Contents
Defining Worship
Biblical worship is our response to God’s revelation. Worship is not confined to the corporate gathering of the saints. Rather, worship is a lifestyle to be obediently fulfilled by all children of the Living God. Biblical worship is the full life response – head, heart, and hands – to who God is and what He has done.
Who We Are
We gather as a church for the purpose of exalting Jesus while worshiping both “in Spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). The Worship Ministry of Longview Point aims to lead people in God-honoring, Christ-centered, Spirit-filled corporate worship every week. As a team, we work hard to free the congregation from distractions in order to focus our attention all on Jesus. Through artistic gifts, we strive to model and demonstrate biblical worship for both corporate and private settings. Our foundation is found in God’s Word.
We exist to support the mission of the church – to expand His Kingdom across the street and around the world.
Worship Culture Foundations
The discipleship strategy for Longview Point is divided into three categories – Head, Heart, and Hands. A disciple of Jesus is called to use their mind (head) to grow in knowledge of Him, to be filled with desire and passion for Him in their heart, and use their hands to be active in serving Him.
The Worship Ministry focuses on these three categories for both the congregation and team members. Beginning with team members, we aim to instill biblical principles that inspire their leadership motives. The congregation reaps what the volunteers sow.
Foundation 1 | Head
Understanding biblical worship is of first priority. The foundation of this understanding is the Scriptures. The purpose and goal of corporate gatherings is to saturate the flock in the Word of God. From beginning to end, biblical principles are instilled through theologically rich songs, gospel-centered prayers, informative Scripture readings, observation of biblical ordinances, and the expositional preaching of the inerrant Word of God.
Biblical mandates of worship include singing, prayer, fellowship, observing ordinances, tithing, and the preaching of God’s Word. Every worship service is crafted to meet these aspects of worship.
Selection of Songs
Our theology fuels our doxology, and our doxology leads us to deeper worship. During the planning process, songs are not chosen based upon genre, style, or preference of any individual – including the worship pastor. Rather, songs are chosen based on the rich teaching of the gospel.
Every corporate service is carefully crafted to include different aspects of the gospel – salvation, repentance, adoration, creation, etc. A typical service at Longview Point consists of choruses, hymns, and modern praise songs. The focus of the songs touch on two platforms of worship – horizontal and vertical.
Horizontal worship teaches on the attributes of God, while vertical worship focuses on direct communicative praise to God.
While our primary focus of singing is corporate in nature, the worship teams will occasionally “present” a song to the congregation. The value of presentation is two-fold. Firstly, some songs are not musically achievable for the average congregant. Our volunteers have the opportunity to present exceptional musical skill while presenting a rich message. Secondly, an initial presentation of a song allows the congregation to learn the tune before singing it corporately. In most cases, the presented song finds its way into our regular rotation of corporate singing.
Foundation 2 | Heart
The heart of the worshiper is critically important. To approach our God in acceptable worship, we must approach with a spirit of humility and heart of repentance (Heb. 12:28-29). We must understand that God is holy and worthy of all worship, honor, praise, and adoration. In His compassion toward us, by the power of the Holy Spirit and the work on the cross, we can approach His throne in worship.
The hearts of the worship leaders must be pure and well-intentioned. We do not take lightly the weight of responsibility that comes with worship leadership. Every volunteer in the worship ministry must understand that when we step onto the stage we stand on a holy place – a platform to declare truth and to shape the hearts of God’s people.
Music is an emotional tool. The worship ministry of Longview Point seeks to stir hearts with the truth of the gospel, not musical manipulation. Before a melody is chosen, the lyrics are carefully examined for theological accuracy and depth. All songs are arranged in congregational-friendly keys in order to maximize participation.
Our teams are a collective of imperfect people with different talents, testimonies, and callings. We seek to approach worship with humility, understanding that it is not these attributes that stir the affections of others’ hearts. Rather, it is the Holy Spirit moving through our leaders to work in the lives of the Bride of Christ.
