I am the first to admit that I am not a "numbers guy." My standard joke is, "Hey. I'm a musician. Anything above the number six, and I have to subdivide." But I know that some of you understand and connect to numbers. While art is by and large unquantifiable, let me attach some numbers--and maybe for some of you, some significance--to the musical aspect of a church service.

Last week we enjoyed celebrating Palm Sunday by featuring our youth. Along with a fund raiser for Christian camp that day, there were musical performances in the church services by young people.

Each one of the "special numbers" represents two to five hours of group preparation. For instance, the service opened with a flute ensemble. The group practiced seven times together accumulating more than four hours. And the girls all practiced individually. (Some more than others, to be sure.) I think it's fair to assume that eight girls put in over 30 hours into that one song. Later in the service there was a mixed vocal ensemble. They were rather rushed, only getting in two hours. But there were eight in that group totaling at least 16 hours of preparation.

Are you starting to get the idea? There were a girls' trio and a low brass ensemble. In the evening service there were a vocal solo and a piano duo. And don't forget to figure in the hours that the directors spent choosing and learning the music themselves, plus the time spent developing a scope and sequence for efficient and effective teaching! I think it's fair to say that that one (albeit, special) church service totaled over 150 hours of service to our LORD.

Now I know that everyone gives of their time and talents as a "sacrifice of praise" (Hebrews 13:15), but let's pretend that we had to hire musicians to perform for us. Multiply 150 hours by Arizona's minimum wage of $6.75 and you get $1012.50! And that doesn't take into account that music is a skill. When you hire an organist or a photographer for a wedding, for instance, you are not paying for just their hour of time. You are paying for their years of education and experience.

There are a couple of points we learn from this exercise:

1. Music is a skill that should be dedicated to the LORD. God may honor us by saying, "Well done, good and faithful servant." Talent is irrelevant in God's economy.
2. When we stop to consider what we have here at Tri-City Baptist Church, we begin to understand that we cannot outgive our generous God. Whatever sacrifice we make financially is merely our "reasonable service" (Romans 12:1).

My children love to tell the joke they heard from Pastor Bryan about the family that was complaining about the church service. "I don't know, Dad," said the young daughter. "I didn't think it was too bad a show for the nickel you put in the offering." Hmmmmm.

David Stertzbach II, B.A.
Music Pastor