In the second instalment of my ‘bad answers to perfectly good questions’ series, I’m recalling a question I was asked at the last Music Ministry Conference about lateness at rehearsals.
This may seem a little trivial, but consistent lateness betrays more serious problems with discipline and service. It follows then that, if we’ve been given responsibility for rehearsing church musicians, the job involves much more than just playing the right notes. Rehearsals are another chance that God gives us to learn Christ and to serve his people.
Servant heart?
We’re all late once in a while, but consistent lateness is something that should be checked for the sake of the musician and for the church as a whole. Consistent lateness shows that a person hasn’t thought about the other musicians, and expects people to work around them, rather than to serve. This in turn produces discontent in others. No one is built up. Promptness, however, shows a servant heart, helps everyone do as good a job as they can and encourages a spirit of unity.
When the question was asked about how to deal with latecomers, I replied something like: ‘When the last person arrives, I say, “Now we’re all here, let’s pray”’. Cutting. Not the most clever reply, and one which is more likely just to induce guilt in the offender and pride in those who have been on time — hardly a good way of building anyone up. The silly thing is that this is not even what I say. I think it was a just something that I’d remembered an old choirmaster using from years ago which I just blurted out.
What I actually say is a bit different. I try and make sure that musicians turn up for rehearsals at least five minutes early, especially those who need to tune up or set up. If the rehearsal is at 2.30, I ask them to be ready to ‘twang, honk, plink or boink’ at 2.30. Happily, there are some who turn up a full quarter of an hour early to get warmed up and ready.
Encourage
For all those on time, I purposefully say: ‘Thank you for serving us by being on time, we’ll pray when everybody’s here’. This is to show appreciation for their care in being prompt, and to remind them of the importance of keeping it up. Encouragement is a much more effective way to help people (especially musicians) learn discipline.
As for those who are late, it’s good to talk to them gently but firmly afterwards (depending, of course, on the sensitivity of each person), asking them to come on time for rehearsals. It’s best to do this after saying something encouraging about their playing or singing. If a musician learns to do this early on as he or she serves in church, then it’ll make the job much easier, as it’s hard to rein someone in later in life who has got into bad habits. I’m very grateful to the lady who admonished me firmly for being only ten minutes early for a wedding when I was 18. I won’t forget those eyebrows in a hurry!
The reason that it’s important to have a word with latecomers is because we can tell a lot about their attitude to service from their response. Those who think the church should be privileged to have them at all will be indignant at being reminded that they are there to serve. Those who have a healthy and humble attitude will immediately say sorry and should show signs of a repentant heart in future rehearsals.
Standing people down
If someone is consistently late and there is no change in behaviour after speaking to them a few times, I have stopped asking them to serve as musicians. This is also for the protection of the other musicians and the congregation. Similarly, I’ve stood people down temporarily if I have asked them to work on a negative attitude during the rehearsal itself or if a more serious area of disobedience has come to light from their Bible study leader.
Rehearsals are not glamorous at all, but they are a great way of helping musicians learn obedience, kindness, grace and service of Christ and his people.
