Offertory Success

One of the first tasks will be given to each church pianist is to provide a weekly offertory. While some of the presentation of a solo can keep one of the most basic position, I believe the quality of the weekly offertory is one of the most important factors that distinguishes a good church musician is one of a class.

Because of the role played music in the Church requires that the offertory will be selected with care. Think about where the solos occur in orderof worship. You are carrying a lively choral anthem, just to serve the church? The offer will be followed by a prayer usually gloomy for the needs of the members of the community? If you are in a church without a strong liturgical tradition, how can I position the offertory will be changed weekly. There are some worst case scenarios of an extraordinary agreement that is followed by a quiet time of meditation. Without having first thought through and planned, you can sometimesin an embarrassing situation.

It is also important to think about your community. A super-modern church can not answer a classical setting of your favorite hymn. In contrast, the latest praise and worship choir is probably not the best option for a high liturgical service. Most of us probably find ourselves somewhere in the middle of these extremes - in what is commonly referred to as a mixed service. In these settings, the most difficult decisions and moreexciting. How many times have you tried an agreement that will bring a large choir, contemporary with a traditional song, without giving the impression that one of the important pieces, or worse, is most sacred mixtures found? There are a couple of arrangers who are now only these types of settings, but they are few and far between, usually demanding and technical ease.

More often, I find myself looking for arrangements of songs that dealt with harmonics andrhythmic freshness. My current church is a multi-generational group with eclectic taste in music. They are fast, the fact that I never please everyone present agreed with my selection. Because I have so many settings in my community, I explore some unusual settings. Some of our favorites are jazz-like settings of hymns Based on the everlasting arms, and a complex treatment harmonious great is your faithfulness. I did not want to make agreements with these unusualimmediately if, as in all other areas of ministry, such as trust of the community you become a minister of music (this is what every church should strive to be a pianist), but also expand that confidence, your music selectivity.

Here are some final thoughts to make your weekly offertory, a culmination of the weekly service for those who assist them.

Select the pieces of a week in prayer. Too often we forget that our solo is a part of worship areService. We can simply choose to provide beautiful background music and is performed while the important work of collecting the money from the community. I think the best choice - and for which we try to - is music, anointed by the Holy Spirit to those who hear her play in the act of worship to help.

Still some options that you can draw. We all arrived in the situation during the week too hectic and our preparation time has suffered. Perhapsthe soloist in the program was ill in the last minute so that the Offertory less desirable than expected. After a few selections in the back pocket provides some flexibility in case of need to make a change last minute. Use sparingly though, otherwise it will become part of the normal rotation and you are in need of some new fall in value to find.

Do not sacrifice the beauty of showmanship. Have you ever heard of a solo pianist to play the church, only to later ask: "What was theSong? "Arpeggios are beautiful and intricate steps of scale are impressive, but if they get in the way of the message of music, take the attention away from what we are to worship and reflectors directly to us. (Ah ... a person has a different feeling the bite of the toes, which were reinforced by yourself?)

NEVER try to play their technical skills! Being myself a musician, are all for stretching and changing my technique. The service is notTraining room, though. As bad as the spotlight on how the play presents a striking example of just a solo prepared as part of a worship service. I am not in competition with the pianist in the church across the street, so do not try to be as beautiful as she is playing. I just need my offer music to the heavenly Father to bring every week, a sacrifice of love that brings him glory and my worship. If we try, the new regime that is just a little 'too heavy (or - God forbid - entirely outside our experience) we run the risk of interrupting the flow of service and the deflection of the community from their worship.

To always play for the audience of One. This is the last item on my list, because I think the most important. Everything that I have, as a Christian, a musician and a person because of Christ. It 'a wonderful feeling to have an audience responding with applause of appreciation, beautiful games - and let me add, there arenothing wrong in receiving these awards! The Scripture teaches us to honor, which is due to give. More than anything, but I want the applause of heaven, I play for an audience - one that gave her everything that I have the life. He is the source of music and our constant aim should be to make our music to attract attention only by his grace, mercy and greatness.

I get tired of trying to find a new piece every week? Of course not! Like everyone, I have a coreagreements, which rotate through. But the blessing to share my gift with the people of God overcomes the long tests. Sometimes God opens doors for our obedience as well. A couple of years if the community the opportunity to professionally record some of my favorite arrangements. In July I will be able to sit in the studio and record two new CDs - one for Christmas, the other songs of praise and thanksgiving.

Happy playing!
Kennith