I like to commence worship services punctually with an uplifting song or medley to get everyone energized, while preparing hearts for the message later in the service.

On relevant occasions, I generally incorporate music for patriotic holidays, Advent, the Lenten season, Holy Week, Easter, Pentecost, All Saints Day, Thanksgiving, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Grandparent’s Day, and comparable observances.

Some of Megan’s favorite musicians for solo piano are:

Megan is highly skilled and experienced in leading praise and worship. She has a proven ability to select appropriate musical pieces for worship services, ensuring they complement the sermon. Megan is proficient at learning and performing congregational songs, and she is capable of leading both the congregation and/or choir from the piano, covering a broad range of praise and worship music from the 4th century A.D. to the present day. Many churches often request a blend of contemporary and traditional hymns in their worship services, and Megan is adept at seamlessly integrating songs of various genres, meters, and styles.

Hymns are among her favorite genres to perform, as she finds their lyrics to be profoundly meaningful, characterized by elegant word choices and rich in deep significance. She believes Christian hymns of the church should be treasured and frequently performed, ensuring they are never forgotten. The foundations of our nation were, in part, built upon the tradition of hymn singing. Megan believes it is important to honor this legacy and keep this tradition vibrant, as it is a practice that every patriot might consider upholding.

When I consider offertories, my perspective is rooted in sacrifice—the act of returning a portion of the blessings God has given us. Scripture calls Christ-followers to freely offer ten percent of our income to the church body that serves God and His people. While giving to an unknown recipient can be challenging, it ultimately requires trust and obedience.

I believe the offertory is a sacred moment for reflection on our faith, dependence on God, and willingness to release a portion of what we have worked hard to earn. For this reason, I choose offertories that reflect trust, obedience, sacrifice, and love.”

I have consistently and respectfully chosen piano compositions that portray the final days of Jesus’s life on Earth, specifically highlighting the Last Supper and the events culminating in his crucifixion. The selections performed have encompassed meterless chants with simple melodies and organ accompaniment, cherished century-old church hymns, reverent communion standards from the 1980s, and more recent Christian Contemporary arrangements that also deeply resonate with the congregation.

Postludes can present a unique challenge, as one might anticipate an invitation for reflection following a particularly moving sermon. Therefore, I often have a suitable song prepared for such an occasion, such as the hymn “Without Him” or the contemporary piece “Come As You Are.” If a call for reflection is not part of the service, I conclude the musical portion with a well-known postlude—one that is familiar enough for everyone to sing along to without needing the lyrics. I have found that this encourages the congregation to remain for a short while longer to fellowship with people they haven’t met….rather than immediately departing for coffee and cookies….or the parking lot!