Greetings in the Name of our Lord!

Greetings in the Name of our Lord! Thank you for your interest in the Worship Ministries at Emmanuel Bible Church. There is great joy and a lot of fun involved in our service and we are excited that you have expressed a desire to become a part of the team. While it is often very enjoyable and rewarding to be a part of the Worship Ministry, we want you to be aware up-front that there is a fair level of responsibility and commitment required for participation. Enclosed you will find a Theology of Worship document and a Worship Requirements document along with four inventory sheets to be filled out and returned to me. We include the Theology of Worship document to familiarize you with what the Bible says about worship which is acceptable to God and why we do what we do in the ministry. We include the Worship Requirements document to familiarize you with our responsibilities to God and the church on a practical level (although some of the dates/times for practice, etc. will likely be different for the Spanish Team). We want folks to be committed to our direction and philosophy of ministry and these documents are a great place to begin. If you have questions or concerns about the contents of these materials please feel free to contact me. The other four inventories are to be returned to me so that I can have an idea of your skills and abilities, your background, and your spiritual condition. While we recognize that some of these questions may seem somewhat personal and in-depth, our burden is to be better shepherds of the Church and the people which God has entrusted us. Our heart is to aid as much as possible in the spiritual health and growth of all of our ministry team members and EBC as a whole. Once these inventories have been returned to me, we will schedule an interview/evaluation session. Unfortunately, there are not unlimited numbers of spots available so there may not be room for all who desire to participate. Please do not be disappointed or discouraged if we do not currently have an opening for your particular gift or if your ability level is not yet sufficient to allow participation. The privilege is in worshipping God, not in being on-stage you are still a lead worshipper when you freely worship God among the congregation. We will strive to offer encouragement and options for growth based on your abilities and needs. Please take the time to read through the enclosed documents and pray about your involvement with the Worship Ministry. I look forward to hearing from you. In His Hands, Gary Hollinger Worship Pastor

Theology of Worship Worship in spirit and in truth is a God-centered response of reverence and awe in attitude and action to who God is and what God does. Worship is in spirit and in truth (Jn. 4:23-24). Since God is spirit, and we are made in God s image, we are also spiritual beings. Therefore we must worship the Triune God in spirit, that is, from our heart. While worship is demonstrated outwardly, it originates from deep within, from the core of our being. This is done through the working of the Holy Spirit within us, in accordance with the word of God. The Spirit of Truth enables us to worship Jesus, the one who was the truth and always spoke the truth. (Jn. 14:6, 16-17; 15:26; 16:13; Phil. 3:3) Worship is God-centered. God is the central focus of all our worship (Mt. 4:10) in both the Old and New Testaments. Worship therefore must not only focus on God, but must also center around what pleases God, rather than on what pleases man. Ultimately, we are worshiping for God s pleasure, not our own. This can only be realized when we recognize our position before God and see ourselves in humility before Him. (Misdirected worship: Jdg. 2:17; 2 Ki. 17:12; Ps. 106:36) Worship is our response of reverence and awe in attitude to God. This kind of true worship happens when we see God for who He is. The basic biblical meaning of the word worship is to revere God specifically by prostrating one s self before Him. This is an appropriate response when we find that we are in the very presence of God (Gn. 17:3; Ex. 34:8; Lv. 9:24; Job 1:20; Ps. 95:6; Ezk. 1:28, 3:23; Dn. 8:17-18, 10:7-9; Mt. 17:6; Jn. 18:4-6; 1 Cor. 14:25; Rev. 1:17-18). This is also clearly seen in Mt 4:10. Jesus refutes Satan s temptation saying, Worship the LORD your God, and serve him only. This is a quote from Dt. 6:13 which reads Fear the LORD your God, serve him only. It seems that fear (reverence) and worship are inseparably linked as an appropriate attitude with which to approach God (Heb. 12:28-29). Worship that begins with reverence and awe results in other appropriate attitudes (i.e. praise, thanksgiving) which flow from that respect for the Almighty. In the perspective of reverent awe, a loving adoration flows from the heart as we consider what God does in us and around us. Celebration expressed through gladness and joy (2 Ch. 29:29-30; Ps. 100) also may characterize our worship. It may even be appropriate to grieve when we see ourselves sinful before a holy God (Is. 6). Attitudes of the heart are subjective and cannot be designed into the worship service. They require the preparation of the individual. While attitudes cannot be forced, instruction can be given which may help the people in developing heart attitudes of worship.

