How To Express Thanks To Church Musicians
Have you ever been a part of a conversation that went like this?
Listener: “Hey, thanks for singing that solo this morning. Your song was a huge blessing.”
Singer: (Rather awkwardly) “Oh. Uh, thanks… I mean, uh… No! Praise ye the Lord. All glory be to Him, amen?”
What’s happening in this exchange?
On the one hand, the listener is simply expressing the natural human response of appreciation to someone who has helped them spiritually. On the other hand, the musician is trying to dodge any sense of man-centered focus by awkwardly deflecting praise to God without overtly correcting the one expressing gratitude.
Thanksgiving Thank You Text For Your Worship Team
You’re thankful for the people who serve on your worship team right? They come to rehearsals. They put in work on their own time. They come early on Sunday mornings. There’s a lot to thank them for. So why not let them know on Thanksgiving day?
Here’s an easy way to thank your worship team this Thanksgiving: send them a text! Just a quick message can make all the difference.
Hey worship team! Just wanted to let you know that I am thankful for each and every one of you and the work you put in to help people experience Jesus at (INSERT CHURCH NAME HERE). Can’t wait to finish out the rest of 2018 with you! Have an awesome Thanksgiving!
Of course, feel free to make this your own. But, I’m giving you this on Monday so that you can schedule the text message in advance or just save it as a draft and hit send. When Thanksgiving comes, you won’t even have to think about it.
Words Of Appreciation For Church Musicians
Let us pray. Lord Jesus Christ, by your death and resurrection you have transformed our lives. In the
waters of baptism you have gifted us for ministry in your church and in the world. We give you thanks for
the ministry of music and faithful service of your child, . To all whom he/she has inspired in the
arts, bring your blessing. Strengthen her/him in every future endeavor and bring to fruition his/her work
to enliven your Word in us through music. Empower us to sing your resurrection song with fervor and to
regard music as a lively expression of your gospel and a gift of your making. To you, with the Father and
the Holy Spirit, all honor and glory is due, both now and forever. Amen
All join together:
God of majesty, whom saints and angels delight to worship in heaven: Be with all your servants who
make art and music for your people, that with joy, we on earth may glimpse your beauty, and bring us to
the fulfillment of that hope of perfection, which will be ours as we stand before your unveiled glory;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Leader: ___, may Almighty God bless you with every good gift and strengthen you in your
baptism, until that day, when we will join saints and angels in the song of life that never ends. Amen
The people sit. A certificate of recognition and other gifts may be given. If not done so before, the pastor and other
congregational representatives may extend a personal greeting. The assembly may respond in thanksgiving to God
with applause. The honoree may offer a word of appreciation.
NOTES ON THE LITURGY
–This liturgy may be led from the font by the pastor after the prayers and before the offering.
–Participants should include representatives of the church and its musical organizations.
–Readers should be persons associated with the congregation’s ministry of music, including, where possible, a
member of a children’s or youth choir.
–The people should sing an appropriate hymn of thanksgiving such as “Voices Raised to You,” “Now Thank We All
Our God,” (verses 1 and 3); “Oh, that I Had a Thousand Voices” (verse 1).
–Expressions of gratitude may be made by the pastor and representatives of the church, i.e., a choir member, the
church council president, chair of the worship and music committee, a representative of the Association of Lutheran
Church Musicians (ALCM), a church-wide representative.
©2009 Association of Lutheran Church Musicians. Used by permission.
A CELEBRATION OF MUSIC MINISTRY
Order for Parish Musicians
Leader: Today we give thanks to God for our parish musicians and for their faithful service in the
ministry of music. Called in baptism and equipped with musical gifts, they have led the people of God in
singing the new song of eternal life in Jesus Christ.
Sing to the Lord a new song;
Sing to the Lord, all the whole earth.
Sing to the Lord and bless his name;
Proclaim the good news of his salvation from day to day.
Declare his glory among the nations
And his wonders among all peoples.
Oh, the majesty and magnificence of his presence!
