The New Pastor's Guide to Leading Worship

By Barbara Day Miller

Worship

A down-to-earth guide to planning and implementing meaningful worship experiences for pastors, written especially for those new to the job.

This practical book is for new pastors as they move into the role of worship leader and planner. When faced with the weekly rhythm of planning and leading worship, new pastors sometimes find themselves overwhelmed with the tasks. The book centers on the pastor and his/her identity as worship leader, on guidelines for leadership, and on the 'why' and 'how' of worship services. Contents include: The Pastor as Leader; Leading on Your First Sunday; Rituals: "The way we do it here"; Leading in the Worship Service; Leading Prayer; Leading Communion; Leading Baptism; Leading through the Christian Year; Leading with Musicians; Leading the People into Leadership.To read chapter oneclick here
"I heartily commend this book to new pastors. Get it and read it before you show up at your first appointment. Barbara Day Miller will save you from many a heartache and embarrassment. Though tagged as a new pastor's guide, most pastors I know will benefit by reading the New Pastor's Guide, especially the latter chapters about leading with musicians and guiding members of the congregation into worship leadership."


Reverend Daniel T. Benedict, Jr., Director of Worship Resources, General Board of Discipleship, United Methodist Church

"In the past couple of years, I have worshipped in about a hundred congregations. After that experience, I can tell you, HERE IS THE BOOK WE NEED! Barbara Day Miller packs this little book with a lifetime of the creative worship leadership and the inspired preparation of pastors to lead worship. Combining practical help with a deep theological understanding of, and heartfelt love of Christian worship, she gives pastors everything they need to lead God's people in prayer and praise."

William H. Willimon, Bishop, the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Barbara Day Miller is the Assistant Dean of Worship at Candler School of Theology in Atlanta, Georgia.

Church & Ministry/Church Life//Worship/Liturgy

• Language: English
• Publisher: Abingdon Press
• Release date: Dec 1, 2010
• ISBN: 9781426739415

Book preview

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B A R B A R A  D A Y  M I L L E R

ABINGDON PRESS / NASHVILLE

THE NEW PASTOR'S GUIDE TO LEADING WORSHIP

Copyright © 2006 by Abingdon Press

All rights reserved.

No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted by the 1976 Copyright Act or in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission can be addressed to Abingdon Press, P.O. Box 801, 201 Eighth Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37202-0801, or emailed to [e-mail].

This book is printed on acid-free paper.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Miller, Barbara Day, 1946–

The new pastor's guide to leading worship / Barbara Day Miller.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 0-687-49720-5 (pbk. : alk. paper)

1. Public worship—Handbooks, manuals, etc. 2. Public worship—Planning. 3. Pastoral theology.

I. Title.

BV25.M65 2006

264--dc22

2005026023

All scripture quotations unless noted otherwise are taken from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations noted KJV are from the King James or Authorized Version of the Bible.

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15—10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

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Foreword

I   The Pastor as Leader: Preparing to Lead

II   Leading Worship on Your First Sunday

III   Rituals: The Way We Do It Here

IV   Leading in the Worship Service

V   Leading the Prayers: Praying with the People

VI   Leading at the Table: Holy Communion

VII   Leading at the Font: Baptism

VIII   Leading through Seasons and Times: The Christian Year

IX   Leading with Musicians

X   Leading Worship with the Hymnal: Singing a New Song

XI   Leading an Expanded Practice: Reflection on the Patterns

XII   Leading the People into Leadership: Expanding and Renewing

XIII   Leading the Preparation: Planning Together M

XIV   The Pastor as Leader: Ongoing Work

Appendix: Other Resources

Annotated Bibliography

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In his book Holy Things Gordon Lathrop distinguishes between 'primary liturgical theology,' the meanings inherent in the practice of liturgy in the worship service itself, and 'secondary liturgical theology,' the examination of those worship patterns outside the actual service. This book concerns the latter. It is a book that deals with the questions about worship—the why and how of pastoral leadership—so that the worship of the people, that primary encounter with God, might be enhanced.

