983 from an old-fashioned service.  Things were simpler then but I didn't think so! ha! (Jennifer Petticoffer/S. Petticoffer/J. Smith)
My theme or guiding word for this year is "Simplify".  I have just started the process and want this to trickle into all of the group rehearsals and scheduling.  When I say "simplify" I'm not meaning going backwards in any way, but moving forward in an efficient and streamlined manner.
The Lord gave me this thought the other day, almost ridiculously simple.  There are fifty-two Sundays and fifty-three Wednesdays in 2014.  That means 104 Sunday specials and 53 Wednesday specials for a total of 157 special numbers.  If we have thirty-two active soloists, groups, jr. choirs, and teen groups that means each of them would be able to sing about 5 times per year.  Some large groups, like jr. choirs, would still sing monthly.
If every soloist, duet, trio, quartet, and ensemble knows that they will only be singing a certain amount of times per year, that gives them a definite idea of the work and preparation time they have for each special number.  Of course, if you only have a total of ten soloists and groups they would need to each prepare for sixteen special numbers, but they would have a definite number of specials.
Knowing that number took a huge load off of my mental "shoulders".  I'm planning on walking into the next ensemble rehearsal with a folder or book for each musician.  On the cover will be the year "2014" and inside will be five songs plus a few old standbys for back-ups and a Christmas and Patriotic song.  Knowing that these are our nine rehearsal songs will greatly minimize stress, decision-making, and being unprepared for the services.  The best songs of the year will be used for the revival and conferences.
Just think, by the end of the year the songs should all be memorized, wow!  By June, I plan to add a section marked "2015", replacing the songs we have already sung and also to keep rehearsals exciting.
This may be "old hat" for some of you but I'm very excited about doing this.  I'll be busy the next few weeks but the year will be charted and hopefully we'll be able to sing and "play skillfully with a loud noise" for our Lord.  By the way, we came up with a new idea last year and I'll let tell you about it next Saturday.

Psalm 100

A Psalm of praise.

¹      Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

²      Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

³      Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

⁴      Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

⁵      For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

"Don't Holler "Uncle!""

To quit? or not to quit?  To disband a group or not to disband?  These are some questions that can come to mind in the music ministry. When there are years of investment in an ensemble or group and a repertoire sheet as big as a phone book you shouldn't throw it into the garbage pile in a quick reflex of the moment.
Sometimes we want to make a quick decision to eliminate a singing group based on three months of bad feelings or anger.  If a group has worked well for ten years, that's 520 weeks of good.  I have learned that we can put a group on "hold"for a personality conflict or spiritual adjustment time just like we do when there's a physical illness.  Our God is a problem-solving God, not a trasher.  Evil things should be thrown out but not our Christian brothers and sisters.  Maybe the group needs a fresh start with a different rehearsal time, new songs, and a new pianist.  There are lots of options to be explored.
We have several groups at our church that have been together for twenty-plus years.  Don't you think there have been times when we wanted to "hammer the nails into the coffin" and put them in the ground?  Yes! Nothing went right for several months: rehearsals with low attendance, or none, outfit problems, sickness, even death.  Humanly there is nothing we can do to quickly fix a problem.  It takes time, patience, and God's wisdom and power.  Just check the group's file into "rehab" and let the Lord do His work!
When problems arise and God irons them out, they are permanent press as far as He's concerned.  The problem is that we have memories like elephants when it comes to other people not measuring up to our expectations, or we react quickly to one or two negative personalities surrounding us.  It helps to have a great spirit and attitude when doing anything for the Lord Jesus.  Expecting perfection, though, is not realistic.  I have group members skip to practice, walk to practice, and some drag to practice - but I'm thankful for them all.  Every person has a bad day, let them have one or two, or how many it takes to get right.  To be willing to be faithful to church, tithe, go soul winning, follow the dress code, and come to rehearsals is a BIG DEAL!  Be thankful for those attributes.  Maybe they don't like your song selections, keep trying and be positive. Pray and ask God for wisdom.  Thank each group member as they come to rehearsal and as they leave rehearsal, before they sing and after they sing, whenever!
Yes "tribulation worketh patience", which we all will eventually have... Let's learn as much as we can from each trial so the tribulation will ease up a little!  Don't holler "UNCLE" too soon!