When You Lead Worship: Practical advice for worship leaders | Reform... https://www.reformedworship.org/article/september-1991/when-you-lea...

Home
Like 1

Share |

By Christine A. Chakoian
RW 21

What does it take to lead worship well? As anyone who has prepared to step in front of a
congregation for the first time knows, leading worship successfully takes more than courage or a
mechanical awareness of what to do when. Good worship leadership demands knowledge, ability,
and preparationó and it begins with a good theology of worship.

In his classic piece "And Then What Must I Do?" Kierkegaard chastens Protestant congregations for
approaching worship with the same attitude with which they approach a concert or a playóas if they
are the audience and the speakers (preacher, musicians, liturgists) are the actors. The churchgoers
respond to the performance as criticsóinterested, bored, or deeply moved. Kierkegaard goes on to
suggest that while worship might well be compared to a theater, the worshipers are actors, not
critics. The worship leaders are prompters who help the congregation perform the act of worship.

The goal of worship leaders, then, is not to star in a great performance, but rather to become
Enewsletter Sign Up
transparent prompters who help focus worship on God. How does that happen? By eliminating both
Sign up to receive a monthly email for the stumbling blocks and the theatrics that draw attention to the leader and away from God.
seasonal worship resources, latest
blogs, and more.

Good Grooming Is Essential.

It may seem obvious, but the worship leader's visual presentation begins with grooming. One should
certainly not have to be a fashion plate in order to lead worship, but basic cleanliness, modesty, and
good taste are essential when setting a tone of reverence. Torn or unkempt clothes are obviously
inappropriate, but in many contexts so is a too-expensive suit or party dress. Men and women will
want to avoid suggestive clothing and garish jewelry, and women will want to keep makeup
understated.

Consider the style of the worship service.

The formality of worship varies greatly from church to church. An effective worship leader will be
aware of the culture, style, and formality of the service that he or she is called to lead. For the most
part, the style of the service should inform the way in which the leader conducts himself or herself,
not vice-versa.

Good "Stage" Presence Takes Practice.

Effective presence begins with good posture and attentiveness. Erect posture is both reverent and
commanding, and indicates to the worshipers that you are prepared to lead them.

Good eye contact encourages the congregation to listen carefully to what you are saying and invites
them to participate fully in worship. When singing hymns or leading a responsive reading, you

1 of 4 2/3/2018, 8:31 AM
When You Lead Worship: Practical advice for worship leaders | Reform... https://www.reformedworship.org/article/september-1991/when-you-lea...

should lift your book so that your voice still projects and your eyes connect with the congregation.

If another leader is speaking, all attention should be fully directed to that person. If your attention
wanders to your notes or to gazing out at the crowd, the congregation will be distracted too.

Gestures need not be loud to be effective.

Often the smallest movement speaks volumes. If the congregation fails to rise to sing a hymn, for
example, stand yourself. If they still don't respond, raise your hands to prompt them once more.

Your role as a prompter is to help the congregation worship God.

Oral delivery is one of the most criticized areas of leadershipóand one of the easiest to change. We
all know the frustration of trying to follow a speaker who talks too quietly or too quickly. These
problems are heightened in sanctuaries that have poor acoustics.

Practice diction.
To improve your diction, try reading aloud privately or with a friendly "coach."

First, practice slowing down your speed until you are comfortable hearing yourself speak at a slower
rate.

Then pay attention to the consonants: Are you speaking each one distinctly? Many speakers make
the mistake of dropping the consonants off the ends of words or of running two words together.

Once consonants feel comfortable to you, pay attention to the vowels. Each one requires your
mouth to form a different shape. Practice saying phrases like "lips, teeth, tip of the tongue" to
become aware of what you're doing and to make your mouth more flexible. It may feel strange, but it
works!

Learn to adjust volume and pitch.

If you have a microphone in your sanctuary, practice using it before leading worship. Sometimes a
quiet voice is most easily amplified by adjusting the microphone, but almost any voice can gain
volume.

The first step is to concentrate on how far the words need to go. Try getting your voice to reach the
farthest corner of the sanctuary, the back row of the balcony. Then, try breathing more deeply, using
more of your lungs than in normal speech. A voice backed by diaphragm and lungs will carry many
times further than an everyday speaking voice.

However, sometimes being louder is not enough. Sometimes pitch needs to be adjusted as well.
People with hearing problems lose their ability to hear higher notes first. If a worship leader has a
very high-pitched voice, it may be difficult for some people to follow. With effort and time, a speaker
can learn to lower his or her voice. One of the easiest ways to practice using the lower register is by
singing. Instead of reading the soprano or tenor line, try singing the alto and bass notes—or try
dropping your voice an octave.

Use appropriate expression in your speaking and reading.

If you have ever listened to a great actor or storyteller, you know that interpretation can transform
the written word into a powerful experience. Worship leaders must learn to use their voices to
convey the word in an expressive style that fits the content of the message.

How does that happen? Let's use the reading of Scripture as an example. To effectively read a
portion of the Bible, the reader should begin by becoming familiar with the passage. Look over the
passage for any questions of pronunciation. Then read it through a few more times, trying to decide
what the central message or high point might be. Look for repetitions of words or phrases; the
introduction of new characters; a shift in plot; a surprise conclusion. Determine what type of writing it
is (history, poetry, prophecy, etc.) and try to catch its tone. You might want to make a photocopy of
the passage, jotting down notes to yourself about anything that catches your eye—words that you
would like to emphasize.

