rehearsal

Why Worship Leaders Should End Rehearsal Before the Congregation Comes In

Phil Cooke explains why it’s a mistake for the congregation to watch the rehearsal.

Worship leaders are an incredibly important part of today’s church. But from time to time I take them to task, like in this post on What Katy Perry and Taylor Swift Can Teach Church Worship Leaders. Today I have a different issue. I’ve visited a number of churches this year that on Sunday mornings allow the worship team to continue rehearsals after the doors are open for the congregation. As a television director, I understand the need to tweak rehearsals until you get it right. But here’s why – for most churches – it’s a mistake for the congregation to watch the rehearsal.

The difference in attitude. During rehearsal, your attitude isn’t on worship, it’s on getting the music right. As a result, you’re thinking about audio levels, the mix, the band, the monitor levels, and more. You’re fine tuning the music so once the real worship service starts, you can focus on God.

But most of the congregation doesn’t understand this. So when they watch rehearsal and see you stop and start, walking around, and adjusting things they assume your attitude about worship is flippant and shallow. Plus, when they see the dramatic difference between your rehearsal attitude and your worship service attitude they think it’s hypocritical.

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