Music is an important part of any worship experience. It can shift the atmosphere from chaotic to consecrated. Music prepares our hearts in a unique way for communion with God. Music, especially singing, allows a part of our hearts to speak to God through the only instrument that is not man-made. Our human voices. Singing allows us to express our love for God with our entire being. It soothes our spirits and draws us closer to each other in corporate settings.
Music is a part of who we are as Zion Methodists. This is especially evident in the way we prepare for our Annual Conferences. The preparation of music is as important as making sure that the fried chicken is crispy and juicy for lunch.
I recently came across a flyer on Facebook that was essentially an all-call for singers and musicians to form a combined choir for the North Carolina Annual Conference. Because I love good music, and because I miss singing in the choir anyway, I decided to reach out to the organizer of the rehearsal to discuss what preparing music for an annual conference is like.
I met with the director of the combined choir, Mrs. Carole Downing, and some of the other members of the choir and had the opportunity to ask them a few questions about what music as worship means to them.
SOZ: Mrs. Carole, how important is music ministry to you?
Carole Downing: Music ministry is very important to me. I’ve grown up with music all my life. I’ve always been in the church, the youth choir, the young adult choir, and the adult choir. I started taking piano lessons at the age of nine and learned how to read music. At the age of fourteen, I started going around to different churches playing the piano. They would pick me up and take me to churches in the James City area until I got my license in chorus and in the band. I just had my 40th class reunion, and I still have my clarinet from 40 years ago. I don’t play it anymore, but I still have it. So I’ve been doing music all my life.
SOZ: What about you, Ms. Wanda? How important is music ministry in your life?
Wanda Poole: It is very important to me. My mother always dragged us around with her when she sang, so it’s embedded in me. That’s something that she always liked to do. And I started out in the children’s choir. When I moved back home, I came back and joined the choir. I love music. I play seven instruments.
SOZ: Seven? Oh, wow!
Wanda Poole: Yes, seven. They’re all woodwinds. I was a music major when I first started college, but then I changed. But I’m strictly instrumental, not vocal.
Mrs. Laurean Wilson also joined us while she was doing her hair. This is a testament to the dedication of these ladies to make sure that the worship experience was what it needed to be for all of those who attended this annual conference. They each have other pursuits but are dedicated to making sure that the ministry of music is truly ministry and not merely entertainment.
SOZ: Ms. Lorean, how important is music ministry to you?
Ms. Lorean: It is very important, especially now as a minister myself. I preached this past Sunday, and the soloist sang a song that was right in line with what I preached.
This was such a lovely discussion with these ladies about the songs that help to usher us into worship. Songs like “ Oh, how I love Jesus,” and” Lord I’m Available to you,” or just the refrain “Oh come let us Adore Him.” There is something about the lyrics of these songs that reminds us of the faithfulness of God. They wrap us in the comfort of God’s love and God’s presence. They remind us that He rejoices over us with singing, and we can join together in the spirit, and for that moment, we become one with the source of every good and perfect gift.
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