All about Worship - again

I got this off from Sarah's blog.

I played for Chinese Corp's service yesterday morning, and I actually really enjoyed playing for them. It was very professional, simple and no frills, but at the same time it sounded very good. No one was fussing over sounds and the mixing, or instruments, or the music or any of that stuff. Even the rehearsal was the same way. We worked through the bumps and musicality in such a simple manner but that achieved what was needed. Not that those things are bad in and of themselves, but I think they had the right idea and mindset about what really is most important. You get there and pray before you start, pray when you end, pray before the service, and I think we prayed after the service too. There's no reason why I should be, but I was presently surprised. And you get the sense from being there and later from talking that they all are there happy just to serve (every single week, I might add), and it showed. That for me was most important - just love and service and no external fussiness or distractions. The icing on the cake was that the people were wonderfully gracious and very nice. I was quite embarrassed by their thanks actually. Need to learn to be a gracious receiver. I'm rather sad that I'm leaving already, it would be nice to get to know people in that corp. I've seen them around for years and years, there just wasn't an occasion to get to know them. Story of my life. But I'm glad they caught me before I left, it definitely was a highlight of the last weeks back. Also, I've discovered that I enjoy singing Chinese songs and listening to a Chinese (or in this case, translated from English) sermon. It sounds very...musical. I'm rather rusty at Mandarin, but perhaps it's time to actually make good use of my bilingual Bible.

Truthfully, I have never thought of my service to Chinese corp in that manner before, until recently, before i read this post. Here's my life story:

I started serving in the worship ministry in Chinese corp since Pri 4, so, at times, i feel stagnant with my service there, especially when I'm given pressures from my parents or even the pastors from church. But like what I've said during the meeting with GY and the guys about leading worship, I do really mean it.

Worship starts from the heart, and although I have been serving with the worship ministry since young, I do admire the spirit the older people have in worshiping. My aunt had claimed that when people see the singers enjoying themselves during the worship, they too, will also worship joyfully. In fast songs, we have to sway to the beat. My aunt herself moves the most during worship. For slow songs, my cousin makes sure we sing with feelings. In conclusion, the worship team affects the congregation.

Okay, if you ask me to compare Chinese Corp's and English Corp's worship style, i tell you its completely on 2 different end.

The worship team in Chinese corp is mainly made up of the Hees' and we've been together since forever, and i really mean forever. My dad has been the ministry since i was in K2 or younger. I've watched the team grew, shrink and grew again - from having a full band of drummer, singers, violinist, keyboardist to just the hee's with only a keyboardist and a drummer, to what we have now. Because of the time spent together, we kinda know what expectations to have of each other, like sounding as one when we sing together, to move as a team. Taking into consideration 70% of the population there are old people, there's a limit to how much we can do.

I admit that at times, i felt like leaving the corp and just join another church, because i don't feel happy and i felt forced. But then, somehow or rather, I'll still remain because of personal and family matters.

English corp on the other hand, was the total opposite. Not in a bad way.

Both corps have different objectives to how the want a worship ministry to work and i think that it's alright. But sometimes i can't help by wonder, maybe we could incorporate some of the things both ways to each corp?

I think I'm a confused kid, like east meets west, all jumbled up. As a result, how I think might differ from some people. While, there's always room for improvement and its never too late for changes :)