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Monday, June 16, 2014

An Offering of Love

An Offering of Love
Women’s Ministry Worship Team

Dedicating this, with overwhelming gratitude, to a “Worship Team” that is willing, available and ready to serve MCBC Women’s Ministry!

Spring 2011… as the Retreat Planning Committee was finalizing the retreat details, one large piece was still missing…. who would lead the worship singing?

Having been decline by several congregations, Living Hope ChristianFellowship in Surrey, BC accepted our invitation. Praise the Lord!
Four lovely women joined us for the retreat weekend. They came with joyful hearts, prepared to serve the Lord with their voices, instruments and inspired readings to complement their songs and our weekend theme.

Sunday, as the retreat was wrapping up, having heard many positive comments regarding the Worship Team, I lightheartedly asked Cheryl if the group would consider becoming the ‘official’ Retreat Worship Team ---- to my surprise and without hesitation she said YES!  
Since then they led the Worship Time for the 60th Anniversary of Mennonite Women Canada (July 2012 -Richmond, BC) and have also taken on the annual Inspirational Day.

We are so blessed to call them our ‘official’ Women’s Ministry Worship Team!

Asking for this interview…. these are some of the comments from the team….. followed by the whole interview below the picture!

Cheryl… We desire to be a blessing to our church family. We believe that out of thanks to God we are to use our gifts to serve where we have been called to serve.

Elly…Our job is to help people worship.”   

Carla… “The Lord has given everyone a part! My approach is doing this as an ‘offering of love’ toward the Lord and let Him use it as He sees fit”  

Full interview will also be posted on our Mennonite Women Canada webpage.
Waltrude Gortzen
MCBC Women’s Ministry Rep

Photo by Waltrude Gortzen – May 4th, 2013
Inspirational Day – Eben-EzerMennonite Church, Abbotsford, BC
Left to right: Carla Hordyk – keyboard; Cheryl Heinrichs sitting on the Cajon & Team Leader;
        Dorothy Friesen – vocals; Elly Federau – guitar. 
Actually, they all sing! 
Worship Team Interview – March 2014
  
1.      Have you always been interested in Music, Worship Leading and Singing?

Cheryl Yes, I think I can safely answer for all of us that we have been interested and involved in music ministry and loved music from when we were young.   We have all come up through the more traditional church system of playing, singing in church and in choir.  For Carla, Elly and myself we then progressed to leading congregational singing and then to worship leading in the more modern, and wider definition.   We all deeply love the Lord and see our different roles in church ministry as physical acts of service to God as our response to His love for us. We desire to be a blessing to our church family and we believe that out of thanks to God we are to use our gifts to serve where we have been called to serve.

Elly – For most of my life I have had an interest in music.  I’ve been a worship leader at Living Hope Christian Fellowship for 20 years. I knew that God had given me a talent and that I should use it to serve Him and the church. I believe it’s a calling.
   
2.      Can you tell us a bit about this work you do. 

      Cheryl – Elly and I are 2 of the regular worship leaders for our congregation and Carla was also a   regular worship leader for our congregation for many years. As worship leaders we believe that we   are called to be lead worshipers in our lives beyond the church walls first.   It is out of our own deep and growing personal relationship with Jesus that we then humbly desire to inspire each congregation we serve to worship the living Jesus and meet with Him personally. We strive to teach the congregation biblical truth and the hope of the Word of God through the songs, scriptures, prayers and responses we incorporate into our corporate worship times. We work together with the speakers/preachers to teach and preach a Spirit- led and God-honouring message... and as a rule we rely completely on the leadership of the Holy Spirit to guide us to the same truth whether it is spoken or sung.

Elly – As the Worship Team, our job is to create an environment for people, using the vehicle of music, to meet with God.  Our job is to help people worship.    

3.  When did the idea/suggestion of becoming MCBC Women’s Ministry official Worship Team first come to you?

Cheryl – I was approached by Waltrude a few years ago about the opportunity to serve the Women's Ministry in the area of leading worship. I did not hesitate in saying yes, trusting that the Holy Spirit would also provide me with a team that would be willing to join me in serving in this ministry. I have been so incredibly blessed to serve side by side with such an amazing and deeply committed team of godly women! Cheryl

Elly – I can’t remember exactly when but we have lead worship at the MCBC Women’s retreat for several years now. 

