INSPIRING PRAISE
Corporate praise is a powerful experience. In a day when anyone can access excellent teaching online, singing praise songs with other believers is still unique, and powerful. It is uplifting to exalt God with others. God created us to worship Him corporately. Here are some pointers on how to create an inspiring praise experience.
1. Angle the seating.
Curve or angle the rows. Every seat should be unattached and face the center of the stage. It helps create a sense of community.
2. Begin well.
Start the service with singing, not with someone trying to speak over the white noise of people visiting with one another. Praise should begin with the first note of the first song, not with the leader asking people how they are doing. Music is a much easier way to begin a service when people are already talking with each other.
3. Set the volume correctly.
People will not sing louder than the volume of the instruments or singers. They will sing just under the volume. Therefore, it needs to be loud enough to encourage strong singing, but not so loud people can't hear themselves sing. It should also not be so soft it inhibits singing. A good sound tech will be able to find the balance.
4. Block the songs.
Breaking up a song set disrupts the flow of praise. When we interrupt the singing with announcements, we give the impression that what we have to say to one another is more important than what we have to say to God. If God is the real object of worship, then it should not be interrupted. Some Churches use praise songs to setup announcements. They should not set up anything. Sing an entire set uninterrupted, and you'll see a big difference in your worship experience. Most services can handle a five-song set lasting 20-25 minutes. This leads to the next point.
5. Sing.
Some song leaders feel the need to stop singing and start talking. They chat, ask questions, tell stories, preach a sermonette, explain songs, create mood, offer directives, give instructions, or just prompt people to do what they're already doing—singing. None of this is necessary. The music and words to the song are sufficient. Nothing can disrupt the flow of worship more than a musician who stops singing and starts talking. Remind your music leaders they are not there to talk. They are there to sing. Tell them their job is to lead praise by singing, not by talking. Assure them people will follow along and join in.
Associated with this is the need for music leaders understand the difference between performance and praise. Performance is often harder to sing to, while praise elicits a robust response from the congregation. Performance shifts the focus to the musician; praise keeps the focus on the Lord. Performance often spotlights the abilities of the musician; praise often calls for the musician to underplay their skills. Generally speaking, performance requires plucking, while praise only requires strumming. Most praise requires musicians and vocalists to play below their ability rather than at their ability. Good music leaders are like baseball umpires, the better they do their job, the less they are noticed. The task is not to be the worship leader but the lead worshiper.
Associated with this is the need for music leaders understand the difference between performance and praise. Performance is often harder to sing to, while praise elicits a robust response from the congregation. Performance shifts the focus to the musician; praise keeps the focus on the Lord. Performance often spotlights the abilities of the musician; praise often calls for the musician to underplay their skills. Generally speaking, performance requires plucking, while praise only requires strumming. Most praise requires musicians and vocalists to play below their ability rather than at their ability. Good music leaders are like baseball umpires, the better they do their job, the less they are noticed. The task is not to be the worship leader but the lead worshiper.
6. Pick the right songs.
Sing multiple genres. Traditional hymns, older contemporary songs, and newer praise songs can all find a place in a praise set. The key is knowing how to blend them. Provide something recognizable, along with something new. Repeating new songs is the key to them becoming familiar. Spotify, and Pandora are just a few sites that provide a selection of more modern praise songs. Post links to the songs on the website each week so people can download and listen to them on their own.
7. Consider "plug and play."
Think about playing recorded songs with lyrics instead of live musicians. This is especially applicable to the smaller church or ministry. It is surprising how well people can sing to a recorded set of praise songs. The adjustment is quick, and the benefits are significant. You can pick whatever song and format (live or studio) you want. Some ministries have done it for years. The result is inspiring praise. The key is for someone to pick good sets of music.
8. Maintain the right posture.
It's hard (and unnecessary) for many people to stand during a long set of songs. Direct people to be seated after one or two songs. Song selection should make this an easy transition. Moving from upbeat to contemplative songs makes sitting normal. Let the nature of the songs dictate posture. The key is to avoid endless standing for songs more appropriately sung in a seated position.
9. Project the words correctly.
How the words to the songs are projected can make a big difference in a praise set. Try to arrange to have the words projected on a large screen. White words against a grayscale background are easy to view in a darkened setting. People appreciate it when the words aren't projected against an animated backdrop of champagne bubbles, moving artwork, or cosmic rays.
10. Sing five song sets.
A set of five songs is about 25 minutes long. This provides ample time for people to sing without becoming worn out. Most people won't sing for longer. Don't sing songs that last too long or endlessly repeat the same lyrics. Most of the time people are done singing these songs before the song has ended. Songs in the three to five-minute range work best.
11. Move from outer to inner court.
Transition from upbeat (outer court) to mellow (inner court) singing by moving from celebratory to contemplative songs. Shift from rejoicing to reflection. Encourage people to stand for the outer court songs and sit for the inner court songs. It means people will stand for the first one or two songs and sit for the rest. Now and then, change the order to keep things fresh, but realize outer to inner court is often the most comfortable way to sing a song set.
12. Transition from singing with guided prayer.
Prayer is a natural manner to transition from singing. Guided prayer is a fresh way to make that transition. It's leading people to pray for themselves instead of them having them agree in silence with one person praying aloud. It consists of a leader selecting a few phrases from the songs and guiding people to pray using those words as springboards. Here is an example of guided prayer.
Someone comes up after the last song and says, "Please bow your heads, close your eyes, and allow me to guide you in prayer." The leader then says, "We just sang a song that said, 'Jesus, you are my all in all.' Take a few moments and tell Jesus in your own words what He means to you." The prayer leader provides a few moments for people to pray about this.
The leader then continues, "We also sang a song that said, 'Jesus, thank you for saving me.' Take a moment and, in your own words, thank Jesus for saving you." Like before, the leader gives a few moments for people to pray about this.
The leader then says, "We just sang these words, 'Jesus, you will return.' In your own words, tell Jesus, how eager you are for His return." Again, the prayer leader gives people a few moments to pray about this. A good way to judge the right amount of time is for the leader to pray silently him/herself while others are praying. Three prayers are usually enough.
The leader then summarizes the time by praying aloud like the traditional prayer time.
Someone comes up after the last song and says, "Please bow your heads, close your eyes, and allow me to guide you in prayer." The leader then says, "We just sang a song that said, 'Jesus, you are my all in all.' Take a few moments and tell Jesus in your own words what He means to you." The prayer leader provides a few moments for people to pray about this.
The leader then continues, "We also sang a song that said, 'Jesus, thank you for saving me.' Take a moment and, in your own words, thank Jesus for saving you." Like before, the leader gives a few moments for people to pray about this.
The leader then says, "We just sang these words, 'Jesus, you will return.' In your own words, tell Jesus, how eager you are for His return." Again, the prayer leader gives people a few moments to pray about this. A good way to judge the right amount of time is for the leader to pray silently him/herself while others are praying. Three prayers are usually enough.
The leader then summarizes the time by praying aloud like the traditional prayer time.