Tears in worship

[cupples]

Hi folks, this has happened to me a couple of times now, last one being this morning. I'll be singing a great song, really getting into it, praising God, and then I start to get really emotional and a bit tearful, and start getting quite choked up, and can't really hold the notes without wavering and faltering. I know this isn't necessarily a bad thing, but how do I deal with it? Drop out and let the backing vocals take it? I worry that everyone else will stop too! Does this happen to anyone else?

Andrew

[chrisburke]

i do exactley what you mentioned.. just step back and let the background singers take over.. make sure at least one of them is ready to jump on the lead vox (assuming they all usually sing harmonies) that way the congregation still has a lead vox to follow, and hopefully they won't drop out in their singing.. i usually have a signal (left foot raised slightly) means I'm stepping back.. the team knows it and the tech team knows it, so they can adjust accordingly.. I have an array of visual signals that i use to communicate with my team.. so that things run smoothly.. its something that Ian White taught me maybe 10 years ago.. its been very useful

[milepost13]

If everyone stops singing because you stop singing, you might want to spend some time teaching your folks a few things. Yes, stop singing...if you're like me, you can't sing worth crap when you're crying.

Nate

[chrisburke]

Originally Posted by milepost13

If everyone stops singing because you stop singing, you might want to spend some time teaching your folks a few things.

oddly nate.. this is a common issue in smaller "not so charasmatic" churches.. when I came to my church, they had never had a leader before in worship.. just an old lady and a a piano.. and she didn't really know what she was doing.. so it was probably about 2 years before the people realized they could keep singing even if I wasn't..

[milepost13]

Originally Posted by chrisburke

oddly nate.. this is a common issue in smaller "not so charasmatic" churches.. when I came to my church, they had never had a leader before in worship.. just an old lady and a a piano.. and she didn't really know what she was doing.. so it was probably about 2 years before the people realized they could keep singing even if I wasn't..

As a worship leader in a smaller "not so charismatic" church, I totally understand.

Nate

[twc_admin]

I might add ... if you have the liberty ... from time to time, you may want to even share with the people ... what you've experienced. People are out there thinking, "man, what's she crying about" ... I think most of the folks get it ... but what about people who are seekers, or who maybe don't get it ...

A simple testimony like "you know, as we were singing that song, I was just overwhelmed, to the point of tears, with a glimpse at God's love for me", etc.

Take your experience, and make it corporate ... let them share it with you.

Now, if you did this every Sunday, it would be weird ... but from time to time, I can see it being powerful!

[Once Far Off]

Glad you guys shared. I thought I was the only one...

[cupples]

Thanks for the advice guys. I find it a little hard to get out of the reserved Irish Presbyterian mindset sometimes, and let the emotions show! But I think a brief word of explanation afterward, and better communication within the team would be two excellent ways to improve things.

Thanks,
Andrew