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Our music ministry exists to turn everyday people into whole-hearted followers of Christ by inspiring enthusiastic praise and heart-felt worship in the lives of RVC members & their friends; and to clearly portray the gospel through music to pre-Christians.
The following is a list of several values that characterize our vision for life-giving music ministry:
- Lifestyle Worship: Worship is not an event or a song, it's a life devoted completely to God. Worship is giving God our all in every aspect of our lives both within the church walls and without. Everything we do is worship to God.
- Worshipers First: As artists, we continually strive to develop our skill and craft, and we desire to lead and inspire others toward God with our music, but our highest purpose is to be worshipers ourselves.
- Musical Servants: God gives gifts to believers to build up the church through humble service. We sing & play, not be seen and served, but to give our lives away in service to others.
- Physical Worship: Throughout scripture worship is expressed through body language. Singing, clapping, dancing, kneeling, shouting, lifting our hands and bowing are all Biblical descriptions of authentic worship. Our inner worship should be demonstrated outwardly with an attitude of freedom.
- Human "Beings": Music is what we do, children of God re-created in the image of Christ is who we are... there's a big difference. We are human "beings," not human " doings." Each team member is equally valuable as a child of God, no matter the cultivation level of his or her talent. Also, a secure sense of who we are apart from our craft allows for direction, instruction, and critique without feeling threatened or becoming un-teachable.
- Authenticity: Leading worship is not performing, it is "leading from among" a larger group of worshipers, the congregation. It is not important to impress the congregation, but to identify with them. Therefore, we value being real, being genuine, being ourselves.
- Excellence: After authenticity, excellence is the most desirable quality in our worship music. We strive to make His praise glorious. God is great and He should be greatly praised.
- Music As a Tool: Music is not our purpose. Worshiping God is our purpose. Music is the tool we use to create an environment for people's hearts to soar in worship of Almighty God. Honing our skill and rehearsing music is only sharpening the axe for the higher purpose.
- "We're a Team": Everyone on the worship team is a worship leader. We don't have back-up singers and a back-up band to accompany one worship leader, we're all leading worship. Each of us are instruments of God to inspire, motivate and encourage our church family to enter into worship.
- Humility: While we desire enthusiasm and freedom in our outward expression of worship, we also seek to be sensitive to our brothers and sisters worshiping with us. This requires humility. Along with freedom comes responsibility. Pride cuts both ways, so our rule of thumb is: "Never do anything because of what people may think, and never do anything in spite of what people may think."
- Worship As Evangelism: Worship is for building up believers as well as clearly portraying the gospel to unbelievers. In our worship services, we are inviting unbelievers to enjoy the presence of God! This affects the material we select as well as the manner in which we present it. Worship that strengthens people, reaches people; worship that reaches people, strengthens people.
- Repackaging Church Tradition: Our church is not a traditional church. However, not all church traditions are bad. We desire to refresh many powerful worship elements that have lost their zip with time and neglect. We restore these traditions by "repackaging" them. Many de-churched people love some of the familiar hymns of their childhood, but have been turned off by the lifeless lethargy that may have accompanied them. So we use well-selected hymns in a modern musical style and with our authentic, passionate attitude.
Involvement Opportunities:
Worship Team Singer
Worship Team player
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