Before leading in worship, it is critical that our volunteers and leadership approach God in repentant prayer, asking that He alone work in the hearts of those before us.
Special Note:
Nationally celebrated holidays can become a source of tension in the church. On average, we have one mass corporate gathering each week. This is a very limited amount of time to participate in worship of the Living God. In order to maximize these opportunities, recognized holidays at Longview Point consist of the Resurrection and Christmas seasons. Holidays such as Independence Day, Veteran’s Day, and Memorial Day are not observed in a Sunday morning corporate gathering. To recognize the importance of these holidays, the church celebrates these seasons outside of Sunday corporate worship.
Foundation 3 | Hands
The purpose of the Church is servant participation. It is expected that the Bride of Christ not be mere spectators of worship, but be active participants. Let us not be merely hearers of the Word, but doers (James 1:22).
All members of the worship ministry at Longview Point are expected to serve sacrificially. We work diligently to use our unique giftings to lead the church in worship. We seek to be beyond a platform ministry, but lead by example using our hands and feet.
Mission trips, service projects, and church involvement are an important aspect of the worship ministry.
Common Questions Regarding Worship
The following are simplified answers to commonly asked questions regarding the topic of worship:
- Corporate worship is the collective praise gathering of God’s people (1 Tim 4:13; Col 3:16; Heb 10:25; Eph 5:19).
- Individual worship is praise of the Living God by one person during a private time (Matt 6:5-8).
- Both forms of worship are necessary for a healthy lifestyle of any believer.
- Our worship is directed to God. He is the focus of all praise (Matt 22:37; Ex 20:2-6; Ps 99; Deut 10:21; Jer 20:13).
- The corporate worship gathering, however, is for the Body of Christ in an effort of edification (Acts 2:42).
- The Creator of the universe, the Savior of your heart, is being glorified on earth and in heaven (Rev 7:9).
- Worship is formative. Specifically when singing, we are instilling biblical doctrine in our hearts. We can also view this as missional and a discipleship tool (Col 3:16).
- Baptism – Baptism by submersion is a personal step of obedience that comes after a public profession of faith. It is purely symbolic in nature and not salvific. “It symbolizes our death to ourself, our burial or immersion in Christ, and our resurrection to walk in a new way of life (Baptist Faith and Message)” (Acts 2:41; 1 Pet 3:21; Acts 22:16, Col 2:12).
- Lord’s Supper – “In Luke 22:19 Jesus tells His disciples that they are to observe this ordinance in remembrance of Him. Thus, the overarching truth is that it is a time to remember what Jesus did for us. 1 Corinthians 11 tells us that whenever we take it, we proclaim the death and return of our Lord (Baptist Faith and Message)”. Observing the Lord’s Supper comes after a profession of faith and baptism.
- No. They can participate in acts of worship (outside of the biblical ordinances), but those actions are not acceptable to a Holy God. Rather, these are just motions, not worship (Rom 8).
- The corporate gathering of the body of Christ is vital to the health of a Christian’s spiritual walk. Furthermore, it is commanded in the Word of God (Col 3:16, Heb 10:25, Acts 2:42, Eph 5:19, 1 Tim 4:13, Matt 18:20).
- Fellowship is actually an act of obedient worship. Jesus demonstrated healthy fellowship throughout his earthly life (Acts 2:42; 1 John 1:7; Matt 18:20).
- The Church is not a building. The Church is the Bride of Christ. A corporate gathering is not confined to a building but to an assembly of people gathered for the purpose of exalting Christ (Matt 18:20; Matt 16:18; 1 Pet 2:5; Hag 2:9).Special note: live-stream is not a viable alternative to the physical corporate gathering of God’s people. Rather, it is a tool for when an in-person gathering is not accessible.
