worship leaders handbook: book 1: line up pa more! · pdf fileminsan, successful. mga...

2 Worship Leaders Handbook

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise stated, are taken from the Holy Bible: English Standard Version®. Copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. WORSHIP LEADERS HANDBOOK: Book 1: Line Up Pa More! Copyright © 2016 by Don King Evangelista Layout by Rigel Fortaleza Cover Design from Freepik

Book1: Line Up Pa More! 3

Table of Contents

Preface 4 The Great Dilemma 5 Some Misconcepctions and a Reminder 7 Pray-paration 10 Story-telling and Theme 13 Song Selection 15 Song Arrangement 18 Endnotes 21 Appendix A 22 Recommended Readings 23 About the Writer 23


Preface

Hola! Simula nang buksan ang Future Worship Pastor

Facebook Page, laging lumulutang ang tanong na: "Hi po. Paano po

mag-line up? Bago lang po kasi ako." Walang mintis iyan. Mga twice a

month. Para makatulong sa Body of Christ, nagdesisyon ako na

sumulat na ng mini-book about sa topic na ito: LINE UP.

DISCLAIMER lang: My style of line-up may or may not be

applicable to you. Puwedeng hindi mag-resonate sa iyo. The tips that

I would share are just suggestions for you. Sa pitong taon ko sa

Worship Ministry, trial and error ang pagla-line up. Minsan, epic

fail. Minsan, successful. Mga natutunan ko lang sa mga aklat,

seminars at sa real-life na setting ito. Sabi nga, eat the meat and

throw out the bones. Ang mahalaga, ang Diyos ang napapapurihan.

Tulong tulong para sa Kaniya!


The Great Dilemma

Dumating ka na ba sa punto ng pagwo-worship lead mo na

parang hirap na hirap kang mag-line up ng kanta? Iyong bago ka

lang sa ministry at sinabihan ka lang ng leader mo na "O, ikaw ang

worship leader sa Linggo!" Walang formal training sa art of line-up. I

feel you. Sa unang balsada ko ng pagiging worship leader, natulak

lang ako kasi walang magli-lead. Binigyan ako ng skeleton ng

Worship Service. At ang task: mag-plug in ng mga kanta doon. Ang

ending, copy-paste na line-up. Itong kanta, dito. Itong kanta, diyan.

Mairaos lang.

Sabi nga nila, may tatlong klase ng mga miyembro sa

worship team: Tinawag (mga talagang called to lead worship, be a

part of worship team), tinulak (mga no-choice, "walang tatayo",

napilitan) o "tinopak" (mga napagtripan lang na mag-worship team

pero alam naman nilang hindi sila doon tinatawag ng Diyos.) Kahit

Tinawag, tinulak o tinopak, may dilemma kung paano mag-line up.

Itong kanta bang ito o ito? Okay ba na fast songs muna bago slow

songs? Kailan puwede magpasok ng bago? Dapat ba magkakasunod

ang key? If you have asked these questions before, pareho lang tayo.

The worship leader has three tasks: Preparation,

Presentation and Evaluation. For me, the preparation part is the most

crucial. What you prepare is what you present. Kahit napakaganda

pa ng presentation kung hindi maayos ang preparation, sasablay


tayo. Imagine going to a five-star hotel pero

ang kama ay hindi ayos. Hindi rin naman

excuse na porke maayos ang preparation ay

hindi aayusin ang presentation/delivery.

Ang Mona Lisa, kapag sa basurahan

nakalagay, mababalewala ang value. Kaya

ang line-up preparation ay crucial hindi

lang para sa worship team kundi sa buong

kongregasyon. We are in charge to lead the

people into the Presence and into the worship. Imagine a

disconnected church in worship because of poor line-up. Saklap.

