<\/p>\n
In this second half of our two-part article (Part 1 looked at \u2018What and Why\u2019<\/a>), we\u2019ll be looking at the practicalities of \u2018preparing spontaneity\u2019.\u00a0 I know it sounds funny, but if we want to experience moments of spontaneity in our church worship, then we need to plan and prepare for it!\u00a0 Think about it this way – a great jazz musician doesn\u2019t just pick up their instrument one day and magically improvise a perfect solo. They spend years on their scales and exercises, trying things out, making mistakes, until they can play their way through anything \u2018in the moment\u2019.<\/p>\n It is true for us too as worship leaders and teams.\u00a0 We need to get used to leading things \u2018on the fly\u2019, following the leader in the moment, and listening to God and the room for fresh direction. To that end, here are some practical tips on \u2018preparing to be spontaneous\u2019:<\/p>\n In your worship group rehearsals, avoid ending every song neatly. Experiment with continuing on at the end of the last line, perhaps looping around the last few chords, or repeating chord I and chord IV (for example, in the key of D you will repeat D, G). These two chords are close together harmonically, and feel \u2018safe\u2019 to improvise over as both share common notes.\u00a0 An example we\u2019ve used is singing \u2018Heart of Worship\u2019, and at the end looping the D G progression and inviting people to sing the name \u2018Jesus\u2019 to just one or two notes (all together, at once!).\u00a0 This can then be expanded upon – what do you want to say to Jesus, or about him?\u00a0 Sing that out. Encourage people to have a go and not be afraid to make mistakes. The point of doing it in a rehearsal rather than at a service is so people can experiment. Once you have tried this, you can develop it by inviting people to sing a short, simple phrase that the rest of the group can pick up on, and repeat. Model this by doing it yourself first. Avoid long phrases, tricky timings and too many trilling notes.\u00a0 You can also practice asking instrumental players to improvise over a chord progression, asking band members to read short passages of scripture that feel appropriate, and other expressions of worship \u2018in the moment\u2019. The more you do these things in your practice times, the more confident you will feel using them on a Sunday.<\/p>\n In my rehearsals I will often practice more than one potential ending with the band. So we might do the \u2018big ending\u2019 which involves singing a loud chorus and then stopping all together with a strong final chord. I\u2019ll then ask us to practice the \u2018quiet ending\u2019, where we repeat the chorus with sparser instrumentation, and perhaps linger around the final chords for a while, allowing space for speaking, praying or singing over the music. You might also have an optional segue into the next song. Rehearsing these different endings gives you options, and encourages the band to watch you at the end of the song for where you might be leading!<\/p>\n Musically it is hard to be spontaneous if you haven\u2019t agreed clear signals. Everyone has different ways of communicating (partly dependent on whether or not your hands are free, and the kind of things you need to get across). Personally I make sure we\u2019ve agreed signs for: I mostly use nodding and shaking my head and waggling the end of my guitar, but it really doesn\u2019t matter what you do as long as your band understands you!<\/p>\n Another issue comes when you feel in a service that a song you haven\u2019t planned might be right, and yet you know that: A) the band doesn\u2019t have the music, B) the AV person doesn\u2019t have the words ready, and C) you\u2019re not sure of the lyrics yourself!\u00a0 What I have been doing recently is planning more songs than I know I will need.\u00a0 For example, if I\u2019m leading 15 mins of singing, I might plan the first one or two songs for definite, but then have four or five more rehearsed and \u2018up our sleeve\u2019 to be picked from. Everyone is ready for just one or two to be used out of those potential songs. It gives you flexibility within planning, and again encourages the band to be watching you. Try it!<\/p>\n If your congregation is not used to the more spontaneous expressions of worship, make sure that you or another leader offers brief, clear explanations of what is happening, and how people might respond.\u00a0 For example, if you feel it is right to have a time of instrumental music, you could say: \u201cAs we hear the flute play through this song again, why don\u2019t we read through the words of the song and respond to God in our hearts\u201d. Or if we feel the Spirit is wanting to touch people, you could say \u201cAs we continue to play, we\u2019re going to make space for God\u2019s Holy Spirit to touch us afresh. If you want to receive from God you can put your hands out in front of you, as if you are receiving a gift.\u201d<\/p>\n I find that leading this kind of worship goes much better when I have my eyes open.\u00a0 That way, I can not only see what is literally happening in the room (are people engaging, or looking bored, or leaving…?!) but also you can begin to see with what we might call \u2018spiritual eyes\u2019.\u00a0 In using that phrase I am trying to explain what happens as I look out at a congregation, and God begins to highlight particular issues that we ought to be singing\/praying around, or a particular direction to go in.\u00a0 With our eyes closed we tend to focus on what we personally are feeling, but with our eyes open I think God can reveal to us some of his heart for the congregation and that particular worship time.\u00a0 It is also important to have eye contact with a service leader or minister, so that you remain accountable to your leadership.<\/p>\n Finally, if the goal of our spontaneity is to hear God\u2019s heart and respond in the moment, we need to be developing a listening ear to God\u2019s voice throughout the week.\u00a0 Often people expect God to speak and move in a church worship time, but neglect listening to his voice in their home, office, journey to work…\u00a0 And sometimes it is hard to know in those pressured moments what is God’s prompting and what is just a wild thought from our own imaginations!\u00a0 If you are starting off in this, perhaps join with a friend or colleague and listen to God together (I find asking specific questions of God – \u201cwhat do you want to do in this situation…\u201d helps me hear God\u2019s voice more than a general \u201cspeak now God!\u201d question).\u00a0 They say hearing God\u2019s voice is like a muscle – we build it as we use it.\u00a0 Start small, be gracious with yourself when you mishear God, and over time you will develop a sensitivity to his direction.<\/p>\n I hope some of this is helpful.\u00a0 It\u2019d be great if you want to comment below with your own tips or perspectives, and perhaps if you try some of this out you could let us know how it goes!<\/p>\n Sam Hargreaves teaches at\u00a0London School of Theology<\/a>\u00a0on the Theology, Music and Worship programmes.\u00a0 He co-leads\u00a0engageworship.org<\/a>\u00a0which provides training and resources for innovative, creative and world-changing worship (and where you can find the original version of this article) and also the free song siteRESOUNDworship.org.<\/a><\/p>\n Photo credit Chiceaux Flickr Creative Commons<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In this second half of our two-part article (Part 1 looked at \u2018What and Why\u2019), we\u2019ll be looking at the practicalities of \u2018preparing spontaneity\u2019.\u00a0 I know it sounds funny, but if we want to experience moments of spontaneity in our church worship, then we need to plan and prepare for it!\u00a0 Think about it […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4108,"featured_media":21950,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[98],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n1. Practice spontaneous singing<\/h2>\n
2. Practice various endings<\/h2>\n
3. Develop signals<\/h2>\n
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0coming to a stop
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0repeat that section
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0build up louder
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0fade softer
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0just one instrument play (eg just drums, just keyboard, just vocals)<\/p>\n4. Plan too many songs<\/h2>\n
5. Explain to the congregation<\/h2>\n
6. Listen to the Spirit and the room<\/h2>\n
7. Listen to God in your week, not just on Sundays<\/h2>\n