Praise Team Purpose: - Generally, the purpose of the praise team is to help to lead our congregation in corporate worship.

- Specifically, the praise team aims to lead the congregation in corporate worship through music. This music is set in an order that carries a particular message or emphasis. Leading worship also includes an element of teaching/conveying the meaning, purpose, and foundation of the songs sung for corporate worship. This should be done in as tactful and unobtrusive way as possible to minimize the focus on the musicians leading worship rather than the God whom we all are worshiping together. - Ultimately, the praise team serves as a leadership group of the church which is, unfortunately, very public and must, therefore, lead through example. Leadership: - Each member of the praise team is viewed as a lead worshipper. - Each member should understand that leadership is as much about what God does in them as what God does through them. - They should be comfortable and able to lead a congregation in worshipping, including song selection and teaching, as well as leading bible study or prayer. - Members are viewed as a part of the Worship Ministry, and will need to fulfill the needs of the church, especially in preparing for worship services, even if those needs are not musical in nature. - Members are viewed as leaders of the church, and should behave in a befitting manner, with expectations set high. Preparation: - for bible study o bible study series leader formulates bible study series topic and general preparation o bible study leader meets with a bible study advisor/mentor to go over the content of the bible study - for Sunday worship o we meet for prayer, bible study, and song preparation on Sat from 10am-2pm o we come to church on Sun at 8am for prayer and a run-through - for retreats and events o we meet 1-2 times to prepare music selection, usually several hours o we meet for music preparation usually totaling about 12 hours prior to the retreat and about 8 hours for an event Song Selection: - Scriptural Basis o we try to choose songs that have as much biblical merit as possible o members of the team should be able to explain the biblical strengths of the songs sung in worship. Please keep them accountable and ask them if youd like to know. - Need for Emotion & Feeling o this does not mean our worship will be void of emotion, but that emotion is a response to worship, and not a method of worship. - Continuity and Content o our intent is to pick songs that move with continuity through different aspects of worship. Generally, this will contain elements of adoration, praise, and thanksgiving for his character, promises, and works. o Begin with praise and adoration of God then move towards a focus on Christ and the gospel and our joyous celebration of our God. - Corporate vs Personal o An understanding that there is a difference between corporate worship and personal worship is an understanding that must exist between the worship team and the congregation o The purpose of the praise team is to lead corporate worship. - Man-focused vs. God-focused. o Songs can be one or the other or both.

The praise team will try to keep most songs within the God-focused type. Man-focused songs are not bad and will not be completely excluded, but the emphasis will be put heavily on Godfocused songs. Repetition o We try not to reuse songs within a few weeks of each other. Key and Tempo o We try to keep songs within a sing-able range of the general congregation and a sing-able tempo that the congregation can keep up with and have time to understand the words that are sung o Interludes. Musically speaking, they give the musicians a way to transition from one part of a song to another. In worship, we hope that they are not viewed as a solo part, but rather a time to reflect on what was just sung, or the general theme of the song or service. New Songs o New songs will be introduced, but are generally given a good deal of forethought and some research usually for scriptural reference. Response Song o meant to tie into the previous message. o Response song is optional, meaning, if we cant find one that really fits, it would be best not to have this on that particular time. Pastors Input o Pastor Moon suggests some songs during the week. o

Unnoticed: - Not to Us - one of the basic requirements of the praise team is to remain as unnoticed as possible within worship. Ideally, the members of the team are unseen, and are truly lead worshippers, worshiping with the congregation without drawing any attention to their presence and action. - this also requires the team to not be distracting to the worshiping congregation. - this leads into issues of practice, preparation, and professionalism. - Examples of the role the praise team plays in worship: moon, lens. Lifeline vs Praiseteam - the name Lifeline is no longer, and has not been for some time, the name of the praise team - the naming of a praise team, to begin with, connotes a band-like mentality, which brings the people involved with worship to the forefront rather than the God involved with worship. - It is understandable that this is not ALWAYS the case, but the risk of this miscommunication is undesirable. How do we decide who plays what and when? - our hope is that all members of the praise can be effective lead worshippers. - All members must understand the importance of and be able to select a set of songs for worship - Leading a congregation in worship is more than just picking songs and more than just playing them. Our hope is that all members of the team will try leading so that they can gain the experience of it. This will, hopefully, help them discover if it is something that they have a desire and passion for. - Lead worshippers need not play guitar or any other instrument for that matter. Gender and age will not be an issue. Readiness will be the general measure, to be determined by each individual, as well as the coordinator of the team. - Individual instruments are played by members who wish to play them. Skill is to be considered, but will not be a limiting factor in helping someone learn how to contribute with that instrument. - Playing for worship, however, must not be distracting, so musicianship is of a degree of importance in this respect. Recruiting and New Membership: - new members will be accepted at any time - prayer, as well as care and consideration, must be observed in a decision to join the team. - Age, gender, and musical skill will not be observed in the acceptance of new members

Prospective members will meet with the coordinator of the praise team to go over the specific process through which the member will be admitted to the team. General expectations and questions will be addressed and answered at this time. Prospective members will arrange meetings with current members of the praise team to discuss any questions or expectations that are of importance to that member. These topics will range between church membership confirmation, commitment to the church, spiritual beliefs, spiritual maturity, leadership experience, service experience, previous praise team experience, and musical experience. Prospective members must also understand that the praise team is only one of numerous service opportunities in the church. Membership in the praise team does not preclude or exempt members from serving in other capacities in the church. In fact, integration into other facets of leadership in the church is a requirement. Following meeting with all current members of the praise team, a final meeting with the praise team coordinator will end the membership process. New members will be asked about all other members questions to them, as well as a clear outline of expectations of praise team members. Readiness to serve in a musical capacity will be assessed as well by both parties.

Other Questions?