Every now and then I’m asked “Are we going to use drums at Calvary Memorial?” Some are hoping we will, some hope I’ll say no.
It’s a legitimate question; people want to know what to expect as our fine arts ministry grows and develops.
The answer is yes. We are committed using everything we have available to bring praise and honor to our Lord. We’re adding woodwinds, brass, strings and percussion at Calvary; our aim is to utilize a full spectrum of voices and instruments in vibrant expressions of praise and worship. Everything we add we will add with musicanship, skill and finesse. As new technologies become available we will include those as well, with the same standard of excellence, aspiring toward effective worship. God expects our very best and that’s what we intend to bring to Him.
Percussion instruments (where sound is created by striking a surface) are legitimate instruments used in God-honoring praise. People tend to forget that percussion instruments were among the first invented (including simple hand-drums, bells, and wooden tone blocks). The piano, which creates its sound by striking a metal string with a hammer, has only been around the last 300 years or so.
As our fine arts department matures, as the Lord provides, we will draw on full orchestration in hymns and spiritual songs. We will just as readily incorporate capella (unaccompanied voices) or one voice, one instrument, both of which we have enjoyed in recent services.
“Let everything that breathes praise the Lord” (Ps. 150.6) includes us all. Percussionists are included and we will make use of their skills at Calvary Memorial, right along with all the other musicians we enjoy.
The key: Play skillfully and joyfully for God’s glory (see Ps. 33.1-5).
Phil
Jonell
If you would have asked me this question 30+ years back at GRSBM the answer would of been no. However now days there are ways to control the volume (my biggest fear for a medium size auditorium) on any instrument. Also the culture was different. Today, I find myself enjoying the “beat” at a reasonable sound level. The accepted songs back then were hymns and choruses that sounded good without the “beat”. Today’s praise and worship songs beg for the “beat”. As I controlled the instruments from my sound board seat yesterday I found myself constantly adjusting the sound levels on the electronic drums and other instuments to achieve the best sound. My advise to those who have said no way to percussion in the past or present—give it a chance. Go to concerts like Michael W Smith and Mercy Me and realize you can praise God with percussion. Utilize all the God gives you and include that drummer!
By: Dave Pherson on October 26, 2009
at 12:53 pm
Corporate, from Word Origin & History, means “united in one body.”
One whose goal is to lead a church congregation in corporate worship should avoid including anything that brings division. There are those in any church who may have attended “their church” for years, helped build it, taught Sunday School Classes, etc., and are now in the sunset years of their lives. Remember them in your choice of instruments.
Can’t this verse be applied in this situation?…
I Corinthians 8:13 “Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.”
By: SLW on October 26, 2009
at 8:49 pm
Thanks for your comments thus far, Dave and Mom. This item has gotten a lot of attention today, I’m glad you felt free to comment.
These are wonderful days! We have so much at our fingertips right now to assist us in learning, growing, developing, serving, challenging, helping God’s followers to maturity, encouraging one another to love and good deeds.
I remind myself often that leading calls for one to be in front of those he leads, but not too far, or the scout becomes a casualty.
Deference is important. Love. Focus. Unity among fellow leaders, kindness toward all, but without acquiescence. Progress nearly always takes a while to get going, so leaders must be sure of their destination and methods, while considering those in their care.
In our case, here at Calvary, it’s a bit unusual in that those who remember our being here nearly 25 years ago and that our ministry team thought progressively. We pushed the envelope, but with good reason. Our methods served our aims in those days and our board expects they will do the same with this leadership team. I couldn’t help but smile when our third Sunday here a gentleman shook my hand and said “I appreciate the life you’re bringing to things. Thank you.” He’s 81. That’s a good sign.
Dr. Joseph Stowell tells of one of his associate pastors who spent considerable effort soon after he arrived learning the answer to the question: Who are these people? Once he had a good grasp of his people’s characteristics and ideosyncracies, his ministry quickly began to flourish. I’m fortunate in that I’ve known Calvary for a long time. My question is similar: Who are these people – today?