I have heard questions about the pastoral leadership of worship from many sources: in conversations in churches, in workshops, in the course of study classes, in seminary classrooms, and in informal meetings posed by students, pastors, church members. Questions such as: How can I introduce new elements into the worship service? What is the liturgical color for Advent? Where can we find worship resources for our small congregation? How can I lead my congregation in more authentic sacramental practice? The conversations have covered celebrations and complaints, creative ideas and mundane tasks, personnel issues and pastoral dreams. All these encounters have had one encompassing theme: How can the worship services in our congregations be led with more skill, more integrity, and greater confidence so the gathered people can worship God more fully and faithfully? Perhaps you have asked these questions or participated in these conversations in your congregation or classroom.

This brief volume is directed toward continuing the conversation and answering some of the questions. The book begins and ends with the pastor and the pastor's own disciplined and thoughtful preparation, anticipation, and reflection on the worship service and the various roles in the service. Middle chapters are devoted to the details of worship leadership—the why and how. Later chapters deal with the pastor's facilitation of the people's worship leadership and of planning and working together. Along the way we will get a glimpse of real people in real congregations. Some you will recognize; others you have yet to meet. You will have opportunity to stop and reflect on some guided questions, to write, and to pray.

At the end of the book is an annotated bibliography of helpful books to consider, because this is a lifelong journey of learning and growing.

In the writing I am grateful for all those who have been a part of the conversations—bishops, pastors, teaching colleagues, and particularly students whose eagerness for pastoral ministry and clear vocational response have led them to a vital concern for worship leadership. Several of their stories appear in these pages, and their responses to my question, What is the one thing you wish you had learned before your first Sunday of leading worship? have been a cue for practical suggestions.

Several people I am thanking by name:

• students (and now new pastors), Josh and Christie Hale, for their careful work on the bibliography;

• student assistants in the Office of Worship at Candler School of Theology— Sharletta, Gee, Va'nechia, Leah, Nancy, Shannon, Jason, and Juan—who took on additional duties during my writing;

• former student Kathleen Weber, who read portions of the draft and helped to clarify thoughts and sharpen the language;

• members of the Candler Support Services team—Dale Smith, Brenda Gresham, and Fred Kim—who saw to the details of copyright permissions and multiple requests;

• mentors and friends—Dan Benedict, Don Saliers, and Carlton Young—who offered wisdom, encouragement, careful proofing, and good advice;

• and Bill, who built the desk, read the manuscript (several times), and cooked.

Barbara Day Miller                      

The Feast of the Ascension, 2005

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As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, Follow me, and I will make you fish for people. And immediately they left their nets and followed him.

—Mark 1:16-18

Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?

Will you go where you don't know and never be the same?

—The Summons, John Bell, Iona Community

As I stood at the front of the sanctuary and looked at the people, I realized they were looking to me for leadership. I had been in leadership in the church for many years, had taught Sunday school, had led the singing, but now I was the leader. I was the pastor.

—Glenn, newly licensed pastor

You have answered the call to pastoral ministry. You have had or are receiving training for this work. Your denomination has given you authority, and you are now the pastor at your first church. In this appointment you are responsible for leadership in many areas. You will teach. You will visit in homes and hospitals. You will administer the budgets and programs of the church. You will be responsible for the upkeep and the use of the church buildings. You will encourage the outreach efforts of the congregation and the church's involvement in the community. And, on the Sabbath, when the people gather, you will be the leader of worship.

In thinking how you will lead, you will recall other pastors whom you have seen in this role. You have been in worship services in which the pastor made this work look easy—a smooth and natural flow of gesture and action and word. The worship was a deep experience in the presence of God. In fact, you did not notice the pastor, but were led along by the pastor's skill—confident but not in the spotlight, inviting but not imposing. You may have thought, Some people just have a natural gift.

