update on new church sitch

[Brian Krashpad]

I don't remember if I posted here about this before, but I lost my church gig (and more importantly, my church) at the end of last year and am looking for a new one.

Anyhow, here's an update.

I played guitar in church for a decade (1996-2006) but unfortunately our church is going through some changes that made it impossible to stay. We've been "floating" around at a few churches for the past couple months. Of the top two contenders currently one was favored by me because it is our same denomination, but it had several downsides: further away, and only contemporary service was at 11 on Sundays (my wife prefers a Saturday evening service). Another upside to that church for me was that they had a great bassist and drummer, but no guitarist.

A couple weeks ago we went there again, and my heart sank. They had a great electric guitarist, and an acoustic-electric rhythm person playing. I don't know if maybe they had been off on a mission trip or what, but the odds of me eventually playing there dropped significantly.

So last night we were at the other church, the closer one that the rest of my family likes a lot (it is nice, the other church I'm just more used to since it's the same denomination we've always been). It's a much bigger church and also has a very good band. However, with so many more people to choose from I figured somebody would have to pass over and be in Jimi's band upstairs before my "talents" would be needed there.

However, I noticed something last night. The guitarist for the service was the same one I'd seen at the other church last week (I don't forget a sunburst Epiphone Sheraton easily)! Plus, they have one of those big overhead projector thingies for pre-service announcements (and for song lyrics during the service), and before the service started they put up on the screen something saying that they needed people to play electric, acoustic, and bass! I'm not sure whether they're maybe hiring some people right now and looking for free volunteers (which is what I've always done anyhow) instead, but I've checked their practice schedule, and if they'll have me it seems a doable thing.

So anyhow, I'ma call 'em and see what's up. Although I know I could handle the music (I don't sight-read, but I'm used to playing from lead sheets no problem), playing in that big a sanctuary would be a little bit daunting (the place easily seats triple or quadruple what my church did).

Bottom line is that I feel like this is maybe where the Big Guy wants us to end up and maybe making a spot in that band was just His way of nudging me in the right direction. So any prayers for this to work out would be greatly appreciated.

Peace out!

[Kitty]

Hey Brian,

Trying to find a new church home is a real bummer! I feel your pain, dude.

...the odds of me eventually playing there dropped significantly.
What were the odds that a 90-year-old woman would have a son?

What were the odds that a Hebrew boy with several older brothers would one day become 2nd-in-command to the Pharaoh of Egypt?

What were the odds that a female slave would get PAID for nursing her own son, when that son was supposed to have been thrown in the river?

What were the odds that a shepherd boy would become king of Israel? (especially since Israel didn't even HAVE kings when the boy was born)

I hope I don't sound like I just over-spiritualize everything, but Brian, you seem to be looking at this with your own sight, and calculating things out according to your own reasoning.

Your Father God knows exactly where you are every second. He created you for His purposes (For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Eph 2:10) and He puts the desire within you to do His will ("for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose" Phil 2:13)

Cast your future, your hopes and plans, your talent, your availability.... everything -- into God's keeping, and trust Him no matter what happens. Don't pick a church based on whether or not you might be able to play guitar there; ask GOD to lead you to where He wants your family to be. If you play, you play to the glory of God. If you don't play, you don't play trusting in the will of God.

My hope is that you will be delighted by the miracle God pulls off for your family. :) But it is even more important to learn in any circumstances to trust that He is in control and has a purpose for your life, even if it looks as if that purpose is to sit on a shelf for the time being.

Kitty

[MadHatter]

+1
that was well said

[davesg]

Brian, You might be right about wich Church you should attend. But I would look at the Pastor, The Sunday School program, the Youth program for your children, the overall Church. If you are looking to play to use your talents for God, make sure that your spiritual needs and the needs of your family come first. I know how hard it is to sit in a Church and not play. I am doing that now. At the Church I am presently attending I use to play guitar and at other times drums. I just recently went back to this Church and am not involved in the music program. Just last week the drummer and guitar player were gone. I could have easily filled in on either instrument, but it wasn't to be. Be patient, pick the right Church, and then God will give you the desire of your heart. If you go just to play, how will that affect your family?

[Brian Krashpad]

Just to clarify: the two churches we're currently most interested in were chosen for being doctrinely right for us, and the quality of the preaching, when their services are held and the church location, and the overall experience it could offer my family. Not me. If I wanted to simply play somewhere the lead singer in my side band is the music director at some new age-y "spiritual center" of some sort, at which I could've been playing for the last couple months.

But that wouldn't have been right.

Playing in a church band is basically the last consideration, and is simply something I personally would like to do if I can, because it's the way I can serve that's the most natural to me. It is not going to be part of the decision making factor of where the family goes to church. I just would like to play somewhere if wherever we end up has a need. If they don't have a need that's cool too. I already play in two rock bands, so I don't need to play in church to get an ego boost. Although I've gone to church all my life, and have been playing for over 30 years, only at my most recent church have I ever been involved with a music program excepting campfire playing long long ago, and playing at Young Life meetings in high school (equally long long ago).

