Worship Arts January-February 2010

FROM THE PRESIDENT

When I first started in the church music business some 33 years ago, there were several very busy times for the music and worship arts ministries during the liturgical year. Typically, the most challenging times for us centered around the seasons of Advent/Christmas and Lent/Easter. Added to that were annual musi- cals by the youth choir and children’s choirs. But there still seemed to be plenty of time to plan, organize and prepare for worship services and rehearsals. At that point, I almost always felt that I had control of time management and was able to effectively lead the music and worship arts ministries.

One of the biggest differences I note 33 years later is that there now is no more “down time” for those of us serving churches. It seems that there now is always a project on the horizon – a sacred program, a festive Holy Communion service, a children’s musical, a handbell outreach concert, a youth choir fundraiser, a pops concert, a hymn festival, a dinner theater production – all of which are above and beyond the “normal” worship planning for weekly services. So my time management sometimes means, “Oh, no, what did I forget to do this week?”

As a result, my new mantra for 2010 is “prioritize.” My plan is to keep control of my calendar and schedule so that I am able to plan ahead and devote sufficient time to my church vocation and Fellowship leadership while saving time for family, friends, and activities I enjoy. Part of this plan is to set aside a portion of the week to devote to Fellowship business. I have asked the National Council members to do the same. This fall, council members have found it very effective and beneficial to devote specific times each week to Fellowship tasks and business – keeping The Fellowship high on our priority lists is very important! All council members have set specific attainable goals and timelines within their areas for the coming year.

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If you serve on any of our Fellowship committees, teams or task forces, I invite you to join the council in setting a priority for your Fellowship tasks. Find a time during the week that works for you and plan on devoting that time exclusively to making our Fellowship stronger. I would ask all of you who are reading this to make it a priority to lift up your Fellow- ship organization and leadership in weekly prayer as we enter a new year of living out our Fellowship Mission Statement and Values:

We are Christians called to minister through our creative gifts to foster worship that makes disciples of Jesus Christ.

We Value: Worship Arts that lead to spirituality and faith formation.

Relationships that lead to hospitality, fellowship and nurture.

Thank you for all you have done and continue to do to make our Fellowship a meaningful and successful organization in the lives of those who serve the Church, and for keeping The Fellowship a priority in your busy lives!

With peace and gratitude,

Tom Taylor

NEW MEMBERS

We welcome these persons to The Fellowship:

Conran, Jerre Swift, Kristy Newsome, Jill Wilson, Ellen Bell, William

Gibson, Edward Thompson, Lynn Pick, Kenneth Ruth, Sheri

Mink, Kimberly

Zeller, Kurt-Alexander Liles, Lynda

Ward, Timothy Maxey, Keith

Thompson, Sharon

Coopersville, MI Cincinnati, Ohio Durham, NC

West Lafayette, IN Atlanta, GA

Waxahachie, TX Good Hope, IL Vail’s Gate, NY Holly, MI

Knoxville, TN Jonesboro, GA Troy, MI

Knoxville, TN Oak Ridge, NC Gaffney, SC

ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES

Got worship-related services or merchan-

dise to advertise? Availability for employment? Business-size card (2 x 3.5 inches) ads are now being accepted from Fellowship members for publication in Worship Arts. The cost is only $75 per insertion. Advertisers will be consulted if art does not meet Worship Arts standards and offered assistance. Deadline for the March-April issue is January 15; for the May-June issue it is March 15. Send ads to David Wiltse, Editor, WorshipArts@UMFellowship.org or 7056 Northland Dr., Rockford, MI 49341. Display advertising – one time or several – is also available. Contact Matt Packer, Advertis- ing Coordinator, at mpack65@yahoo.com or (810) 610-3692. Our rate card is at www.UMFellowship.org.

JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010 • WORSHIP ARTS

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