Oh, the power and the splendor of his sanctuary!
Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness;
Let the whole earth tremble before him.
(Psalm 96:1-3, 6, 9)
One or more of the following may be read:
In First Chronicles we read that King David first organized Israel’s music ministry.
David commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their kindred as the singers to play on musical
instruments, on harps and lyres and cymbals, to raise loud sounds of joy. Chenaniah, leader of the
Levites in music, was to direct the music, for he understood it. So all Israel brought up the ark of the
covenant of the Lord with shouting, to the sound of the horn, trumpets, and cymbals, and made loud
music on harps and lyres. (I Chronicles 15:16, 22, 28)
In Colossians we read that, when Christ’s Word lives in us, we sing out of gratitude.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be
thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and
with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in
word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
(Colossians 3:14-17)
Martin Luther wrote that music proclaims the Word of God.
Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise…the fathers and prophets wanted nothing
else to be associated as closely with the Word of God as music…After all, the gift of language combined
with the gift of song was only given to man to let him know that he should praise God with both word and
music, namely, by proclaiming [the Word of God] through music and by providing sweet melodies with
words…When [musical] learning is added to all of this and artistic music which corrects, develops, and
refines the natural music, then at last it is possible to taste with wonder (yet not to comprehend) God’s
absolute and perfect wisdom in his wondrous work of music. (Luther’s Works, Vol. 53, pp. 323-24.)
Words of appreciation by the pastor, director of music (cantor), and others may be shared.
STAND
People of God, has your faith been nurtured by the musical gifts of these brothers and sisters
in Christ? AMEN!
Have they served the Lord faithfully by proclaiming the power and comfort of God’s Word
through music? AMEN!
Will you continue to support them as ambassadors of the Lord, called through baptism to be
worship leaders among us? WE WILL!
Will you give thanks to God for the new song of resurrection that has inspired them in a
ministry of music for the sake of the church? ALLELUIA!
A Hymn of Thanksgiving is sung.
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Let us pray. Lord Jesus Christ, by your death and resurrection you have transformed our lives. In the
waters of baptism you have gifted us for ministry in your church and in the world. We give you thanks for
the ministry of music and faithful service of these your children. To all whom they have inspired in the
arts, bring your blessing. Strengthen them in every future endeavor and bring to fruition their work to
enliven your Word in us through music. Empower us to sing your resurrection song with fervor and to
regard music as a lively expression of your gospel and a gift of your making. To you, with the Father and
the Holy Spirit, all honor and glory is due, both now and forever. Amen
All join together:
God of majesty, whom saints and angels delight to worship in heaven: Be with all your servants who
make art and music for your people, that with joy, we on earth may glimpse your beauty, and bring us to
the fulfillment of that hope of perfection, which will be ours as we stand before your unveiled glory;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Leader: Children of God, may the Almighty One bless you with every good gift and strengthen you in
your baptism, until that day, when we will join saints and angels in the song of life that never ends.
Amen
The people sit. A certificate of recognition and other gifts may be given. The pastor and director of music (cantor)
may offer words of appreciation if not done so before. The assembly may respond in thanksgiving to God with
applause.
NOTES ON THE LITURGY
–The liturgy may be led from the font by the pastor after the prayers and before the offering.
–Participants should include representatives of the church’s leadership.
–Readers should be persons who give oversight to the congregation’s music, i.e., chair of the worship and music
committee, church council president, the pastor.
–The people should sing an appropriate hymn of thanksgiving such as “Voices Raised to You;” “Now Thank We All
Our God,” (verses 1 and 3); “Oh, that I Had a Thousand Voices” (verse 1).
–Expressions of gratitude may be made by the pastor and representatives of the congregation, and, if possible, by a
representative of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians (ALCM).
©2009 Association of Lutheran Church Musicians. Used by permission.
