WORSHIP AND MUSIC

A year ago, when I began my tenure as worship and music chair, I felt a bit like Socrates, who said “...all I know is that I know nothing.” This is my first time as a ministry lead, and I have had the great good fortune of being mentored and encouraged by many people. Some of the more important things I’ve learned this year are:

§ it takes a lot of people to create worship services to fulfill Bethel’s mission statement, which begins with “invite and welcome people into a relationship with God.” Some new “inviting and welcoming” steps that have been undertaken this year are the Welcome Zone, the installation of the video system, and the Sunday morning three-minute rule (spend the first three minutes after the service on Sunday talking with someone you don’t know).

§ Bethel was fortunate to welcome Barbary Grant this year, who has been a wonderful addition to our many talented musicians, both staff and volunteer. When you find your worship experience enriched by music, give thanks to God for guiding our musicians, and that they are open to His leading.

§ whatever your talent, there is an opportunity for you to use it at Bethel. We can, and should, respond to God’s grace with service and, in so doing, find ourselves drawn into a closer relationship with Jesus Christ, who was also a servant.

My goals for the worship and music ministry for 2004 include:

• four meetings (on February 3, May 4, August 3, and November 2) to discuss worship and provide an opportunity for all the worship and music groups to gather and share ideas.

• encourage more members to become involved in the support of worship and music at Bethel. People often may not volunteer because they don’t know what needs to be done, or may think they have no useful skills, or don’t want to make a long-term commitment. Over the next year, I will put occasional “advertisements” in the bulletin and Bethel Beat regarding opportunities for long-term, short-term, and one-time commitments; please read them and consider jumping in.

Thank you to those who lead the altar guild, the ushers, and the lectors, for the wonderful support they provide for worship. Thank you to Doreen Baldwin who, with her own team of volunteers, enhances worship on church holidays with her beautiful decorations. Finally, thank you to Robyn Winegardner, for her efforts in equipping all ministry leads to carry out Bethel’s mission to “care for and serve others by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

In His service,

Barbara Morris