Improve Your Culture With These Three Words
Words are powerful.
They can clarify or confuse.
They can solidify truth or perpetuate misconceptions.
You can begin to shape a better culture for your music team by changing three little words.
LEAD
When I speak to a volunteer about participating with the Music Team, I choose to use the word Lead. Not play. Not sing. Not participate. Lead.
I'll say:
"I'm looking forward to leading with you Sunday."
"It was so fun leading with you last week."
"Would you like to lead with us for our Night of Worship?"
I won't say:
"I'm looking forward to playing with you Sunday."
"It was so fun singing with you last week."
"Would you like to participate with us for our Night of Worship?"
Each team member is a leader. They publicly represent Christ. They aren't along for the ride - they're leading the charge.
Your words can reinforce this belief. By calling your team members leaders, you are giving them power, authority, and a sense of duty.
Music Team
The standard term for a group of church musicians is "Worship Team". This isn't a wrong term, it just isn't the most accurate term. It can perpetuate an incomplete truth.
We believe that each element of a worship service is (or can be) an act of worship.
We worship as we gather and sacrifice our time to commit it to the Lord.
We worship as we tithe and acknowledge God as the creator and owner of all things.
We worship as we pray in confession, thanksgiving, and supplication - recognizing God as all-powerful and all-wise.
We worship as we receive the teaching, submitting ourselves to God's authoritative word.
And we worship as we sing, physically expressing our inward devotion and adoration.
Each member of the gathering - the ushers, teachers, greeters - are a part of the worship team. We all facilitate worship.
That's why I call our worship team a "Music Team". We facilitate worship through music. Music is our means of glorifying God.
Rehearsal
And now for a practical term. Rehearsal.
Simply put, we practice at home - we rehearse together.
Thursday night or the hour before service is not the time to practice. It's too late for that! We're here to rehearse - and you can only rehearse what you've already practiced.
Let me challenge you. Make these three vocabulary substitutions and see how the culture of your team begins to change.