Thrive Worship Team Application

e.g. Vocal Team, Worship Band, Technical Team

Your Personal Testimony

E.g. once a month, twice a month, etc.

PURPOSE OF THIS HANDBOOK
This handbook is not meant to be intimidating or overwhelming. It is meant to inspire each of us to reflect and prayerfully consider our motives and desires for being part of the worship ministry at Living Hope Bible Church. We also want to ensure that all those involved in the worship ministry are walking together in agreement regarding our purpose, and what is expected of every member. This isn’t just about music, it’s also about ministry.

OUR MISSION
“Living Hope Bible Church exists by the grace of God for the glory of God and the good of people. We do this by equipping and establishing our church and engaging and evangelizing our neighbors and world.”

OUR PURPOSE
To worship God and help others worship God.

WHY WE SERVE
1. To bring God honor as we proclaim truths about Him and as we draw near to Him. We consider being on the worship team a calling from God. This calling is not simply about musical talent, but about one's identity as a worshiper of God. While all of God's people are called to be worshipers, we believe there are some who are called to the worship ministry and act as lead worshipers.

2. To encourage one another to be fully devoted followers of Christ, loving Him with our whole heart, soul, and mind. Because of the holy nature of this calling, as a worship team we hold each other to high spiritual standards. We should strive to live lives worthy of the position and visibility God has granted us. When on the platform, we play our music for the audience of God, setting an example for the church.

3. To provide an atmosphere where those who do not yet know the Lord will be drawn to Him as we sing and speak of His glory and His love. We take seriously our responsibility to serve the gathered church by blessing them through our playing, singing, and speaking. This is both an honored privilege and an awesome responsibility.

TEAM CRITERIA
Joining the worship ministry is based upon talent/skill, servant attitude, commitment, spiritual maturity, and a heart for worship - but not necessarily in that order. All of these can be nurtured and grown if the passion and determination exist in the individual. Realize it is a privilege to lead God’s people in worship, and not necessarily a right. It is not the place to show-off our talents or to draw attention to ourselves in any way. Individuals who are unwilling to be held accountable to or meet these guidelines are encouraged to share their gifts in other ways within the body.

Individuals wishing to join this Worship ministry should submit the Worship Ministry Application given upon request.

THOSE IN THIS MUSIC MINISTRY WILL HOLD EACH ACCOUNTABLE TO:
- be born-again Christians exhibiting a healthy and growing walk with Jesus– we are worshipers who are leading others in worship of our God. An unbeliever is incapable of worshiping God, and therefore, leading worship. One cannot lead others where one has not already been. We are not just attempting to build a band; we are also building a team of worshippers.

- be in regular fellowship with God– making time to get to know Him more through His Word, prayer, personal worship, etc. Worship is not a one-day-a-week, Sunday-morning-only event, it should be the culmination of a week lived in worship. It should be a lifestyle, of continually praising our Creator and submitting to His will.

- be spiritually mature and obedient to the Word of God– like it or not, everyone involved in the worship ministry and/or “up front” during a service is seen by the congregation as a leader, and as such, should exemplify a growing walk with Christ, both inside and outside the church walls. The worship team gets a lot of attention because of the very nature of what we do. It is a very public role to have. And left unchecked, it can be easy to begin to believe we are special or better than those we lead. It follows then that we should strive to live lives worthy of the position and visibility God has granted us.

- worship while leading worship– We should lead by example, directing our hearts and passion toward Him in authentic, physical expressions of worship. Preparation is a huge part of this. If you are struggling to follow the chords or read the lyrics off your music sheet, your focus will not be on God.

- submit to leadership– of Living Hope Bible Church, the worship team, as well as the team leader. The nature of this ministry also requires a strong commitment to the people of this church. We must remember to always come with a servant attitude.

- communicate effectively– have questions? have a new idea? Getting distracted or frustrated? Something bothering you? Talk to us. Let the team leader know of any concerns, changes in schedule, potential absences, emergencies, or illness. Have the team leader’s cell number on your cell. We're here to serve and equip you to grow and succeed as a passionate follower of Jesus.

- be committed to musical excellence– learn your music, hone your skills. continually grow and practice your skills – as God deserves our best. We’re not looking for perfection, as that is not required to serve God, but we do expect you to be proficient and always prepared. You must be willing to give Him your best. Practice at home and take the commitment seriously. Remember that wrong notes, poor singing, and less-than-average music can distract others from focusing on God as easily as someone who is ‘showing off’ or performing. This can also interrupt the movement of the Holy Spirit in a worship service. And we certainly don’t want to limit what God will do simply because we can’t handle it musically.

- be a team player– Do your best to be present, prompt & prepared. Get to know and support your band mates. Work through differences with gentleness. Play selectively. Some people are very gifted musicians and/or vocalists, but for one reason or another (vocal range, musical style, personality, etc) have trouble flowing or fitting with the team.

- have the support of their family– it is important that your family supports your involvement in this ministry and accepts the necessary time commitment, which is not insignificant. Your family should always be your priority when considering your involvement in any ministry.

- be humble– music is fun, and people love it. As a result, it is incredibly easy to focus on ourselves and the music when things sound really good, or the worship was especially moving during a service. Always remember the One who gave you your talent. An attitude of humility is essential.

