The Music Architect: Blueprints for Engaging Worshipers in Song

by Constance M. Cherry

Publisher:

Baker

, 2016

Overview

Leading worship expert Constance Cherry offers comprehensive guidance to Christian leaders seeking a deeper, richer way to employ worship music in engaging ways for twenty-first-century worshipers. Instead of worship being driven by the pursuit of fast-changing musical styles, says Cherry, leaders should pursue a musical language that helps to facilitate a worshipful conversation between God and people.

Following the author's successful book The Worship Architect, this work helps Christian leaders think theologically and act pastorally about worship music in their churches. It addresses larger issues beyond the surface struggles of musical styles and provides tools to critically evaluate worship songs. The book is applicable to all Christian traditions and worship styles and is well suited to both the classroom and the local church--serving as a welcome resource for not only musicians but also pastors and other church leaders. Each chapter concludes with suggested practical exercises, recommended reading, and basic vocabulary terms.

Key Features

• Explores the connection between music and worship
• Seeks to guide all persons vested in the music ministry of the local church (musicians or not) to think more deeply and prayerfully about music in worship
• Provides a comprehensive guide for leaders in the church to help worshipers fully engage in corporate worship

Contents

• Becoming a Pastoral Musician
• Pouring the Footing: God-Focused Song
• Laying the Foundations: Music's Role in Worship
• Selecting Songs for the Movements of Worship: Creating Logical Flow
• Evaluating Worship Music: Creating a Canon of Song
• Interlude: Introduction to Shorter and Longer Song Forms
• Maximizing Shorter Song Forms
• Maximizing Longer Song Forms
• Discovering the Congregation's Worship Voice: An Alternative Vision for Musical Style
• Leading Congregational Song: Practical Guidance from the Trenches
• Participating in Song as the Body of Christ: Helping Worshipers to Engage through Singing
• Forming Disciples through Song: Worship as Spiritual Formation
• Pursuing Spiritual Leadership through Excellence

Praise for The Music Architect

"Worship leaders from a variety of Christian traditions will find in this single source a place to orient themselves in their vocation, plan worship, and develop a faithful and full music ministry. Few can match Cherry's education, experience, and ecumenical perspective. The Music Architect situates the selection of music for worship in the broader context of being a pastoral musician who makes musical decisions with pastoral sensitivity and theological integrity as well as musical skill and insight. Cherry neither takes sides in the 'worship wars' nor calls for simplistic and amorphous 'blended' worship. Her blueprint aims for careful, nuanced, and diverse possibilities that reflect the creativity of the Holy Spirit. If you want to make a sustained and authentic difference in worship through music, start here."

C. Michael Hawn, University Distinguished Professor of Church Music and director of the Sacred Music Program, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University

"What I love about this book is the clarity of thought it brings to its subject. Written with wisdom and grace, The Music Architect will energize and equip those who seek to lead their congregations with intelligent authenticity week by week in truly Christian worship."

Graham Kendrick, worship leader and writer of numerous songs, including Knowing You; Shine, Jesus, Shine; Servant King; and Amazing Love

"Cherry clearly expresses an architectural vision of the role of music in worship, recalling the foundation of worship in God's vision. At the same time, she also cautions readers regarding ways that music and worship can become idolatrous. New students as well as seasoned pastors and musicians will find this book valuable in the formation of disciples through song."

Melva Wilson Costen, Helmar Neilsen Professor of Music Emerita, Interdenominational Theological Center, Atlanta, Georgia

Product Details

• Title: The Music Architect: Blueprints for Engaging Worshipers in Song
• Author: Constance M. Cherry
• Publisher: Baker
• Print Publication Date: 2016
• Logos Release Date: 2016
• Pages: 288
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
• ISBNs: 9781493404575, 1493404571
• Resource ID: LLS:9781493404575
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-06T21:05:10Z

About Constance M. Cherry

Constance M. Cherry is professor of worship and Christian ministries at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana, and is on the faculty of the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies, where she has taught since its inception. She speaks and teaches internationally and is a regular adjunct professor at several seminaries. Cherry has also served local churches as a minister of music and worship and as a United Methodist pastor. She is the author of The Worship Architect and Selecting Worship Songs: A Guide for Learners.