The Music Ministry of First Presbyterian Church, Vernon

(approved by the Session, November 2007)

Vision for our Music Ministry:  A Ministry of Shepherding

The music program of the First Presbyterian Church of Vernon, Texas is called to be a ministry of shepherding.  There are other words which could be associated with this ministry--mentoring, discipling, teaching, and equipping. 

Goals of our Music Ministry

a.      To bring glory to God and to enrich our worship together.

b.      To promote the coherence and harmony of the worship service.

c.      To encourage participation and the development of all music gifts.

d.      To cultivate an appreciation of the musical heritage of the whole church.

e.      To provide music literacy and to develop a new generation of church musicians.

f.        To reach outward to members and our neighbors.

 

Possibilities to Achieve the Goals of the Music Ministry

• Invest resources toward the development of staff and laity to lead the ministry of music (a, b, c, d, e, f).
• Constantly work to resist the temptation towards exclusion, performance, and elitism. (a, c, f)
• Define and always keep the particular outcomes of our actions before us. (a, b, c)
• Develop a rolodex of musical talents in the church (a, c, f)
• Incorporate a variety of alternative instrumentation and forms for worship (a, c, d)
• Coordinate the music of all worship services with the Scripture texts (a, b)
• Begin weekly devotions with the choir based on the Scripture lessons for Lord’s Day worship.  (a, b)
• Establish an annual choir retreat (a, c, e)
• Prepare the congregation for worship through practice.  (a, b, c)
• Encourage the singing of Psalms in worship (a, d)
• Use bulletin inserts about the composers or history concerning the great hymns of the church (a, d)
• Have a service which incorporates devotions about the hymns (a, d)
• Intentionally talk about music in sermons as illustrations (a, b, d)
• Use musical examples as object lessons to preview the Scriptural texts. (a, b)
• Develop a supplemental hymnal for congregational worship. (a, b, d)
• Provide Sunday School classes on the Christian witness of composers and particular pieces of music (a, d, e, f)
• Invite teaching artists for special worship and educational opportunities (a, c, d)
• Provide transportation to events outside of Vernon that are consistent with the goals of the music ministry (a, c, d, f)
• Develop a children’s music program which incorporates singing, choir chimes, and a variety of other activities (a, c, d, e, f).
• Develop a music program for youth.  (a, c, f)
• Consciously use music in the nursery curriculum.  (a, d, f)
• Teach our children the cherished hymns of the faith. (a, d, f)
• Provide organ lessons to the community focusing on the heritage of sacred music (a, c, d, e, f).
• Develop CDs of favorite hymns for shut-ins (a, f)
• Annual church-wide Christmas caroling for shut-ins (a, f)
• Provide leadership and encourage singing in community worship services (a, f)
• Develop a music program for the cadets at Victory Field.  (a, c, f)
• Allow students to use the instruments at church for lessons and practice (f)

Final Report of the Vision Committee for Music Ministry

 

THE CHARGE

The committee was charged with helping the session articulate a vision for the music ministry of the church.  We saw an important role for music in our life together.  The psalmist’s command to praise God with a variety of musical instruments (Psalm 150) underscores a rich musical heritage of the Jewish people and the Christian church.  We also understood that music is important to First Presbyterian Church.  In a recent survey, 91% of the congregation ranked Sunday Morning Worship as being very important in our congregation.  88% ranked the Music Ministry/Choir as being important or very important.  Moreover, we have all been witnesses to the blessings that God has given us—leadership, new families, musical talents in the congregation, finances, and many more.  God is up to something here, and we must be faithful.

 

THE VISION

However, music is not an end in itself.  Most simply, the committee saw a vision for the music ministry as one of shepherding.  There are other words which could be associated with this ministry--mentoring, discipling, teaching, and equipping.  This calling should not be surprising to us.  The music ministry must help everyone to make their best offering to God.  We must come along aside others to help them worship better. 

 

Perhaps, an example would clarify the distinction.  During our recent congregational retreat, David Wallace came and played the viola in worship.  David is an accomplished musician, yet he was not merely performing for us as an audience.  He worked with Heidi Husted-Armstrong, using music to increase the effectiveness of the teaching and preaching.  He partnered with Lance Bohannon on the piano and Bobby Eason on the guitar to help them bring their best.  He used music to help illustrate the truths of Scripture.  Finally, his talents helped facilitate the congregation bringing its praise to God.  For many, the high point of the weekend was the congregation singing, “And Can It Be”.  We weren’t merely “wowed” by the performance of a great musician.  Instead, we together worshipped the living God.

