Worship leaders, worship teams and tech teams experience as much as anyone may, the enormous burden around the Christmas season. With all the extra services, recordings, rehearsals, decorating, meetings, planning, chord charts, new songs, revamped old songs, scheduling, leading, tracks, sound checks, and conversations, it’s only natural to feel a bit overwhelmed.
Christmas is a great opportunity to reach people and more than ever here at the end of 2020, people are searching for hope that only Jesus can provide. Music part of worship is such a critical portion of the Christmas season, it’s no wonder there’s so much to do and we know it’s worth it! To top it all off, so many churches are doing new things using new methods to celebrate Christmas during this pandemic.
The combination of all these things and the growing to-do lists, caused me to stop and think of three things I don’t want us to do:
Don’t Give Up
It’s not typically the best time to make quick employment decisions. When the going gets tough and schedules are out of control, it’s easy to get down about your ministry and your role. Live through the valley, if you feel like you’re walking through one now, and make a strategic decision later. There’s a good chance once the next calendar year comes, you’ll be chomping at the bit to refocus and regroup your ministry. Don’t give up on an easy-going spirit as you serve your pastor and the church in general. Multiple service schedules and special events can cause some strain as desires, opinions and options abound. Stay engaged, stay connected and help coordinate to the best of your ability. On a personal note, don’t get up on some of your basic habits and structures such as devotional life, prayer, healthy food, good bedtime routines and exercise.
Don’t Tweak Systems
Many of our worship leader planning and strategy systems get stretched during the heavy Christmas season. Now isn’t the best time to try to restructure or tweak your systems. Keep some notes about how you might like to change things in the new year, but don’t make big sweeping announcements to your team now regarding structure, culture, or practices in your ministry. It’s fine to have a simple goal of leading great music during Christmas. Make that your focus for yourself and your team and tweak other things later. Another simple focus maybe just being in a relationship with your team – call to talk through details, share stories, spend time just visiting after rehearsal instead of the usual figuring out solutions to issues.
Don’t Forget To Celebrate
It may take a bit more creativity to figure out how to celebrate your ministry this year, but it’s needed. I’m thinking about putting together a little Christmas newsletter specifically for our worship and hospitality team members to mark some of the milestone that we’ve hit since March 15 when everything in 2020 came to something of a screeching halt. For starters, I’ve just been making a list of some of the great things that have happened in ministry this year. Just thinking of the things were we can see God’s faithful hand at work is cause for celebration. And don’t forget to celebrate at home. Again, this may take a more work this year, but find ways and times to be personally available as you connect with friends and family.
Advent followed by the Christmas season is the start to the Christian year! We have so much for which we can be grateful. Have fun playing Christmas music. Have fun leading, serving and recording. Sing loudly and joyfully. Don’t worry if you feel like you’re rehashing stuff from last year – as my brother said, who knows, you’re folks may welcome the music of Christmas 2019. Patiently, kindly, and with lots of fun hard work with your teams lift up the name of Jesus this Christmas season.
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