In Depth:  Tom Brewster

Tom Brewster

Recently a member of our congregation approached me after the service. She had come to offer a word of encouragement. I wasn’t feeling especially discouraged – in fact, the service had run smoothly, and the music and tech had worked well. But this gentle word of encouragement from a sister in Christ brought me joy and filled my heart with thanksgiving to our generous Father. It was an application of Proverbs 12v25 "Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up."

Many of your musicians and technicians will feel anxiety on Sunday mornings – their minds are probably filled with the “what-ifs” of a church service. Amidst those anxieties your voice, dear reader, can cheer their hearts. How? By offering encouragement that follows two simple rules:

Tom Brewster

All musicians know that they should. But the truth is, practice is difficult.

As with any worthwhile skill, nothing comes for free. Practice is the price a musician pays for the ability to participate in the musical life. The beginner cannot play Beethoven, and even the skilled pianist must grapple with Scriabin. How then should we, as Christian believers, think of practice? Here are some of my initial thoughts:

Tom Brewster

In 1976 Elton John told us that “Sorry” seems to be the hardest word. I think he was probably onto something. But perhaps he ought to have written a follow-up song about “Thank you” being the second hardest (pair of) word(s). The title needs some work.

How do you seek to encourage your musicians and technicians who serve week to week? Paul instructs us to “encourage one another and build one another up” (1 Thess. 5:11). But practically speaking, how do we do that? Sometimes the simplest answers are the best, and here’s my top tip: say thank you – a lot.

Tom Brewster

In the coming weeks and months, as we emerge from singing carols and advent hymns, we will probably start getting back into the habit of learning new songs in our churches.

But in a church with a huge variety of musical abilities, how do we do that well? Let me suggest three ideas:

Tom Brewster

When Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon opened up King Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922, they found a fascinating stash of highly-treasured items: jewellery, weaponry, gold, furniture, statues and… honey.

Tom Brewster

Over the course of 1722-23 a 19-year-old Jonathan Edwards (the American pastor-theologian) wrote 70 resolutions.

Tom Brewster

When I was at university, it wasn’t unknown for me to indulge in a kebab (or two). But coming home was always a culinary joy: food served from a heart of love and with more nutritional value than a melted Twix.