Interesting article from Vicky Beeching giving the pros and cons – though she never takes a position (not necessarily helpful since she’s a well respected worship leader whose insight and argument could be helpful).

At the end of the day I come down on the “no” side. Vicky asks about quality/integrity of faith for the professing Christian on a worship team.  She wonders about the possibility of exposure to the faith by inclusion of the unbeliever, and, well, you can read the pros/cons for yourself.  I think, though, that those responsible for leading worship must have some ability to profess some kind of relationship with Christ.   You really have to know the person you’re worshiping, or, to think of it another way – as a leader you have to know where you’re leading. 

This is another big question…similar to ‘should church musicians be paid?’. Thanks for over 40 comments on that post!

It’s relevant to any kind of church. The most common situation is when you need a certain instrument, or a really skilled player of a certain instrument, but there’s just NO ONE at your church who can fill that role!

A friend of mine leads worship in a very small church. Besides her on guitar, and the ocassional chance to get a 13 year old background singer, there isn’t anyone else who plays an instrument. Living in the same town as her is a professional piano and synth player. So…what does she do? Invite him to play on a Sunday… or not??

Here are my ‘both sides of the story’ summaries for you!

Read the rest.

h/t: Rob Sturdy

The largest functioning pipe organ in the world is located (of all places) in the Macy’s department store in downtown Philadelphia.  The organ is played daily at noon while shoppers visit the store, as well as for many after-hours special events and concerts.

On Saturday, October 30, 2010, one such special event “happened.”  While the store was filled with ordinary shoppers, more than 600 “shoppers” burst into a full chorus of the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s “Messiah.”  The “happening” event was staged by the Philadelphia Opera Company and engaged volunteers from just about every school, church and singing group in the city.

The organ is known around the world as the “Wanamaker Organ” because John Wanamaker installed this 28,500+ pipe instrument in the “Grand Hall” at the center of his 7-story department store.  The cross-shaped store opened in 1909 and fills a city block. The entire top floor is set up as a pipe organ maintenance and repair shop and once engaged 40 employees to expand and maintain the instrument.

Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly,

Thou has brought me to the valley of vision,

where I live in the depths but see thee in the heights;

hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold

thy glory.

Let me learn by paradox

that the way down is the way up,

that to be low is to be high,

that the broken heart is the healed heart,

that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,

that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,

that to have nothing is to possess all,

that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,

that to give is to receive,

that the valley is the place of vision.

Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells,

and the deeper the wells the brighter

thy stars shine;

Let me find thy light in my darkness,

thy life in my death,

thy joy in my sorrow,

thy grace in my sin,

thy riches in my poverty

thy glory in my valley.

~ from Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers

Sitting in the midst of a very long meeting my mind is wandering.  Thankfully, having my laptop, and access to wifi, I am free to roam.  In my wanderings I found this wonderful article on worship by the Tim Keller.  Enjoy:

Not everything we feel Sunday morning can be labeled true worship. Several emotions can be mistakenly associated with true worship.

Nostalgia. Some people are moved to tears by listening to “The Old Rugged Cross” and others by “The Wind Beneath My Wings.” But those feelings are not necessarily worship. They could also be merely a sentimental connection; the song reminds people of a warm memory. This is one reason why people will say, “I can’t worship if I don’t sit in my pew,” or “I can’t worship because you rearranged the furniture,” or “I can’t worship if I don’t know the hymns.”

That’s nostalgia, a fond sentiment that people often need because everything else in life is changing. But that feeling isn’t worship, and there is no resulting impact on their whole lives.

Conscience clearing. Some people feel guilty because they haven’t gone to church for a while, or they haven’t been praying, or whatever. So because they’re in church, singing a hymn and putting something in the offering plate, they feel better. Their consciences are clear. Perhaps that feeling is better than the sentimental feeling, but it’s still not worship.

Aesthetic experiences. Other people may have only an aesthetic experience, which is still not worship. Even people hostile to the gospel can weep while listening to Handel’s Messiah. C. S. Lewis said that his imagination was baptized when he was still an atheist because of excellent Christian art.

Our emotions become a legitimate part of worship when, in response to a truth about God, we give something back to God: our money, our sin, our praise. Again, the three elements must be there: mind, will, emotion.

As it relates to worship, I’d rather use the word moved than the word emotion. If we don’t find that our affections have been moved from earthly idols toward God, we haven’t worshiped. Our affections are more than just our emotions.

Some of us, myself included, are not emotionally expressive. That’s just who I am. However, if I leave Sunday morning having had no emotional connection whatsoever, I haven’t worshiped. I must allow my heart to be touched to worship.

Read the rest.