Sunday, April 21, 2013
Large Non-Denominational Church
New Orleans, LA
I decided to attend this church due to the size, I am becoming more interested in the musical styles of the large churches and what better way to experience the ones in the area…
Upon entering I could tell it was more of a production, than church (nothing wrong with that, necessarily). Music was playing, three life size screens were running, videos playing, the room was darker. I found a seat in the middle, and began to relax and prepare myself for the experience. Church started at 10:45am. At approximately 10:30 the choir began to make their way onto the stage Around 10:40 the musicians began to enter the stage, and at 10:45 the lights changed, almost a strobe light pattern as the lead singers entered. The music began, good praise and worship music, but the lights were very distracting. The room began to change colors, from red to blue to purple to green. As the song changed so did the lights, setting the mood. The words for the songs were on the screen, and I noticed a few were out of place, but that happens, my do I know..
The musicians consisted of two keyboardist, a bass guitar, electric guitar and drums, all young men. The choir consisting of mixed-aged individuals, from very young to upper adult.
The second song was one I knew, and was getting into it, although still watching and experiencing the whole worship. The second keyboardist lead the singing on this song, now let me say that the lead keyboard was the director, you could just tell by the way he lead the singing playing and directed the choir. As the second keyboardist began to play and sing the mood began to change, for the better, for me… I began to settle into the light changing and the music style. We sang the second chorus, and the director was heard clearly saying lets go to the chorus, but the second keyboardist began singing the bridge, lets just say, interesting…. When the band realized it, they were already playing something else and the drummer and bass player just stopped… talk about break the mood. The song ended very awkward, but the music was redeemed by the next song.
They played a few more songs, and the lead keyboardist played during the invitational time.
Overall, I was not really impressed with the music department, considering the size of the church. I have come to expect excellence always, especially from my team. The production aspect of worship astounds me, within my team we look for consistency, and appearance, not production. When cameras are moving around, lights are flashing, the room changing colors, screens are playing videos, it becomes very distracting to me. Worship should put us in a place of meditation, reflection, not concert style. (That’s my personal opinion, of course).
Ryan
ryanleelejeune.com 
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