Summer Interim Plan for Music and Worship

          It has been two months since our Pastor for Music and Worship position became vacant.  We will not bring an interim worship leader from outside this summer.  We will mostly with the talented and dedicated people that are already in Calvary.

          During April and May, we brought Andy Muskrat from the Waco area to lead our Classic Service (9:30), while Chuck Olson and Diann Whisnand fulfilled important roles in the leadership of that service also.  Jared Solis and Benjamin Aguirre have continued to lead the Contemporary (11) and the Spanish (12:30) services respectively.  We are grateful to each of these individuals and the multiple others who work alongside them to plan and lead each worship service each Sunday.

          For the summer, we will not be bringing an interim worship leader for the 9:30 service.  Andy Muskrat has answered a call to a full-time position as Worship Leader of the Spanish service at Plymouth Park Baptist Church in Irving.  While Jared Solis and Benjamin will continue to lead the 11 o'clock and 12:30 services, we will implement a team approach for the 9:30 service.  Chad Mason will be the worship leader for multiple Sundays in the summer.  Diann Whisnand will be the orchestra leader, working to support the worship leader with musical arrangements and orchestration.  Chuck Olson will lead various vocal and instrumental ensembles.  On occasion Melinda Rodriguez, Diann Whisnand and Chuck Olson will lead the 9:30 service, especially when Chad is preaching or when he is out of town.  (Dr. Melinda Rodriguez is a nursing professor at UTPA who has served in leadership with me at a previous church in Corpus Christi.  She has  a huge heart for worship and a beautiful voice too).  Jared Solis will serve as the team leader for the 9:30 service providing support, resourcing and coordination to these talented and busy team members.  We are blessed to have these folks in our church and we are grateful for their willingness to serve in this capacity.  I ask that you pray for them as they use their gifts and talents in the 9:30 service this summer.

          In the meantime, the music and worship study committee has met on a couple of occasions.  Judy Prater, the committee's chairperson, has reported good progress in their meetings.  The committee will meet again this Sunday (June 9).  They feel optimistic about completing their task by mid to late summer.  This will allow them to submit their observations and recommendations for consideration by the personnel committee.  At this point we have scheduled a Church in Conference for August 25.  If the study and personnel committee complete their recommendation by then, it is possible that the church elect a search committee by that date.  Either way, we are seeking God's leadership as to the what and the when.  So we will need to remain flexible.  Pray for these committees and for the decisions that the church needs to make in the fall.

          Changes like the change of a Pastor for Music and Worship in a church help us to depend on the Lord, to reflect, evaluate and make sure we are on track with His plan.  God is good.  All the time!