Music and Worship Interim Plan

     Since our Pastor for Music and Worship position is currently vacant, I have worked over the last several weeks, in coordination with the personnel committee and the coordinating council, to put an interim plan in place.  The search process for a pastoral position can be a lengthy one.  And it should be so.  We do not want to rush filling such an important position.

     The interim plan for music and worship will consist of a team of individuals with special skill sets in order to address the needs in each area.  They are,

• Jared Solis, Media & Worship Associate.  Jared will continue to be the one to coordinate all logistical and communication aspects for all three worship services.  He will be in charge of the administrative aspect of the music and worship ministry.  Jared will also continue to be the worship leader for the 11 o'clock service.
• Andy Muskrat, Interim Worship Pastor for the 9:30 service.  Andy (biographical information below) will be in charge of planning the 9:30 worship experience with special attention to congregational singing.  He will lead worship for the 9:30 service and play the piano/keyboard for the 11 o'clock service.  He will be available to help in both the 11 o'clock and 12:30 services as needed.  (Chad Mason will lead the 9:30 service on April 7).
• Chuck Olson, Interim Choir Director (9:30 service).  Chuck will lead the choir rehearsal on Wednesday nights and the choir song in the 9:30 service.
• Diann Whisnand, Interim Assistant to the Choir Director (9:30 service).  Diann will assist Chuck with the direction of the choir and will also assist with orchestra coordination.  
• Benjamin Aguirre, SLM Associate.  Benjamin will continue to lead the 12:30 service in addition to this pastoral responsibilities in the Spanish Language Ministry.
• Kathleen Beecher, Music & Worship Ministry Assistant.  Kathleen will continue to provide administrative support to the music and worship ministry.

The personnel committee has approved this plan already.  It is effective this week with the exception of Andy Muskrat who begins work next week.  Chad Mason will be filling in for the 9:30 service this Sunday, April 7.  The agreement with those holding "interim" in their titles (Andy, Chuck and Diann) is initially through the end of May with the possibility of extending it through the summer and beyond if things work out on both sides.

     All of these, with the exception of Andy Muskrat, have already been very involved and deeply invested in the music and worship ministry under the leadership of Mark Richardson.  The one new element is Andy.  So let me tell you a little about Andy.  First, here is his photo:

Andy currently lives in the Waco area (China Spring).  He was born in Joplin, Missouri, accepted Christ at the age of 7, grew up in Buenos Aires, Argentina, as a child of (IMB) music missionaries (his parents taught at the Baptist Seminary in Buenos Aires).  Andy is married to Heather Rebecca Ward and they have two boys: Jacob (age 2) and Braeden (6 months).  Andy received a B.M. degree with piano emphasis from Baylor University (Waco) in 2005 and an M.A. in Worship from B. H. Carroll Theological Institute (Arlington, Texas) in 2012.  He was ordained to the ministry by First Baptist Church, Bentonville, Arkansas, where he served on the music and worship staff.  He has served on the music and worship staff in several churches including First Baptist, Bentonville, Arkansas; High Pointe Baptist, Cedar Hill, Texas; and First Presbyterian, Hillsboro, Texas.  Andy is a very talented pianist, worship leader and is fluent in English and Spanish.  Since our 9:30 service is a "classy" blend of traditional and contemporary worship music, Andy is an excellent fit.  He has knowledge and appreciation of both worship styles.  This delicate balance is a rare find.  He will be commuting from the Waco area each weekend.  We are blessed to count on him during the interim time.

     Our bylaws make provision for the search process of pastoral staff positions.  At the adequate time, the Church in Conference will elect a search committee that will work to find a candidate for the church to consider calling.  The Coordinating Council (made up of all the administrative committee chairpersons and the chairman of deacons) and I feel like it would be important at this point in the life of Calvary to evaluate and assess the current reality and needs of our church in relation to music and worship.  Thus, at our next Church in Conference (April 21st), rather than recommending the election of a search committee, the Coordinating Council will bring a recommendation of electing a "Music and Worship Staff Study Committee."  This committee would be tasked with the responsibility of studying, evaluating and assessing current music and worship needs with a view to developing the profile for a future Pastor for Music and Worship.  If you have suggestions of names for this study committee, please send them to me julio@calvarymcallen.org or to Joe Averill joe@averillbuilders.com chairman of the Coordinating Council (and of the personnel committee).  This committee will report back to the Personnel Committee.  Once their work is done, the church may elect a search committee to look for a candidate that will fit the profile.

     Most importantly, please pray much.  Pray for Mark and the Richardson family in their transition.  Pray for our current Music and Worship team.  Pray for the study and search process.  Pray for Calvary.  This is a time to fully depend on God for his blessing, power and direction.  When we rely on Him and we follow his direction, then at the end of the day, He will receive all the glory.  Ultimately, worship is more than our Sunday morning services.  It is the giving of all the glory to God in everything that we do.