When the grand pomp and bombast of Easter subsides, a deafening silence and loneliness await many church musicians. When the beating drums and clanging cymbals fade, when the soaring notes of choral descants fall away and the rip-roaring organ postlude ends, this is when questions lurk in the shadows. This is when church musicians listen for the rhythm of the Resurrection.
The days and weeks following resurrection celebrations can be difficult for those who serve in music ministry. Pulse rates return to normal, choir attendance lags, and Easter crowds dissipate. Most parishioners don’t pause to reflect on the effect this has on church musicians. It can be both challenging and frustrating, leading to undiagnosed depression, questioning of calling, and feelings of inadequacy.
Christians aren’t meant to live on the mountaintop in this earthly realm. Neither are church musicians! That time is still to come, and when it does, it will be glorious beyond words. We will worship day and night with all of creation (Revelation 4:8). In the here and now, we are meant to love God and love the world.
After the joyful noise and clamor of Easter subsides, this is when we truly discover the rhythm of the Resurrection and the real work of Easter begins. Once everything returns to normal, questions morph from “How do we celebrate Christ’s resurrection?” to “How do we keep joy in our lives… especially when our calling feels like an obligation and joy feels distant? How do we redirect focus away from constant preparation and performance to personal communion with God?”
I believe the answer is found in where and how we search for joy. 1 John 1:3–5 tells us: “… that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”
Joy is deeper and longer-lasting than mere excitement. Meaningful ministry exists during emotionally flat seasons because of joy. What does this mean for us? It means slowing down. It means reassessing life rhythms. It even means grieving lost joy. During this time we can reconnect with our prayer life and with fellow church musicians, those whom we serve, and colleagues in fellow churches. This is a season to nurture relationships, personal and professional; to listen for the still, small voice (1 Kings 19:12), wrestle with doubt (Mark 9:23–24), and recommit to living like Jesus (Matthew 5:1–13). These faithful acts can be ministry-enhancing and life-giving – not a retreat from responsibility, but a shift in purpose, embracing God’s redemptive work in the world around us (Matthew 6:10).
Each Sunday, and especially on Easter, we demonstrate our love of God through awe-inspiring worship. During this post-Easter season, we demonstrate our commitment to loving the word. In Matthew 10:8 we read: “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.” I have extremely low confidence in my ability to raise the dead, drive out demons, or cleanse leprosy. I am, however, very confident in my ability to comfort those who mourn, to give freely to those in need, and to love my neighbor. This is where we find the rhythm of the Resurrection. This is where our joy may be full: loving God and loving the world. This is where the work of Easter begins. Let’s get to our joyful work!
