Q: How do I get involved in the music teams that lead in the worship services each week?
A: Contact Nathan Young at nathan@aumcgrace.org to set up a time to audition or discuss your interests. You can send eMail using the form on the right.
Q: Do I have to audition?
A: Anyone who wants to participate as a musician in worship needs to audition. The audition is very informal. Choir members do not need to audition.
Q: When do you rehearse?
A: The Worship team rehearses on Wednesday nights from 7:00PM - 9:00PM. The chancel choir rehearses from 7:15PM - 9:00PM on Thursday nights.
Q: Are all of you volunteers?
A: Yes. We don't pay any of the worship team volunteers or sound techs. These are people donating time just as in many other ministries at AUMC.
Q: Is everyone a "professional" musician/singer?
A: Not everyone who participates with us makes their living in a music related field. Many have a background in music but make their living in a variety of ways, but it is not a prerequisite to participating in the worship ministry.
Q: Do I have to be a member of AUMC to participate?
A: No. We do ask that you regularly attended but it is not a requirement.
Q: I don't feel comfortable being one of only a few singers. Where else can I serve with my music at AUMC?
A: You can take part in some of our cantata style musicals at Christmas and Easter. Rehearsal for these events start about 8 weeks from each event.
Q: Why is the service format one that includes so much music, even throughout the message?
A: We are being very intentional about helping people "connect the dots" when it comes to our corporate worship. Our entire worship service is designed to accentuate certain points at certain times in the services, helping the worshipper engage on as many levels as possible. We use artwork to coincide with the message and music. We use certain feature music that accentuates certain points of the message. We won't shy away from using music from a variety of genre's and styles to compliment the theme of the day. We want to drive home the point that we are all part of something bigger than just the here and now. Sometimes, in order to accomplish that, we need to use songs from the culture that ask a lot of questions.
Q: How can I get involved with the volunteers who work with sound, video, projection, lighting, etc. if my gifts and experience are more on the technical side of music?
A: We use a number of volunteers in our booth each week. If you have a technical background in sound, lighting, video, etc. we would love to plug in your gifts. We need people who are able to run projection, help set and tear down the stage for special events, and record the services as well as engineer the main console and monitor mixes. If you are interested in being part of our technical team, please contact our Creative Worship Director, Nathan Young at nathan@aumcgrace.org