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Braided
Worship
By
Rebecca St. Louis
We began like every other worship team…
We had some instruments along with some ability. We had
some desire to worship the Lord. For a while we were content
riding on that wave of well-written music that is available
to every Christian. We practiced a lot. We fought even more.
Our fight was not so much about team issues, the music,
or the leadership. (Yes, we did fight about those things,
and even some things that were pettier than those.) But
the fight that I am referring too was on a much deeper level.
Each one of us came to the table so
hungry. Each one of us came with our strengths and with
them came all our weaknesses. Mix it all together and it
came out the other side with a raw and unpolished sound
that was heart-felt and real. We knew we were made for something
different but we couldn’t pin point exactly what it
was… and then it began to come in like a flood.
John
7:38
”He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said,
out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."
Revelation 14:2
“And
I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters,
and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound
of harpists playing their harps.
It started with a trickle… A song would extend a little
past what was up on the overhead. There would be a spontaneous
burst with a phrase or a word. We would hold on a little
longer to a chord progression. As a team, we pushed the
boundaries of our comfort zones. Our Senior Pastor encouraged
us on in this new thing like a mid-wife assisting a delivery.
We all knew that it was going to be one big bloody mess,
but then again, so was the cross.
We
continued pushing—this new sound continued coming.
Each person on the team had to experience their own personal
cross by putting a death to performance, pride, self-consciousness,
religiosity, and fear. We have linked arms with each other
and fought to prefer one another. We have found that only
by truly loving one another can this new sound come forth.
Our entire church is now riding on this wave of sound. It’s
often difficult to tell who is officially on the worship
team and who is the congregation. We start with a song that
can gather everyone in. We all sing the same song, the same
words, together in unison. Some how after a couple of times
through, that song becomes a diving board for us to leap
from.
I love to refer to it as “Braided Worship.”
To “braid” is to interweave three or more strands.
To “worship” is to express reverence for God.
When you put them together you end up with a spontaneous
mix of psalmist and prophetic anointing. One thread or thought,
one word or scripture, can set the tone and begin a theme
that always seems to come full circle. It truly is a weaving
and braiding of voices and songs. As one voice enters, the
others make room and continue to support vocally whoever
“has it” at the time. Each member is sensitive
to the others and keeping constant connection. It allows
a safe environment for the Spirit of God to flow in a way
that mistakes can be made, notes can be missed, words can
be lost, and yet His strength is made perfect in our weakness.
Our prophets become psalmists, our psalmists prophecy. One
song can last an hour which flies by all too quickly in
this flow that unites every one in the room.
We
hold fast to Ephesians 5:18-21
“…be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another
with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music
in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the
Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
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