Worship is not just a weekly event. It is not just something you do. Worship is a lifelong encounter with the God of the universe that transforms us from being self-centered to being God-centered in every area of our life. But when we do gather to worship Him, we come together as His people, as a unique and loving community, and it ought to be an extraordinary experience!

Serving is a part of worship. See below for ways to serve in Worship Arts at Midland Free.

To view Worship Arts main page click here.

The band provides musical leadership to the congregation in the worship service. The players serve on a scheduled rotation basis and rehearse on Thursday nights with the vocalists. Ability to read chord charts and intermediate to expert level on an instrument is necessary. Ability to read music and lead sheets are helpful. If interested, please contact the worship arts pastor for an initial interview. There is an application and audition process.

We celebrate each time someone is baptized. It is a great event in their lives as well as in the life of Midland Free. Most candidates are nervous and unsure where to go and what to do. We want to make this a worry-free experience for them so they can celebrate their special day. We have men who assist the make candidates and women who assist the female candidates. Those who serve on this team will make contact with the baptism candidate prior to Sunday to arrange a meeting time. The baptism team member then walks the candidate through the process of the where, when and how. Once the candidate has changed into the baptismal robes, the team member will stay with the candidate until after they have been baptized. Being friendly, helpful and assisting the candidates from start to finish is very encouraging to those who are baptized. If you are interested in serving in this way, please contact Gary or Sue Black at gmblack@chartermi.net or you may contact the worship arts pastor.

The Midland Free Choir sings for the classic service and is the primary means of leading the singing in the classic service. The choir is for middle school students through adults and no audition is required to join the choir. The ability to read music is helpful. You do not have to attend only the classic service to sing in the choir—on occasion the choir will sing in the contemporary service. If you are interested please contact Rachelle Lewandowski, Worship Arts Assistant, so that you may receive regular notices for rehearsals and choir music, rachellelewandowski@mefchurch.org.

Dramatic sketches are strategically used in our worship services. Most often we create our own. We have a team of actors we use according to the cast needed. We are always interesting adding more to our team who act and write. If you are interested, please contact either the worship arts pastor or Bill Blackwood at vblackw441@aol.com.

The instrumentalists will rehearse prior to the classic service and on a week night once a month, if necessary. The primary instrumentation is piano, guitar, keyboard. Pianists and keyboard players must be able to read music and play hymns. Additional instrumentalists such as string and wind players need to be at an intermediate to advanced level and are encouraged to serve on a rotation basis. If you play any of these particular instruments and are interested in this service, please contact Pastor Rod Lyon (rodlyon@mefchurch.org) for an interview.

Preparing the elements of communion for a worshipping congregation can be a rewarding ministry. We have a team of people who prayerfully prepare the elements of bread and juice for the services on the Sundays we celebrate the Lord’s Supper. This team serves about six or seven times a year. This is not a difficult task but is a vital part of helping prepare this sacrament in the service. If interested please contact the worship arts pastor.

There are several areas in which to serve. A working knowledge of a specific area is helpful but we provide training for proficiency. All positions are scheduled rotation. FOH, stage, lights and producers scheduled to serve on a Sunday will rehearse on Thursday with the musicians. If interested, please contact the technical arts director for initial interview. The areas of service are:

• Front of House: engineers the sound for the main house.
• Stage: engineers the sound for the vocalists and band. Also provides stagehand help for the stage area.
• Lights: creates scenes and operates light cues for the worship service.
• Production: operates the media segments and camera switching for the stage screens and back screen.
• Camera: operates the cameras from the rear of the room in the second service. (No rehearsal except on special occasions).
• Media design: creates the visuals for the worship songs. We use a Mac based system for design. (No rehearsal).
• Video Team: currently looking for interested personnel.

Those assisting in this way for the classic service serve on a
rotation basis from the choir. On the Sunday they are scheduled, they will sing on mic for congregational singing and usually sing at the close of the service. These persons also lead the singing on the Sundays the choir is not scheduled to sing. The ability to read music is helpful since each person will be singing a specific part. If interested please see Pastor Rod Lyon to audition (rodlyon@mefchurch.org).

The singers provide vocal leadership to the congregation in the worship service. The singers scheduled for a Sunday will rehearse the worship music on Thursdays with the band. This group serves by scheduled rotation. Ability to read music is helpful. If interested, please contact the worship arts pastor for an initial interview. There is an application and audition process.

Dance instructors for Thursday evening classes according to age and experience for children and youth ages from 1st grade through high school. We have Thursday evening classes according to age and experience for children and youth ages from 1^st grade through high school. No prior dance experience is necessary for younger ages. The groups rehearse on Thursday evenings and perform in the worship services and an end of year recital. Classes run current with school year. Minimal cost. >>more