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Coping with Easter Absenteeism
Another episode in the soap opera. Several band members will be out of town for Easter Sunday; which means high school subs; AND we won't have a chance to practice because of Holy Week services. I am about ready to just throw up my hands and walk away from this whole thing. But since that's not an option, what are some easy but beffective Easter songs?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Patti Black on -
Another approach I have taken at times when most of the team is away, is to use a different form of worship expression instead of music that week. An extended time of shared praises and testimonies from the congregation, some powerful scripture readings, and sometimes I have used the time for "silent praises" where the congregation is sending up words and phrases that they can whisper to God but maybe not share out loud with everyone . . .
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Permalink Reply by Bill Guynn on -
one thing that we did that was very powerful was cardboard testimonies. You can find examples of them on youtube. Every one I have witnessed has been very powerful. It would be a great one time event that could take up the "music time" for one service. You could play canned music behind it or sing a capella from the congregation.
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Permalink Reply by David Harrell on -
We did the cardboard testimonies about a year and a half ago. It was very powerful. People still talk about it.
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Permalink Reply by Junjie on -
The question behind this: what are your expectations? What are the expectations of the audience? Sometimes we give ourselves pressure that is totally unnecessary. And it leads to us getting snappish at our families and the rest of the ministry team-mates while we're at it. I think that defeats the purpose of remembering the season!
If I were to borrow a concept, Man was not made for Easter, but Easter for Man. Don't let your service cause you to forget that Easter was meant for YOU as well, Kathy! :)
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Permalink Reply by Kathy on -
That's the $64,000 Question, right there. I'm slowly realizing that I've been mired in my old-school mindset of Big Fancy Blowout Easter Extravaganza, and that just doesn't fit the modern (or even semi-modern) worship model. This is way more of a paradigm shift than I thought . . .
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Permalink Reply by jeremiah adams on -
"I'm slowly realizing that I've been mired in my old-school mindset of Big Fancy Blowout Easter Extravaganza, and that just doesn't fit the modern (or even semi-modern) worship model."
I submit that this is a problem for many of us. We have these images in our head of what traditional worship is, main-stream worship is, modern worship is, etc.. we can go on and on. Reality? Irrelevant to God. 1 Samuel 15:22. God wants our obedience more than some program.
I'd still push for something very simple in your case. We get in danger that we thing that since its easter we have to do something special. Reality? God expects us to worship him in spirit and in truth perpetually.
I'd still do something simple in your case. It would give me an excuse to do something different, daring and hopefully, can break through the stronghold of tradition and bring the congregation into a state of worshipping in spirit and truth. Honestly, I don't think this happens nearly as often as we worship leaders hope for or pretend.
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Permalink Reply by David Harrell on
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Regarding practice, since you know this far ahead, what is the possibility of scheduling a couple of practices for these folks? Maybe it would be on a day other than your standard practice day.
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Permalink Reply by Jon on -
I am actually very disappointed in many of the responses on this thread. Here is one of "us" that came for suggestions on simple songs for a service that just happens to be "Easter" Sunday. Why are we not giving her suggestions instead of dissecting her motivations or understanding. Let's stop being philisophical and start being practical and helping her out with some song suggestions.
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Permalink Reply by jeremiah adams on
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Sorry bro, I didn't mean to hijack the thread.
Kathy, I'd still get a very small team, 2-3 people, one a good accompanist, and then not be limited to simple songs. End of my two cents. :)
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Permalink Reply by Kathy on
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Thank you for your chivalry! But my motivations and understanding appear to need a little dissecting. I still feel more like a displaced choir director than a worship leader . . . as one of my guys put it, I don't speak Garage Band. At least not fluently, yet. Thank you all for helping me learn.
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Permalink Reply by David Harrell on
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Marvelous Light by Charlie Hall is one of our congregations favorites and only uses 4 chords. Coming off of "From the grave You've risen" break the instruments then sing out "Victoriously!".
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