Every Tuesday, a diverse team of UWaterloo students gathers for prayer, small group discussion, song teaching, and worship service planning. These students are part of the Worship Apprentice Program offered by Grebel’s Music Department as a skill-building opportunity within the Church Music and Worship Program.
This program includes a practical course, a scholarship, and attendance at a worship conference. The practical course offers experience in developing and leading church worship services. Students put their theoretical knowledge to work when together they design and lead two very different types of services at churches during the course.
“One factor that inspired the Worship Apprentice Program was the desire to give students the chance to develop their skills in worship leadership,” explained Professor Kate Steiner, director of the Church and Worship Program. “Students at the University of Waterloo are capable leaders, which means that those who are engaged in worship will end up in leadership positions in their churches. We wanted to give students a broader perspective on worship and time to reflect before they take up those leadership positions.”
“I was drawn to the opportunity to explore how the best elements of worship from multiple traditions could be combined into a single accessible and transformative service,” remarked Mykayla Turner, a Music and Health Studies student. “I hope that the knowledge and experience gained through this program will make me more confident while leading worship.”
Matthias Mostert, a PACS and French student, commented on the understanding that he has gained: “Being exposed to different styles of worship through relationship with my classmates, rather than through a textbook, has broadened my appreciation for the spectrum of Christian worship styles and the people who bring them to life.”
“The students that participate in this program are the future of the church in North America,” remarked Kate. “Every time I meet with these students I get really excited for the future. They are intentional, thoughtful, engaged students who come with a variety of insights and desires for worship. We see this program as an opportunity for churches to rejuvenate their worship or to reach out beyond their usual song set.”
Churches that are interested in hosting a service planned by students in the Worship Apprentice Program are welcome to contact Kate Steiner at 519-885-0220 x24244 or ksteiner@uwaterloo.ca.
Challenging Students Beyond Their Comfort Zone
Music Professor Maisie Sum uses a variety of teaching techniques that encourage hands-on learning.
Music Professor Maisie Sum uses a variety of teaching techniques that encourage hands-on learning. In class, Maisie has students engage in collaborative peer teaching through discussion, feedback, and presentations. She offers them the option to complete creative explorations, ethnographic explorations, or text-based analyses as final projects. Maisie frequently uses music-making exercises in her courses as well. “I have started to integrate these activities into my teaching more intentionally. I have seen students thrive when entrusted to take responsibility of their own learning when given the choice to learn about topics meaningful to them and when challenged to try something beyond their comfort zone.”