- Music – Ps 95:1, Eph 5:19, Heb 2:12, Ps 105:2, Col 3:16
- Tithing – Prov 3:9-10, Mal 3:8-10, Matt 6:21, Num 18:26, Rom 2:29
- Observing Biblical Ordinances – Col 2:12, 1 Pet 3:21, Acts 19:4, John 3:5
- Prayer – Jam 5:13, 1 John 5:15, Eph 6:18, Mark 11:24, Rom 12:12
- Evangelism – Mark 16:15, Rom 1:16, Ps 105:1, Luke 4:18, Isa 12:4
- Reading, Studying, and Teaching the Word of God – 2 Tim 3:16, Ps 119:30, Rom 10:17, Josh 1:8, Heb 4:12
- Christian Fellowship – Heb 10:24-25, Acts 2:42, 1 John 1:7, Matt 18:20
- The Christian Arts – Ps 149:2-3, Ex 35:35, 2 Cor 8:12
- Yes. A common misconception is that missions is the primary function of the Church. However, the Church was created to glorify God in worship (Acts 2:42; Rom 12:10; Rom 15:14; Eph 4:32; 1 Thess 5:11).
- “Missions is not the ultimate goal of the Church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship does not. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When this age is over and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more. It is a temporary necessity. But worship abides forever.” – John Piper, Let the Nations Be Glad.
Core Values of All Teams
The following are values that we believe lay the foundation for the effectiveness of the worship ministry at Longview Point.
Worship on the platform should be the overflow of a lifestyle of worship and a heart that is well-cultivated throughout the week (Rom 12:1; Ps 15). Personal spiritual growth with Jesus is our FIRST priority.
Consistent participation is vital to the growth of both the team and the individual. It is important that team members faithfully participate in rehearsals and services. Scheduling conflicts should be noted in advance to best serve the team.
We seek to honor God with the talents He has entrusted to us. Diligently rehearsing our talent honors the Lord, prepares our hearts, serves the team, and frees the congregation from distraction. The following explanation is taken from Austin Stone Worship:
There is a difference between worldly and godly excellence. Perfectionism in ministry is unhealthy and dangerous to the heart, leading it towards performance and away from honesty. Achievement-driven ministry leads to greediness and a pursuit of applause and approval. Competitive ministry is tiresome, and driven by simply wanting to be the best. Godly excellence in ministry is all-together different, valuable, and good! In the Scriptures, the call to excellence is much richer than awards or achievements. The godly view of excellence is much different than the worldly view of excellence. We see this in the book of Philippians:
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” – Philippians 4:8 (ESV)
It’s no irony that these words describing excellence — true, honorable, just, pure, lovely and commendable — are the essence of God Himself. He is the very definition of excellence. Therefore, our pursuit of excellence is not one of selfish gain or perfection but one that points to Jesus. We seek to be obedient to Christ when he calls us in Matthew 5 to, “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
There will always be an aspect to musicianship that is performance in nature. It is important, however, that we guard our hearts against this motivation. We must understand that our sole purpose is to edify the church by leading them to worship (2 Cor 4:5; Col 1:18; John 3:30).
- Punctuality – honor your fellow servants by being on time to rehearsals, services, and events.
- Flexibility – schedule changes happen. Be understanding and flexible even when circumstances are inconvenient.
- Preparation – come prepared to all rehearsals, services, and events. Know your music and practice in advance.
- Spirit of Encouragement – we are imperfect people. Consistently lift up your fellow servants in prayer, affirmation, and encouragement. Even a little goes a long way.
As a member of the worship ministry, you will be asked to give much of your time and resources. Just as your ministry fills the cup of others, your cup needs to be filled as well. It is vital that you are actively participating in a discipleship group. God created us to be in community. Real joy comes from fellowship with other believers (Heb 10:24-25).
Be missional in your mindset and intentional in your actions. Move away from the platform between services and greet others in the congregation. Be faithful image-bearers on and off the platform. You are under a spotlight every week. Members of our community should see the same you outside the church walls as they do within.