Worship is also our response of reverence and awe in action. While worship begins in the heart, it must express itself in a physical response to who God is and what God does. In worship services, this shows itself in the ways that we worship God. These may include: Prayer is an essential form of worship. It can be done both silently and verbally in the worship service. Verbal prayers are intended to direct the congregation so that all may pray to God in unity. Therefore it is appropriate to make preparations ahead of time, even reading written prayers, as long as they are not merely recited. Extemporaneous prayer is also encouraged, with preparation recommended to best direct the congregation s prayers. Benedictions and blessings may be included since there are numerous examples from the scriptures. Even though they are not all strictly prayers, they do speak God s truth and encourage the congregation. Scripture references: Nu. 6:22-27; 2 Ch. 6:12-7:2; Lk. 1:10; 2:37; Mt 21:13; Acts 12:12; Eph. 3:20-21; Jude 24-25 Praise is the expression of God s greatness either to God himself or others around us. Praise naturally flows out of worship. It stems from our awe of God and amazement at what he does. Praise and worship usually occur together. Praise can be expressed by speaking, shouting, singing, playing instruments, in prayer, and such. Scripture references: Gn. 24:26-27, 48; 1 Ki. 1:47-48; 2 Ch. 20:18-19, 29:29-30; Ps. 102:21-22; 150; Ne. 8:6; Rev. 5:13-14, 7:11-12. Thanksgiving allows us to express our worship in gratitude for who God is and what He has done. Scripture references: 2 Ch. 7:3, 29:30-31; Ps. 100; Eph. 5:19-20; Col. 3:15-17; Heb. 12:28; Rev. 7:11-12, 11:16-17 Confession of sin occurs as we find ourselves confronted with a holy God. To come before God and worship in truth, we must be true. We must examine ourselves and admit to our sins (both individually and collectively) to God. Conviction and confession serves as a preparation for worship, or allows us to continue in worship. Christian confession goes beyond admitting our sinfulness to God and each other; it centers on forgiveness as a result of Christ s sacrifice. Scripture references: 1 Sa. 7:6; 1 Ki. 8:33-36; 2 Ch. 6:24-27; Ezr. 10; Ne. 9:3; Ps. 32, 130; Is. 6; Mt. 5:23-24; Acts 19:17-18; Jas. 5:16; 1 Jn. 1:9 Affirmation of faith. An affirmation, like a confession, is a declaration of our belief before the assembly and with the assembly. Affirmations must be based on or derived directly from scripture. Reciting these beliefs in unison helps create unity as well as instruct in doctrine. Scripture references: Mt. 16:16; Rom. 10:9-10, 14:11; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; Phil. 2:11; 1 Tim. 6:12-13; Heb. 13:15 Scripture readings have always been a central element of worship throughout the ages and are not to be neglected. It is through the public reading of scripture that we hear the very words of God. Scriptures should be read with meaning and expression, and reverently presented as the Word of God.