You have also been in worship services in which the leadership was much more fragmented and disjointed. The congregation glanced at each other or at their worship bulletins wondering what was next. The pastor seemed more caught up in selfconscious gestures and voice than the message of words and actions. The pastor seemed unsure of what might happen next. The worship service seemed to be more focused on the sequence than the spirit. And you thought, I hope I don't lead like that.

Many of us have also been in worship services in which the pastor was the only thing we noticed. This leader was the center of every action, every gesture, running the show. There was a plethora of anecdotes, stories, jokes, and an overuse of the pronoun I. The pastor's voice was the only one heard—preaching, leading the singing, and praying. You felt pushed and pulled, a bit manipulated perhaps. And you may have thought, If that is worship leadership, I don't think I can do it.

What is the difference? Are some people called to this ministry more gifted and others less skilled? To some extent, yes. But, whether you are naturally at home and confident in front of the congregation, or whether you are self-conscious and unsure, the important element is your preparation. The ability to lead worship is not a skill automatically conferred by your answering God's call. It is a long process, and a discipline of practice and self-critique and growth.

Skilled worship leadership begins with prayerful imagination. By imagination we are not speaking of a magical moment, an instant in which you become someone you have long admired or the model of smooth and efficient presence. This is an imagination, a way of envisioning, that begins with a deep knowing of yourself, who you are and what your own style is. It is a process of finding your voice, of being at home with your gestures, of allowing yourself to be who God has called you to be.

You may have already begun this process of seeing yourself in leadership, perhaps even literally, if you have had classes or training in preaching in which you were videotaped. This process can be scary. I can't believe I look like that! My voice sounds so flat. I slur my words. My hands are too busy. I move around too much. These are helpful, if self-conscious and intimidating, points for growth. You can improve on these skills and smooth out irritating mannerisms through continued study and practice. The suggestions in this book can help you.

But, these desired changes should not become only a checklist, a measure against which you judge your skill and efficiency in leading the worship of God's people. You might come to think that if you complete the list of improvements, you will be an effective worship leader. This is only partially true. A list of practical, mastered skills is necessary and helpful, a good thing, but it may not bring clarity to the deep image of who you are as the leader of worship. And, over the long course of your ministry the mastery of technique alone will not sustain you.

There are many ways to be effective and competent in the leadership of worship. But in my conversations with students now in the parish, the one discovery they would want me to share with you is to be yourself. To be skilled, yes. To be in awe of the call and responsibility, yes. To be knowledgeable, yes. To be trained and practiced in your roles, yes. But, you are not, and should not attempt to be, the former senior pastor you admired, your mentor, your best friend, or a television evangelist. You are unique and gifted, called by God to be yourself as you are the pastoral leader of worship.

Seeing Yourself as the Leader

What does being the worship leader look like? How do you see yourself? What is your image of yourself as 'leader'? This is the work of prayerful imagination.

As you move into this new calling, take some time to reflect on your image of yourself as the leader of worship. This exercise is not asking you to construct a list of what you will do. (As the pastor leading worship I welcome everyone, then I . . . , then I . . .). It is for you to articulate for yourself who you are in leading. This image is more of feeling, of style, or presence. Here are some questions to get you started:

1. When you see yourself leading worship are you enthusiastic? Quiet? Gentle? Inviting?

2. Are you extroverted in front of people, or more introverted, contemplative?

3. Do you lead with words and explanations? Or with gestures, eye contact?

4. What words describe you as the worship leader: Friend? Fellow traveler? Shepherd? Teacher? Priest? Prophet? Parent? Caregiver? Coach? Other descriptions?

5. What are the qualities and characteristics associated with these models?

6. In your imagination, are you beside the people? In front of them? Leading from the middle?

7. Is there a biblical character whose qualities you embrace? Who? Why?

Write, draw, or express your thoughts in phrases, sentences, poetry. The writing and reflection are for you, to