Core Values of Praise Team and Band
The following are core values that pertain to the audition-based teams (band and praise team). The orchestral instrumentalists are not held to these standards but are encouraged to.
All members of the praise team and band are expected to be born-again believers, exhibiting spiritual maturity and a growing walk with the Lord (John 14:6; Rom 1:16; Rom 10:13).
Membership of the Longview Point church body is required to serve on these teams (Matt 16 & 18).
This is an important aspect of the praise team and band. Participating in a discipleship group gives you the necessary tools to invest in others on our team (Heb 10:24-25).
General Information
The following information pertains to all members of the worship ministry.
Rehearsal Schedule
Kids Choir: Wednesdays from 5:20–5:50pm in room C200
Worship Collective: Wednesdays from 5:20–5:50pm in the Choir Room
Worship Choir: Wednesdays from 6–7:15pm in the Choir Room
Band/Praise Team/Media Team: Wednesdays from 7:30–8:45pm in the Worship Center
Sundays
Our teams lead in worship for all 3 Sunday morning services. It is vital to the effectiveness of the team that you plan to participate in all services.
Call Times
- Band/Praise Team/Media Team – 7:00am
- Worship Choir – 7:45am
Music
All music is made available to you in rehearsal. Binders are assigned to choir members and charts are printed each week for the band and orchestra. Tablets are also available for band members.
We encourage members to take advantage of our digital library through Planning Center Music Stand. If you have a tablet that can download apps, you have digital access to all of our music and are able to make your own personalized notes.
Dress Guidelines
Our objective as a team is to draw people’s attention to Jesus. We do our best to remove all distractions. We never want our apparel to become a point of focus. For the best understanding of proper dress guidelines, below is a list of our recommendations for stage appearance.
Tops
- No t-shirts
- No sleeveless shirts (wear a sweater to cover)
- Due to bright stage lighting and camera operation, an undershirt is recommended
- Shoulders, underarms, and mid-section should be covered when you raise your hands
- No low-cut or tight-fitting tops
- Please do not wear flashy jewelry or sequins that could cause a distraction on camera
Pants
- No tight-fitted pants
- No shorts
- Leggings are only appropriate underneath a knee-length dress or skirt
Dresses & Skirts
- Hemlines need to be to the top of the knee or longer
- Should not be form-fitting
- Avoid sheer materials that could cause a distraction on the camera
- Please be mindful of how you sit on the stage
Fragrances
- Please avoid using perfume or cologne on stage or in rehearsal. The stage gets very hot due to stage lighting.
Resources Available
Planning Center Online (PCO)
We use Planning Center for scheduling and practicing purposes. Every member of the worship ministry will be equipped with a free account to access all materials needed. After joining the team, you will receive an invitation to set up your account. Every week you will receive a “request to serve” in your email inbox. Please use your account to do the following:
- Accept or decline scheduling requests
- Review scheduled services on the calendar
- View the Order of Worship for the upcoming Sunday
- View sheet music before, during, and after rehearsal
- Listen to practice tracks before and after rehearsal
- Block-out dates that you are unavailable to serve
Get the apps! Planning Center offers 2 great app resources available to you on either Google Play or Apple App Store. Explore the “Music Stand” app to easily view music on tablets.
A training book is offered upon request!
Newsletter
A weekly newsletter is distributed by email each week. This is a great way to keep up with all that is going on in the life of the Worship Ministry.
Live Calendar
Visit our Worship Ministry page for a calendar of all upcoming rehearsals and events.
Special Events and Productions
Our teams have the opportunity to participate in special events and productions throughout the year.
What to look forward to:
- Christmas Production
- Christmas Eve
- Resurrection Weekend Services
- Nights of Worship
- Family Worship Days
- Mission Trips
- Community Events
Defining Worship
Biblical worship is our response to God’s revelation. Worship is not confined to the corporate gathering of the saints. Rather, worship is a lifestyle to be obediently fulfilled by all children of the Living God. Biblical worship is the full life response – head, heart, and hands – to who God is and what He has done.
