An experience to share: the birthday party of the worship team of ICF-Noord in Rotterdam…
It may sound crazy, but I had never experienced it before. Typical Dutch down-to-earthness perhaps… If anyone believes in the importance of worship in church, it is me. But it had never occurred to me to celebrate the birthday of a worship team. While celebrating someone’s birthday we honor the value of someone’s life and pay attention to someone we consider important. All good reasons to celebrate the birthday of a worship team. Suddenly it is very clear.
In ICF-Noord in Rotterdam I attended the second anniversary of the worship team on January 25. It was a special evening in which ICP allowed me to inspire the team and in which the ICF-Noord team taught me something new and encouraged me. So WIN-WIN.
Why worship?
We talked about what it takes to experience unity and unconditional acceptance in a diverse group of people. In worship you will find the place where you can learn to see yourself with the eyes of God. There is no room for awkward self-consciousness, which often leads to shame and insecurity. Self-awareness creates distance instead of connection. It is the core problem that arose in the garden of Eden. There man became aware of himself, his own nakedness. The result was that man hid from God, but also from others and perhaps even from himself. When we look at ourselves, we all find reasons to keep our distance…
Worship is the place where God offers you safety in His presence and where you are fully focused on Him. Where shame will not color your face and where uncertainty has no right to speak. When you look at your environment from that place, your view is determined by God’s love and unconditional acceptance. Then you are so connected to God that you are better able to connect with others. No matter how different the others are.
Why celebrate?
Found on the internet: “Birthdays are important because they give the birthday person a day to feel special and notice how much the people around them love them.”
Yes, the worship team should feel special and should certainly notice that the congregation loves them and is grateful for their service.
And do you know this statement? “What you pay attention to grows.” Yes, the team in ICF-Noord is also a testimony to this. Take care of these people, give them space to develop. Celebrate with them exuberantly that they are special and that they have grown. Sometimes the best way to celebrate is with a feast and a real birthday cake!
Why should you surround worship and the worship team at your church with attention and care?
Here you can read what a local worship leader and the pastor experience.
Carlos (worshipleader ICF-North Rotterdam):
Well, the team evening on the 25th was a reflection of the commitment of the leadership of the worship team and the church to nurture unity amongst us, especially because we are a very diverse church. It is also a way to show the importance of the worship team in everything we do. That’s why I think it’s important for church leaders to consider worship as a core element in everything that is done in the church. Because through worship we are able to serve the lives of other people, reinforce what is taught in the Bible, and create an environment for prayer and the moving of the Holy Spirit. In addition, worship is a great way to nurture fellowship and to represent each other’s culture.
Fred Kappinga (Pastor ICF-North Rotterdam):
Our worship team celebrated its two-year anniversary. ICP has coached our team from the start and now Anne-Marie came to inspire us again. She always knows how to strike the right tone for us, through her rich practical experience and her noticeable love for the heart of worship.
View the message on the ICF-Noord website here . The ICF worship team turns 2!
Are you also interested in attention, support or training for your worship team or for the congregation or for leadership, and are you looking for tailor-made advice? Then you can contact ICP by email: office@icpnetwork.nl
Here you will find more information about ICP-worship and what we can do for you: