REVISED // AUGUST 2009 CONTENTS // * Why A Handbook? * How To Become Part of The Team * Worship Leading Application * Testimony * Learning And Playing Songs / Instrument Specifics * Worship Covenant / Other Policies, Procedures and Expectations * Supplement 1 - Article: What I Wish I Knew About Leading Worship 10 Years Ago
WHY A WORSHIP? 1. A characteristic of Cornerstone Rockwall has always been to function and dream as a local church that is slightly larger than its present reality. This handbook provides the structure and a foundation for our worship team to grow and become a model of excellence in our community. 2. Clear expectations are essential to the success of any high capacity ministry team. 3. To provide a clear and God-honoring path for people interested in joining our team. A continuing goal should be to raise up and include new leaders. Exclusivity is not an option. 4. To provide accountability to the Elders of Cornerstone Rockwall, as well as one another. 5. To take some pressure off of Greg :)
HOW TO BECOME PART OF THE TEAM First things first, we want you to know how excited we are that you have shown an interest in joining what God is doing here at Cornerstone, through the worship ministry! We have been blessed over the past three years and are excited to share that experience with others. In an effort to give a clear path on the process of joining our team, we have outlined the following seven steps as our application process. If you have any questions along the way, please feel free to contact Greg at (214) 771-4140. It s been our experience over the years that there are three critical things to consider when bringing someone onto the worship team at Cornerstone - a persons (1) craft, (2) character and (3) chemistry. The whole point of this wandering in the wilderness (i.e. the application process) is for the leadership team to determine if you have the craft, character, and chemistry for this specific aspect of ministry at Cornerstone. The application process for our worship team is a minimum eight week process as follows: STEP 1 - Fill out and return the Worship Team Application (available online at www.cornerstonerockwall.com under media). STEP 2 - After you have filled out the Worship Team Application, you ll be given a song (chord chart and MP3) to prepare for an initial audition at an upcoming Saturday rehearsal. Greg will schedule this audition, via email, once we have received and reviewed your Worship Team Application. STEP 3 - Initial meeting with the Worship Leader, Greg Lackey. This meeting is to go over the application process and receive materials we would like you to study, read, and listen to over the next eight weeks. This initial meeting will be held at Room 49 (713 W. Rusk Rockwall, TX 75087). The objective of this meeting is to provide you with all the information and materials you will need throughout the application process. STEP 4 - Over the next 8 weeks you ll need to learn a portion (10 songs) from our current core set. We work off a list of 20-25 songs in a given 6 month period, so it is crucial for you to learn the necessary parts of these songs for your instrument. Your audition will be on 2 songs from this list, and be played during one of our regularly scheduled rehearsals. You will receive these 10 songs at the initial meeting. STEP 5 - Over the eight week period we would like you to meet with at least one of our core team members for coffee/lunch to discuss this aspect of ministry at Cornerstone. STEP 6 - Final audition with the band at a Saturday morning rehearsal (play 2 songs from the list of 10 you received at the initial meeting with Greg). STEP 7 - Sign and return Worship Covenant to Greg or Church offices.