Scripture references: Ex. 24:7; Dt. 31:11-12; Ne. 8:6-8, 18, 9:3; 2 Ki. 23:2; 2 Ch. 34:30; Je. 36:8; Lk. 4:16; Acts 13:15; 1 Tim. 4:13; Rev. 1:3 Response. The congregation needs opportunities to respond to God in other physical ways. An Amen or Praise the LORD! allows verbal response, while one s posture (kneeling, bowing, standing, dancing) allows non-verbal means to respond to God. Scriptures can be read responsively, as well as affirmations of faith. The offering is also a response of worship. Scripture references: Ex. 19:8, 24:3-7, 33:10; Dt. 27:14-26; 2 Sa. 6:16; 1 Ch. 16:36; Ezr. 10:12; Ne. 5:13, 8:6, 12:24; Ps. 149:3; 2 Cor. 1:20; Rev. 16:7 Testimonies. In the Old and New Testaments, worshippers have declared God s praise in both individual and corporate testimonies. The psalmists expressed thanksgiving to God for what He did for them personally. For you make me glad by your deeds, O Lord; I sing for joy at the works of your hands You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox; fine oils have been poured upon me. (Ps. 92:4,10) The Psalmists also expressed communal thanksgiving to God for his deliverance on a national level (Ps. 105). The Apostle Paul frequently related his personal testimony to give praise and thanks to God (1 Cor. 15:9-10; Eph. 3:7-9). It would seem appropriate to have periodic testimonies in our worship services that focus on praise to God for what He has done in our lives as individuals and as a church. The emphasis must be on the grace and glory of the Divine and should not draw attention to human personalities or institutions. Observances. From the beginning, the Church has recognized two observances that are part of our Christian experience: baptism and the Lord s Supper. Both are commanded in the gospels by the Lord Jesus Christ. The directive for baptism is in Mt. 28:19. The directive for the Lord s Supper is in Lk. 22:17-20 (see also 1 Cor. 11:17-34). Both observances focus on Christ and as such are proper for worship. Baptism formally and publicly identifies a believer with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. The Lord s Supper is a remembrance of Jesus and the significance of his death. It is correct to include these observances in our worship. Remembering the person and work of Jesus Christ and its application to our lives, both individually and corporately, clearly is a worship event that will continue into eternity (Rev. 5:9-14). Offering. The offering has been a focal point of worship from the time of Adam. The first recorded act of worship detailed was that of Cain and Abel (Ge. 4:3-5). Cain offered some of the fruits of the soil and Abel offered fat portions from the firstborn of his flock. Abel s offering was acceptable but Cain s was unacceptable (Heb. 11:4). In the unacceptable we see God s displeasure in the offerings of not only Cain but also of Nadab and Abihu (Nu. 3:4) and King Saul (1 Sa. 13:9-14). Not only were these unacceptable offerings but they incurred God s severe judgement (Mal. 1:8-9; 3:8-9). In the Old Testament, there were many kinds of offerings, many of which the New Testament Church does not practice literally today. From the Old Testament to the New Testament every offering has to be made in faith, in the very presence of God. The offerings should be given to God from a willing and cheerful heart, generously, as the Lord has prospered (Ex. 35:5, 21; 2 Sa. 24:24; 2 Cor. 8:1-15; 9:6-15). The offering of our bodies or whole lives as living sacrifices is the ultimate offering of worship unto the Lord (Rom. 12:1).

When worship includes acceptable offerings God responds. In the days of Moses, David, and Solomon, God showed his pleasure by consuming the sacrifices by fire (Ex. 9:24; 1 Ch. 21:26; 2 Ch. 7:1). God now demonstrates His pleasure by granting us understanding of his will, supplying the needs of those who have little, enriching us in every way so that we may be generous to others. Such generosity will result in praise to God (Rom. 12:2; 2 Cor. 8:13-15, 9:11-13). Preaching the Word is worship in which we hear the very words of God (1 Pt. 4:11). It took on great significance under the Apostles as it became established in church worship (Acts 20:7; 1 Tim. 4:13; 2 Tim. 4:2). This preaching results in the instruction of the people (Ne. 8:6-8; 2 Tim. 3:16, 4:2), encouragement for the people (Acts 13:15; 2 Tim. 4:2), correction and rebuke (2 Tim. 3:16, 4:2), and for maintaining sound doctrine rather than telling the people what they want to hear (2 Tim. 4:3). Preaching is to be done as service to the body by using the gifts God has given, speaking God s words not the words of men so that God will be praised (1 Pt. 4:10-11). Music is a gift from God for us to use in worship. It is creative art from a creative God allowing us to respond to God in a language of sound that is not possible with mere words. Music can express the entire spectrum of emotions and thought to an all-deserving God. Music can uplift, encourage, and comfort a fellow worshiper. The psalmist says, How good it is to sing praises to our God! How delightful and how right! (Psalm 147:1) In the Old Testament, those who were skilled musicians played instruments and sang songs of worship for testimony, praise and thanksgiving. In worship, instrumental music can be played in worshiping God just as effectively as vocal (Ex. 15; Nu. 21:17; Dt. 31; Jdg. 5; 2 Sa. 6:5; 1 Ch. 13:8; 15:16, 22, 16:42; 2 Ch. 5:13; Ps. 135:3, 147:1, 7). When we gather to worship, we are instructed to teach and counsel each other with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Eph. 5:19-20; Col. 3:15-17; Heb. 2:12). Texts from the past (Mt. 26:30; Rev.15:3) as well as new compositions are used as praise, and "new" music is encouraged (Ps. 144:9; Rev. 5:9-14, 14:3). God is worshiped by the singing of traditional music as well as new, as long as the music is from the heart (Eph. 5:19). Millions of angels, creatures, and men are seen in John's Revelation, singing praise to God and to the Lamb upon the throne. God's word instructs singers, strings, winds, percussion, and everything that has breath to join them and praise the Lord! (Ps. 150)

