At Harmony, everything is pregnant. Our church is pregnant with a new baby church that will come out soon. Each Home Group is pregnant with another baby Home Group that will come out soon. Every believer at Harmony is pregnant with reproducing themselves. And we see bands as no different.
Our God is in the business of growth by multiplication, not just swelling. The way this applies to worship is the way we approach the band. Many times, when musicians come into the church, we incorporate them on a rotation. While this is inclusive of everyone, we feel that there may be another way to do this that will result in a better environment of worship during our gatherings. We see multiple bands leading us in worship; this is different than a “worship team”.
The primary difference is that in a worship team, the thing in rotation is the individual musician. One Sunday, the leader will have one set of musicians, and the next Sunday there may be a couple different musicians. In a multiple band scenario, the thing in rotation is the community of musicians. The same 4/5/6/7 musicians are playing together every single time they play, including the worship leader. This leads to greater band cohesion, and therefore, greater musical quality. It also allows for a varying of styles, which allows for an appeal to a larger audience over time. I believe that there should be one “pastor”/elder over the many different bands to ensure theological, ecclesiological, and missiological continuity. Every band should be worshiping the same God, focusing on the same mission, and together on church issues. But style and liturgy are open-handed issues.
We’re still trying to work out the details, but the end goal is somewhat less blurry: we want to see multiple bands, each with a different style and same mission, playing in a rotation that lead the Harmony community in worship of a Holy God.
Thoughts? Questions?
Help me wrestle this out.
My wife and I just finished watching the now ‘famous’ divorce episode of Jon and Kate plus 8. While I’m not a big fan or follower of the show, I would like to extend massive prayer towards the family, as they are in the public eye and have claimed the name of Christ. They are but one family across the nation in this kind of predicament. Here are some of my thoughts on what’s gone on. My prayer with these thoughts is not that they would come across as blunt or crass, but that they would perhaps be a help to another married couple or family that may be going through something similar. I also want to give hope to not only Jon and Kate, but to everyday people going through similar situations.
Yes, children can be exasperating. But nothing worth doing is easy. Sometimes the best things in life are worth sacrificing for. I understand your frustration, your pain, your feeling like you are often run over. I understand that. But as men, we are called to live sacrifically for our wives. This is the Gospel, isn’t it? Jesus lay His rights aside for us the Church as His bride. He didn’t have to die for us. He didn’t deserve to die for us. He had no business being here among us. But because of His love for us, He chose to lay aside His rights (Philippians 2) in order to humble Himself, and sacrifice for us, no matter the pain and hurt it cost Him. Thank God He didn’t only think about Himself like you and I so often do! Instead, He lay down His life for His beautiful bride, and we celebrate still today because of it. I would challenge you to lay down your want for independence and freedom from your wife, and instead sacrifice for her, and find your joy in first Jesus, and then Kate. In the midst of that joyful union with one another, you will find your freedom there, and your children will be blessed!