Written by Laura Lea Duckworth, Interim Music Director | June 7, 2026
The position of Music Director, as I see it, has three main components: Worship design, planning and coordinating, researching appropriate materials and talent, and rehearsing. The position of Music Minister is about the people of the Crescent Hill congregation, their musical talents and abilities and preferences. I will speak to this part first.
Music is unlike other aspects of worship in that it has the ability to reach down inside a person and grab their heart. This reaction may be attached to memory or to something in the music itself that resonates with the emotions in a way that spoken word does not. In my experience, which is long and vast, singing a sacred test even helps me to believe something I find challenging.
We have probably all experienced the thrill of singing a hymn together with a group of people who invest themselves in the singing of it. Remember singing “It is Well With My Soul” a few weeks ago? I thought that we might lose the roof! When people’s hearts and voices join together it can open the heart to the Love that surrounds us.
When the choir assemble for a rehearsal on Wednesday evening, they come from all kinds of situations with various things on their minds. But for an hour and a half, we all come together and work to make something beautiful that may speak to a deeper place inside each of us, and may even reach outside of ourselves to affect our community. I love assisting people into the act of losing themselves, if only for a minute!
Worship design entails consideration of the sermon topic and scriptures for each Sunday, as well as a knowledge of the Liturgical Year. Once I know these things, I plan hymns, choral, and organ music to try to craft a harmonious and cohesive worship service while taking into consideration where we are in the greater Church Year. The Worship Team coordinates with me to create an ambiance conducive to a pleasing environment for worship, making sure that the elements of worship have people to provide them, as well as bringing beauty into the worship space.
The research part of the job amounts to finding repertoire that is accessible to our choir and which also fits the needs of any given Sunday. This part requires a look into the near future to make certain that what is sung will add to the purpose of each worship service. Occasionally, it is also good to have other special music that enhances the spiritual or intellectual topic of that day’s worship.
Rehearsing: All music needs to be learned and practiced, no matter how talented a person or a choir is, it must always be practiced. Personally, I prefer to practice every day, as I play more confidently and can add new pieces to my repertoire.
My job is a wonderful fit for me, as it involves my mind, heart, education, experience and encouraging others in self expression, in prayer and praise.
Crescent Hill Baptist Church is already sustained by an extraordinarily generous congregation. Because of your faithful support, our church continues to worship, serve our community, advocate for justice, and provide a welcoming spiritual home for all. At the same time, we are facing the financial realities affecting many organizations today. Over the past several years, the cost of operating and maintaining the church has steadily increased, including expenses related to energy, insurance, and building maintenance. As a result, we are currently projecting a deficit of $68,985 for our 2026 budget between our expected income and budgeted expenses.
We are in week 3 of a 4 week Close the Gap Campaign to bridge that difference and ensure that Crescent Hill Baptist Church can continue its ministry and mission with strength and stability. Throughout the campaign, you will hear reflections from church staff about the meaningful work happening through our congregation that your support makes possible. You will receive pledge cards inviting you to consider an additional gift beyond your regularly planned giving during this calendar year. You may choose whether or not to include your name on the pledge card. Completed cards may be placed in the offering plate or returned to the church office. You may also scan the QR code below to submit a digital pledge card to the church office. To date you have pledged $58,320! Thank you for your generosity! With your help we can Close the Gap!
Each week, the thermometer displayed above will track our collective progress toward closing the gap between projected expenses and income for 2026. Every gift, no matter the size, helps sustain the ministries, relationships, and justice-centered witness of our church community.