MINISTRY OF WORSHIP Worship ministry is, for the most part, a very visible, public ministry. Therefore it is important to ensure that those who undertake them understand and agree to the guidelines that we will use to protect the integrity of the ministries, the church and our Lord Jesus Christ. Scriptures upon which our service is based: LOVING GOD Matthew 22:37-38: Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength (or mind). This is the first and greatest commandment. God s first desire is that we have a vital, ongoing, passionate relationship with Him. The most important factor in being a lead worshipper is our love for God and our desire to truly express that love through worship. Our leading should encourage others to know and love the True and Living God who is supremely worthy of our worship. DEVOTION Rev 3:15: I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other: So because you are lukewarm I am about to spit you out of my mouth. The phrase spit you out of my mouth literally means to vomit. God is saying that halfheartedness makes him sick! LIVING SACRIFICES Romans 12:1-3: Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God s will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. God desires us to sacrifice ourselves to Him, to give ourselves fully and freely to His plans and purposes for our lives, to give up our old ways and walk with Him on a daily basis. HOLY LIVING 1 Timothy 4:12-16 Set an example for the believers in life, in love, in faith and in purity. Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you... Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you

will save both yourself and your hearers. In the Old Testament we find the story of the Battle of Jericho, where the Israelites took the city by following God's plan. But God also told them not to take any of the plunder (the devoted things) for themselves. Unfortunately, a man named Achan took some of them for himself and in Joshua chapter 7 we find that the Lord's anger burned against Israel. God s anger was kindled not just against the man Achan, but against the whole body of the Israelites! When Israel next went up to attack a city called Ai, they were routed and many were killed. The Lord then told Joshua what had gone wrong: Israel [not just Achan] has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies...i will not be with you anymore... Obviously there are individual consequences for sin. But sin can cause consequences for an entire body of believers as well. That is why it is vitally important to follow the precepts put forth in 1 Timothy, lest one individual bring trouble upon not only themselves but our church as well. HUMILITY 1 Peter 5:5...All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humility is not a false modesty, it is a state in which we recognize that all of our gifts are given by God for the purpose of bringing glory to Him, not to ourselves. We do not have to belittle ourselves to be humble, rather we should be able to rejoice as we accurately assess the gifts that God has given us. Those with greater gifts must avoid feeling superior. Rather, they should strive to affirm and encourage growth in others. Those with lesser gifts must strive to avoid envy and work diligently to improve. My gifts are not my gifts. They are God's gifts to me and I need to use them in such a way as to please Him, not myself. A SERVANT HEART Phil. 2:2-5...Make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 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. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. A servant s heart is needed to be a part of the worship team. We need to be willing at any time to sacrifice ourselves for the greater good of the body. Being a servant means doing things that may not be comfortable for you. It may mean giving up my personal style so that the group blend might be stronger. It may mean not singing or playing that cool new lick because doing so would remove the focus from God and bring it back on us. It may even mean taking a smaller role or even stepping down to allow another to use their gifts and abilities. GOD IS THE FOCUS John 3:30: He must become greater; I must become less.