Who We Are
We gather as a church for the purpose of exalting Jesus while worshiping both “in Spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). The Worship Ministry of Longview Point aims to lead people in God-honoring, Christ-centered, Spirit-filled corporate worship every week. As a team, we work hard to free the congregation from distractions in order to focus our attention all on Jesus. Through artistic gifts, we strive to model and demonstrate biblical worship for both corporate and private settings. Our foundation is found in God’s Word.
We exist to support the mission of the church – to expand His Kingdom across the street and around the world.
Worship Culture Foundations
The discipleship strategy for Longview Point is divided into three categories – Head, Heart, and Hands. A disciple of Jesus is called to use their mind (head) to grow in knowledge of Him, to be filled with desire and passion for Him in their heart, and use their hands to be active in serving Him.
The Worship Ministry focuses on these three categories for both the congregation and team members. Beginning with team members, we aim to instill biblical principles that inspire their leadership motives. The congregation reaps what the volunteers sow.
Foundation 1 | Head
Understanding biblical worship is of first priority. The foundation of this understanding is the Scriptures. The purpose and goal of corporate gatherings is to saturate the flock in the Word of God. From beginning to end, biblical principles are instilled through theologically rich songs, gospel-centered prayers, informative Scripture readings, observation of biblical ordinances, and the expositional preaching of the inerrant Word of God.
Biblical mandates of worship include singing, prayer, fellowship, observing ordinances, tithing, and the preaching of God’s Word. Every worship service is crafted to meet these aspects of worship.
Selection of Songs
Our theology fuels our doxology, and our doxology leads us to deeper worship. During the planning process, songs are not chosen based upon genre, style, or preference of any individual – including the worship pastor. Rather, songs are chosen based on the rich teaching of the gospel.
Every corporate service is carefully crafted to include different aspects of the gospel – salvation, repentance, adoration, creation, etc. A typical service at Longview Point consists of choruses, hymns, and modern praise songs. The focus of the songs touch on two platforms of worship – horizontal and vertical.
Horizontal worship teaches on the attributes of God, while vertical worship focuses on direct communicative praise to God.
While our primary focus of singing is corporate in nature, the worship teams will occasionally “present” a song to the congregation. The value of presentation is two-fold. Firstly, some songs are not musically achievable for the average congregant. Our volunteers have the opportunity to present exceptional musical skill while presenting a rich message. Secondly, an initial presentation of a song allows the congregation to learn the tune before singing it corporately. In most cases, the presented song finds its way into our regular rotation of corporate singing.
Foundation 2 | Heart
The heart of the worshiper is critically important. To approach our God in acceptable worship, we must approach with a spirit of humility and heart of repentance (Heb. 12:28-29). We must understand that God is holy and worthy of all worship, honor, praise, and adoration. In His compassion toward us, by the power of the Holy Spirit and the work on the cross, we can approach His throne in worship.
The hearts of the worship leaders must be pure and well-intentioned. We do not take lightly the weight of responsibility that comes with worship leadership. Every volunteer in the worship ministry must understand that when we step onto the stage we stand on a holy place – a platform to declare truth and to shape the hearts of God’s people.
Music is an emotional tool. The worship ministry of Longview Point seeks to stir hearts with the truth of the gospel, not musical manipulation. Before a melody is chosen, the lyrics are carefully examined for theological accuracy and depth. All songs are arranged in congregational-friendly keys in order to maximize participation.
Our teams are a collective of imperfect people with different talents, testimonies, and callings. We seek to approach worship with humility, understanding that it is not these attributes that stir the affections of others’ hearts. Rather, it is the Holy Spirit moving through our leaders to work in the lives of the Bride of Christ.
Before leading in worship, it is critical that our volunteers and leadership approach God in repentant prayer, asking that He alone work in the hearts of those before us.