The main target of the book is to guide you in making a line-

up. Mga tips at suggestions para ma-refine natin ang paggawa natin

ng mga setlists sa churches natin. Iisa lang naman tayo ng layunin,

papurihan ang Maylikha at pangunahan ang mga nilikha sa

pagsamba. Ito ang ating pagkatawag (kahit tinulak ka pa). This will

deal more with the preparation part. Tandaan natin ang sinabi ni

Kuya Benjamin Franklin: If we fail to plan, we plan to fail. Let us

plan excellently for His glory!

“We are in charge to lead the

people into the

Presence and into the worship.”


Some Misconceptions and a Reminder

Kagaya nga ng nasabi ko sa unang parte, crucial ang role ng

worship leader sa pangunguna. Ang worship leader kasi ang na-

assign na gumawa ng mga kakantahin sa worship service. This may

make or break the flow of worship. Minsan, sa kantahan pa lang,

alam mo nang naroroon ang Panginoon. Kapag kasi sama-samang

nagpupuri ang mga magkakapatid, ang Presensya ng Diyos ay nasa

kanilang piling 1 . Minsan naman, may parang struggle to break

through. Hindi ko sinasabing ang dahilan nito ay line-up lang.

Maraming puwedeng siliping factors. At least, we can minimize the

causes.

Maraming format ang line-up. Iba-iba nga ng bilang ng

songs per church. May mga churches na mas mahaba ang kantahan.

Meron namang mga churches na at least may mga six songs lang per

week. Nevertheless, selecting songs for the service has been a very

important task. This requires much sensitivity sa leading ng Holy

Spirit, God-given gifts (discernment, knowledge) at practical skills.

No one perfects preparing line-up overnight. Kahit mga matatagal na

sa ministry, minsan nagsa-struggle pa rin. Here are two of the

misconceptions about line-up preparation.

1 Psalm 22:3


Number 1: Preparation blocks the free move of the Holy

Spirit. Even if I come from the Pentecostal-Evangelical background, I

firmly believe that preparation is a very important task. Madaling

palusot para hindi maghanda na "maging led by the Spirit" pero baka

naman palusot lang iyan kasi hindi talaga siya handa. Naniniwala

ako na ang Banal na Espiritu ay naghahangad ng order sa ating

pagsamba. We can be Spirit-led yet planned. Hindi synonymous ang

salitang "plan" sa "rigid." Planning will enable you more to become

spontaneous in your worship. Hindi mangangapa ang team kung

anong kakantahin. Our God is a God of order2.

Number 2: Ang itinakda, bawal nang baliin. Ito naman ang

resulta ng pagiging rigid sa plano at hindi na nilagyan ng free room

ang Holy Spirit sa pagsamba. Always remember that the Holy Spirit

is the worship leader's leader. Minsan, may mga sweet promptings

ang Banal na Espiritu sa ating puso ukol sa worship time. You know

it. Minsan, habang nagle-lead ng worship, alam mong hindi na dapat

idugtong ang isang kanta, pinilit mo pa rin kasi nakaplano. Hindi

law ang line-up. We can break it as long as it will help and serve the

people to communicate more to God and glorify Him.

Sabi ni Bob Kauflin sa kaniyang librong Worship Matters:

Planning also can't ensure we've made the right plans. We

can have an incredible arrangement worked up for the wrong song.

2 1 Corinthians 14:33


Or prepare an extended musical intro that effectively quenches what

the Holy Spirit is doing and turns Sunday morning worship into

Sunday worship performance.3

Anong sinasabi ni Kauflin dito? That planning can only

minimize the wrong that we can do. Laging ipinapapaalala sa akin ng

Panginoon ang dakilang katotohanang ito: Kahit anong plano ang

gawin ko, kung wala Siya, wala. The line-up preparation is our part,

the rest is God's part. As the famous verse says: not by might, nor by

our power, [nor also by our plans or line-up] but by the Spirit4.

Inilagay ko na ngayon pa lamang iyan para ipaalala sa ating lahat na

ang plano natin ay worthless kung wala naman ang Panginoon. We

can learn all the principles, but without Jesus -- nothing. ULTIMATE

REMINDER iyan sa atin. Plans can do so much, the God that we

serve and that empowers us can do even more, immeasurably more.