Short Words of Appreciation For Church Musicians
Recently, I was reading a devotional commentary on Colossians in which the author pointed out the way the Apostle Paul expressed thanks to the churches. In Colossians 1:3-5, Paul writes, “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints….” Notice that Paul didn’t directly address the Colossians by writing, “Hey Colossians, we are so thankful for your faith and love.” Instead, he wrote, “We always thank God… for….”
There’s a subtle nuance between those two approaches that makes a huge difference. By starting with “I thank God,” Paul is expressing his specific appreciation for the Colossian’s faith and love while also emphasizing the fact that God is the one responsible for fruit evident in their lives. In another letter to the Philippians, Paul writes, “It is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Phil 2:13).
If Colossians 1:3-5 were a verbal conversation, the Colossians could immediately say after Paul’s expression of thanks, “We thank God too, Paul! He deserves all the praise!” There’s not a stitch of that awkward, who-gets-the-praise hot potato. More importantly, both parties are reminded that God is ultimately responsible for the grace being manifested in and through our lives. So, when you tell someone “thank you,” do it in a way that emphasizes God’s work of grace in the life of one who ministered to you.
Listener: “Hey, I thank God for how He used your voice to minister to my heart this morning.”
Singer: “Praise God.”
A CELEBRATION OF MUSIC MINISTRY
Order for a Leader of the Church’s Song
Leader: Today we give thanks to God for _ and for her/his faithful service [of years]
in the ministry of music. Called in baptism and equipped with musical gifts, _ has led
God’s people in singing the new song of eternal life in Jesus Christ.
Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised;
There is no end of his greatness
One generation shall praise your works to another
And shall declare your power.
All your works praise you, O Lord,
And your faithful servants bless you.
They make known the glory of your kingdom
And speak of your power;
That the peoples may know of your power
And the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
(Psalm 145:1-4, 10-12)
One or more of the following may be read:
In First Chronicles we read that King David first organized Israel’s music ministry.
David commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their kindred as the singers to play on musical
instruments, on harps and lyres and cymbals, to raise loud sounds of joy. Chenaniah, leader of the
Levites in music, was to direct the music, for he understood it. So all Israel brought up the ark of the
covenant of the Lord with shouting, to the sound of the horn, trumpets, and cymbals, and made loud
music on harps and lyres. (I Chronicles 15:16, 22, 28)
In Colossians we read that, when Christ’s Word lives in us, we sing with gratitude.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be
thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and
with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in
word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
(Colossians 3:14-17)
Martin Luther wrote that music proclaims the Word of God.
Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise…the fathers and prophets wanted nothing
else to be associated as closely with the Word of God as music…After all, the gift of language combined
with the gift of song was only given to man to let him know that he should praise God with both word and
music, namely, by proclaiming [the Word of God] through music and by providing sweet melodies with
words…When [musical] learning is added to all of this and artistic music which corrects, develops, and
refines the natural music, then at last it is possible to taste with wonder (yet not to comprehend) God’s
absolute and perfect wisdom in his wondrous work of music. (Luther’s Works, Vol. 53, pp. 323-24.)
Words of appreciation by the pastor and others may be shared.
STAND
People of God, has your faith been nurtured by the musical gifts of ? AMEN!
Has _ served the Lord faithfully by proclaiming the power and comfort of God’s
Word through music? AMEN!
Will you continue to support as an ambassador of the Lord, called through
baptism to be a worship leader among us? WE WILL!
Will you give thanks to God for the new song of resurrection that has inspired ___ in
a ministry of music for the sake of the church? ALLELUIA!
A Hymn of Thanksgiving is sung.
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Giving thanks is a great way to show appreciation for the work of God. A lot of times, we get so caught up in our day-to-day lives that we forget to take time out to show gratitude for all that He does for us.
When it comes down to it, it doesn’t matter who gets the credit for something—what matters is that it was done. So when you say thank you, make sure you’re thanking God too!
The Colossians could have easily said, “We thank God too!” after Paul expressed his gratitude. But they didn’t—and that’s what makes their response so powerful. They recognized that God deserves all the praise because He’s ultimately responsible for the grace being manifested in and through their lives.