Oh What A Night!

Unity was blessed last night to host the group Power Unlimited, a praise and worship team composed of several of Lee University's Campus Choir members. They were gifted singers and musicians who seemed to flow seamlessly with each other and with the Holy Spirit in ministry.

I rarely am away from my instrument during a service, and I really enjoyed being able to worship in a different way than usual. But I confess that I got caught up in watching the congregation as worship unfolded, and in watching the visiting praise team lead, react to and embrace the praise and worship of the congregation.

We Pentecostals sometimes resist rehearsal and preparation, feeling that too much practice impedes the flow of the Spirit. But I have long believed exactly the opposite: that the more prepared we are, the easier it is to flow with the Spirit.

It seems to me that if I'm concerned about finding the next chord or executing the next tricky tag, my attention is on my instrument rather than on worship. I suppose that singers face the same dilemna; that is, if the singer is unsure of the melody or the words coming up, he or she really can't be attentive to the Spirit.

If the leader is a little shaky about how to execute from the verse to the chorus to the bridge; if he or she can't quite remember how many key changes there are and when they take place, his or her attention is diverted from listening to the Spirit and from engaging the congregation in worship.

And this is a tragedy, because that's our whole job--to lead the congregation in praise and worship; to set an atmosphere and prepare hearts--ours as well as the congregation's--to hear and receive the Word of God that our pastor or the person appointed in his place will bring when the music is done.

UV band, let's always be dedicated to the highest standard of excellence that our abilities will allow us to achieve. Let's embrace the discipline of practice and realize it's value in freeing us to praise and worship our God. Without worship, it's just empty notes--no matter how well or poorly played or sung.