Praise means to commend, to applaud, to magnify, to say good things about, and it is synonymous to words such as admire, extol, honor and worship. For the Christian, praise to God is an expression of worship, lifting up and glorifying the Lord. It is an expression of humbling ourselves and centering our attention upon the Lord with heart-felt expressions of love, adoration and thanksgiving. He is worthy to receive our praise.
The Music & Worship Committee has organized a Praise & Worship Team to enhance our Sunday worship service with contemporary song and dance. To learn more, click on our mission and our vision.
Our Praise and Worship Ministry’s main focus is to lead people into true praise and worship by taking them from just singing words to being anointed by the grace of the Holy Spirit, in a way that fills them with His peace, His love and His joy; helping them into a closer relationship with Jesus Christ through Spirit-filled music and various forms of worship with music, such as dance, drama and testimonies. We want to encourage the congregation to freely and openly sing, clap and raise their hands in worship, always allowing people to participate comfortably as they see fit.
We have chosen the name “Hearts in Praise” for our Worship team. Hearts in Praise depicts a lifestyle of worship; an attitude of living not moved by circumstances.
Hearts in Praise will be made of up of worshippers who are committed to the Lord and have hearts desiring to lead others into worship and the presence of the Lord.
Hebrews 2:11-12 portrays Jesus standing in the midst of the congregation singing praise to the Father. He is our High Priest and as His royal priesthood,
(I Peter 2:9) we allow His Spirit to bring us all into the corporate presence of worship.
Our primary responsibility is to worship God as we stand before the congregation, creating an atmosphere where worship will enthrone the Lord in our midst. We are servants to aid in helping each person draw near and experience the presence of God. This can be facilitated in a variety of ways --- music (group singing, duets, solos, instrumentals), dancing, worship without music – responsive readings, faith stories/testimonies, drama, mime.
Since Emmaus Christian Church only has one service, we plan to create a balance of the contemporary and the traditional by blending the various music types and forms of praise and worship into each service.
As an arm of the Worship Committee we will function together as we allow God to work through the creativity of His people in planning days of remembrance throughout the year (Christmas, Easter, Memorial Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, July 4th , Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Youth Sunday, etc.)
Hearts in Praise will begin the service with a praise song, bringing our focus to worship and creating an atmosphere for the fulfilling of our promise that God will inhabit the praises of His people. (Psalms 22:3) As Hearts in Praise stand before the Lord and the Emmaus family, they will lead the congregation as worshippers in hymns and spiritual songs.
Initially, we will lead worship on a bi-monthly or monthly basis; as we meet together and prepare ourselves before the Lord. As we have time together in prayer and practical preparation, Hearts in Praise will take their place weekly as a Worship Team.
It is our hearts desire that the Worship Team input comes along side to enhance and compliment all worship songs, scripture reading and the message. The entire worship experience should have one voice that connects the congregation to the Word of the Lord, calling them to a deeper relationship with Him.
Another arm of the Worship Committee that will enhance and compliment the Worship Team is a dance ministry. In response to requests from several members of the Emmaus congregation (both adults and children) Jo Wallo has agreed to establish a dance ministry. The use of banners, streamers and instruments will be incorporated into our worship ministry.
A notebook will be made up for each team member that contains our Mission Statement, the God-Centered Worship piece, paper for notes taken at our practice sessions, copies of music we’ll be singing, calendar/schedule, etc.
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 spirituals songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:16)
Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise Him in the firmament of His power. Praise Him for His mighty acts: praise Him according to his excellent greatness. Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet: praise Him with the psaltery and harp. Praise Him with the timbrel and dance: praise Him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise Him upon the loud cymbals: praise Him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD. (Psalms 150) goto top