Leading the Song of God's People: Who is it for?
For church music coordinators, choir directors, singers and songleaders, choir members, organists/keyboardists, instrumentalists, lay and ordained worship leaders, and all those interested in vibrant, relevant and faithful worship music.
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What is it?
A 2-1/2 day (Thursday evening through Saturday 1:00 PM) practical training workshop for all those interested in choosing music and leading community sung prayer. We will look at the historical pattern of Sunday worship and see how musicians can support the singing that is done around Gathering, Word, Meal and Sending.
We’ll explore Why we sing — the theological and liturgical rationale for sung prayer; What we sing — looking at music, old and new, that makes for vibrant and faithful worship; and How we sing — developing skills for leading and animating an assembly. Our time together will include presentation, group singing and worship, and hands-on practice for song leaders and accompanists. The event will provide:
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Concrete and helpful suggestions for effective worship leadership
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Presentations on how to animate your congregation’s song and prayer
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Opportunities to learn new music and worship resources
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Suggestions about how to enliven your existing repertoire
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Ideas for how to build and nurture a parish musical ensemble
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An evening concert by the team members
Tentative Schedule
(subject to change)
THURSDAY
7:00-8:30pm Singing and opening plenary
Entering into the Song of God’s People: What mindset should we have as music ministers? What are some guiding principles? We’ll take a look at the reality of music-making in most \churches, and begin to explore how church musicians can approach the creative task of supporting the singing that is done around Gathering, Word, Meal and Sending.
8:30-9:00pm Evening Prayer
FRIDAY
9:00 Brief worship and morning plenary
Enlivening the Song of God’s People:
We’ll look at the role of church musician as animator/enlivener and explore techniques and strategies for leading singing and empower community singing.
10:30 Break
10:45-12:15 Practical breakout sessions
Depending upon the participant mix, sessions will be offered on topics such as: keyboard accompaniment, guitar accompaniment, use of percussion and rhythm, and use of the choir as a songleading tool.
12:15-1:15 Lunch
1:15-3:00 Afternoon plenary
What song shall the people sing? A session focusing on: analyzing hymn texts and tunes, developing a criteria for choosing music, and discussing the kind of repertoire we might imagine for the church in our time. We’ll also spend time singing and learning new songs and their uses within the liturgy.
3:15-4:00 Presentation and discussion
Sound, space and screens: Hear from presenters and exchange views on: sound systems, positioning of musicians and the assembly in the physical space, and the advantages or disadvantages of various worship aids (bulletins, hymnbooks, song booklets, multi-media screens).
Break for dinner (on your own)
7:00-8:30pm
Song-Fest/Concert led by Marty Haugen, Mary Preus and Tom Witt. Open to the public
SATURDAY
9:00 Brief worship and morning session
Shaping and nurturing those who lead -- How to form, nurture and sustain musicians in a parish setting. We’ll look at foundation questions as well as practical issues like recruitment, rehearsal styles, covenanting, and spiritual formation of your group.
10:30 Break
10:45-12:00 Practical breakout sessions
Practical Breakout sessions: focused on developing song-leading skills. Participants will be invited to teach/lead a song in front of a small group of others, and receive feedback.
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00-2:45 Afternoon participatory session
Building a Parish Ensemble: We’ll explore in practical ways how all of the various elements – including instruments and voices -- come together to support the community’s song.
2:45-3:30
Wrap-up/ taking it home and brief closing ritual/worship
Other notes about the event:
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We will be using piano as the primary keyboard instrument for this weekend. Basic philosophy and techniques will also apply to organ, however, none of the current leadership team plays organ as their primary instrument.
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Some instrumentalist participants may be asked to help accompany songs or assist in modeling leadership, but there will not be specific breakout sessions on learning your instrument (e.g. basic music skills) or a “jam session” offered. The focus will rather be on applying your skill level to build confidence in song-leading and accompanying corporate singing.
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Whether your are an instrumentalist, soloist, choir member, or lay worship leader, you will be learning vocal song-leading skills.
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It is anticipated that some participants may have already attended a Living Liturgy Weekend (designed for pastors and liturgical ministers of all types), and others will have not. There will be some repeated content, but most of the weekend will attempt to go beyond the basic foundational concepts presented in a Living Liturgy weekend.
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As with Living Liturgy events, the presenters will speak out of a strong background and experience within the Lutheran tradition, but the event is quite open to participants from other liturgical traditions. We will use the Evangelical Lutheran Worship book as a primary resource, but it will not be the only resource used.
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We hope for a group of 50 to 75 participants. If you have more than one person from your parish interested, we believe it would be a valuable event to attend as part of a team.
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We hope that participants can attend the entire event, from Thursday evening through Saturday afternoon, so event hosts are not offering any one-day discounts.
For more information about costs and scheduling:
Email Tom Witt
Upcoming Leading the Song of God's People Events:
April 24-25, 2009 in Springfield, IL at St. John’s Lutheran Church. For registration information, contact: Jean Welch, jwelch@stjohns-springfield.org
Past Leading the Song of God's People Events:
March 13-15, 2008 in West Salem, Wisconsin
January, 17-19, 2008 in Livermore, California