Home Worship Planning Music Resources New Year's Resolutions for Church Musicians

New Year's Resolutions for Church Musicians

The New Year is a time for making resolutions for many people, and church musicians are no different. With many others, we share the need to pledge ourselves once again to better diets, more exercise, regular savings, and the like; but there are some resolutions related to our work in the church.

The value of New Year's resolutions is not so much that they put us on abetter or the right path, for we inevitably fail with most of them. The value is that they help us to see areas for self-improvement, more effective job performance, and improved relationships. Here are some in no particular order:

  • Pastoral Care: I will be sensitive to the needs of those who serve in music ministry. I will not only lead and direct them, but will also nurture and care for them. I will do this realizing that the needs are different for older, middle aged, and young adults, young people, and children.
  • Recruitment: I will actively seek out new musicians. I will foster an attitude of new life and growth through the incorporation of new people into the music ministry of the church.
  • Family: I will not place the needs of the church above the needs of my spouse and my children. I will set aside time for the nurturing of family relationships.
  • Continuing Education: I will take advantage of new opportunities for study and learning. I will challenge myself intellectually through college, university, church, workshops, private study, or other organized programs for increasing my knowledge and challenging my intellect.
  • Personal Spiritual Growth: I will tend to my own spiritual needs as a disciple of Jesus Christ. I will commit time to reading Scripture, studying and meditating over the words of hymns and sacred song, prayer and personal devotion, contemplation, sacramental observance, attendance in worship, doing deeds of compassion and good will, and other means of grace all outside my professional role in my own congregation. I will seek to know and experience the presence of God in my life.
  • Promotion: I will spread the word about my own congregation, its opportunities for worship, study, growth, and service, and especially its music ministries. I will encourage the same among active musicians in the church.
  • Evangelism: Recognizing that promotion and evangelism are not the same thing, I will work to share the love of God and the message of Christ with my community and the world.
  • Practice and Skill Development: I will not neglect my own musical gifts and skills. I will diligently seek to improve them through practice, reading, and study. I will work toward excellence in my musical performance.
  • Score Preparation: I will study all music selected for rehearsal and use in worship or other settings in the church. Before even the first rehearsal, I will be thoroughly familiar with the music and will have prepared and notated my own score for use as I teach and lead others.
  • Finding New Music: I will devote time to seeking out new music for the musicians I lead. I will attend reading sessions, workshops, and concerts. I will consider mailings and publications sent to me by publishers and music retailers. I will seek out other musicians to share ideas and repertoire.
  • Staff Relations: I will work to improve and maintain excellent relations with other staff members and music leaders. I will have regular discussions with my pastor, supervisor, or congregational laity with supervisory roles. I will support the work of other church staff and leaders.
  • Integrity: I will do all of this and all else in my ministry and leadership with integrity: of purpose, of goal, of material, and of method.

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