Worship Hosts at Peace

“No one sees them, except Jesus”

When you’re sitting in the pews during worship, it’s hard to grasp just how much of what’s happening around you takes place behind the scenes. 

Of course, we see the pastors (maybe we’d even like to see them a few minutes less sometimes)! We always see the musicians as they lead us through each service. And we notice the volunteers: ushers passing the plates and guiding movement, communion servers sharing the bread and the wine. But the group we don’t often see—the group responsible for keeping pastors, musicians, volunteers, and everything else working together—are the Worship Hosts. 

The lights? Worship Hosts. 

The screens? Worship Hosts. 

The volunteers? Worship Hosts. 

The offering? Worship Hosts. 

Communion? Worship Hosts. 

Needless to say, there isn’t much that happens in a service that hasn’t been gently and quietly coordinated by this vital role in our church. 

Judy Hilleson is the leader of the Worship Host team. She has served as a Worship Host for five years, and in addition to coordinating and training other hosts, Judy participates in the weekly worship planning meetings alongside pastors and music staff. 

As each service is discussed, Judy asks the questions that help ensure the entire ecosystem of staff and volunteers works together smoothly—so that worship can be meaningful, unhurried, and spiritually grounded. 

If you ask Judy why she serves as a Worship Host, she’ll tell you that she feels called by God to serve Peace behind the scenes. She’s aware that God is using her role to impact the lives of the hundreds of worshipers who gather at Peace each week. Through her leadership, she empowers participation, removes barriers, and enables the whole community to worship God in spirit and in truth. 

The best part? 

No one sees her, except Jesus. And everyone benefits from her faithful service.  

If Judy’s story resonates with you, God may be nudging you to consider serving in this way. As our worshiping community continues to grow—and as we feel called to create vibrant, meaningful services—we need more Worship Hosts like Judy. 

Maybe that is you. 

Take a moment to pray and ask God if your next right step might be to reach out to Judy and learn more about becoming a Worship Host. You just might discover a new calling.