It seems like God is leading us to this bigger church despite my own natural tendency for or comfortableness with something smaller, and for the denomination I grew up in.

Thanks for your comments and any prayers.

[davesg]

Thank you for the clarification. It sounds like you have a handle on the important stuff. :)

[Brian Krashpad]

Thank you for the clarification. It sounds like you have a handle on the important stuff. :)

Well, I hope so. But I've fooled myself before. And I do miss playing in services, so I need to be vigilant not to put my desires ahead of what God wants for my family and me. So any prayers in that direction would be welcome. This latest odd turn of events just seems like one of those "when a door closes a window opens"/"everything happens for a reason" kind of deal.

I'm sure there's a more scripturally-based way of saying that but I'm not very good at that sort of thing.

[Ravindave_3600]

I'm sure there's a more scripturally-based way of saying that but I'm not very good at that sort of thing.
Awww, you do alright!

[Brian Krashpad]

I'm sure there's a more scripturally-based way of saying that but I'm not very good at that sort of thing.
Awww, you do alright!

Haha, well, that's kind of you to say, but in the denomination I was brought up in (many things about which I still love) laypeople didn't do a lot of talking about religion or evangelizing. You went to church and the preacher talked and you sang and said prayers and creeds and things, but it didn't exactly lead to a lot of people feeling comfortable about talking about spiritual things.

On top of that, I kind of became a guitarist (or at least an electric guitarist) because of the whole DIY/punk rock movement, and talking about spirituality in that realm makes most people there instantaneously uncomfortable. So basically I've sorta been trained my whole life to not talk about the things I should most want to talk about. I feel comfortable playing in church but highly uncomfortable talking about my beliefs.

[MikeW]

Hey Brian,

Trying to find a new church home is a real bummer! I feel your pain, dude.

...the odds of me eventually playing there dropped significantly.
What were the odds that a 90-year-old woman would have a son?

What were the odds that a Hebrew boy with several older brothers would one day become 2nd-in-command to the Pharaoh of Egypt?

What were the odds that a female slave would get PAID for nursing her own son, when that son was supposed to have been thrown in the river?

What were the odds that a shepherd boy would become king of Israel? (especially since Israel didn't even HAVE kings when the boy was born)

I hope I don't sound like I just over-spiritualize everything, but Brian, you seem to be looking at this with your own sight, and calculating things out according to your own reasoning.

Your Father God knows exactly where you are every second. He created you for His purposes (For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Eph 2:10) and He puts the desire within you to do His will ("for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose" Phil 2:13)

Cast your future, your hopes and plans, your talent, your availability.... everything -- into God's keeping, and trust Him no matter what happens. Don't pick a church based on whether or not you might be able to play guitar there; ask GOD to lead you to where He wants your family to be. If you play, you play to the glory of God. If you don't play, you don't play trusting in the will of God.

My hope is that you will be delighted by the miracle God pulls off for your family. :) But it is even more important to learn in any circumstances to trust that He is in control and has a purpose for your life, even if it looks as if that purpose is to sit on a shelf for the time being.

Kitty

Very well said. To put it another way "Be ready in season or out. GOD has your phone number. "

[hotraman]

Brian, You might be right about wich Church you should attend. But I would look at the Pastor, The Sunday School program, the Youth program for your children, the overall Church. If you are looking to play to use your talents for God, make sure that your spiritual needs and the needs of your family come first. I know how hard it is to sit in a Church and not play. I am doing that now. At the Church I am presently attending I use to play guitar and at other times drums. I just recently went back to this Church and am not involved in the music program. Just last week the drummer and guitar player were gone. I could have easily filled in on either instrument, but it wasn't to be. Be patient, pick the right Church, and then God will give you the desire of your heart. If you go just to play, how will that affect your family?

As a music pastor I echo Dave's comments as well.
The teaching, community, children's ministry need to be just as important as the music.
Just be available to serve in whatever capacity is needed.
The Lord will give you times to serve!
Be encouraged!

[Brian Krashpad]

Thanks for the comments guys. Do check the post of mine upwards a bit, between 2 of davesg's posts, that begins "Just to clarify." I think maybe my initial post made it seem like we were shopping for churches based on where I could play, or play most, at.

We're not.

In fact since my wife has had some bad experiences with churches over the years I'm letting her be the lead person on designating which churches we consider to begin with. Me playing guitar anywhere is not on our joint list of priorities, nor do I really want it to be. It's the last thing being considered, and only by me in the context of wherever we end up.

I'm just hoping that wherever we end up I can play some. Eventually.

All that being said, I called the church earlier this week. Talked to the Music Director for about a half hour, it was his day off so I was expecting to get his machine but he picked up. They have lots of people there so they kind of revolve people in and out depending on the material and people's availability. At my prior church if someone was sick or out of town (excepting the keyboardist) we just did without for that service. So basically where before I was playing weekly, if I play at the new place I'm guessing it will be a good deal less often, which is fine too.

Next week I'm going to pick up an "audition packet" and then eventually I'll go in and play for the MD so he can hear what level I'm at. Man I haven't auditioned for anything in years. So I'll take it nice and slow before going back in to play for him.