Special Note:
Nationally celebrated holidays can become a source of tension in the church. On average, we have one mass corporate gathering each week. This is a very limited amount of time to participate in worship of the Living God. In order to maximize these opportunities, recognized holidays at Longview Point consist of the Resurrection and Christmas seasons. Holidays such as Independence Day, Veteran’s Day, and Memorial Day are not observed in a Sunday morning corporate gathering. To recognize the importance of these holidays, the church celebrates these seasons outside of Sunday corporate worship.
Foundation 3 | Hands
The purpose of the Church is servant participation. It is expected that the Bride of Christ not be mere spectators of worship, but be active participants. Let us not be merely hearers of the Word, but doers (James 1:22).
All members of the worship ministry at Longview Point are expected to serve sacrificially. We work diligently to use our unique giftings to lead the church in worship. We seek to be beyond a platform ministry, but lead by example using our hands and feet.
Mission trips, service projects, and church involvement are an important aspect of the worship ministry.
Common Questions Regarding Worship
The following are simplified answers to commonly asked questions regarding the topic of worship:
- Corporate worship is the collective praise gathering of God’s people (1 Tim 4:13; Col 3:16; Heb 10:25; Eph 5:19).
- Individual worship is praise of the Living God by one person during a private time (Matt 6:5-8).
- Both forms of worship are necessary for a healthy lifestyle of any believer.
- Our worship is directed to God. He is the focus of all praise (Matt 22:37; Ex 20:2-6; Ps 99; Deut 10:21; Jer 20:13).
- The corporate worship gathering, however, is for the Body of Christ in an effort of edification (Acts 2:42).
- The Creator of the universe, the Savior of your heart, is being glorified on earth and in heaven (Rev 7:9).
- Worship is formative. Specifically when singing, we are instilling biblical doctrine in our hearts. We can also view this as missional and a discipleship tool (Col 3:16).
- Baptism – Baptism by submersion is a personal step of obedience that comes after a public profession of faith. It is purely symbolic in nature and not salvific. “It symbolizes our death to ourself, our burial or immersion in Christ, and our resurrection to walk in a new way of life (Baptist Faith and Message)” (Acts 2:41; 1 Pet 3:21; Acts 22:16, Col 2:12).
- Lord’s Supper – “In Luke 22:19 Jesus tells His disciples that they are to observe this ordinance in remembrance of Him. Thus, the overarching truth is that it is a time to remember what Jesus did for us. 1 Corinthians 11 tells us that whenever we take it, we proclaim the death and return of our Lord (Baptist Faith and Message)”. Observing the Lord’s Supper comes after a profession of faith and baptism.
- No. They can participate in acts of worship (outside of the biblical ordinances), but those actions are not acceptable to a Holy God. Rather, these are just motions, not worship (Rom 8).
- The corporate gathering of the body of Christ is vital to the health of a Christian’s spiritual walk. Furthermore, it is commanded in the Word of God (Col 3:16, Heb 10:25, Acts 2:42, Eph 5:19, 1 Tim 4:13, Matt 18:20).
- Fellowship is actually an act of obedient worship. Jesus demonstrated healthy fellowship throughout his earthly life (Acts 2:42; 1 John 1:7; Matt 18:20).
- The Church is not a building. The Church is the Bride of Christ. A corporate gathering is not confined to a building but to an assembly of people gathered for the purpose of exalting Christ (Matt 18:20; Matt 16:18; 1 Pet 2:5; Hag 2:9).Special note: live-stream is not a viable alternative to the physical corporate gathering of God’s people. Rather, it is a tool for when an in-person gathering is not accessible.
