Worship & Music

WORSHIP TEAM ANNUAL REPORT 2022

·       At our annual meeting in January, the congregation approved capital expenditures for Phase I of Audio Visual upgrades to allow for live streaming.

·       The theme of Phase II for AV upgrades is “Be Thou My Vision”.  We will focus on this in 2023.

·       We began live streaming worship on October 16, 2022. It was decided to live stream the 8:00 only worship service. Several members have been trained as AV operators

·       The theme for Lent was “Cultivating and Letting Go.” Pastor Jen along with Pastor Josh Fite from St. John of Ashwaubenon teamed to provide mid-week services.

·       4th grade students were trained to serve as Acolytes. Part of this session included making communion bread with these students.

·       During the summer we heard a five-week sermon series on “Sabbath Rest”.

·       Due to Covid, the 50th Anniversary celebration was delayed from 2021. In September and October we celebrated the 50th Anniversary of Good Shepherd. On September 11th, we combined God’s Work our Hands Sunday with a Neighborhood Fest, mailing over 2100 postcards inviting neighbors within one mile of Good Shepherd. Activities included a bounce house from Badger Bouncers, face painting and balloon art by Mischief & Magic, Captain Quesadilla food truck, brat fry hosted by Scout Troop 1107 along with service project activities for all ages.  Unfortunately the weather didn’t cooperate and all activities were held indoors.

·       On October 30, we held one worship service to celebrate the 50th Anniversary. Bishop Anne Edison-Albright preached, the Spirit Singers along with the Bell Choir performed “We are Here for Good”, a song written by Brad Kemp. Hymns used for worship were favorites of the charter members (Gladys and Leon Calewarts, Shirley Athey and Delores Stollfus). After worship, a lunch was held at Rock Garden, attended by 65+ people, including five charter members, Pastor Harvey Jaeger and his wife Gloria. A letter was read from former pastor Frank Kauzlarich who could not be in attendance and memories were shared by Pastor Harvey.  Pastor Jen put together a video with interviews of the four charter members, incorporating photos from the past which was played at the luncheon.

·       We added a CCLI license to the OneLicense we currently have, (required for live-streaming).

·       A Thanksgiving Eve worship was held.

·       During the season of Advent, we heard the hope-filled and promised-drenched words of the prophet Isaiah who proclaimed the Good News.

·       The Longest Night - a candlelight Service of Hope was held on December 21.

·       Two worship services were held on Christmas Eve, one service Christmas morning.

·       We continued to enjoy special music from Ringers Jubilate, Spirit Singers, and an occasional duet or instrumental music.

·       We are grateful for the Jagler family who continued to compile and produce the online worship videos each week until we went to live-streaming on October 16.

·       THANK YOU to everyone who volunteers their time and talents to make our worship meaningful!  We continued to face COVID-19 challenges in 2022 and made adjustments where we could to move to the new norm. We are Here for Good.

 

God’s Blessings from the Worship Team

Dick Sachs, Lois Appel, Corey Christenson, Robert Schwandt, Sue Larson and Pastor Jen Fite

The Worship and Music Team shall be comprised of one at-large member of the Congregation Council, music coordinator, accompanist(s), bell choir director, and as many members of the congregation as the team chooses. Each year after a Congregation Council representative has been assigned, the team shall elect a chairperson and a recorder from its membership. The Congregation Council representative will report from the Congregation Council any action that this team needs to take, and report to the Congregation Council on behalf of this team. The team shall meet regularly – monthly meetings are suggested.

The responsibilities and duties of the Worship and Music Team include, but are not limited to:

1.    Plan and provide for the congregation’s worship in collaboration with the music coordinator and the pastor.

2.    Evaluate and recommend liturgies for ‘regular’ worship and those for special events.

3.    Plan worship for special events such as Lent, Easter, Thanksgiving Eve, Advent, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Confirmation, First Communion, Baptisms, etc.

4.    Establish standards, in collaboration with the pastor, for worship, funeral and wedding services, music, and musical or drama groups.

5.    Promote the congregation’s music programs and provide opportunities for participation to all members of the congregation.

6.    Enlist, train, and supervise those who volunteer to serve as worship leaders such as assisting ministers, lectors, communion set-up/clean-up providers, greeters, nursery care providers, ushers, and acolytes.

7.    Seek opportunities in the community wherein the choir(s) can share their gifts through music ministry.

8.    Prepare and submit a budget request to the Executive Committee for anticipated worship and music expenses annually.

9.    Oversee disbursement of the annual Worship and Music Team budget.