Die Afrikaanse Protestantse Akademie Biblioteek

Includes index.

Becoming a pastoral musician -- Pouring the footing: God-focused song -- Laying the foundations: music's role in worship -- Selecting songs for the movements of worship: creating logical flow -- Evaluating worship music: creating a canon of song -- Interlude: introduction to shorter and longer song forms -- Maximizing shorter song forms -- Maximizing longer song forms -- Discovering the congregation's worship voice: an alternative vision for musical style -- Leading congregational song: practical guidance from the trenches -- Participating in song as the body of Christ: helping worshipers to engage through singing -- Forming disciples through song: worship as spiritual formation -- Pursuing spiritual leadership through excellence -- Assessing your canon of song -- Antiphon for congregational use.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Leading worship expert Constance Cherry offers comprehensive guidance to Christian leaders seeking a deeper, richer way to employ worship music in engaging ways for twenty-first-century worshipers. Instead of worship being driven by the pursuit of fast-changing musical styles, says Cherry, leaders should pursue a musical language that helps to facilitate a worshipful conversation between God and people. Following the author's successful book The Worship Architect, this work helps Christian leaders think theologically and act pastorally about worship music in their churches. It addresses larger issues beyond the surface struggles of musical styles and provides tools to critically evaluate worship songs. The book is applicable to all Christian traditions and worship styles and is well suited to both the classroom and the local church--serving as a welcome resource for not only musicians but also pastors and other church leaders. Each chapter concludes with suggested practical exercises, recommended reading, and basic vocabulary terms. (Publisher).