3 Kauflin, Bob. Worship Matters: Leading Others to Encounter the Greatness of God. OMF Literature, 2013. p 183. 4 Zechariah 4:6

1 0 Worship Leaders Handbook

Pray-paration: Ang Starter Pack for Preparation

Nobody can doubt the power of the prayer. Bago natin

isipin kung abot natin ang kakantahin natin, naisin muna nating

abutin ang puso ng Panginoon. Remember that worship is not a

physical task but a spiritual task. That is why Jesus said that He is

seeking for worshippers that worship in spirit5 and in truth. Our

skills and abilities can do so much. As looking at worship leading

and preparing as a spiritual task needs the aid and help and the

leading of God himself talking and taking the lead to us. Kaya nga

sabi ni Moses bago sila umalis papunta sa Promised Land, "If your

Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. (Exodus

33:15 NIV)" Unahing mapuno Niya bago

magpuno ng iba. Maintain a regular prayer

and devotional life. Be sensitive sa Holy

Spirit. Kagaya ng palagi kong sinasabi:

Intimacy bago ministry. Hinding hindi ko

makakalimutan ang sinabi ng isang pastor

sa amin sa isang camp, that we need to

5 Ang ibig sabihin ng "in spirit" ay "in the spiritual realm." Basahin ang komento ni Grudem sa Systematic Theology, page 1010: "In the Greek text, the word en ("in") of the phrase "in spirit and truth" corresponds to the same word (en) used in v. 21 to speak of (literally) "in this mountain" and "in Jerusalem"... To worship "in spirit and in truth" is best understood to mean not "in the Holy Spirit" but rather "in the spiritual realm, in the realm of spiritual activity." (Grudem, Wayne. Systematic theology. Inter-varsity Press, 1994. p 1010)

“Unahing mapuno

Niya bago magpuno ng iba.”

Book1: Line Up Pa More! 1 1

"minister out of the overflow, not out of lack." Kailan ka huling nag-

pray? Minsan kasi, nasasanay na tayo na kapag nagle-lead tayo,

naisasantabi na natin ang Diyos at tinitignan natin ito bilang task na

lamang. When was the last time you become so focused on

interceding and praying for your church? Kailan ka huling nag-soak

sa Presensya ng Diyos?

If you have pressed into the

Presence of God, everything becomes

meaningless. Ang makapiling Siya ay

ang pinakadakilang bagay na puwedeng

mangyari sa atin. You will also notice

that words and songs may pop up of

your mind. Siya kasi ang nagmiminister

at hindi ikaw. Let God speak into your

heart the songs that He wants your

congregation to sing and for you to lead.

This does not neglect the necessity of

rational or the mind. Madali nang mag-arrange kapag andiyan na

ang mga kanta. Ang mahalaga, alam mong galing sa Kaniya ang mga

awit.

But beware: Hindi ibig sabihin na tahimik ang Diyos ay

wala Siya. That's my personal struggle. Sometimes, God seems so

silent even in my prayer times when I ask for a line-up, a song, a

leading. Pero, alam ko sa puso ko na may nais ipakanta ang Diyos sa

“Let God speak into

your heart the songs He

wants your congregation

to sing and for you to

lead.”


amin. One thing that God has revealed to me through a pastor is this:

na hindi dahil tahimik ang Diyos ay wala Siya. Minsan, ine-enjoy ka

lang Niya. He is pleased in what you are doing kaya wala Siyang

sinasabi. Kumbaga, nakangiti lang Siya sa'yo. Your spiritual senses

will confirm that to you.

How about reading the Word?

It greatly helps you as well in doing your

line-up. Dapat automatic na sa atin na

kapag devotional life - Word and Prayer

iyan. Minsan, kapag nagbabasa ka ng

Bible, may madadaanan kang verse

tapos bigla itong tatama sa puso mo.

