Local Worship Team Opening for Christian Recording Artist

 

by Jonathan Weaver

In addition to a headlining Christian musician and a Country rocker performing this week at the Dayton Fair, a local batch of worship musicians will mark their return performance tonight.

Harvest Community Church’s Worship Team will introduce Jeremy Camp at the Dayton Fair tonight on the main stage with an hour set of contemporary music.

Worship Pastor Matt Cooper said of the 40 Worship Team members, about a dozen volunteered and was available to sing or play their guitars, drums or other instruments for tonight’s performance.

“We have just such a great group of musicians here – it was hard to only use some of them. I wish I could’ve used every single person that we have here,” Pastor Cooper said. “I wish I could’ve used everyone at all of our campuses, which would’ve been well-over 60 people.”

For those who attended the team’s performance last year, “Pastor Matt” said the team will be actually performing on the main stage this year as opposed to nearby as they did before “Sidewalk Prophets” began their performance. Musicians from all four church campuses were able to perform together last year as well.

“This year, we’re on the main stage and actually part of the concert. We open up the concert – last year, we were the pre-show,” Pastor Cooper said. “It’s a big opportunity for our team, and we’re excited about it.

“We try not to make it about us but Him, and what He’s doing – we’re excited to see all God’s going to do.”

Church-goers at the East Franklin Township campus won’t hear much of a difference, however, from usual Sunday performances.

Camp, an ordained minister who is straying from his “I Will Follow 2016” Tour for the local show, is not in the worship team’s usual repertoire; though, “Pastor Matt” double-checked the set list to avoid overlap.

Tonight’s song selections were determined about a month ago.

“We don’t do any of Jeremy Camp’s music because he does a lot more performance-songs – they’re a little bit style, more individual as opposed to corporate worship-type songs,” Pastor Cooper said. “I tried to pick songs that would be familiar to church people from all over the area.”

The worship team rehearsed for about an hour-and-a-half last week.

Lifetime Drummer Zach Reedy, of Ford City, has played in other church bands, but in Harvest Community Church’s about five years. He was introduced to the group by the church’s former worship leader, Pastor Chris Clinch – who is now part of the church’s missionary team in India.

“I love worshipping Jesus – and I find it easier worshipping while playing the drums,” Reedy said.

Pianist Josh Meyer, of Worthington, was also inspired by Pastor Clinch to be a part of the band a few years ago.

Meyer is not nervous about being on the main stage tonight, and neither is West Shamokin’s soon-to-be senior Melody Trudgen – the team’s electric guitarist.

“I’ve been playing up on stage for about two or three years now. I play every Monday in youth band (part of the CRAVE youth group), and I play about every-other-Sunday here at Harvest,” Trudgen said.

Trudgen also performed last year.

Worship team musicians will receive special passes to proceed past the main gate, but are unsure if they will be able to interact with Camp or his musicians.

“If possible - they’re all great musicians,” Pastor Cooper said. “We can definitely learn from them and it would be awesome to meet them, but I don’t know how that works.”

Trudgen considers herself a fan of Camp’s music, with “a handful” of songs that inspires her and she enjoys.

Team members didn’t even know Camp would be the headlining musician until last month.

Church Executive Pastor Fred Neal said about a decade ago, the youth group helped to direct motor traffic, but not recently. He also said that tonight is “an awesome opportunity.”

“It’s been a great opportunity for our church to share our contemporary worship team with our community,” Neal said. “To be in a position to share the stage with someone of (Jeremy Camp’s) capabilities is an awesome opportunity for everyone that’s a part of our worship team. It speaks to the level of commitment that we’ve demonstrated over the years to grow our worship team to a level of quality, while at the same time with a deep focus on true worship.”

Tickets for the 7PM show are still available through the church’s website.

Tonight’s performance comes a day after the four campuses worshipped in Kittanning Riverfront Park for a special service and baptism, picnic lunch and games. About 1,500 people attended the 2015 service.

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