WORSHIP TEAM APPLICATION We really want to be upfront about the commitment level this area of ministry requires. The more we grow as Worship Leaders at Cornerstone the more we are convinced how unique and sacred this area of ministry is. Because of this, there comes a great deal of responsibility and commitment on our part. By far it involves the most time and commitment of any other ministry at Cornerstone Rockwall. Becoming a part of this ministry requires: Two hour rehearsal on Saturday mornings. Sunday sound check at 7:00am and then lead worship for all weekend services. Plan to be present from 7:30am - 1:00pm. Continue to grow and develop as a musician. Participate in the on-going equipping materials given out by the Worship Team Staff. Participate in our monthly team gatherings. We currently work off of a 20-25 song rotation over a 6 month period. You are expected to know these songs before rehearsal on Saturday. This means practicing during the week on your own so that you are prepared ahead of time. Special events: Throughout the year we have special events (like Christmas at the Harbor) that will require more time and energy on your part. If you are interested in pursuing this opportunity please fill out the following application and pass it along to Greg at the Church Office (713 W. Rusk, Rockwall, TX 75087). Best, The Worship Team July/August 2009
The following questions serve two purposes; first, we would like to know more about you and your musical background. Second, we would like you to think through a couple of key things before you consider leading with the teams here at Cornerstone. (If you need more room please feel free to write on the back.) Name Date Email What will you do if you are not chosen to be a part of this aspect of ministry? What is your musical background? What Instrument(s) do you play? Have you had the opportunity to lead worship in another setting? When? Where? Can we contact the person you served under for a reference? List the top 3 reasons you want to serve on one of the music teams: 1. 2. 3. List two ways you feel your participation will enhance and bless the people of Cornerstone 1. 2. If you were stranded on a desert island, what one CD would you want to have with you? July/August 2009
SHARE YOUR STORY To help us get to know you better, we d love to know your story - specifically how and when you became a Believer in Jesus. First and foremost, you must know that there is power in your testimony! Revelation 12:11 says we overcome our enemy by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony. With that said, one of the first things we d like you to do in this eight week period is write your testimony and either email it (glackey@cornerstonerockwall.com) or drop it off at the church office (Room49). We will then share this with our core team of musicians so they will have the opportunity to know more about you and your story.
LEARNING AND PLAYING SONGS The question will arise sooner or later about specific parts and how we arrange and play songs at Cornerstone. Our basic foundation is that each musician be able to play the original part(s) as it relates to their instrument. Some people refer to this as lifting the CD track. Over time these songs will take on their own character as we make them our own, however as a starting point we ask all our musicians to start by lifting tracks. We do this for several reasons: 1. Being a mobile church, we are limited on rehearsal time. Having parts laid out in advance allows each band member to know roughly where things are headed and what is to be expected from other musicians? 2. Most tracks we would be lifting have been tried and refined in a corporate worship setting already. Most of these song were born in the local church for local churches. 3. This gives us a solid and dependable foundation from which we can build future arrangements (if decided necessary). INSTRUMENT SPECIFICS Drums: Since drums provide the essential foundation for a song it is important that the main groove and drum line be replicated unless other direction is given by the Worship Leader(s). Bass: Bass, along with drums typically provide the foundation for a songs groove. Bass parts should reflect the natural groove of a song and follow the kick/snare pattern typically. Keys, Acoustic and Electric: Most songs are built around a central hook or riff. If these fall on the acoustic, electric or keys it is important to replicate these parts in our arrangement(s). Backing Vocals: At Cornerstone, melody is king. It s our desire to give the people we are leading a strong vocal reference to follow and thus we will typically ask our backing vocals to focus on melody. Harmony on the other hand is more the icing on the cake. Backing vocals will need to learn both the melody (if in a suitable range) as well as the main harmony line from the CD reference track.
WORSHIP COVENANT The word covenant simply means agreement. In the biblical context, a covenant was a binding agreement, to which members had certain obligations and could expect certain benefits in return. This is our agreement, our covenant with one another as it relates to leading worship at Cornerstone Rockwall. As an active worship leader at Cornerstone, you are entering into this agreement with one another (Mars Hill, Grand Rapids). WE LL GIVE GOD OUR BEST // 1) God is concerned first with our hearts. " honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me." Matthew 15:8 NLT 2) God is concerned secondly with our gift(s). Malachi 1-2 Questions we need to ask about what we offer as worship: Is it born out of reverence, honor, and awe of God (Malachi 1:6)? Is it from our best (Malachi 1:8, 14, Psalm 33:3 note the context, Colossians 3:23)? A word of caution: "Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished." Malachi 1:14 ESV "If you will not listen, if you will not take it to heart to give honor to my name, says the Lord of hosts, then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessing. Malachi 2:2 ESV 3) Practical expectation: Be prepared both spiritually (prepare your heart; confess sin, be in the Word of God) and musically (know your parts and music) WE LL GIVE ONE ANOTHER OUR BEST // Jesus was pretty clear about what mattered most to the heart of God, "love God, love others." We're committed not only to giving God our best, but that should naturally flow into loving one another. If we miss this, we cannot be offering God our best.
