Here continues part 2 of the interview with worship leader José Skinner.
José Skinner
What’s the greatest “worship risk” you’ve ever taken?
I’m not sure which was the greatest risk. The ones I think of happened at my previous church with over 25 years of history and tradition. Being at the Coram Deo church plant means we are creating our own tradition.
Here are a few risky moves from my previous church.
I based a Good Friday service on the Stations of the Cross. Trust me. At this Bible-teaching Evangelical Free church, using a “Catholic” tradition was a risk. I quickly moved through the non-Biblical Station where Veronica wipes Jesus’ face with a cloth resulting in His face miraculously impressed on it, like a 1st century Polaroid.
We had a reputation for elaborate Easter musical productions. I was meant to rebuild that tradition. But one year we put on a minimalist play with no songs, no elaborate period costumes, and no sets. It was built around meditative monologues by Martin Wroe on Jesus’ last words from the cross.
We had a no-music worship service. We did readings and prayers. Then I went around the sanctuary with a microphone asking people what they symbolism they saw in room. Some people mentioned the stained glass, the plants (yes, even fake trees can lead someone in worship), the people, etc.
Any risks you wish you had taken but did not?
I wished I had pushed to make our “more traditional” service even more traditional. What we did was merely play more hymns than the “more contemporary service.” Maybe we should have gone the whole way with readings and piano and organ instead of a band.
How did you fare during the “worship wars?”
I feel like I was the pivot point for the worship transition at our church. I got a little bumped and bruised. I spent a lot of time assuring half the people that I truly do love the cherished hymns and telling the other half that every song doesn’t need a backbeat. I don’t know if anyone realized I wanted to push further back than the Reformation and move forward past Matt Redman. Otherwise, I was blessed to have a pastors and elders who generally supported what I was doing.
Describe your process for planning a worship service:
The churches I’ve led worship at (all two of them) preach through a book of the Bible. I read through the text and chew on it a for a couple days, taking notes of songs, prayers, and other Scripture verses that might be appropriate. If the preacher has his theme or a title ready, I incorporate that into the mix.
Then I try to build a story or progression around the theme. For example, from introspection to contemplating the divine to applying it to the real world. Or creation, fall, incarnation, redemption, celebration.
I’ll play through potential sets with the purpose of creating appropriate transitions, musical or otherwise. Just making sure everything moves smoothly (unless we want it to be jarring on purpose).
If you’re a worship leader, you know how hard it can be to make all these factors and variables reconcile in the end. If my brain is starting to melt, I chuck it all and go with my standby. We worship God; we worship for about 20 minutes.
It’s simpler at my current church. We just have one team. We don’t do announcements during the service (the preaching pastor tries to incorporate them into his sermon. And really, we only have two: small groups and the next outreach event).
We place the bulk of worship after the sermon. We believe worship is more of a response to hearing what God has done and said than preparation for teaching.
Sample Set List
[call to worship]
Lighten My Load (Satellite Soul)
Hungry
[centering prayer]
[sermon]
[communion] (individually during the following songs)
Wonderful Maker
Jesus, Lord of Heaven
Hallelujah, God Is Near
Beautiful One
Do you write music for your congregation?
We haven’t done an original song yet, but we will. The first song might be “As I Am” which I wrote before coming to Coram Deo. Here’s a shortcut link to a demo: http://snipurl.com/as_i_am
When you look back decades from now, what do you hope to see you’ve accomplished as a worship leader?
I want people to have a deeper appreciation for our Christian heritage. From the early church through this current millennium. I cringe when I feel like we act as if the Christian faith began with the Reformation and ends with our denomination (or other similar boundary that doesn’t include the Church in her diversity).
I want us, corporately and as individuals, to have a richer devotional life, incorporating different types of prayer and (I’m going to say it because it’s not a bad word) ritual.
What are your predictions for the future of worship?
Like everything else, it’ll get more globalized and localized. We’ll continue to have “star” worship leaders that everyone loves. We’ll also see more artists creating for their local churches.
I see churches delving further back into their history even as they’re moving the art of worship forward.
I see the further integration and juxtaposition of this modern technological world with the classic (retro? vintage?) world.
I have to admit that I see these things because I believe Robert Webber and Sally Morgenthaler when they say it.
Oh, and bean bag chairs. I see them making a huge comeback and will find themselves in the worship space next to the communal tea kettles. (Tea is the next coffee).
What is one thing you wished every worship leader knew?
I have two things.
It’s not your job to make people worship. It’s your job to create the environment so others may worship.
Stop the endless tweaking. Ask yourself the question, “If I put in another hour of preparation into this, is it really going to be significantly better?” If the answer is no, stop and do something else like encourage a worship ministry member.
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