Worship is not a performance. We need to understand that the primary purpose of the Music and Worship ministry is to glorify God. We want people to see Christ ministering through us, not us ministering on Christ s behalf. Our goal is to focus ourselves (and thereby others) on God, and anything we do that is contrary to that goal needs to be eliminated. WORSHIP TEAM RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Set a Christ-like example 2. Provide opportunities for meaningful worship 3. Educate the Christian in the ways of worship 4. Offer opportunities for personal spiritual growth (renewing our minds) 5. Encourage individual and corporate devotions. Worship Team Values: At Emmanuel we strive for balance in our worship. It is critical to engage both the head and the heart during worship. Hymns and other songs that affirm and remind us of the truths about God, engage our heads. Choruses and other worship songs allow us to respond to those truths by engaging our hearts. We seek to begin most services in an up-beat manner to draw people's attention away from themselves and their problems and onto thoughts of God. We want to include hymns and older choruses to foster a sense of the beauty and history of church music through the years but we often put these songs in a contemporized musical setting to continue to draw new generations toward the Lord. We also want to provide a quiet times of reflection in which the body can pour out their love to God and meet with Him face to face. We try to find creative ways to enliven and enrich our worship times. Our songs are chosen on the basis of theological accuracy, an ability to be easily sung, their correlation to the current sermon topic, and their fit into the overall philosophy of ministry. We value an atmosphere where team members are challenged to grow in their spiritual walk and in their gifts and abilities. We strive for excellence - not for the sake of performance but because God is worthy of the best offering we can possibly bring. We desire to avoid distracting the congregation from their worship by our errors. We also recognize that visitors and unbelievers will judge our church and potentially God Himself by the quality and sincerity of our worship. Spiritual Qualifications for persons desiring to become a member of the Worship team: (these requirements generally come from 1 Timothy) 1. Must have made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and be able to articulate a clear understanding of their faith. 2. Must understand and agree with the church's doctrinal statement: i.e. Salvation through grace by faith in Christ, the Trinity, the inerrancy of Scripture, etc. 3. Must be above reproach, temperate, self-controlled, respectable 4. Must be willing to set an example for believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity Requirements for participation:

1. Must meet the above qualifications and agree with the vision, purposes, and philosophies of Emmanuel Bible Church and have demonstrated their commitment to EBC as their church home by regular attendance for a period of six months. 2. Must undergo a talent evaluation to determine suitable areas for participation. 3. Must be willing to commit the time and energy needed to rehearse and participate in worship services. 4. Must desire to serve Christ and the other team members. GENERAL INFORMATION Evaluations: Since there are a limited number of slots available on the worship team, it is possible that not everyone who desires to be involved will be able to participate in leading. Our goal is to allow a member 2 weeks of participation and 2 weeks off per month. This should allow for personal growth but not be such a burden as to cause burnout. Please remember, even if you are not upfront as a member of the Worship Team, you can still help lead others into the presence of God by being a worshiper among the congregation! We plan to conduct a yearly review with each member to find out if they are still receiving joy in the ministry, to get feedback on how the member feels things are going and to allow discussion on the member s spiritual walk, attitude and growth in ministry. Current members may be asked to step aside at these times to allow for new involvement by others. New members will be accepted on a 3-month trial basis. At the end of that period we will discuss the situation and determine if involvement should continue. Areas for review for new and current members will be in the following areas: 1. Spiritual condition (growing, stagnating, deteriorating?) 2. Attitude (positive, joyful, servant's heart / negative, unhappy, selfish) 3. Cooperation & Relationships (functioning and enjoying team membership) 4. Attendance (rehearsals, large group, church, Sunday school) 5. Pitch, intonation, grasp of melody (ability to correctly discern and sing or play the correct part) 6. Vocal range (ability to sing needed parts based on current team make-up) 7. Instrumental ability (rhythmic sense, chords & keys, reading music, blending) 8. Demeanor and stage presence (up, worshiping, smiling, free / down, concentrating, frowning, tense) 8. Strengths 9. Areas for improvement 10. Needs of Worship Team Rehearsals 1. Instrumentalists begin practice at 6:45 pm on Wednesday nights in the auditorium. 2. This means you should be in-place, hooked up, tuned and ready to begin at 6:45 not just walking through the door 3. Vocalists join the practice at 7:45 pm at which time we all gather for prayer. Please be

