Sunday Morning Worship

 I am currently going to a school of worship, called Ocean's Edge. A group of us played worship this last Sunday morning in the "gym" service, which is also known as the overflow service. We had an interesting experience. Most of us aren't from this area, and have come from out of state or from out of the country to attend this school. The worship teams from almost all of our "home" churches aren't fully equipped with the money or resources that we are here, so you may say that we are spoiled. We had quite a full band on stage, almost a mini Hill-song group. Two acoustic guitarists, two electric guitarists, two singers, a bass player, keyboardist, and a drummer all on one tiny stage. Rehearsals and practices before hand are crucial for any group that is going to play any type of music in public. Our drummer, though as amazingly gifted as he is, didn't have a chance to practice with the rest of the band before Sunday morning. So rehearsal time before service was quite shaky unlike all of the other rehearsals we have had so far this year, which made it surreal to us how it will be once returning to our "home" churches. I say surreal because most churches run off of volunteers running the sound board, volunteer musicians, and singers. They all have either a job or family, or something else that occupies their day. Unlike us at school this year, where all we do is study leadership, the Word, and music. We struggled through practice, and got every one on the same page as cliche as it sounds, and ended up pulling it together for the actual worship service. Now perfection isn't something that is likely to happen no matter how good you are, or how much you practice. No one is perfect no matter how much we try to be. For the sake of striving to be the best we are capable though, we did quite well I believe. I do know that some members of the band struggled actually worshipping during the time of worship though. As I thought about this I realized something. We should be as prepared as we can for when we play or do anything, but when it comes down to it, are we really just worshipping the Lord? Isn't that why we are here? After church was over some of us had been talking about how weird of a situation it was for us. We have been so used to, well since we started school, to having everything at our fingertips. If we need a DI there is one in the cabinet, if we need a 1/4 inch cable we know where to find one. Back home however, not everyone is going to have that. Not every one will have two acoustic guitar players, or a keyboardist, or maybe an electric guitarist. No matter what though the main point is to be fully and wholly surrendering ourselves to God, to be worshipping Him. God doesn't care if we have a band as big as Hill Song or if we have a small acoustic set with two singers. God cares that we are using what He gave us to do what He desires. I personally need to take that to heart. I may not be the best guitarist, or singer, but I am going to use fully what God has given me, or try to. I say try to because as humans we are prone to sin, but that doesn't mean I am not going to try my hardest not to.