Psalm 115:1 says, “Not to us, Lord, not to us, but to your Name be the glory because of your love and faithfulness.” We pray first and foremost that every word spoken, every song sung, and every instrument played on our stage would bring glory to God and his Son, Jesus Christ.

We strive to be a team that worships the Lord the ways the Lord desires to be worshipped. If God says to worship in quiet meditation, so we will worship. When God says to raise our hands and shout in triumph, so we will praise. When God says to leap for joy and dance in his presence, so we will rejoice! We see in the Word of God a broad spectrum of responses to God, thus we hope to respond to Him in all of the same ways He desires. With the Creator of all, we see in Scriptures a friendship, and we see a reverent fear; our relationship with Him should reflect both, and so, too, should our worship.

As for our main worship team, we spend a few hours practicing and praying on Thursday nights, and another hour or so on Sunday mornings, before the gatherings begin. Anyone is welcome to audition, and we’re always looking for individuals who have hearts for God. Auditions are held quarterly. We’re looking for worshipers with hearts that are sensitive to the Holy Spirit, and ears that are in tune with our progressive musical culture.

The Bible teaches a beautiful balance between “playing skillfully to the Lord” and “making a joyful noise” in our praise, and thus, we are not looking to have the slickest performance in town. In one of the most beautiful explosions of worship in the entire Bible (Revelation 5), the impetus was neither strategic leadership, nor fancy modulation, nor emotional manipulation; the impetus was just seeing the Lamb who was slain. At Grace, we seek only to glorify the Lord, to lift Him up in heart-felt worship and praise, and watch as He draws all men to himself. It’s not about a performance; it’s not about a show; it’s not about the band or the singers… It’s all about Jesus and seeing Him exalted. Anyone on our team must be marked by the same conviction.

Psalm 40 speaks of singing a new song to the Lord, a hymn of praise to our God, and seeing many come to know and fear and worship the Lord as a result. Our worship is ultra seeker sensitive as we see it, since there is only One Seeker; we hope every breath breathed and prayer prayed on that stage will be done with great sensitivity to His Spirit as we’re led to the feet of Christ week after week.

Fore more information on becoming a part of our team, whether vocally, musically, artistically, or technically, contact Carrie Martin.

Grace Fellowship Church
Music and Worship Arts

In order to honor the Lord and the ministry of worship He has entrusted to us, we operate under the following principles. Every person involved in public ministry or worship arts represents the Lord and Grace Fellowship Church by consistently and conscientiously pursuing:

1) The Lordship of Jesus Christ

Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

2) Commitment to the Word of God

Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

• Through study:
  • 2 Tim 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
    
    
• Through living the word:
  • James 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
    
    

3) Purity in speech and action

Definition: Free from adulterants or impurities, dirt, defilement, or pollution. Containing nothing inappropriate. Chaste.

1 Tim 5:1 & 2 Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.

Eph 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Eph 5:3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person-such a man as an idolater- has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 18 Do not get drunk of wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord.

4) Modesty in dress

Modesty – Having or proceeding from a disinclination to call attention to oneself. Observing conventional proprieties in speech, behavior, or dress. Free from showiness or ostentation; unpretentious.

“Character contributes to beauty. It fortifies a woman as her youth fades. A mode of conduct, a standard of courage, discipline, fortitude and integrity can do a great deal to make a woman beautiful.” Jacqueline Bisset (b. 1946) US: screen actor. Quoted in: Los Angeles Times (16 May 1974)

Romans 14:13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another (as in they are just too sensitive or old fashioned or legalistic). Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way. 19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

1 Tim 2:8 I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing. 9 I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes.

1 Pet 3:3 Your beauty should not come from outwards adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4 Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

These may be considered immodest or causing distraction or others to stumble:

• Tight or form-revealing clothes
• Backless or low-cut blouses or shirts
• Bare midriff
• Shorts, short dresses or skirts
• See-through clothing
• Large logo or T-shirt type imprinting
  
  

5) A Commitment to Excellence

Ps 33:2 Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to Him on the ten-stringed lyre. 3 Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy. 4 For the Word of the LORD is right and true; He is faithful in all He does.

Col 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.

6) Teachable/Openness to Correction

Pr 10:17 but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.

Pr 12:1 he who hates correction is stupid.

Pr 119:66 Teach me knowledge and good judgment.

Pr 9:9 Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.

Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in your richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

7) A Servants Heart

Phil 2:6-7 Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant.
In The Message: “He set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave.”

Matt 20:26-28 whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave, just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

8) Humility

James 4:6 God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble

Isaiah 66:2 “This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit”

Matt 11:29 learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart.

Eph 4:2-3 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit though the bond of peace.

Conceit spoils the finest genius. There is not much danger that real talent or goodness will be overlooked long; even if it is, the consciousness of possessing and using it well should satisfy one, and the great charm of all power is modesty. Louisa May Alcott (1832-88) US: Author. Mrs. March to her daughter, Amy, in Little Women, pt. 1 ch. 7 (1868)

Phil 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

No truly great man ever thought himself so. William Hariltt (1778-1830), English essayist.

9) Faithfulness

Matt 25:21 His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.”

1 Cor 4:2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

Ps 101:66 My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he whose walk is blameless will minister to me.

10) Being an Active Part of Grace Fellowship Church

Every Christian is called to a Church.

Hebrews 10:25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another.

8 of 10 times the New Testament says “to the church,” it refers to a local body or city.

Being a Christian without church involvement is like being a football player without joining a team.