prepared to briefly share a personal prayer request. Because we have much work to do and limited time, we ask that you limit requests to self, family or close friends. (other requests take too long to sort out relationships, background stories, etc.) It is vital that everyone participating in a given service attend practice unless there is an emergency. Our basic policy is: No practice No participation for the following reasons: a) A group needs to blend well and be cohesive. We cannot work on these areas individually; we must practice them as a complete group. Starts, stops and transitions between songs are different every time, thus everyone must practice them together if we are to sound tight. b) We owe God and the congregation our best and our best requires practice no matter our individual level of accomplishment. c) All members of the group are responsible to the others so that everyone feels comfortable with their parts. d) Having members absent seriously affects our ability to learn new songs. Pre-Service Run-Through Pre-service run-through begins 1 hour 15 minutes prior to service start (currently 7:45 am for the 9:00 service). It is imperative that folks be in-place, tuned and ready to go so that we can be done before folks begin showing up to be seated. We also must allow time for drama or special music to rehearse. Service Start Time Your pre-worship Service visiting time is limited on days that you participate. WATCH THE CLOCK - WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SERVICE STARTING ON TIME Again, be in-place, tuned and ready to go 7-8 minutes prior to service start. I hope that you will take the time to consider all of these requirements and pray about your involvement with the Worship Ministry at EBC. It is a privilege and a serious responsibility to lead God's people into His presence. We need to take that responsibility to heart and give Him the first-fruits of our efforts and not just the leftover scraps of time we can spare. Let us offer ourselves as living sacrifices, for God values our worship and we need to value it highly as well.

Name: Worship Team Spiritual Inventory Sheet Have you reached a point in your spiritual life where you are sure that if you died tonight you would go to heaven? ο Yes ο No If you were standing before God and He asked you, Why should I let you into my heaven? what would you say to Him? Briefly explain your belief regarding the inerrancy of the Scriptures and why it matters In the last year, what have you done to further your spiritual growth?

Do you serve in any other ministries/organizations at Emmanuel or elsewhere? (list) I have been a Christian for years. I have read ο All ο Most ο Some ο Little ο None of the New Testament ο All ο Most ο Some ο Little ο None of the Old Testament I spend regular, consistent quiet time in Bible reading and prayer. ο Yes ο No I am willing to be accountable to the rest of the worship team in matters like: prayer and Scripture reading, moral and financial ethics, relational purity. ο Yes ο No Recognizing the fact that Worship Team members are seen as spiritual leaders by the congregation and often more regularly visible than the Elders, I can truthfully say that I am not involved with any on-going sin issues in my life that would compromise my Christian testimony or effect the ability of the Holy Spirit to work in and through me. Signed: Date:

WORSHIP MINISTRY MUSICAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION Name: Home Phone: Address: City: Zip: Work Phone: Cell Phone: Email Address: Vocal Music: Areas of Interest: Special Music Worship Team Small Group What is your vocal range? high note low note Can you sing harmony parts? Have you received any formal training? How long? Do you read music? Instrumental Music: Areas of Interest: Worship Band Offertory Accompaniment What instrument(s) do you play? Have you received any formal training? How long? Do you read music? Can you read chord call charts? Can you improvise and/or solo? Please briefly describe your musical background and training: Describe some of your musical likes:

Describe some of your musical dislikes : Why do you want to be involved in the music ministry at Emmanuel? What would be a comfortable level of involvement?