Why? Part 3

For the past couple of weeks I have been explaining how I am led to the songs that I choose for the choir to sing. Again, I want this blog to always be encouragements from Scripture, and I hope that in the past few weeks as I explained procedure that you still very much received a deeper understanding of the Savior.

This week I want to talk about other aspects of what enters into picking a particular song and what does not!

1. Performance verses worship leading? My understanding from all that I have been told is that over the past several years Wedgwood Baptist Church choir has truly become a worship leading choir. The hearts of the choir members long to connect people to the Father rather than perform the next Sunday special. Other than the musical aspects of a song, this is the number one thing that steers me toward or away from a song. There are church choirs out there that unfortunately are in show business. They work countless hours on the next performance. Although I expect excellence from the choir every time they sing, it is never a performance at Wedgwood. It is always about putting the emphasis on the Lord instead of “wowing” the audience with great abilities.

2. Connecting with the sermons? Although this is not always the reason I pick a particular song, the more the choir can enhance the vision of the message, and the overall flow of the day the more purpose a particular song has. I will never pick a song that has nothing to do with what is happening that day. Now there is wide latitude here, but still the song the choir sings never is a song that just features the choir so the choir can be featured. We can save that for the show choirs. I strongly believe that the purpose of the choir “special” is to be in line with everything else happening.

3. Multiple uses of the song? Because I am charged with also being a good steward of the funds allotted to me through the budget, I must be able to see multiple uses for the song. If I am purchasing a song from one of the publishing companies, a single song can cost between 200 to 400 dollars I must be able to use it more than once for the amount these songs cost.

4. Is the Lord speaking? I know this phrase sounds super-spiritual, but I choose songs for the choir to sing just like I choose every song for a particular Sunday. Scripture says in James 1 that if I lack wisdom, all I have to do is to simply ask with right motives. My main concern more than any other person being pleased with my selections is the Lord being pleased. So I must ask Him for wisdom…every time! Opinions on what songs need to be sung are as many as there are people in the congregation. Again, not to sound pious, but there is only One opinion that really counts.

So there you have it. I hope my ramblings will help explain a little better of why the choir does a particular song and doesn’t do another.

Have a great week.
pb