Phil
By: Phil on October 26, 2009
at 11:22 pm
I know that my input will not have any bearing on what will be done for I know that your minds are already made up months ago. My concern is that we add drums now and keep them toned down and in 10 years from now there will be a little more beat in the music so there will be more beat in the drums at church. This is how things get more and more away from the message. Then the focus will be more on the beat then the message. As far as ones that cannot handle the beat for it will make them stumble. It is our younger ones that will be using it as another reason to listen to there music because they will simply state it is alright because we have the beat in the music at church now. Is it really worth our younger kids values to have the beat that the new music at church is demanding. Then I say maybe we need to evaluate our new music at church. Don’t get me wrong, I do understand about the beat and how it can be controlled to make the music more enjoyable, but I do know that it will later get more and more because of the change of the times and the music demands it more and this is what I feel is wrong. I have seen it in other churches that the intentions are ment to be good but there is more disaster then benefit. Once the drums are in they rarely ever leave. Is it really because the other big churches have them so we need them too? Are numbers what it is really all about? If that is what it takes to get people in is it really worth it?
I know this will not change anything anyway.
By: Carl on October 27, 2009
at 12:56 am
Good Morning, all, and thanks for commenting, Carl. You’re in the church I now serve so I know this is close to home for you.
I agree with you that things can go awry, especially when ego gets the bit in its teeth and begins to run. I’m starting from square-one earning your trust and confidence, as Calvary wasn’t your church home when I served here previously. Trust must be earned and I’ll endeavor to earn yours over time.
I hope you’ll soon discover that my passion for God is deep and real. That I’m committed to serving our Lord with every ounce of my being. And I hope it’s contagious
. When people look at what’s happening on the south edge of Gering, I hope their response will be just like when observers noticed the boldness of Peter and John, in Acts 4:13. They marveled and took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
One of our worship team’s primary objectives on Sunday mornings is to usher with excellence. God’s people have an appointment with God at 10:30 every Sunday morning. Our task is to bring His people into that hour and step aside so they can express their love and adoration to Him, review His attributes before Him, hear what He has to say to them and respond with obedient living in the week that follows.
People who are growing in the Lord are quick to say “Come see. This God I serve loves you too! Come see why I’m so excited about living for Him. Come grow with me, these people care. Come serve with me, we have skills and abilities God intends for us to develop (Matt 25.14ff), let’s do that together.” While not driven by numbers, I do know that healthy churches grow. There are thousands of people within driving distance of our church who desperately need to know Christ. As we reach them and help them grow to maturity in the faith, we’ll grow. We won’t be able to help it! And that excites me.
As you pray for the leaders of your church, please pray “Lord, keep them balanced. Keep their focus sharp. Help them follow you so close we know we’ll be safe following close behind them.” There’s a lot of ugliness in our world, enough to make a guy just want to stay in the house all day. But as we live in His power, share His love, thinking soundly (2 Tim 1.7) helping each other develop love from pure hearts, good consciences, sincere faith (1 Tim 1.5) Calvary will continue to be a place where God looks over in our direction and smiles His approval. Well done, Calvary!
By: Phil on October 27, 2009
at 8:51 am
A number of comments have moved to “pending” and comments are no longer being accepted on this post.
The rationale; an excerpt from my “C’mon In” page where I lay the groundwork for my moderation of comments on this blog:
A comment that vanishes was most-likely
* the beginning of an off-line discussion,
* didn’t apply to the post it connected to,
* was inflammatory. Those seldom appear, but when they do they evaporate.
By: Phil on October 31, 2009
at 11:10 pm
Since we’re local, let’s discuss this over coffee.
Text-only lacks so much. I look forward to talking face to face next week.
Phil ~
By: Phil on October 31, 2009
at 1:21 pm