4.      Was it a difficult decision to become the Women’s Ministry Worship Team and to serve in this manner?

Cheryl – No, it was not a difficult decision for me to say yes to this ministry opportunity because I feel I was already being called to serve the larger church in the area of leading worship.   The timing of this ministry opportunity fit that vision perfectly.

Elly – Definitely not.  

5.      Do you enjoy being part of Women’s Ministry in this way?

Cheryl – I love leading these amazing women in worship. It is soooo inspiring to worship with the larger church family and to express our love for Jesus in such a corporate setting. It is truly a privilege that each of us on the team share. We each feel so blessed to be able to add our gifts to the larger body of believers and see what God is doing in our midst!

Elly – Very much so!  It is such an honor and privilege to serve our ladies in this way.  And it’s a lot of fun, too! It’s great knowing that we are part of a larger church and it’s a great opportunity to meet other women.

6.      How do you see your faith playing a role in this work that you have chosen?

Cheryl – Faith plays an integral part in leading worship both as a team and as a leader.  Our faith is our inspiration to sing, play and lead.  We believe that corporate worship is an outward, unified expression of love and thankfulness to Jesus, who loved us first and completely.  Our love and our worship is centered on a real, and personal encounter with Jesus.   GOD is the author of the songs we sing. The Holy Spirit is the real worship leader whom we submit to in how we lead the congregations as a team and in whom I trust for my inspiration, discernment and wisdom as I lead.  We don't want people to focus on us as a team and certainly not on me as a leader but rather we desire that all glory and honor and focus is on Jesus, the Son of God and our Saviour and on the Almighty God.

Elly – It is central. Like I said before, leading worship is a calling. Worship is a lifestyle, i.e. our whole life, how live the whole week is worship. We honor God with our whole lives.  Leading worship on a Sunday morning, or any gathering, is an extension of what we do during the week.

7.      What are some of the challenges?

Cheryl – There are always challenges in any area of ministry. Coordination of media support and technical skills have proved to be the most challenging for me. However, these areas of challenge have also resulted in highlighting how amazing God is... For He makes all things work together in a way that will bring Him glory and honor and praise. It isn't what we do that shows His powerful presence but what He does when we can't that leaves us the most awe-struck and amazed and blessed. The other single greatest highlight for me has been the time spent praying.... for the events with the women's ministry team, praying before leading worship, praying before each practice with my worship team and praying as I prepare.... And then to be a witness to seeing the Living God move amongst His chosen daughters as they worship together in unison and touch them visibly..... That is a priceless gift.

Elly – Some logistic stuff-it would be nice to have a sound tech as part of our team.

8.      What are the high lights?

Cheryl – I totally agree with Carla in saying that we totally serve out of love for our Lord Jesus and love for our sisters and brothers in Christ. We are passionate about worshipping God with our gifts and blessing His church in the broader sense. It is very much our desire that we become less so that God can be more... That we seek to inspire people to meet with God and worship Him in an honest and authentic way and that He be able to flow through us to bless His church. We are a part of the body of Christ and want to give Him glory and honour, praise and thanksgiving.

Elly – Seeing women engaged in authentic worship-when you can tell they are connecting with God. Women gathering together and lifting their voices and hands in praise to God is something special.
  
And to finish… a short note from …

Carla – I am just a piece of the puzzle… a small part of the whole worship in singing experience and really enjoy it.  The Lord has given everyone a part and my approach is doing this as an offering of love toward the Lord and let Him use it as He sees fit.  I believe I could probably say with confidence that "less of me/us and more of you Lord" is the attitude of our team. We desire for Him to use us in a way so that others can worship Him in spirit and truth and be able to express their thankfulness and love for Him in an environment that is conducive to this…and it is a lot of fun to be together with a large group of women, singing praises to our amazing heavenly Father!! 
***************
The top part of this interview can also be found in the March 2014 issue of   "Connections"  !!!! 


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"As each has received a gift, employ it for one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace." 1 Peter 4:10