Worship Ensemble & Band

Worship at Northside is led by a group of musicians who sing and play each week to support the congregation's singing and other parts of worship.

Our Philosophy

Worshipping God is one of our highest privileges and joys, and making music for God's glory and the edification of God's people is a great honor and can be very satisfying. We believe that music in worship is designed chiefly as an aid to congregational singing and do all that we can to encourage, invite, and make participation by all possible. Before you make music "on stage," you should see yourself as an equal participant in worshiping God and be singing regularly with eagerness and joy, making melody in your hearts from the pew to and for the Lord.

Team Format

The congregational singing for worship each week is lead by the worship ensemble & band, comprised of voices, guitars, rhythm instruments, organ, piano, and other orchestral instruments. Our primary mission is supporting, encouraging, and facilitating the singing of congregational songs. Each week the group that leads is a little different, due to both the availability of our members and any musical or logistical considerations for a given week. The pastor of music & worship guides the team in preparing and presenting the best leadership possible to the congregation.

Who Can Participate?

Since the public worship of God is so important and vital to the Christian life, we are careful about who we allow to lead both in word and by example. Only people who call Northside home may serve. This helps us ensure that our music and singing is a "family affair."  We draw primarily from the Adult Choir for worship ensemble members, because of the discipleship, teaching, and training that occurs in Adult Choir. From time to time, we'll invite other musicians to join us, both to stretch our hearts and minds in worship, and to support their work of music-making.

How Do I Get Started?

First, join the Adult Choir. Then, contact the pastor of music & worship, John Woods and he'll schedule you for an audition. The audition tends to be fairly informal and is a time to have any additional questions about worship ministries answered. At your audition, please come prepared to play or sing several of your favorite  songs (you can bring your own music if you'd like). If you don't bring a list, we'll choose several songs from our regular library for you to try. It is possible that you may have a heart that is eager to serve but a voice or skill set that is not quite ready for public ears. In that case, we will gently encourage you to continue practicing and visit again soon.

What Will Be Expected of Me?

Our first expectations have nothing to do with your musical skills, but your heart.

• First, we expect you to serve with a humble, cheerful attitude. This doesn't mean that you won't ever have crabby days or that we expect you to put on a fake smile, but it does mean that you are striving to put off sins of pride and self-interest, particularly those that visibly affect the worship ensemble & band, or the congregation. Humility can be simply defined as being more interested in others than yourself, which is particularly important for musicians. We are there to serve the people and to help them sing and be affected by the truth of our songs, not to show off our skills.
• Second, we expect you to be faithful to the life of Northside, participating in worship when you are not leading, small groups, prayer meeting, and regular church life.
• Third, we expect you to be punctual at our rehearsals and warm-up times, encourage you to sing while you play (even if it's hard at first), and encourage feedback and input to the rest of team. 
• Fourth, we expect you to come prepared to rehearsals, having reviewed and practiced the music ahead of time.
• Fifth, we expect you to be consistent in receiving and giving communication via phone and email.

What is the Schedule and Time Commitment?

For the week that you are on the worship ensemble & band, you'll be expected to attend rehearsal on Wednesday at 6:00pm, and then be early to worship at 8:15am and 10:45am. The rehearsals are mandatory, even if you're a world-famous musician! This is because our rehearsals are for more than simply learning notes - they are for crafting arrangements specific to a service and for building unity as a team. You'll receive the music via email, which will also have specific times for rehearsal and review. We schedule team members based on their availability, as well as the needs of the team for a particular week.

What About Solo Presentations?

You can learn more about sharing a solo here.