Soundtrack / Musical

[peter colvin / fingernailmusic]

I had this thought a while ago and it seemed to make sense to me.

There are two different types of music that will appear in a movie. In some movies, the story and the scenes that play out are told exclusively through musical numbers. These are generally sung by the cast and supporting cast [with much singing and dancing] and you would have to accept that if the songs weren't there, the story would be pretty tricky to follow. Then there are all the other movies that are made, the ones where you hardly notice the music as it ebbs and flows behind the story and the charachters and the scenery, You'd definitely notice if it wasn't there, but it is not telling the story, it is instead providing the soundtrack for the story which is being told.

Creating a soundtrack to the story of God's people meeting with him, together, being challenged by Him and learning about what it is to live and work with Him. This is how I have come to see my role as a worship leader. The aim for our gathering on a Sunday morning is that people would meet with God, together and be changed by His power and grace. The music and liturgy and prayer etc create the soundtrack that ebbs and flows behind the story of God's people meeting with Him. And like any good movie, the soundtrack is a crucial part of the how the story is told, but it is not necessarily telling the story itself.

This has been very freeing, because it allows me to leave the story to God [the story of His people meeting with Him and learning to live and work with Him] while I simply aim to create the right atmosphere [soundtrack] for this to take place.