[Worship] Last minute request thread

["Vanessa Dolby" <psalm138@comcast.net>]

**************************************************
       Looking for praise and worship music products?
                      Visit our list sponsor at:
                  http://www.worshipmusic.com
     **************************************************

Hello listers--Vanessa here

My, my, my--what a stir the last minute song request has caused.  It has
been interesting reading the responses, though I haven't read every one all
the way through.  I'll add my 2 cents worth here.

As the shepherd of the flock, the pastor had the right to request the songs.
Would a little more notice have been good--yes. Maybe more advance notice
just wasn't possible.  I don't really think that it's our job to "set the
pastor straight".  We're not called to that as worship leaders.  We're
called to be servants with humble attitudes (NOT doormats, but having the
right attitudes).  Perhaps for future reference, it could be mentioned that
more advance notice would be helpful and appreciated.  That said, we need to
extend grace and mercy in these situations.  Christ would do the same.

I really believe that we should always be ready for things to be "changed
up" so to speak.  I don't see a lot of difference between the last minute
request and having the pastor request a song at the end of worship.  My
pastor often will come up onto the platform towards the end of worship and
request an additional song.  It happened last night--the worship leader had
come to the end of the worship set and our pastor came up and had us go into
another song that wasn't on the list.  Everybody in the band knew it and we
just went with it.

For those times when we don't know the song--I keep notebooks with our most
often used songs in them and every instrumentalist gets one.  That way when
we need to go to another song that's not on the list, it's available for
them.

Some songs should be ready and available for special occasions.  The songs
requested would be expected considering that the anniversary of 9/11 was
close to the Wednesday service.  I half expected my own pastor to request
one of those songs last night.

As leaders, singers and instrumentalists, we need to be instant in season
and out.

Be blessed!!

Vanessa