Practical expectations: Be Prepared. We re all expected to have prepared both spiritually and musically before rehearsals begin. Be On Time. We re all expected to be on time for both rehearsals and sound checks. "Don t just pretend to love others. Really love them... love each other with genuine affection and take delight in honoring each other." Romans 12:9-12 NLT Be Conscious of Other Musicians. Specifically be aware of their parts and the overall picture we are painting in a song. Be cautious of overplaying. Sing a new song of praise to him; play skillfully on the harp, and sing with joy. Psalm 33:3 "Skillfully" is a broad term meaning, "to be good, be pleasing, be glad." It also carries the idea, "to be well placed." "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4 NIV And let us consider how to stimulate one another in love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near." Hebrews 10:24-25 NASB Be Conscious of the People You re Leading. Are you leading people in worship or simply playing? Are we pursuing God, or self seeking? Be Respectful to the Leadership. This includes not just the Worship leader but any person God allows to assume that roll on any given morning. Be An Example to Those You re Leading. People are always watching how we live and interact with one another. Be an example; guard your heart and tongue. Don t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. Ephesians 4:29 NLT So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 NLT Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone. 1 Thessalonians 5:14 NLT
OTHER POLICIES, PROCEDURES AND EXPECTATIONS * Be on time for team events (Including any time the team gathers - rehearsals, sound checks, monthly team events, etc). Our working definition of on time is showing up with enough time to set up, tune and warm up prior to the scheduled time. * Be at all rehearsals and sound checks. Because we strive for transparency, it is essential that each scheduled person, for a given weekend, be at the rehearsals. If you are unable to be at rehearsal, it makes the most sense that you would not be able to participate with the team that weekend. * It s essential that you are active in the life of Cornerstone Rockwall. Because your influence extends beyond the platform, it s vital you are present and participating the weeks you are playing/singing as well as those you are not. * We utilize an online system for scheduling, planning and communication - www.planningcenteronline.com. In order for us to be as effective in leadership as possible, each band member needs to utilize this system to its full potential. This includes accepting/declining scheduled dates (at least two weeks in advance), blocking out future vacation dates, responding to emails sent by the leadership team, etc. * Be committed to growing both musically and spiritually. From time to time the leadership will present books, articles, and videos for the team to read, watch and respond to. We are all required to participate in these aspects of the teams overall and personal growth. * Commitment is essential to the success of this ministry. Being a part of the worship team will mean you are committing to this covenant for at least a six month period.
I choose to enter into this covenant with the worship team at Cornerstone Rockwall: (signature) (date) * This document must be signed and returned to the church office. You will be given a copy that we hope you will place in a visible spot to remind you to give God,and one another, your best.
