Tomorrow!

Ok, tomorrow is a big day, ya'll.

My boss (the worship leader and main guitarist at church) is on vacation. He had this lady, Becky, who also plays guitar and sings, be the worship leader this week. She had a family emergency come up. So on Thursday, i found out i am going to be the leader.

This is making me pretty nervous. i have sung and played before, but i've only sung background parts, not been the main singer as well as piano player. Plus, when i sing and play, my piano skills are not quite as complex, and i rely much more heavily on the guitarists to keep the music going. There will be no guitarists tomorrow.

It will be me singing and playing, 4 other women singers, a bass player, and a drummer i hardly ever play with. That will be the whole band. i will be the only person there tomorrow who was there for the rehearsal on Tuesday. The crew is getting there at 8:30, and we will have about 45 min to practice and get warmed up and figure out how many verses of which songs we're doing, and what tags, etc.

It's one thing for me to be singing and playing, but it's another for me to be in charge of counting off the rhythm, starting the song, singing well and being the main musician, and making sure everyone is on the same page. The leader has to be in constant communication with the band and singers, in case someone gets lost, or we need to change the tempo or whatever. i've just never done this before. And i won't call my boss or anything to ask millions of questions because he's on vacation, but i'm struggling, because i don't know if i should say stuff, like "Sing with us" or anything. My boss does that, but i'm not sure it's my place. But i don't want to not do it and have everyone expect it and feel awkward.

Here are my goals:

• Be a vessel. i want to merely reflect worship to God and help others get there. i don't want to get in His way.
• Have a really good pre-service rehearsal, where everyone will feel comfortable with the music and the parts, and go strongly and reverently into the service.
  
• Keep a steady beat, no matter how nervous i am. i also want to make sure the tempos are good for everyone singing.
• Keep a strong piano part going. Since there will be no one else playing the base chords or anything, it's really up to me to keep the harmonic instrumentation going. 
• Encourage good ensemble with the band and singers. i also don't want any drama, or people to think that i'm taking over or being a jerk because i'm asserting my temporary authority, even though i'm a good 15 years younger than everyone else. 
• Be an encouragement to my boss, so he knows i'm trustworthy and that the whole place won't fall apart while he's gone.
• Figure out if this whole leading worship gig is what i want. Till now, i've just been the piano player. i've been struggling with knowing what i will want later. i know i will want more responsibility in church music someday, but i didn't know if it entailed being the vocal worship leader or not. Tomorrow, maybe i'll find out if that's what i want.

If i'd known a little more ahead of time, i probably would have been more nervous, but maybe would have been more prepared. i'm going in early to warm up and practice singing and playing. The last song, especially, is super hard to play and sing because the piano part is pretty complicated.

Also, Kris can't be there. For the first time this whole summer, he is working on Sunday morning, even though he's kept every other Sunday open. He calls it "Family Day". So the one Sunday he can't be there is the one i really wish he could be at. 

i've never really been a leader before, and i've suddenly realizing how much stuff i'll have to keep track of all morning. Please pray that it goes well, and i'll be able to stay focused, and that i'll be a worship leader, not a worship distractor. :)