Rhema ang tawag diyan. Sabi ni Ryan Wyatt, "...[rhema] is something

that is being spoken in the now... is always fresh. It is spoken directly

from the Lord.6" Ito yung moment na parang parang sinusuntok ka

ng Word. Pagkatapos, bigla kang mapapa-isip ng kanta na related sa

Word na ito. That is how God may speak through us. Marami pang

mga ways on how God speaks to us. Sometimes, God speaks through

nature katulad nang nangyari kay Elijah, sometimes through people,

sometimes through visions and dreams. Hindi na dapat pagtakhan

iyan. Creative ang Diyos natin! Ang mahalaga, be intimate first

before your ministry. Out of intimacy comes open communication

from Him. 6 Wyatt, Ryan. School of the Supernatural. Destiny Image Publication, 2011. p 106

“Hindi ibig sabihin na

tahimik ang Diyos ay wala

Siya.”


Story Telling and Theme

Imagine your Pastor delivering a message na hindi mo alam

kung ano ang message. Nag-introduction siya about grace of God,

ang text niya ay about sa Holy Spirit tapos ang conclusion niya ay

about sa Noah's Ark. Ang labo diba?

Imagine your Uber driver na sinabi mong papunta kayo ng

Navotas pero imbis na pumunta ng Navotas, nag South Luzon

Expressway. Stress!

Ganiyan din ang line-up. We are story tellers in the stage.

Message bearers din tayo tulad ng mga preachers. Before selecting

and arranging songs, decide what message would you like to convey

to the people. Huwag natin silang dalhin sa kawalan. Songs have a

great impact to those listening and most especially those who actively

participates to the singing. So please, pray and decide for the theme

first.

Sagutin muna ang tanong: "Anong

gusto ng Diyos na malaman nila pagkatapos

ng mga kanta?" Kapag nasagot mo na ang

tanong na iyan, it is BEST that you find a

key verse for that. Dapat lahat ng sinasabi

natin, rooted sa Word. Halimbawa, kung

“Message bearers din tayo tulad

ng mga preachers.”


"thankfulness" ang inilagay ng Diyos sa puso mo na theme, mainam

na suportahan ito ng verse or verses. Mula doon, tsaka mag-isip ng

mga kanta.

Exercise tayo! Match the theme with the verse. Then think a

song!7

Theme Song About the Theme Verse

__1. Repentance ___________________ A. Psalm 145:3

__2. Thankfulness ___________________ B. Isaiah 6:3

__3. God’s Greatness ___________________ C. 1 John 1:9

__4. Holiness of God ___________________ D. Psalm 27:4

__5. Intimacy ___________________ E. Psalm 28:7

Be clear of your message. Ang Diyos natin ay clear ang

message sa atin. It is our duty and responsibility to have a clear

message to cut across to the congregation. Ang theme ang

nagsisilbing compass ng lahat ng gagawin. Mahirap ang taong

walang direksyon. The theme may come from your Pastor (kung

naka-series kayo) or sa iyo. Prayerfully prepare for the theme.

7 Answers: 1. C, Banal Mong Tahanan; 2. A, Thank You Lord; 3. E, How Great is Our God; 4. B, Revelation Song; 5. C, I Just Want To Be Where You Are (Songs may vary)


Song Selection Pagkatapos mag-pray at mag-isip ng tema, handa ka na

muling harapin ang mga tao. Paano ngayon tayo mamimili ng kanta

para sa line-up? Personally, may limang pamantayan ako para

mapasama ang isang kanta sa line-up. Know by heart that some

songs are meant for praise and worship and some songs are best fit

for special numbers. Hindi lahat kayang kantahin ng mga tao.

Tandaan natin na we are worship leaders and we must strive that

everyone worships and connects to God. Kapag tayo na lang ang

kumakanta at ang mga tao ay napapa-"wow" na lang, baka hindi na

worship iyan pero solo concert na lang natin. Here are some words

to guide you:

SINGABLE. May mga range na comfortable ang taong

kantahin. According to some articles, maraming mga tao ang

nakakanta ng range8 from middle C to C' above. Mapalalaki (lower

octave) man o babae.9 Kahit gaano kaganda ang mensahe ng kanta,

kung hindi naman nila nakakanta, balewala. Kayang kaya ng mga

instrumentalists na i-transpose iyan. Huwag matakot sa pagbabago

ng keys. Mas komportable rin sa'yo kung hindi ka birit ng birit. Wala

naman tayo sa singing contest. Isa pa ring i-check ang tempo ng

songs. Mahirap na iyong English na tapos sobrang bilis pa.

