Behind the Scenes: Worship Support Team
So how do all of those magical, thought-provoking, inclusive services get produced?
Of course, our paid staff members have primary roles in pulling it together. Reverend Jason Lydon guides the majority of the services including the sermons. No service would be complete without the music coordinated by Carl Kennedy, the Time for All Ages coordinated by Brittany Morris, the tech support led by Joey LeBlanc, and the slides/communications done by Brandon Nicks.
However, behind the scenes is a quiet, supportive group of volunteers who help even Reverend Jason’s services run smoothly. These are the people who are on the Worship Support Team.
Any time Reverend Jason is not leading the service, a Worship Coordinator from the committee is working as the 2U liaison with the guest minister or the lay leader of the service. The Worship Coordinator familiarizes outside guest speakers with the 2U approach to services. Lay speakers are supported in the preparation of their presentations. The coordinator facilitates communication with the staff, tech crew, and all the different participants in the service. Emails are sent and reports are given. Coordinating is a large job and the committee is experimenting with making it a two-person assignment, particularly for members who are new to the committee.
The Worship Support Team has other backstage activities. Members schedule Worship Associates for each service including ones led by Rev Jason. They work with Rev Jason in the training of Worship Associates and Lay Leaders. They keep the rest of the church informed through the Church Council, the Board, and other reports.
Probably most important role the committee performs is that they support Rev Jason in planning the direction 2U will go in the type of services our congregation experiences. We would love to hear from congregants about feedback on individual services, the shape of worship services more generally, or ideas from the congregation about service topics. You can email the committee at wst@secondunitarian.org, or talk with any of us individually.
It’s a busy committee but as the saying goes: Many hands make light work. Please feel free to join us at the next Worship Associates training if that is an activity you would enjoy doing. It’s a nice introduction to the most visible activity of the church and the entry way for most visitors to understand and become part of 2U.