I lead worship for a smaller local church. Roughly 120 people, depending on the week. I prefer to keep my eyes mostly open while leading. There are several reasons. Musically, I need to be able to get the attention of my musicians and singers in case we need to adjust anything (extra chorus, acapella with instruments dropping out, etc.). Congregationally, it really encourages me to see my brothers and sisters engaging in worship. At the same time, I might want to make adjustments from reading the room. For example, if I see that people are really broken or weary, I might stop and call for a time of prayer. Just my thoughts on the issue.
I serve on our worship team playing acoustic guitar and singing, and leading on usually one or two songs per Sunday. My wife has for years always said that keeping your eyes open and making eye contact with the congregation is important as it helps invite them to worship. And for me, it makes more of a connection with the congregation that facilitates with making it a corporate worship time.
I've been going to church for three decades and have never noticed or cared whether or not the worship leader's eyes are open or closed. I'll have to check next time.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! When I'm in corporate worship as a member of the congregation my eyes are closed. I couldn't tell you if my worship leader's eyes are open or not! 😀
To me , worship God need to have some reasons , once I acknowledge God power, intelligence, beauty,love and many other qualities, then my heart naturally admires and respects Him .
For me as a leader, my job is to be an example of how to connect to Jesus. I do not believe its about them connecting to me. (I'm not Christ). However as Paul says imitate me as I imitate Christ. So in that reguard there should be a connection and a trust. Im in a pretty small church. Maybe 50 chairs. So we are pretty close to each other and it can get a little awkward. So i will for sure do the first song looking into the congregation but as we move in the set of the spirit takes over, it takes over.
Thanks for sharing but I preferred to keep my eyes open and maintain eye contact with the congregation when I am leading praise and worship moments. You can see the response from the worshippers whether they are being led into God's presence.
![เปิด อาณาจักร หมื่นล้าน "สาระตั้ม" l [Nickynachat]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/3XE0nPF4YkQ/mqdefault.jpg)
CORPORATE worship. Something we do together. And at our best, we see the Lord in the faces of our awesome brothers and sisters.
Good job.
I lead worship for a smaller local church. Roughly 120 people, depending on the week. I prefer to keep my eyes mostly open while leading. There are several reasons. Musically, I need to be able to get the attention of my musicians and singers in case we need to adjust anything (extra chorus, acapella with instruments dropping out, etc.). Congregationally, it really encourages me to see my brothers and sisters engaging in worship. At the same time, I might want to make adjustments from reading the room. For example, if I see that people are really broken or weary, I might stop and call for a time of prayer. Just my thoughts on the issue.
I serve on our worship team playing acoustic guitar and singing, and leading on usually one or two songs per Sunday. My wife has for years always said that keeping your eyes open and making eye contact with the congregation is important as it helps invite them to worship. And for me, it makes more of a connection with the congregation that facilitates with making it a corporate worship time.
I've been going to church for three decades and have never noticed or cared whether or not the worship leader's eyes are open or closed. I'll have to check next time.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! When I'm in corporate worship as a member of the congregation my eyes are closed. I couldn't tell you if my worship leader's eyes are open or not! 😀
To me , worship God need to have some reasons , once I acknowledge God power, intelligence, beauty,love and many other qualities, then my heart naturally admires and respects Him .
For me as a leader, my job is to be an example of how to connect to Jesus.
I do not believe its about them connecting to me. (I'm not Christ).
However as Paul says imitate me as I imitate Christ. So in that reguard there should be a connection and a trust. Im in a pretty small church. Maybe 50 chairs. So we are pretty close to each other and it can get a little awkward. So i will for sure do the first song looking into the congregation but as we move in the set of the spirit takes over, it takes over.
Thanks for sharing but I preferred to keep my eyes open and maintain eye contact with the congregation when I am leading praise and worship moments. You can see the response from the worshippers whether they are being led into God's presence.