 

This vision is scriptural.  It is also rooted in who we are.  God uses us and our talents to further his ministry in the world.  In the letter to the Ephesians, the apostle Paul speaks about the leadership equipping the Church for service in order to build up the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-13).  In March 2007, our session echoed this scriptural passage by affirming that God has called us “[to equip] the Church for the life of faith.”  Even before that, our congregation had a mission statement which was simply an adaptation of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-19).  The emphasis for First Presbyterian Church has always been “to make disciples.” 

 

In addition, we have the talents within the church to have an effective shepherding ministry.  Our congregation, like most Presbyterian congregations, has historically valued education and discipleship.  Our pews are filled with teachers and school administrators.  Even our music ministry staff has experience in shepherding others. Mary Jane has been a school teacher for years in both the middle and high school.  Lance had a successful consulting career before retiring.  Even our pastor formerly taught in the public schools.

 

Already, our congregation has been pursuing a shepherding or equipping ministry and has not even known it.  The Christian Education Committee is seeking to establish mentors for all of our youth.  We have established a Choir Scholarship to disciple youth who serve in the choir.  Last year, Lance taught a class on Brahms’ Requiem.  This year, we are coordinating Sunday School and Lord’s Day worship to teach the Scriptures used in Handel’s Messiah.  All that we are suggesting is to be intentional about this ministry and good stewards of our financial and human blessings.

 

THE GOALS

The committee then considered several goals consistent with this vision of a music ministry.  Broadly understood, they could fit in two categories—loving God and loving our neighbor.  First and foremost, the music ministry should show our love for God.  Our music should bring glory to God.  Our praise to God should be harmonious and coherent.  Second, our music ministry should demonstrate our love for others.  We love our congregation enough to help it individually and collectively bring its best before God.  We love the greater Church enough to appreciate the variety of musical forms and instrumentations.  We love the world enough to reach outward, sharing our praise of God with others. 

 

REACHING THE GOALS

To reach these goals, our church, including our worship, may look different.  We may have to reassign resources and spend money differently.  We are not discussing the hackneyed arguments about “contemporary” or “traditional” worship.  Moreover, we are not suggesting experimentation for the sake of experimentation.  Instead, we are proposing a ministry which does the hard work of loving God and each other.  We want everyone to bring their best offering to the Lord.  That means sacrifice by everyone, for everyone.  We have a core tradition, Protestant and Reformed, that is worthy of being preserved.  However, that tradition cannot be passed on by osmosis.  We must intentionally make the case for each new generation.  Likewise, our palette must be as broad as the talents in our congregation.  Christ must not be divided.

We see the need of a music program for our children and our youth.  Our children should learn our cherished hymns.  They should learn the discipline of worship.  They should also be allowed to play and be creative in their praise of God.  We also see the need for a new generation of church musicians.  Our great musical heritage should not disappear because, for example, no one can play the organ or sing in parts.  We also believe that the choir must play an important role in leading the worship of the congregation.  The choir should begin to see their role in spiritual as well as musical terms.  The choir should cultivate this neglected aspect of their ministry.  Finally, we should seek new ways to reach out with this ministry.  Our musicians are also servants.  There are people in Texas and Oklahoma who are longing to experience the love of God, and music can be a wonderful entry point. 

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WHAT ABOUT THE ORGAN?

The question that many will still be asking is, “What about the organ?”  As most know, our forty-year-old electronic organ is beginning to fail.  The committee was never charged to make a decision about the future of organ music in our worship. 

However, we have established the groundwork for the debate.  Rather than dealing with personal preferences, our discussions can focus on whether a particular instrument furthers the music ministry. 

 

That being said, there are some thoughts that flow naturally from the committee’s work.  Primarily, there is a commitment to keep organ music as an important part of our Sunday morning worship.  Likewise, there are different styles of organ music.  Whether English cathedral, French Romantic, or Baroque, we need an organ that will be as versatile as possible.  Since we hope to cultivate an appreciation of the music of the whole Church, we need an instrument which serves that end.  In addition, we are committed to a variety of instrumentations.  We should seek an organ or a combination of instruments which help us achieve that goal.  Moreover, we understand that there are fewer and fewer organists around.  Of course, we cannot forget questions concerning cost, maintenance, availability of service, and the length of life.  Thanks to the work of this committee, we are able to place the instrument in the context of a ministry.  Rather than be hindered with a tool that doesn’t fit the job, we can have an organ which helps the congregation offer its best to God.