what goals can a choir bring to help the church
Since starting at my current church building, the choir has rallied behind 4 "functions" of a church choir and has been key in helping the church go what song-enliveners affectionately telephone call a "singing congregation." Every bit the director of a church choir I utilize four functions to explain why the church choir exists. Those priorities assist determine the programmatic choices that our music ministry makes. The functions are in a specific priority social club, only I also believe each function is equally important every bit they must exist nowadays to have a vital music ministry. The four functions are to atomic number 82 and enliven the congregation's song, to sing music that the congregation cannot, to serve as a small-group within the church for faith formation, and to sing cute and challenging music to glorify God and to edify the congregation.
ane. The church choir leads and enlivens the congregation's song
This may come as a surprise to some readers that the first and most important function of the church building choir is to atomic number 82 the congregation's song. It is important, nonetheless, that this be the top priority. Let's not forget that without a congregation, there could not be a church choir! The singing group would instead be a community choir. Simply why is information technology important that the congregation's song be supported instead of merely focusing on the church choir's musical success? Choral musicians inherently know the answer. We get what we sing. When nosotros take words and put them to music, it becomes part of who nosotros are. Therefore, it becomes imperative that nosotros put as much of the Word into the bodies of the congregation as possible. If the congregation can sing it but nosotros don't let them, we miss an opportunity to transform people'south lives in the almost direct way possible. By giving the congregation new singing skills and confidence, nosotros empower them for the residuum of their lives to amend embody God'south word through music.
Therefore, taking our cue from the dandy church musician John Ferguson, it is important to view the congregation as the "big choir," and the church choir as the "little choir," or equally I similar to think of it, my sleeping room group. I ofttimes utilize my choir as "department leaders," positioning them around the congregation strategically to support the parts that I'k instruction for a congregational hymn or vocal. I have the choir stand in front of the congregation to pb them in rounds and canons. They become active leaders in building up the congregation'southward song. By doing this, the congregation is prepared for discipleship through the soul-embracing power of song.
2. The church choir sings music that the congregation cannot
Permit's be real. There'south lots of peachy music that needs to be sung that just cannot reasonably exist done past a congregation. Whether it's too circuitous to be done by untrained musicians, or simply besides difficult to be done without extensive rehearsal, there's a lot of music that cannot or should not exist done by a congregation. That's why this office is number ii on the listing. There are some texts ready to challenging music that congregations need to hear, whether it'due south considering information technology is comforting in times of crises, praising in times of joy, or inspiring in times of apathy. By spending the time and effort to rehearse each week, the choir provides a great service to the congregation by opening upward the amount of literature the congregation can be exposed to. Used appropriately, this has meaning theological and musical implications, broadening the congregation's feel of the divine.
iii. The church choir serves as a small-group inside the church for religion formation
I imagine that nosotros all have stories nearly our choral groups taking care of each other or property someone upwards in a fourth dimension of need. When we sing together, a bail is created that unites us unlike whatever other activity. In a church building setting, this part can be intentionally formed and nurtured. Considering we encounter together once a week to do work for the celebrity of God and benefit of neighbor, taking care of each other is no longer an option, it'due south a responsibleness. As the leader of this small-group, a church choir director's job is no longer limited to musical direction, simply as well spiritual direction. This doesn't mean you lot're responsible for giving a sermon each calendar week or listening to people'due south confessions, merely information technology does mean that you are charged with ensuring your group enacts the Word y'all sing week in and week out. A great example of this is the familiar Latin text "Ubi Caritas," something that nearly church choirs have sung at one time or some other:
"Where clemency and love are, God is there. Christ'south dearest has gathered usa into 1. Let us rejoice and exist pleased in Him. Let u.s. fear, and let us love the living God. And may we love each other with a sincere centre."
Considering we sing this text ofttimes as a biblical witness to the congregation, I wait my singers to care for each other with "charity and love." I expect them to human activity like "Christ's love has gathered us into 1." What I find is that my expectations are virtually e'er met considering the majority of my singers accept been singing their faith for decades and have already been formed by the church's song. I also always agree myself to the same standard, striving to exist an case of showing love and clemency while seeking musical excellence. By expecting myself and my choir to human action out what nosotros sing, the choir naturally takes care of each other. I rarely have to ask for food to be brought or people to be prayed for considering before I can bring it up someone from the group has already asked for information technology to be done past their fellow choir members. Information technology's a witness that is refreshing to meet each and every year I direct.
four. The church choir sings beautiful and challenging music to praise God and edify the congregation
The music that we create should be cute and challenging. This is where the majority of our rehearsal time is taken up, because singing challenging music beautifully is difficult to do and takes lots of practice. It is important that when we sing nosotros sing beautifully, because it touches people's souls. The reason that nosotros piece of work so hard to create beautiful music together is so that we tin glorify God and assist people experience a holy moment. On the reverse end of the spectrum, it is important that our singing is not distracting and therefore prevent people from having a holy moment. I observe that one of the best motivations for my choir when rehearsal is getting into the nitty-gritty, is to say something like, "This is a moment where we tin can bear upon someone and aid them have a moment with God." Reminding the choir that by changing these little musical details tin can make the difference in someone's spiritual life goes a long way to power through tough rehearsal moments. It is important, however, that the first three priorities in this commodity are non forgotten when digging deeper and deeper into the rehearsal process to endeavour and achieve our most beautiful sounds. A church choir's job is not merely to sing beautifully, simply rather it is to government minister to the congregation and to each other in a variety of ways, helping to modify the world into a more loving and peaceful identify.
Past taking these four functions and letting them guide your programme's decision making, y'all ensure that the choir serves as a conduit of faith for both your congregation and choir members. By telling your choristers that this is what and why they do what they exercise, it gives them a framework to express the importance of the church choir and be an advocate for music ministry. Well-nigh importantly, I hope that these four functions can enliven your congregation'due south singing through the faithful discipleship of your church choir members.
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Brian Hehn is Director of Music Ministry building for Arapaho United Methodist Church in Richardson, TX, and serves on the Executive Board of The Hymn Lodge of the United States and Canada.
Source: https://choralnet.org/2016/11/526739/
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