Worship Weblog
Monday, October 20, 2008
New URL
For new posts please see our new blog location:
www.worshipweblog.com
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Twitter feed from the Fall Preaching conference
Follow our live Twitter feed from the Fall Preaching Conference held by the Center for Excellence in Preaching at Calvin Seminary. The speaker today is Thomas Long, one of the most engaging preachers of our time. We’ll be posting key statements from his presentations. Check back later for audio and video from the conference.
Events • Leadership • Preaching • (0) Comments • Permalink
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Talking Web 2.0 at Lilly Consultation
Earlier this week we helped host an annual consultation of religion websites funded by the Lilly Endowment. The topic was Web 2.0, and we were all atwitter about Twitter.
First Presbyterian Church of Birmingham, Birmingham, MI
Betsy Steele Halstead, Resource Development Specialist for the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, was invited to speak to a group of leaders from several congregations as a part of the 2008 Worship Renewal Grant awarded to First Presbyterian Church of Birmingham, MI. Worship leaders, artists, pastors, Christian educators, and musicians gathered to learn about ways that visual art and worship space supplement and enhance or distract from worship. Betsy encouraged participants to begin by evaluating their current worship space to discover what it communicates about priorities in faith and worship. She reminded artists of their role as servants of the community and the importance of disciplined creativity. Using photos of many churches, she described the importance of the visual connecting to Scripture, music and movement. Participants indicated that they were eager to return to their congregation to further explore what had been learned.
This morning was a part of the grant leadership team’s year long process to expanded use of visual and dramatic arts in worship. While it is their hope that the learning will bring renewal to their congregation, a priority for their work is also to collaborate in learning with neighboring congregations.
Workshops in November and March will continue the learning. In the congregation, on the second Sunday of each month, conversations are hosted by a member of the grant leadership team and clergy on the topic Worship Alive: Making Connections which offers participants the opportunity to ask questions about worship. Education for children in the congregation during the grant year is also focused on worship.
Following the workshop we met with Cynthia Merten, project director, and the grant leadership team to discuss the project and their hopes and prayers for worship renewal.
The King’s University College, Edmonton, AB
Report by Betty Grit:
On Monday morning The King’s University College is bustling as students and faculty begin a week of study and learning. Julianne Gilchrist, campus chaplain, and Melanie Fehr, a third year student who serves as the Student Worship Assistant, met with me to reflect on the fruits that are evident since the Worship Renewal Grant of 2006.
Julianne reported that there is an increasing intentionality to mentor student worship formation teams. On Sunday they had gathered for a retreat to learn together and develop the teams. Julianne reports that attendance at the Symposium on Worship in 2007 and resources gathered during the grant year serve as a foundation for the learning. Paul Ryan, Coordinator for Christian Formation through Worship at Calvin College, traveled to King’s in 2007 to offer a workshop and continues to serve as a resource for questions or challenges they encounter.
Through the 2006 grant the leadership team was introduced to Vertical Habits. Those habits continue to provide guidance and formation for training leaders and for worship planning.
Julianne reports that the number of students expressing eagerness to participate in leading worship is growing as is the number of staff and students coming together for worship.
We are grateful for the priority King’s has given to the worship life of the community and for the ways staff and students serve the community throughout Edmonton.
Fellowship Christian Reformed Church, Edmonton, AB
Report from Betty Grit:
The congregation of Fellowship Christian Reformed Church, a few visitors, and some students from The Kings University College gathered for an all day retreat as the first step in a year long process of worship renewal. The day began with worship led by members of all ages. Roy Berkenbosch challenged us to celebrate and remember our baptism in all of life.
The 2008 Worship Renewal Grant project will help them review and assess past worship practices in the congregation and renew worship through liturgies that demonstrate congregational values of inclusivity, collaboration, creativity and social justice. Following worship we engaged together in round table discussion related to questions developed to help the congregation explore these topics. Youth were present at almost every table and were encouraged to voice their ideas. Prayers were offered for personal and corporate renewal and thanksgiving for the enthusiastic participation of worshipers of all ages in this process. We concluded the day with the celebration of the Lord’s Supper and our unity in Christ.