- Music – Ps 95:1, Eph 5:19, Heb 2:12, Ps 105:2, Col 3:16
- Tithing – Prov 3:9-10, Mal 3:8-10, Matt 6:21, Num 18:26, Rom 2:29
- Observing Biblical Ordinances – Col 2:12, 1 Pet 3:21, Acts 19:4, John 3:5
- Prayer – Jam 5:13, 1 John 5:15, Eph 6:18, Mark 11:24, Rom 12:12
- Evangelism – Mark 16:15, Rom 1:16, Ps 105:1, Luke 4:18, Isa 12:4
- Reading, Studying, and Teaching the Word of God – 2 Tim 3:16, Ps 119:30, Rom 10:17, Josh 1:8, Heb 4:12
- Christian Fellowship – Heb 10:24-25, Acts 2:42, 1 John 1:7, Matt 18:20
- The Christian Arts – Ps 149:2-3, Ex 35:35, 2 Cor 8:12
- Yes. A common misconception is that missions is the primary function of the Church. However, the Church was created to glorify God in worship (Acts 2:42; Rom 12:10; Rom 15:14; Eph 4:32; 1 Thess 5:11).
- “Missions is not the ultimate goal of the Church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship does not. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When this age is over and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more. It is a temporary necessity. But worship abides forever.” – John Piper, Let the Nations Be Glad.
Core Values of All Teams
The following are values that we believe lay the foundation for the effectiveness of the worship ministry at Longview Point.
Worship on the platform should be the overflow of a lifestyle of worship and a heart that is well-cultivated throughout the week (Rom 12:1; Ps 15). Personal spiritual growth with Jesus is our FIRST priority.
Consistent participation is vital to the growth of both the team and the individual. It is important that team members faithfully participate in rehearsals and services. Scheduling conflicts should be noted in advance to best serve the team.
We seek to honor God with the talents He has entrusted to us. Diligently rehearsing our talent honors the Lord, prepares our hearts, serves the team, and frees the congregation from distraction. The following explanation is taken from Austin Stone Worship:
There is a difference between worldly and godly excellence. Perfectionism in ministry is unhealthy and dangerous to the heart, leading it towards performance and away from honesty. Achievement-driven ministry leads to greediness and a pursuit of applause and approval. Competitive ministry is tiresome, and driven by simply wanting to be the best. Godly excellence in ministry is all-together different, valuable, and good! In the Scriptures, the call to excellence is much richer than awards or achievements. The godly view of excellence is much different than the worldly view of excellence. We see this in the book of Philippians:
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” – Philippians 4:8 (ESV)
It’s no irony that these words describing excellence — true, honorable, just, pure, lovely and commendable — are the essence of God Himself. He is the very definition of excellence. Therefore, our pursuit of excellence is not one of selfish gain or perfection but one that points to Jesus. We seek to be obedient to Christ when he calls us in Matthew 5 to, “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
There will always be an aspect to musicianship that is performance in nature. It is important, however, that we guard our hearts against this motivation. We must understand that our sole purpose is to edify the church by leading them to worship (2 Cor 4:5; Col 1:18; John 3:30).
- Punctuality – honor your fellow servants by being on time to rehearsals, services, and events.
- Flexibility – schedule changes happen. Be understanding and flexible even when circumstances are inconvenient.
- Preparation – come prepared to all rehearsals, services, and events. Know your music and practice in advance.
- Spirit of Encouragement – we are imperfect people. Consistently lift up your fellow servants in prayer, affirmation, and encouragement. Even a little goes a long way.
As a member of the worship ministry, you will be asked to give much of your time and resources. Just as your ministry fills the cup of others, your cup needs to be filled as well. It is vital that you are actively participating in a discipleship group. God created us to be in community. Real joy comes from fellowship with other believers (Heb 10:24-25).
Be missional in your mindset and intentional in your actions. Move away from the platform between services and greet others in the congregation. Be faithful image-bearers on and off the platform. You are under a spotlight every week. Members of our community should see the same you outside the church walls as they do within.
Core Values of Praise Team and Band
The following are core values that pertain to the audition-based teams (band and praise team). The orchestral instrumentalists are not held to these standards but are encouraged to.