Finally, practice reading the passage out loud. How does it sound to you? Are there other ways you
could read it? Be careful not to over-interpret or get theatrical, but do use your best and most natural

2 of 4 2/3/2018, 8:31 AM
When You Lead Worship: Practical advice for worship leaders | Reform... https://www.reformedworship.org/article/september-1991/when-you-lea...

voice to get across the message of the Word. (For some additional insights into reading Scripture,
see "When You Read Scripture ..." p. 41, and "Getting the Story Off the Page" in RW17).

Plan the words that you will say ahead of time.

Almost always, worship leadership entails preparing some of your own words as well as reading
those of others. Your contribution may be as simple as introducing the prayer of confession or the
Scripture lesson or as lengthy as offering the congregational prayer or preaching the sermon. Don't
assume that you will remember what to say when you get to the lectern. Neatly type or write
whatever you are going to sayóprayer, announcement, invitation to confession, assurance of
pardon, the creed, even the Lord's Prayer. Obviously you know the creed and the Lord's Prayer by
heart, but when you are under pressure up front, you always face the possibility that your mind will
go blank. There is nothing wrong with thatóas long as you have prepared for that contingency by
having the words in front of you.

Also, make sure before the service that you have all the written materials that you need in placeóat
the lectern, at your chair, or in your hand. Usually these materials will include a Bible, a hymnal, and
a bulletin (with your notes!).

An often overlooked component of worship leadership is "choreography." The leader must not only
know when he or she should stand, sit, or move but be able to help the congregation know their part
as well. Once again, the leader is the prompter. The more confident the leader, the more
comfortably the people will play their parts.

Plan carefully before the service.

Go over the service ahead of time, writing notes to yourself in the bulletin (stand, sit, move to
podium, etc.) Where do you need to be when? Can you move to another position (e.g., behind the
communion table or by the baptismal font) during a hymn, when it will be less distracting? Do the
others involved in the service know their roles and positions? Are there some portions of the service
that might be confusing to visitors and which, therefore, need some explanation?

Note ahead of time any misprints or confusing statements in the bulletin. Sometimes a hymn
number is mistyped, or a change in the morning's order of worship isn't picked up in the bulletin.
Decide if the problem warrants an oral explanation and determine when in the service it would be
best to call the error to the congregation's attention.

Keep choreographic announcements brief.

Announcements are distracting. It is amazing how much you can convey just by your own
movements. Without your saying a word, people will know they are expected to follow suit.

The only thing more distracting than too many announcements is a leader who doesn't know what
he or she is doing. A poorly prepared leader makes people terribly uncomfortable and invites them
to worry about the worship leader rather than focus on worship. So even if you don't know what
you're supposed to do next, fake it. Look like you know. Someone has to lead—and in this case, it's
you.

What you say in worship is always more important than how you say it. A number of factors
influence the content of the prayers and the selection of the readings for worship.

All of the elements of worship should be related.

As you prepare to lead the service, ask yourself some of these questions: What else is going on in
the service? What is the theme of the primary Scripture and sermon? Do these prayers and
readings relate to and enhance the focus of worship for this service? In other words, do the pieces
fit?

The elements of the service should have theological integrity.

My preaching professor at seminary was a master at reading between the lines; he always pushed

3 of 4 2/3/2018, 8:31 AM
When You Lead Worship: Practical advice for worship leaders | Reform... https://www.reformedworship.org/article/september-1991/when-you-lea...

us to ask about the implications of what we were saying. That's a good rule to keep in mind as we
evaluate our prayers, litanies, sermons, and even introductions. What do our words say about God,
and what do they imply about us? There are obvious extremes to be avoided—from Kahil Gibran
and New Age poetry to rigid fundamentalism and hellfire and brimstone. God cannot be so broadly
or narrowly defined. Every time we pray, preach, and teach, we reveal our true theology.

Know what belongs in each element of worship.

While there are no absolutes, the form and length of each element in the liturgy is fairly
standardized. The worship leader needs to be clear about what belongs and what doesn't. One
seminarian I knew never got the hang of the pastoral prayer. She started with confession, moved to
intercession and thanksgiving, returned to confession, and ended who-knows-where.

Use appropriate language.

The language of worship should never offend. It can challenge, confront, even judge—but it must
not abuse. Language both reflects and shapes the way we think, and, as worship leaders, it is
important that we choose words that reflect the love of God for all people. Language that excludes
people because of race, sex, physical limitations or age displays our sinfulness and limitations
rather than pointing to the embracing grace of God.

Good worship leadership doesn't just happen. It begins with a good understanding of worship. It
requires a great deal of thoughtfulness and practice. But, as you will discover, enabling and
enhancing the congregation's worship of God is a tremendously rewarding endeavor.

__________
For additional material from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, click here.

Welcome!

This site offers more than 2,500 articles for planning and leading
Reforme…
worship. You'll find complete service plans, dramas, litanies,
seasonal resources, and much more. You can browse by issue,
subject, or season, or search by keyword.

These resources were originally published in Reformed Worship Sign up to receive a

magazine. The print issues include copyrighted material such as monthly email for seasonal
music and artwork that we are not able to include online. We worship resources, latest
invite you to subscribe to the print magazine for full access to blogs, and more.
these resources. Subscribers to the print magazine also receive
exclusive access to the two most recent issues online.

For additional print resources such as hymnals and songbooks,

visit Faith Alive Christian Resources.

Reformed Worship is published by Worship Ministries of the Christian Reformed Church

© 2018 Faith Alive Christian Resources. All rights reserved. Comments about the content or usability of this site? Contact Us.

4 of 4 2/3/2018, 8:31 AM