I’ve observed a fairly consistent pattern in various church choirs and ensembles through the years: those who volunteer in music ministry tend to lead the way in service and outreach through other avenues of ministry in the church and in the community. In the church I currently serve, our singers and instrumentalists often fill church leadership roles, serve on committees and teams, teach small-group classes, volunteer in children’s and youth ministry, and engage in many other important roles—from pastoral care to creating flower arrangements for worship services. Singing in a choir, playing an instrument, or ringing handbells are service positions in their own right—but they don’t stop there! For most of these people, it’s only a part of their service. Outside the church, these same people can be found providing a multitude of volunteer services in the community and beyond.
Service is at the heart of our faith and provides a direct, hands-on way to embody the teachings of Jesus. How does this culture of service begin? For most, it is likely sparked by role models. Who is someone who exemplified Christ’s teachings to such a degree that you sensed a call to service and volunteerism? I believe role models are not limited to a certain age or gender, and that their calls to service can influence believers at any stage of their lives—childhood through senior adult.
Decades ago, as a student at Berry College, I began to learn about our founder, the remarkable Martha Berry, who poured her time and financial resources into the education of mountain children who had no educational opportunities. Martha’s call to serve her community led to the establishment of the Berry Schools on her family’s plantation—and more than a hundred years later, Berry College continues her legacy, maintaining the standard of service she had established. I became a beneficiary of a liberal arts education because of her work all those years earlier. Miss Berry’s personal motto, “Not to be ministered unto, but to minister,” began to resonate deeply within me, especially as I recognized its origin in words of Jesus:
Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
—Matthew 20:28
Likely you will recall this as a portion of the conversation Jesus had with two of his disciples who wanted to gain his favor—places of honor in his kingdom. As he neared the completion of his work on earth, Jesus said that it would be different for his followers—if they wanted to be great, they would need to become servants to each other. Jesus demonstrated his point further in John 13 when he took the role of a servant and washed the feet of each of his disciples. Jesus demonstrated servant leadership and called his followers then and now to act in the same way:
So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
—John 13:14
As you think of your own areas of service in the church and beyond, take inventory of the members of the ensembles you lead. How do they use their gifts? Start with their musical gifts. Perhaps one sings soprano, directs a children’s choir, plays flute in the church orchestra, and volunteers in the music library. Others may sing in one ensemble but serve in other ways through the various ministries of the church. If you don’t know, ask them. You may be surprised and encouraged to discover the breadth of service within your group.
Share your findings with the entire ensemble. Perhaps you could allow a few minutes each week or month for a few testimonials. Don’t limit the sharing to opportunities in the church. How are members making a difference through service and volunteer efforts in the community? Others in your ministry may be inspired to seek new avenues of service. People often resist volunteering, as they feel they lack the talent, skills, and training required. Hearing about the diverse experiences of others may open their eyes to their own abilities and lead them to explore roles they had never considered.
This week I sat down with the sanctuary choir roster at church and jotted down all the services provided by choir members in our community. Here are just a few:
- Prison ministry
- Pet rescue
- Educational programs
- Food bank
- Adult literacy
- ESL and citizenship classes
- Youth and children after-school programs
- Hospital therapy dogs
- Directing a community choir for senior adults
- A wide variety of service clubs
- Construction and repair services
And these are just the ones I’m aware of! Why does it matter? Does a music community really benefit from providing these services? I believe it matters greatly.
Collaborative music making is a constant give and take. We balance, we blend, we sacrifice our individuality for the sake of the musical offering. Even yielding to the leadership of the director is an act of service and sacrifice, in terms of repertoire, style, expression, and more. Those members who daily offer themselves have no problem seeing the ensemble as a calling to use their gifts for others rather than merely an activity they enjoy—though hopefully that is also a given!
Let’s not only encourage our members in their service efforts; let’s support them. Let’s be their cheerleaders. Let’s dive into the model of servant leadership demonstrated by Jesus!
Many ensembles work together to accomplish service projects within and outside the church. Nothing builds unity like working side by side on a special project.
Several years ago, our church began a building project that necessitated moving our entire music ministry and all things related to various locations throughout the church. It took days of working together. Then we did the whole thing in reverse when the construction was completed. I have the fondest memory of working with a group of ladies to move over 2000 choral boxes from upstairs to the new library below (thank you, God, for elevators and carts!) Through shared physical labor and much laughter, I got to know these friends so much better than I had before.
Are there ministry projects you might offer to your ensembles?
- Perform at a care facility—full group or smaller ensembles
- Join with other groups to do a day of service in the community
- Sponsor a hymn sing for seniors and provide a potluck lunch
- Enter teams in a race for a cause—seems like there’s one every month! Those who can’t run can help in other ways
- Partner with a local nonprofit to combine a service project with a performance project
- Sponsor an event and collect items as “entry fees” for a food bank or other community support agency
Invite members of your group to draft ideas and do the research. Allow them to use their unique gifts and abilities to take ownership of projects. The more they are involved, the greater the participation and enthusiasm—and the greater the growth of the ensemble as a team. Serving alongside others in a shared mission builds strong bonds that will last for a lifetime.
True acts of service are essential and transformative to our faith expression and to our commitment to the teachings of Jesus. Let us not only proclaim the call of Jesus in our music – let us answer the call to service and outreach.
Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.
—1 Peter 4:10