All members of the praise team and band are expected to be born-again believers, exhibiting spiritual maturity and a growing walk with the Lord (John 14:6; Rom 1:16; Rom 10:13).
Membership of the Longview Point church body is required to serve on these teams (Matt 16 & 18).
This is an important aspect of the praise team and band. Participating in a discipleship group gives you the necessary tools to invest in others on our team (Heb 10:24-25).
General Information
The following information pertains to all members of the worship ministry.
Rehearsal Schedule
Kids Choir: Wednesdays from 5:20–5:50pm in room C200
Worship Collective: Wednesdays from 5:20–5:50pm in the Choir Room
Worship Choir: Wednesdays from 6–7:15pm in the Choir Room
Band/Praise Team/Media Team: Wednesdays from 7:30–8:45pm in the Worship Center
Sundays
Our teams lead in worship for all 3 Sunday morning services. It is vital to the effectiveness of the team that you plan to participate in all services.
Call Times
- Band/Praise Team/Media Team – 7:00am
- Worship Choir – 7:45am
Music
All music is made available to you in rehearsal. Binders are assigned to choir members and charts are printed each week for the band and orchestra. Tablets are also available for band members.
We encourage members to take advantage of our digital library through Planning Center Music Stand. If you have a tablet that can download apps, you have digital access to all of our music and are able to make your own personalized notes.
Dress Guidelines
Our objective as a team is to draw people’s attention to Jesus. We do our best to remove all distractions. We never want our apparel to become a point of focus. For the best understanding of proper dress guidelines, below is a list of our recommendations for stage appearance.
Tops
- No t-shirts
- No sleeveless shirts (wear a sweater to cover)
- Due to bright stage lighting and camera operation, an undershirt is recommended
- Shoulders, underarms, and mid-section should be covered when you raise your hands
- No low-cut or tight-fitting tops
- Please do not wear flashy jewelry or sequins that could cause a distraction on camera
Pants
- No tight-fitted pants
- No shorts
- Leggings are only appropriate underneath a knee-length dress or skirt
Dresses & Skirts
- Hemlines need to be to the top of the knee or longer
- Should not be form-fitting
- Avoid sheer materials that could cause a distraction on the camera
- Please be mindful of how you sit on the stage
Fragrances
- Please avoid using perfume or cologne on stage or in rehearsal. The stage gets very hot due to stage lighting.
Resources Available
Planning Center Online (PCO)
We use Planning Center for scheduling and practicing purposes. Every member of the worship ministry will be equipped with a free account to access all materials needed. After joining the team, you will receive an invitation to set up your account. Every week you will receive a “request to serve” in your email inbox. Please use your account to do the following:
- Accept or decline scheduling requests
- Review scheduled services on the calendar
- View the Order of Worship for the upcoming Sunday
- View sheet music before, during, and after rehearsal
- Listen to practice tracks before and after rehearsal
- Block-out dates that you are unavailable to serve
Get the apps! Planning Center offers 2 great app resources available to you on either Google Play or Apple App Store. Explore the “Music Stand” app to easily view music on tablets.
A training book is offered upon request!
Newsletter
A weekly newsletter is distributed by email each week. This is a great way to keep up with all that is going on in the life of the Worship Ministry.
Live Calendar
Visit our Worship Ministry page for a calendar of all upcoming rehearsals and events.
Special Events and Productions
Our teams have the opportunity to participate in special events and productions throughout the year.
What to look forward to:
- Christmas Production
- Christmas Eve
- Resurrection Weekend Services
- Nights of Worship
- Family Worship Days
- Mission Trips
- Community Events
Do you have questions?
Steven Hodge is our Worship Pastor, and he’d be glad to help you with any questions or comments you may have!
Do you have questions?
Steven Hodge is our Worship Pastor, and he’d be glad to help you with any questions or comments you may have!