8 Magkaiba ang range sa key sa Music Theory. 9 You may refer to this beautifully written article about keys and range best for congregations (written sa Baptist context which utilizes hymns): https://spinditty.com/learning/Finding-the-Best-Key


PLAYABLE. Para naman ito sa mga instrumentalists. Know

the limits also of the skils of your team mates. May mga kanta kasing

hindi kayang tugtugin ng normal na churches. Puwede namang

pasimplehin ang areglo. Kunwari, ang mga EDM music ng

Planetshakers like Turn It Up at Endless Praise. Mahirap tugtugin ng

eksakto ito kung wala kayong keyboards or synthesizer. However,

arrangements can be made para maging acoustic ito or electric.

Mahirap din na masyadong maraming bagsakan. Over-excellence

may lead to distraction.

RECOGNIZABLE. Ang tawag ko dito, LSS-able. Part of our

role as worship leaders is to convey a message to the congregation

through songs. Maganda kung may "after-effect" ang kanta na ating

nilelead sa kanila. Nate-take home nila ang mensahe ng kanta.

Puwede nilang gamiting sandata sa oras ng kahinaan o pagsubok.

Typical LSS songs have simple rhythm and clear lyrics. Choose these

songs.

SENSIBLE. Ito ang issue ng mensahe. Pumili ng mga kanta

na Christ-revealing (as what Sis. Edith says always), God-honoring

and has theological nuggets or truths in it. Hindi porke maganda ay

tama. Some songs may have theologies that are colliding with your

theological stance. Again, we are conveying a message. Discern the

message that God wants for you to sing and read the lyrics of what

you are singing.


RELATABLE. This is the language issue. Kung ang church

ay sanay sa English preachings, go with English songs. Kung nasa

urban poor setting where people are not used to English, kahit

favorite mo pa si Darlene Zschech, go with Filipino or mga kanta sa

taal nilang lenguwahe. Sa mga surveys ko dati sa FWP, nakakatuwa

kasi may mga Christian songs na nasusulat sa Visayan, Waray at iba

pa. Hindi tayo nakakulong sa rehas ng English language. The

language that God put into your mouth is your gift. Sing with that

language!


Song Arrangement If you have the theme now, you are now ready for arranging

songs. Ang arrangement ng songs ay base sa theme. So again, have a

clear picture and message in mind.

May different patterns of arrangement sa line-up, ito ay ang

ascending, deepening at tabernacle patterns.

Ascending Pattern: Ang Ascending pattern ay base sa

Psalm 24:3-6. Ang motiff ng ascending pattern ay from "me" to

"Him." Nagsisimula ang mga awit sa mga songs that reflect our

condition, our sinful nature, mga "first person" songs -- those written

in the first person pronouns like "I, me." Pagkatapos, pataas ito

papuntang "Him, You." Mula sa immanence ng Panginoon patungo

sa transcendence. A sample of this line-up is this:

THEME: Holiness of God

Line Up: Give Us Clean Hands (Chris Tomlin)

Refiner's Fire (Brian Doerksen)

Revelation Song (Kari Jobe)

Deepening Pattern: Ang Deepening pattern ay pattern that

focuses on intimacy with God. Mas maraming "I" songs dito that

expresses our utmost love and devotion to God. Madalas ito ay mga

solemn songs at mga tagos sa pusong mga expressive songs. Songs

like How He Loves, I Could Sing of Your Love Forever and Draw Me

Close to You catches this pattern.