- be teachable– our talents can always be developed and improved, and we should be willing to humbly accept direction and constructive criticism from others and learn from it. Attend a worship seminar or conference to grow both musically and spiritually.

- be a reflection of Christ– we ask that should at anytime during your involvement you feel your personal life or conduct is not reflecting what we are about or what Christ would have, that you voluntarily step down until the situation changes.

- be modest in dress– be aware of your appearance. Be comfortable but be appropriate. Ask yourself – does what I wear distract others from worshiping Jesus? Would it be considered inappropriate by some? Will it draw attention to me? If so, then rethink your outfit. It is not our goal to tell you what to wear. Yet, we must be clear on what is NOT allowed to be worn while serving on stage. Both men and women must understand modesty and holiness in dress. For these reasons, we humbly ask that items of clothing such as low-cut tops, graphic tees with profane or unholy images or skirts higher than just above the knees not be worn while serving on stage.

- be committed to rehearsals– those scheduled to lead on Wednesday will be required to attend rehearsal before Youth Group.

- be prepared– come to rehearsals and services musically prepared by listening to and practicing songs beforehand and having all your music ready and in order.

OUR PHILOSOPHY OF PREPARATION
Preparation requires both personal and relational investments:

PRACTICE IS PERSONAL. Each musician and tech needs to learn his/her part before rehearsal. It is an investment both for the worship service and the rehearsal.

REHEARSAL IS RELATIONAL. Rehearsal is about the team. It is our time together to shape the songs, rehearse the flow of the service, and grow together as a team. If I come unprepared (or don’t attend at all), I affect the whole team as well as the worship service on Wednesday.

PREPARATION TERMS DEFINED
Here are the terms we use as we talk about preparation:

Practice - Practice is the personal preparation you put into learning your part and your role in the worship gathering.

Rehearsal - Rehearsal is a relational time of joining the pieces of the songs together and connecting the songs into a worship flow.

Sound Check - Sound Check is the time we take to make sure all the parts of the sound system are working, as well as getting the monitors and the house mixed.

Run-Through- Run-Through is more than just a warm-up. It’s our time to prepare musically and emotionally to lead worship through music. Our posture and attitude during the run-throughs should be the same as it will be during the worship service.

Start Time - Start Time really means “Ready to Play” time. Arrive early enough to be ready to play by the posted start time.

Personal Development - Personal Development is the ongoing, personal commitment to get better as a musician or tech. It happens through practice, lessons, training events & other ways you invest in deepening your skill.

SCHEDULES
All musicians and vocalists will be scheduled on a rotating basis, dependent on individual schedules, proficiency, and the musical (position) needs of a particular service. We will make every effort to provide an opportunity for everyone serve at least one time per month

Please keep your schedule updated so we know your availability at least 2 months in advance, by accessing the online schedule (more information will be given on this).

REHEARSAL EXPECTATIONS
Rehearsals are mandatory

Attendance at rehearsal is required to participate on the following Sunday morning. We know that life happens, and something may come up at the last minute requiring you to miss rehearsal, but we hope that you will do your best to have this be a once-in-a-while occurrence.

If you cannot make rehearsal, please discuss the options below with the ministry leader.
- Find an appropriate replacement. Please notify ministry leader if it’s the week of about the replacement.
- Be approved by the ministry leader to miss rehearsal and still serve on Sunday (which may require the next point). Rehearsal absence is usually only approved in cases where there are no other alternatives.
- Meet with ministry leader before Wednesday to work on your part if he feels it’s necessary

Rehearsals will be on Wednesday and will include a ½ hour Prayer and Bible time. We will do our best to keep rehearsal around 1.5 hours, unless there is agreement to come earlier.
Please be considerate of everyone’s time by arriving EARLY, especially if you need to setup equipment, prepare your music, or socialize.


ON YOUR SCHEDULED WEEK:
- Commit to listen and learn the songs at least 24 hours prior to the rehearsal.
- Attend and participate fully in the rehearsal, sound-check, and run-through.
- Arrive early enough to be ready to play at posted start time.
- Print your charts ahead of time or come early to get charts from the folder.
- Mark your charts for changes, dynamics, problem areas, etc.
- If using an iPad/tablet for your music, please pre-load your Music Stand App charts at home.
- After rehearsal, commit to practice all the songs within 24 hours of the Sunday service.
- Arrive with enough time to complete any set-up before sound check and run- through.

Chord charts for songs will be available on www.planningcenteronline.com
YouTube and Spotify links to audio of songs will also be available

AUDIO VISUAL TEAM
The Audio-Visual Team is responsible for all technical aspects of the service, including the sound system, lighting system, video elements, recordings, and projection. The great audio-visual challenge is to become invisible! It’s the perfect place for selfless, secure servants.

A good relationship between Worship Team members and Audio-Visual Team members is very important– and equally important is your ability to trust them to skillfully make our worship services look and sound as great as possible. As they serve you and Living Hope Bible Churches congregation each week, please remember to treat them with respect.

Should my application be accepted, I hereby agree to the Statement of Faith of Living Hope Bible Church and agree to follow the policies described in the Living Hope worship team ministry description including attendance at scheduled rehearsals and weekend services, dress code, and maintaining a growing and personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I also agree to refrain from unscriptural conduct whether in the performance of my service or outside the church.

I understand that personal information included in this application will be held confidential by the professional staff and worship team leaders.