While worship may seem like a one hour, once a week routine, it is truly a highly orchestrated performance brought together by a team of often “behind the scenes” people. In this column, we will explore various aspects of what goes into creating our seemingly flawless services: before, during and after.
This month, I had the opportunity to interview Cheryl Thomas, our lay leader of Worship Ministries, for insight into behind the scenes of the duties of the various worship teams. This facet of ministry is wide reaching and integral to our familiar weekly routine. We regularly witness the grace of Cheryl’s gifts and talents as she leads the team in diverse, meaningful, and relevant ways to worship at WUMC.
KG What is entailed in being the Lay Leader for Worship?
CT A lot of this ministry entails the coordination of details of worship services and making sure everything is in place, from the paraments and communion to visual displays and puppet productions! I am the contact person for the several groups that make up the Worship Ministry Team: acolytes; communion stewards; communion servers; ushers; music; drama; visual arts; altar guild and flowers; and readers.
KG Whew, that encompasses a lot. How often do you meet?
CT We meet monthly. There is always lively banter as we discuss ways to try to meet the varied learning styles and ages of the congregation in our effort to engage our audience and enhance their worship experience. That’s why the team thinks it’s important to offer great diversity in our services: contemporary worship, traditional, Taizé, King’s Kids. People can attend whichever service appeals to them. We are always considering ways of doing worship service, like incorporating drama, liturgical dance, and other ways of expanding our reach into the service of our congregation.
KG It sounds like you have some insight into this. What brought you to this ministry?
CT I’m a retired music teacher. I understand that people have different learning styles, such as visual, tactile, or auditory. Two years ago, the opportunity arose to become the Lay Leader of Worship and I felt called. It’s a great team with many great ideas. We get along, and even if we “agreeably disagree” we are there for the same purpose: to enhance that special sacred time in a person’s life.
KG Let’s examine some of the individual aspects of the Worship Ministry Team starting with communion stewards and servers. What do they do?
CT Communion stewards purchase the bread and juice and set up the communion table. We are fortunate to have very devoted and dedicated individuals who are always faithful in accomplishing this task. Communion servers distribute the bread and juice during the service under the direction of the pastor.
KG What’s entailed in serving communion? Can anyone serve?
CT (chuckles) It’s easy! Communion servers go up to the front of the sanctuary at the minister’s cue. They receive communion first, then serve the bread or the cup, saying, “Body/blood of Christ broken/shed for you” as the faithful receive the sacrament. That’s all. If you are able and willing to do that, you’re hired! There is no long-term commitment. If you want to do it once or on a regular basis ‑ that’s up to you. I encourage everyone who can to take a turn serving.
KG I’ve noticed that the bread is not cut up. Why is that?
CT Communion is served the way Pastor Rich prefers it to be, as close to the Last Supper as feasible, by tearing a piece of bread.
KG How do you determine the details we experience each week?
CT Pastor Rich plans his services a month in advance, which really helps us coordinate with the various teams. The lectionary is a book that has all the Sundays of the church year, themes, and the scriptures to use, which frames the sermon topic. Color themes vary depending on the church calendar year, which we incorporate visually in the paraments, banners, and poster art. Our team is in the process of putting together a Worship Team Guide Book that will include things such as how the altar should be set up, acolyte duties, and the order of the service.
KG Speaking of acolytes, what do they do and who qualifies to be an acolyte?
CT Acolytes are ceremonial figures that have a bit of training. They light the candles as a symbol of Jesus’ coming into the presence of our worship service, and then extinguish the candles to symbolize taking the light of Jesus into the world where we are all called to serve. Talk about a front row seat! Acolytes also gather the Ritual of Friendship sheets. We encourage the youth and adults to consider serving in this ministry either once or on a regular basis.
KG What tasks are covered by the Altar Guild?
CT The Altar Guild is responsible for changing and arranging the paraments and coordinating the flowers used in the worship services. The Altar Guild checks with the family or individuals who have signed up to donate flowers to make sure the flowers have been ordered. They also obtain the dedication that is included in the bulletin. Those donating flowers can either take the flowers home after the worship service or donate them to a care home or shut-in (delivered by a church member).
KG Tell me a little about the drama aspect of worship.
CT We are so pleased to have four youth on the Worship Team: one is the youth representative, one takes responsibility for drama, and two represent the youth band. We have full-sized puppets that our used in the King’s Kids worship service on the third Sunday of each month. We are delighted that our recent Adopt-A-Puppet campaign resulted in a fully stocked puppet ministry! King’s Kids Sundays allow kids and families to become familiar with scripture in a friendly way, where church becomes an atmosphere to be enjoyed ‑ not QUIET! We also have dramatic presentations from time to time by talented people with an interest in drama. Now that we have an offer of guidance from an experienced member at another Methodist church, we are very ready to form a liturgical dance team if someone is interested in leading. Our Worship Team is always trying to expand worship in unique ways to meet the changing needs and interests of our church family.
KG What’s the hardest part of your task?
CT (pause) Getting people to volunteer. There are so many ways people can be of help. Volunteering is easy, fun, and enhances your experience of being a member of the church family.
KG Many groups make up the Worship Ministry team. Do you have any closing thoughts?
CT Within the context of the United Methodist Church model, there are diverse ways to worship, even in a traditional building. If you are able to help, either a little or a lot, please leave a message for me with the church office at 634-4800.