Recently, I visited with a pastoral colleague. He’s served his congregation for more than 20 years. During his ministry his local congregation has impacted their community. They regularly baptize new believers. They have an affordable day care ministry for families. They spearhead a community home repair ministry. About twenty years ago, they moved to two worship services (a contemporary & a traditional service) due to space constraints and a desire to reach people for Jesus with a different style of music. Pastor and congregation navigated through the “worship wars” around style. Both services grew. People were happy. In 2020, COVID forced everything online. Returning from COVID, they discovered they didn’t have critical mass for two services. They decided to move to a single blended worship service. The transition to blended has not been smooth. My colleague lamented how they are dealing again with the “worship wars.” Some members are disappointed and disgruntled they are not getting their preferred worship style. I shared my colleague’s disappointment. He felt like he was back where he started twenty years earlier. 

As I’ve reflected on his and his church’s experience, I realized I’ve been blessed to serve in congregations that have made different choices regarding their worship services. I’ve served in churches that have chosen to have “blended worship.” Members have chosen to create space for different styles and preferences of worship. Grace Bap-tist is one of those churches. 

Upon Barbara Green’s announcement of her retirement this past winter, our worship and celebration team con-ducted music ministry feedback groups. Through feedback groups the Worship and Celebration team identified sever-al trends. These included: 1. Strong desire to keep mixed / blended / diverse music in worship service. 2. Strong de-sire to be able to participate in diverse styles of music. 3. Those with traditional preferences a fear of loss that service will become more contemporary while those who appreciate contemporary expressed a desire for more balance. 

The Worship and Celebration Team also surveyed our congregation about expected roles for our new Director of Music Ministry. The twenty-seven respondents identified the following priorities for our new music ministry director. 

1. Assist pastor and lay worship leaders in publicly leading worship 

2. Recruit and equip music team leaders and musicians 

3. Ability to integrate various music ministry teams into a blended whole 

4. Direct/Lead the Sanctuary Team 

5. Direct/Lead the Praise Team 

This congregational feedback influenced the creation of the job description for our next music ministry director. While at times we felt we were looking for a unicorn, the worship and celebration team and the Deacons are delighted that we have hired Brian Horoho as our new Director of Music Ministry. Brian has the skills and passion to fulfill the identified priorities and contribute to the creation of a meaningful blended worship service. You can read more about Brian in this month’s newsletter. Sunday September 11th, which is also Rally Day, will be his first Sunday. Plans are in the works for a welcome celebration after worship. 

I’ll close by sharing one of the things that impressed me about Brian during our interviews with him. I was im-pressed by his passion to help our congregation grow in our music and worship ministry in the ways we feel God is calling us to grow. He was clear he doesn’t have an agenda about a particular “worship style.” Rather, his passion is that the content of our worship and music gives glory to “an audience of one”, God, and tells the Gospel story. For him, content (celebrating God’s deeds of salvation) was more important than style. I trust that resonates with you, too. 

I look forward to seeing how Brian’s gifts and leadership will help all of us encounter God’s presence in our wor-ship services. 

Pastor David