mike passaro

I recently read the following from a blog about worship leading:

It’s not always possible to nail down in rehearsal exactly how you’re going to do a song in a service. We might realize as we’re singing a song that we need to cut it short, extend it, go back to a previous verse, or repeat a section. We might sense that God is prompting us to do something we hadn’t planned at all. The worship leader needs to be able to clearly communicate these changes in direction with the worship team. Without using words.

The last thing I intend for this blog post is to be an open critique of Jamie’s post.  I emailed him about his post and he very humbly assured me that his post was aimed at “worship leaders who never give their worship team any indication of what’s coming up – leaving them guessing, timid, and trying to read the back of the leader’s head.”  I have read several other posts on Jamie’s blog and completely agreed with his writing.  (read Checking for Ticks for a healthy look at bad habits that worship leaders develop, and Jamie’s What Are You Talking About series for a helpful look at ways that worship leaders can prepare to lead well)

First (or second or third…wherever I am on this thing), playing in and with a band (and singers) is an interesting thing. Over time, you develop the whole “eye contact” thing where the other musicians know what you mean. “Raised eyebrows with a big head nod?” The song is ending so you better stop playing.  I know that signals develop. But. “without using words”?

I hope I’m not making this into a big spiritual hill (to die on), but I’m having a hard time understanding the “need” for hand signals (with the emphasis on “without using words”). The need to be seamless. Rock house, with no interruptions. Build to the climax, then fall away to the lone acoustic player.  Don’t misunderstand.  I love when a worship set is well organized. I love when music highlights the work of Christ on the Cross.  I use a Service Evaluation form when I plan worship services where one of the questions is: Is anything particularly distracting?

I wonder, however, if hand signals are simply a product of our desire to seem like we have it all together.

Think about it like this: Let’s say we plan a worship service that is Gospel centered. Christ’s finished work on the cross is clearly proclaimed and praised. The Word of God is read.  Confession is made. Thanks is given. This is our worship “set”.  We rehearse. All is well.  We begin to lead that service on a Sunday morning and are prompted to go in a different direction.  Would it be helpful to share that [direction] with the congregation?  If they are who we are “leading” would we not want them to be in on the direction with us? Why do I always lean towards thinking in terms of “band” and “congregation”? Why not “us”?

Who do we serve when we are flawless?

It’s far to easy (for me) to fall into the trap of feeling like a solid worship service equals a rocking band, great songs, power vocals…oh and the band nailed all of the unplanned changes.  (Which we will talk and joke about in the back hallways…”great job on that extra chorus!”…”yeah…I nailed it”) But, could it be true that our worship services, too often, look like we have too much of it “together”?

Thoughts?