WORSHIP
HOW TO LEAD SMALL WORS
Full band. Check. Vocal team. Check. Welllit
stage. Check. Big sound system. Check.
Critical mass of people to ensure adequate
participation? Check.
For too many worship leaders, that’s their
comfort zone. But what happens when those
boxes are left unchecked? When it's one lone
guitar… one sole singer… no stage… a small
portable sound system (or none at all)… and
only a handful of people - staring at you from
a few feet away? There's something raw and
real about that. No one can hide - especially the
worship leader.
And it's also reminds us of one the essential
reasons we're worship leaders - to create
a space to worship God together. Even if
that space is a living room. Or a pavilion in
the park. Or a damp fellowship hall in the
church basement.
The next time you find yourself in a small space
with only a few people, embrace your lack of
comfort and intentionally create an engaging
experience. To help you, here are seven tips for
leading small worship gatherings.
1. STICK TO THE MELODY
Unless you're leading for a group of worship
leaders and musicians, you need to stick to
the melody. Often in worship songs, the original
recording artist will vary the tune of the last
chorus. This can work in our typical church
settings because we 1) have vocalists holding
down the stock melody, and 2) there's a critical
mass of people in the congregation singing.
But with a smaller group of people, they stop
singing if they're not sure where to go. Why?
That's answered in tip number two.
2. PROVIDE A PLACE TO HI
In a larger congregatio
awesome singer can
self-conscious. But in
that same person is tim
clear about where you'r
predictable than you
you do go 'off the map
for repeats, changes, e
to getting people to
number three.
3. AMPLIFY
With smaller groups, am
like overkill, but a small
people engage. Don't
the volume of your instr
slightly louder than the
group's singing. This
more confidence.
Remember, people follo
in the room. Unfortunat
isn't always the leader -
in a group of fifteen or m
at least your voice.
4. REARRANGE THE SONG
Most of the songs we
arranged for full bands
extended intros and in
cutting down repeats. W
a full band, those parts o
not translate well.
5. PLAN YOUR TRANSITION
This is especially impo
musician. Don't distrac
hard stops and awkw
songs. Plan out what's
one song and the begin
how you're going to flip
70
June 2020