A conversation with the grant leadership team on Saturday evening provided insight into the congregation. They have chosen not to have a pastor but to invite guest preachers each week. Members of the congregation plan the liturgy and provide pastoral care for each other. Together we made plans for the retreat and prayed for the process of renewal that is beginning.
Sunday evening the leadership team again gathered to reflect on the day. Facilitators at each table recorded highlights of the discussion. Project director, Rebecca Warren, expressed gratitude for the extensive input and information gathered in such a short amount of time. She later wrote, “There is so much here, we could spend the rest of the grant year just processing this info and moving on some of the ideas.”
We are praying for wisdom and encouragement for this congregation and all who are engaged in worship renewal.
The River, Edmonton, AB
Report by Betty Grit:
Pastor Bruce Gritter served as project director for grants to The River, a new church plant in Edmonton.
As we met for breakfast on a Saturday morning, Bruce told us that the congregation has just completed its fifth year, that it brings together between 400 and 500 people each Sunday, and is in the process of planting its first church. Because they meet in a school, much of Saturday will be spent preparing the space for worship.
Currently The River is offering a seven week series called Break Free. Sermons, drama, dance, visual art, and a journal for small group discussion have been created to help worshipers identify those things that rob them of life and to break free so they can experience healing, growth and wholeness through their relationship with God. Pastor Bruce reports that this series has opened the hearts of many people to begin a life transformed by the Spirit.
The River and Pastor Bruce had partnered with us to first explore and give a name to Vertical Habits. We are grateful to learn how the congregation has built on that concept to reach out in the community and help people grow in a relationship with God.
Edmonton Chinese Baptist Church, Edmonton, AB
Report from Betty Grit:
Elaine Chu, project director for the grant to Edmonton Chinese Baptist Church, met us at the church on a warm Friday evening. She explained that there are 3 worship services in the church on Sundays, one in Cantonese, one in Mandarin and one in English The Cantonese congregation is mainly made up of immigrants from Hong Kong, the English congregation is mainly the 2nd generation of the Cantonese group, and the mandarin congregation is mainly newer immigrants or students from mainland China. Located in the heart of Edmonton, the building also offers worship space to Arabic, Sudanese and Reformed Jewish congregations.
The Worship Renewal Grant was awarded to support the Heart and Art Worship and Music Training offered by the Edmonton Chinese Christian Choir, created to bring together members of the sixteen Chinese congregations scattered throughout the city. More than 100 participants from 19 congregations in three cities attended the recent ten day workshop featuring Marva Dawn. To continue learning and growing together, the congregations will explore innovative use of Scripture reading in corporate worship, creative prayer and utilization of visual art and worship space.
Five members of the grant leadership team met with us to reflect on the workshop and develop plans for the coming months. These leaders bring a rich variety of experiences and gifts. One participant excused himself to lead a 9:30 PM choir rehearsal which is scheduled on Friday evenings to accommodate the schedules of young people in the intergenerational choir. We are grateful for the passion of these leaders to bring renewal to the congregations.
Related Resources
Featured Grant: Edmonton Chinese Baptist
Edmonton Chinese Baptist Church’s website
Hillside Community Church, Calgary, AB
Report from Betty Grit:
A conversation with Melonie Michaud and Melanie Presland of Hillside Community Church in Calgary provided an opportunity to reflect on the work of their 2006 Worship Renewal Grant. The congregation brings together people of diverse backgrounds for worship, learning, and fellowship.
Fruits of the grant continue to grow through a worship curriculum that was initially developed during the grant year. A thoughtful process of studying the materials by worship leaders and small groups is helping them grow in their understanding of worship. They are evaluating and revising the resource to assure that it will be long-lasting in their congregation and are considering sharing it with others.
“Body talk,” a curriculum to teach children how to engage their whole body in worship, continues to be used with the many children in the congregation. Following our conversation, a rehearsal was scheduled in preparation for Sunday. The congregation worships in a Community Center and rehearsals are held in their office space.
A worship series, Your Work Matters, has been meaningful for people living in Calgary. The enormous growth in the oil and gas industries has brought workers to the city, which has led to exponential increases in housing and other living expenses. This economy has produced unique challenges and opportunities for individuals and the church. We are grateful for our partnership with Hillside Community Church and for the privilege to continue to learn from them.