Worship Ministry Joys: Part 2

Another great worship ministry joy in my life is the work I am privileged to do with the adults at Cornerstone.

When my family and I came to Cornerstone, music ministry was not something new to me by any means. Honestly, I felt like I had done it all and seen it all by that time. But never in my now 21 years of direct ministry involvement have I felt so overwhelmed by joy as I do with the partners and friends...the family we have created within our Adult Vocal Music Ministry...The Cornerstone PraiSingers.

I am not even sure how to describe our team...they are talented, creative, daring, unabashed in their love for the Lord, astute in their knowledge of the Word...serious about pursuing Christ with their whole heart. They aren't afraid of tackling challenges or of taking mountains...they have the 'spirit of Caleb' within them (Numbers 13:30..."we should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.")

Over the last 7 1/2 years, the joys we have shared as well as the sorrows we have experienced together have knit our hearts together in a tightly woven bond. This is a team that truly loves each other, and one unlike I have never experienced within the confines of church.

We are now working on a unique project..."Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs: The sounds of praise throughout the ages". We will record this project on the Sunday evening before Mother's Day 2007. It is a project that I have always dreamed of doing...with the people whom I truly want to do it. From plainsong chant to the contemporary arrangements of a Gospel Choir and every age in between...musical expressions of praise that have been penned and enjoyed since music became a staple in the life of the organized church.

Once again, our PraiSingers see a mountain and aren't afraid to climb.

Tonight, we began rehearsal with Robin Mark's "Days of Elijah"...although we have sung this in the past, even tonight we found new nuances and beauty in the interpretation. This team is so teachable, and they respond to direction beautifully. Actually, many times tonight I was afraid that I might just be in the way! It was awesome, and when they began to sing "There's no God like Jehovah...", I literally had chills up and down my arms. Upon leaving that, we started work on Beethoven's "Hallelujah" from Mount of Olives (yes, just another one of Ludwig's little ditties...). After the initial shock of the sheer scope of the piece, we jumped right in as a team...and before we left, I heard Beethoven in the voices of each section. Some on our team are just learning to read music, while others are seasoned...and yet the beauty of the music and the power of the text was revealed even in a short time. My heart began to beat faster...we're singing Beethoven!

To end rehearsal, I shared a recording with them of a musical gift that had been given to me on my birthday...it was a recording of "The Prairie Home Companion" and a musical story about a choir who sang classical music for their director, yet they had rock and roll in their hearts. I literally laughed with them until I had tears running down my cheeks...which were aching because I was smiling so much! At the end, we always share our prayer requests for each other and for those we know of and love. Tonight was no different.

Not your typical church choir rehearsal...but then again, this is no typical choir. I can't say it enough...we are a family.

PraiSingers, I love everyone of you so much that sometimes it makes my heart leap at the very thought of our time together each week. Thank you, everyone of you...for reminding me constantly of how blessed I am as a pastor and musician. Your music making, your offerings of praise and your determination to achieve excellence "as unto the Lord" has been a living example of Colossians 3:23 to me.

By the way...yes, we are singing Beethoven...and their is no choreography planned...yet.