What I Wish I Knew About Worship Leading...10 Years Ago by Glen Packiman Last month marked 10 years since I graduated from college. It also marked 10 years of leading worship in a full-time, vocational capacity. I was 21 when I started and I thought I had it figured out. I was a theology major in college and had led worship in chapel services and traveled all around the world with teams from our university, leading worship and teaching churches how to do it just like we did. I knew how to run auditions, put a set-list together, and make worship flow like a river. But I was clueless. I had no idea the way I would be drawn aside by own ego, fooled by opportunities and so-called fame. I was not prepared me for the hidden dangers that threaten the modern worship leader. If I could time-travel and talk to Glenn circa 1999, this is what I would say to him: 1. Don't be fooled by popular worship CDs/DVDs. Almost every worship CD-- including ours-- begins with the roar of a crowd. I have yet to see a worship DVD filmed in front of a handful of people. The more time you spend with worship CDs and DVDs, the more you subconsciously believe that a worship service is about the euphoria of a crowd, the adrenaline rush of taking the stage. More people aspire to be worship leaders now because of what a cool profession it has become. It's sickening to sit with young worship leaders and watch a U2 or Coldplay DVD and see their eyes light up as mine once did as they think of ways to incorporate those elements at their church. Why wouldn't they? There is little difference between today's worship services and rock band show. And yet, lights and smoke are not the fall guys. Crowds and electric guitars and not evil. The problem is much more subtle-- and more sinister. It is what is happening in our hearts: the subtle confusion between showmanship and leadership that comes from paying too much attention to recordings of people on a stage. Speaking of the stage... 2. Beware of the stage. The stage is a dangerous place. The sooner we admit it and stop hiding behind cliches about a "platform God has given us" or an "opportunity to make God famous", the better we will be. Then we can be honest about how tempted we are to work for the praises of men. The stage makes us talk in funny voices, prone to melodrama, careful with how we report the facts. It makes us less honest versions of ourselves, and, in the worst cases, reduces us to a persona and no longer a person. Confession is the path to healing. Psalm 90 is a confession of how temporal life is, how fleeting our best efforts are, and what limited, time-bound creatures we are. The Psalm is attributed to Moses, the leader and heroic deliverer of, quite likely, millions of people. Moses knew that standing in front of people who could one day be an adoring crowd and the next day be a riotous mob would tempt the best leaders to attempt more than they can really achieve, to inflate themselves to be larger than life. So, confess your limitations. Ration your time on stage. Remind yourself and others how replaceable you are by involving other leaders. In Moses' words, "teach us to number our days." 3. Learn to love a congregation not work a crowd. The more I traveled with the Desperation Band, the more I longed for my church. At first, it was fun to be at festivals and conferences, to share green rooms with other celebrity artists enjoying their vapor of Supplemental 1 - http://glennpackiam.typepad.com/my_weblog/
influence. We had always made the commitment to be at our church far more than we were gone. In fact, on average we were leading worship here three times more than we were leading worship anywhere else. But still, time in front of large crowds can make you do funny things. I've sprayed water from a bottle onto "worshippers" on the front row, I've crowd surfed in a packed room, and kicked beach balls from the stage. All in the name of having fun in church. None of these things are hideously evil, but they are deceptively destructive. They destroy the sacredness of the priestly vocation-- and the worship leader is priest before he is anything else. The worship leader is not a priest who mediates on behalf of the people; he is a priest who stands among a congregation of priests, calling attention to God. He is, as a priest is, one of the people. He shares their bloodline, their heritage, their history. He knows their stories. Today's worship leader is trained to be a performer working the crowd, instead of a priest lovingly standing among the people of God. 4. Worship is more than our response. Much has been made about how worship is our response to a revelation of who God is. That is true. But what is often left unsaid is that even our response is the result of God at work in us. Grace is not God doing something for us and then leaving us to respond. Grace is God working is us to become and do what He has called us to be and do. Grace is God doing FOR us what we COULD NOT and it is God doing IN us what we CANNOT. So worship, then, is more than a grateful, whole-hearted response to God; it is God Himself at work in us causing us to see Him, leading us to surrender, making our offering pleasing and perfect. Here, the whole Trinity is at work. God the Spirit, at work in our hearts, revealing Christ and drawing us to the Father; God the Son, through Whom our sacrifice is made perfect because His was, the One in Whom the Father is well-pleased and so when we are in Him, the Father is well-pleased with us; and God the Father who is glorified forever. That takes all the pressure off the worship leader. You are not responsible for how the people respond. That is God's work. You are there to be attentive to God at work in you and in the congregation, and to call attention to God among the people. There. This is what I wish I knew 10 years ago. Perhaps it can save some of you from shipwreck. Supplemental 1 - http://glennpackiam.typepad.com/my_weblog/