Moravian Worship Leaders Course
Proverbs 23:12 - Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.
In September 2021, a request went out for any interested Church members to commit to a 'Worship Leaders' course, due to start from November 2021 and run to May 2022.
Seven Church members signed up for these sessions conducted on the whole in Zoom remotely due to Pandemic conditions still being in place. Representatives from Fairfield, Lower Wyke, Harlesden, Dukinfield and beyond studied hard, laughed lots, and shared in great fellowship throughout this time.
The course had input from many serving Moravian ministers who generously gave their time and expertise. Format wise, the modules were held across two days, once a month leading up to a residential course to finish this section of the training. The aim was to give confidence and resources to Worship Leaders, some of whom had never preached before and others who had more than 40 services under their belts.
Subjects covered included:
• What we mean by Worship?
• The meaning and forms of Prayer.
• Public Speaking, Preaching and the Word of God Sermon preparation.
• Hymns, Singing and Music.
• Clarifying what matters for meaningful Worship.
• Gadgets, visuals aids and Modern Technology.
• The Christian Calendar and Memorial Days.
Discussion and engagement were encouraged to advance skills, gain understanding and learn new techniques.
The culmination of this meant meeting all 'students' who attended the residential held at Whaley Hall in the High Peak area during mid May 2022. All seven (Catherine Gledhill, Stephen Gledhill, Janet Cooper, David Cartwright, Nicholas Battelle, Sandra Bailey and Penny Weir) prepared services which they presented with hymns, prayers and a sermon to show off their newly honed abilities, whilst being monitored by serving ministers. This may have seemed nerve wracking, but real bonds were made and togetherness in faith was very much present on these days.
I am happy to say I was one of these 'students' and found the course, the instruction and the residential worthwhile and enlightening. Heartily recommended to anyone interested in furthering his or her call to praise the word of God.
Sr Penny Weir
Dukinfield