Whew, you made it through another Easter! Pat yourself on the back, worship leader. Holy Week is always a marathon, not a sprint, and you’ve crossed the finish line. The stage has been torn down, the last crumpled up lyric sheet has been fished out from behind the drum kit and your vocals are shot from belting out those high notes on “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” five too many times. So…now what? Before you jump right back into the weekly grind, let’s talk about how to make the most of this post-Easter lull. A little intention and forethought now can make a huge difference in the months to come.
Relax: Worship leaders have been on a holiday treadmill since Christmas. Give yourself permission to take a break. Take a few days off. Go off the grid.
Dream: Once your batteries have been recharged and your mind isn’t weighed down by a looming holiday event, dare to dream for yourself and your ministry. What can you do to enrich the lives of the people in your church? Begin working on a recording featuring your band and vocalists. Create a music team who visits shut-ins and nursing homes. Start planning for a summer internship worship program. I’ve come up with some of my most creative ideas during an hour-long day-dreaming drive to one of my favorite BBQ joints and while riding my bike down country roads.
Improve: Take a hard look at your ministry. What can be improved? If you wait until the last minute to throw together a praise set, try planning a week out and see if the extra time helps you pray for and plan your music. Start experimenting with click tracks. Get on a schedule where you can take members from your praise team out to lunch once in awhile to make sure they know you care about them. Is your sound system still held together with a wing and a prayer (and duct tape)? Maybe it’s time to fundraise for some shiny new equipment.
Bottom Line: You have a few months before that holiday treadmill starts again. Use this time to make your ministry the best it can be.