How to get involved

As worship is one of our highest values there are opportunities to help out.

There are many ways to get involved in the worship ministry of Yarra Valley Vineyard. Just about every ministry area has worship as a key ingredient and are looking for worship leaders and musicians to lend a hand. If you are a musician or a worship leader, get involved in a ministry area and help serve.

For Sunday services, we are looking for skilled musicians who have been faithful serving in other ministries. We build our teams out of relationship and rarely hold official auditions. If you are skilled and are willing to serve wherever, hang around long enough and be faithful and opportunities will abound.

For more information contact: dhocking@yvvcf.org.au

Frequently Asked Questions about Worship

Whether you’re a 'beginner' or 'veteran' worshipper, this is essential to read, because the worship of God is our highest priority at YVV.

What is worship all about in a Vineyard church?

We believe in relevant, honest worship.
Relevant worship means that anyone can walk in to our gatherings and be able to participate in the songs we sing to God. It also means that we want our worship music to reflect the diversity of our community.

Honest worship is about a real encounter with the presence of God. We come without pretence - with our joys and our sorrows - and He meets us!

We value a lifestyle of worship; our church celebrations are an overflow of what we try to live out every day of the week.

What can I expect when visiting Yarra Valley Vineyard?

When our church community gathers together, our worship expresses our love and devotion for God through expressions of music, reading of the Bible, teaching, confession, Communion, prayer, giving and friendship.

Each service starts with about 25 minutes offering honest, culturally relevant worship music that centres on God. All the words are on a big screen and easy to see. During this time, whether you join in song or sit quietly focussing on God, open your heart to experience the power and love of Jesus Christ.

Worship is more than singing a few songs at Christmas or Easter. True worshippers live their whole lives in close proximity to God. But, we cannot rightly worship God unless we are first in right relationship with him.

God initiates this relationship with us through giving us new life—through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. So we join together in faith that He is alive today and we are celebrating His continued presence with us, through His Spirit. We live with Him as our focus.

Why worship?

Worship is primarily a response to God’s love.

Our response to such a great Saviour is deep gratitude, joy and humility, love and obedience. We recognise the need to surrender, again and again, to his leadership in our lives. We acknowledge the need to receive new life from Him daily.

The inner change of his new life entering our hearts results in a changed lifestyle. We find ourselves transforming as we follow God and his Word, enabling us to love others and give pleasure to Him.

Worship is much more than playing instruments and singing. But in that communal activity, we join with those who throughout history have recognised the power of music to express our worship together.

Our music and singing is a response to God. We sing to God, in prayerful expression. It expresses our love, submission and respect for God and involves our whole person: spirit, mind, will, body, emotion, money, time, decisions, dreams, goals and lifestyle.

What is worship?

At YVV, our music is in a style relevant for today and accessible to all.
Our music strives for a balanced and full expression of worship. We use songs anchoring us into the riches of the past, as well songs that have been written recently.
We recognise He deserves very best efforts and we spend time, money and energy to enable our best offerings.
We hope our music values and embodies:

Spirit and Truth
Holy Spirit inspired
Theologically sound
Freely expressed
Cultural Relevance
Kingdom Expectation
Accessibility
Reverence
Affection
Renewal
Intimacy
Silence
Celebration

We set aside time and space to give our full attention to God. Gathering together may reflect a variety of moods.

In the Bible, King David, (who wrote many of the Psalms) could on one occasion dance with exuberant zeal and on other occasions bow in humble amazement at the goodness of God. God was pleased with expressions appropriate to the moment. Each reflected outwardly the inner reality of a warm heart in right relationship with a holy, loving Father.

Our Heavenly Father calls us to worship him in Spirit and Truth.
As we draw close to him, he draws close to us, and offers us the greatest gift a person could ever receive: intimate friendship with a Holy God.

As we do, God desires to reveal himself to you, to show you who he is. So pay attention when we gather: God is present and speaking to you.

At the heart of our worship is the desire to see his kingdom come and his will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Why are some people more expressive in worship than others?

We encourage wholehearted responses and so you will see many different ways people express their worship. Expressiveness should not be confused with signs of spiritual maturity or simply as a reflection of personality.

Lots of things affect our freedom in expression. Often it can be related to personal experience or worship tradition or very real encounters with God.

Ideally, outward and visible expressions of worship (our singing, posture and our lifestyle), whether it is quiet or expressive, should reflect the inward condition of our heart. But, being human, this is not consistently the case.
Sometimes we raise our hands over our heads in exuberant praise or keep them in our pockets merely out of habit. Our hope is that we all are free to express our love for God as an authentic expression to what is happening in our hearts.

Are you a 'beginner' worshipper?

A few words to newcomers:

If you are used to quiet worship, take a risk and explore new ways to express a heart full of thanks to God. Go for it! Clap or raise your hands; kneel in reverence or offer a shout with a voice of joy or triumph.
These are biblical expressions when they reflect your heart.
When the Holy Spirit leads the worship leader or congregation into clapping, close your eyes and know that one day all of God’s people throughout the ages will gather before the King of Kings and cheer his great victory over death and darkness.
And sometimes our earthly worship reflects this coming reality.

Try not to focus on the exuberance of others. Focus on God. Over time you will grow in new expressions of worship.

Are you a 'veteran' worshipper?

A few words to more experienced worshippers:

God looks at the heart. Be aware that routine can sometimes replace reality.
Allow the Holy Spirit to fuel your worship during the week. Continue to pursue a sincere relationship with Him and explore fresh expressions to please Him.
You might like to ask yourself, “Do my actions reflect my heart or am I just going through the motions of learned behaviour?:

The Apostle Paul, a strong advocate for the experience of spiritual gifts like prophecy and speaking in tongues, was also very concerned how those gifts affect newcomers and “outsiders” (1 Cor. 12-14). If you’re not sure whether your expression of worship or a spiritual gift is a blessing, pause to ask yourself four simple questions:

·      Is God glorified?
·      Is the church lovingly encouraged?
·      Are bridges—or barriers—being built to newcomers?

Ask a pastor or leader if you are not sure of the answers to any of these important questions.

Worship Training and Events

We have several events throughout the years for those wanting to grow in their understanding of worship as well as those wanting to grow in their ability to lead others in worship. You will find these advertised on our website and in our church newsletter.

Other ways to be involved at YVV

Small Group Worship Leading
Small Group Worship Leader Mentoring
Online worship training opportunities
Live music and sound
Media
Lighting
Songwriting
Visual Art
Youth and Young Adults Worship
Kidz Worship

Contact: Di Hocking  dhocking@yvvcf.org.au

Also check out: www.vineyard.org.au/worship-about

A note from Di: 

I wish to acknowledge the many contributors who have helped shape the words you have just read on this page.
The information has been gathered over many years, from many gifted worship pastors and worship communities.
Thank you to you all if you recognise your fingerprints in this worship section!