Town Hall Pizza Party Nourishes Tummies & Souls!

The Second Worship Arts Ministry Town Hall Pizza Party was great fun! An icebreaker sent members of the orchestra and choir scurrying to arrange ourselves geographically by where we grew up. We then had a few minutes to connect and swap stories. A large contingent from the Wheaton area could have talked all night long! Fellow Grand Rapids, Michigan folks Mary and Ron Whaley anchored the 'Mitten' state. Turns out that my dad was Ron's high school principal.

Toward the end of the evening Bruce Pearson shared a musical ensemble paraphrase of 1 Corinthians 12: 12-27, originally written by Orchestra Chaplain Dean Andersen. For those of you who didn't make the party, read on...

Bruce's Intro
SBC's mission is to develop devoted followers of Jesus - who glorify God and expand His kingdom. That is why we use our God-given gifts serving in the Worship Arts Ministry.

Each one of us is important and plays a role that cannot be duplicated by anyone else. In God's eyes, we are irreplaceable. We are an important part of God's ensemble.

1 Cor. 12:12-27

12 The choir and orchestra are an ensemble, even though it is made up of many different sections. So it is with the body of Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body - whether strings or vocals, amateur or professional - and were all given the one Spirit to drink.

14 Now the orchestra is not composed of one section but many. 15 If the clarinet should say, “Because I am not a brass player then I am not part of the ensemble,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the orchestra. 16 And if an alto should say, "Because I am not on the praise team, I do not belong to the choir," she would not for that reason cease to be part of the choir. 17 If the whole orchestra were the string section, where would the sense of rhythm be? If the whole choir were the soprano section, where would the sense of balance be? 18 But in fact God has arranged the sections in the music ministry, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one section, where would the ensemble be? 20 As it is, there are many sections, but one worship team.

21 The conductor cannot say to the guitars, "I don't need you!" And the tenors cannot say to the drummer, "I don't need you!" 22 On the contrary, those parts of the orchestra that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the sections that we think are less honorable we reserve a special place for. And the sections that are unpresentable are treated with special acoustical processing, 24 while some sections need no special amplification at all. But God has combined the members of the choir and orchestra and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the ensemble, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one section suffers, every section suffers with it; if one player is honored, every player rejoices with him.

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

Bruce's closing comments
Yes, each one of us is an important member of God's ensemble at SBC regardless of how we view ourselves or how we view our specific role.

The conductor, Leonard Bernstein, was once asked, “What is the most difficult instrument to play?” “Second violin,” he replied, “because everyone wants to be first violinist.” Of course the first violin gets to play the more interesting parts and commands more attention. But as Bernstein went on to explain, It's hard to find someone who wants to play second violin and to do so with the same enthusiasm. But without second violin, there is no harmony.

The same thought could be applied to the choir regarding soloists, section leaders and use of the praise team members. Without each of us doing our part, there is no harmony. If our part calls for us to have a prominent role or just three notes in an entire song we must give Him our best.

The great theologian, Garrison Keillor, in his Young Lutheran's Guide to the Orchestra said, that the drums are the only Christian instrument - because most often they are in an accompaniment or servant's role.

Much of what we do in this ministry is in the public's eye or, so to speak, on stage. God, I believe is more concerned with what goes on “back stage.” That is, in our own heart. I Sam. 16:7.

Read Luke 21: 1-4. In verse 3, Jesus declares, “This poor widow has put in more than all of the others.” Jesus sees that these few tiny coins, gladly given, are all she has to live on. It's a costly offering of her heart - unnoticed by all - except Jesus.

The life of King David gives us some great insights into the balance of the public and the private in the heart of a worshiper, including all of us.

It's obvious that David grew up knowing and loving the Lord for he was only about 15 years old when the Lord called David, “a man after His own heart.” It was during those quiet times, tending the sheep, that David wrote those beautiful and personal prayers and songs that move our hearts.

God first seeks devotion to Him in private - worship when no one is watching. It was when his life became more complicated. From the moment he killed Goliath, he's involved in some very public acts of devotion.

David's challenge was to maintain the heart of worship he had before life got public and complicated. Could he preserve the simple, pure heart of adoration in the midst of all the public things he was required to do? The same is true for each of us.

In the design of a boat - what's below the waterline must outweigh what's above the waterline.

Someone once gave great advice to those of us who are involved in leading worship including the choir and orchestra. He said, “Make yourself little in the depths of your heart.” Proverbs 25:6 sums it up: “Do not exalt yourself in the Kings presence.”

Each Sunday when we participate in the worship service, we are in the King's presence.

Each one of us is important and plays a role that cannot be duplicated by anyone else. In God's eyes, we are irreplaceable. We are an important part of God's ensemble. On behalf of the staff, I would like to thank each and everyone one of you for your faithful service. Your service to our Lord is a costly offering of your heart. It may go unnoticed by all - except Jesus.

Thank you to Bruce for his leadership and servant's heart and to Dean for his thoughtful preparation of our devotionals each week!