Tabernacle Pattern: This pattern is derived from the

tabernacle worship ng mga Israelita. It starts with gates where there

are thanksgiving, courts with praise, at sa holy of holies kung nasaan

naroon ang worship. Ang generic pattern ay nagsisimula sa

thanksgiving songs, then praise songs (declaration of who He is) and

worship kung saan ibinubuhos ang sarili sa Kaniya bilang alay sa

Holy of Holies.

When you arrange the songs, mind of the "pattern" that you

can use and most especially the "theme" and message that you want

to go into. Huwag mag-line up ng random. Consider the lyrical

continuity of the line up.

When considering the lyrical continuity, also consider the

musical continuity. Sa mga musikero, may transitions and mga flow

sila na kinoconsider. Most musicians consider na mas maganda kung

ang keys are the same or pataas. (Example: If you start with a song in

the key of G, the following song must be in an A or G.) Usually,

inuuna ang fast songs bago ang slow songs, but this rule is not a rule

na itinaga sa bato. You can change it as you want and as the Lord

wills. Tignan ang mga patterns na sinuggest ni Andy Park sa

kaniyang librong To Know You More.


ANONG STYLE MO SA PAGLA-LINE UP?*

LEGEND: A- River – from joyous mode to worshipful then bursting again to joyous celebration B- Mountain Hiking – from worshipful mode, reflective mode to jubilant celebration C- Plateau – reflective mode of the holiness and splendor of God, even praise in reflection D- Down the Hill – from a joyful mode to a reflective and worship mode on God’s holiness

*Modified from “To Know You More” by Andy Park.

Puwedeng chillax lang ang line up, puwedeng high praise

muna bago intimacy, puwede ring baligtad. You can also consider

these patterns as well. Magkaroon ka ng healthy communication sa

band. It will help you to arrange the songs. I will supply you with

forms sa Appendix that you can use to make your line up.


Endnotes

Bilang worship leader, kailangang malawak ang selection

mo ng songs. Listen often to Christian music. Kapag ba tinignan

natin ang iyong playlist sa Spotify, mas nagbababad ka ba sa

musikang God-glorifying? Kung saan ka nagbababad, iyon ang iyong

nakakamukha. If you want to renew your mind and be sensitive to

the Spirit's leading, be intimate with Him and soak with Him every

time you have the chance.

Gumawa ka ng listahan ng mga kanta at ang key nito. It will

help you to build a solid set-list. Hugot ka na lang nang hugot ng

kanta. Learn also at most one instrument.

Higit sa lahat, magpakalalim sa Panginoon. You cannot

fake your ministry and you cannot exchange ministry for your

intimacy sa Panginoon. Hindi issue ng pagalingan kundi ng

katapatan. You will have the share of failures and successes. Always

give God the best that you can and always rely on Him. Wala sa tao

an gating approval kundi sa Diyos lamang. Laging mong tandaan:

Hindi ikaw ang bida. Tagadala ka lang ng magandang balita. Always

be ready to serve Him and always be ready to be refreshed by Him!

Tara, gawa na tayo ng line-up! Your labor is never in vain!


APPENDIX A

Theme Verse Song Key Tempo

(BPM) Verse to support the

song


Recommended Readings

Exploring Worship by Bob Sorge

To Know You More by Andy Park

Worship Matters by Bob Kauflin

School of the Supernatural by Ryan Wyatt

Presence Driven by Hiram Pangilinan

About the Writer

Don King Evangelista is a graduate of PNU and is currently

studying at Asian Theological Seminary taking up Masters of Divinity in

Christian Education. He is a worship leader and a youth leader sa kanilang

church - Church of Grace sa Navotas. Worship Leader din siya at social

media coordinator ng Lovestruck Movement. He is also currently teaching

Chemistry and Biology at Chiang Kai Shek College. Siya ang administrator

ng Future Worship Pastor na nagsimula sa isang blog.

Connect with us: Future Worship Pastor

futureworshippastor.wordpress.com

http://thefutureworshippastor.tumblr.com

worship leaders handbook: book 1: line up pa more! · pdf fileminsan, successful. mga...

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