Creating a New Worship Service
Greg Scheer has written a new book called The Art of Worship: A Musician’s Guide to Leading Modern Worship (Baker Books, 2006, ISBN 0-8010-6709X). Scheer tackles issues such as when to make changes in the corporate worship of the church, and when to add a new service. He also offers practical advice to worship leaders on how to work with singers and praise bands in a contemporary style.
Despite the fact that the book spends a good bit of time discussing musical methods for contemporary worship, it also helps church leaders to explore whether a new service style is right for their particular church setting. When considering starting a new service in a new musical style, Scheer believes this isn’t necessarily the best solution for many churches. He states:
“Though church-growth experts encourage every new service to provide a new worship “menu item,” I believe that multiple services in different music styles should be approached cautiously. Many churches try to convince themselves that a new service with a modern music style will reach the lost in their community when the real motive is to keep their own people from fighting over music, and the only ‘outreach’ will be to members of other churches.”
“While there are many practical reasons to start a new service every time a new music style comes down the pike, I believe that the end result is disastrous. Where does it stop? The baby boomers’ “contemporary” services have already become the “traditional” service in many evangelical churches, and Gen X is nipping at their heels with new worship styles - after all, doesn’t each generation deserve to have their own service with their favorite music? Do we really want to encourage a church in which we wait for the older generations to die so we can move in with a new, exciting worship service? I hope not. I pray that the church of Jesus Christ will function as it’s intended, with respect between generations, submission to one another (and their musical preferences) in love, and patience with change.” (p.29-30)
Scheer has made an excellent point. As pastors and worship leaders let us consider how to keep the generations together in worship. If there needs to be change in song selection or music styles, let’s move slowly and keep the Body of Christ unified.