Thursday, November 16, 2006
Report from Grants tour ‘06 2
Report from Betty Grit, written from Florida, where she and her husband Nelson continue their tour of recipients of Worship Renewal Grants. (More reports)
Students at Candler School of Theology begin classes late on Monday because many of them drive into Atlanta from congregations throughout Georgia where they serve on Sunday. This Monday morning found eleven staff and students gathered with project director Barbara Day Miller to reflect on their worship renewal grant project. At a leadership retreat prior to the school year plans were developed to invite participation of students in planning and leading worship. Currently almost 200 students have made a semester long commitment to be part of a POWR TEAM (Planning, Organization, Worship, Reflection) for worship on campus. The leadership team report a renewed energy and enthusiasm for worship at Candler.
While at Candler I was privileged to talk with about thirty students in Dr. James Abbington‘s Public Worship Class about worship renewal and the grants program. Their questions revealed a desire to engage worshipers of all ages more deeply in worship and to teach congregations the principles of worship which they are learning in class.
At the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta we heard from project director Lisa Allen about the developing plans for a worship conference scheduled for April 11 to 13, 2007. Presenters Dwight Hopkins, Phil Jackson and James Abbington will lead plenary sessions on worship. This unique conference will bring together students from the six seminaries that make up ITC, students from neighboring colleges and seminaries, and pastors serving in congregations. It is anticipated that the conference will help to create networks of church leaders for ongoing study and renewal.
Sandersville United Methodist Church in south Georgia has undertaken a study of the Lord’s Supper to help worshipers engage more deeply in This Holy Mystery. Gayle Carlton Felton was invited to Sandersville to present on her book of this title and to guide the congregation in this learning process. Participants from the local congregation were joined by church leaders who traveled from distant locations. Children and youth are also engaged in a study of the Lord’s Supper. In January a program will begin in which members of the congregation will bring the Lord’s Supper to people who are home bound or in nursing homes. It is the prayer of project director Joy Pendry and her team that long term worship renewal will flourish from this intergenerational focus around the Lord’s Supper.
First Presbyterian Church in Daytona Beach, Florida, describes itself as a “Classic Church in a Contemporary World.” More than one hundred Hungarian people, numerous young people from the community and residents of a nearby mental health halfway house have found a home at First Presbyterian. One facet of their Worship Renewal Grant project brought people of all ages and cultures together for several weeks to study Scriptures on reconciliation. Class members took photos related to reconciliation which were used in worship. Classes on liturgical dance and banner making have been planned. 
Project director Nancy Gard and her team are using wind kites and other unique resources to help worshipers celebrate their multicultural identity while more deeply engaging with Scripture.
Each grant project reflects a thoughtful and prayerful intentional focus on renewal that is unique for their congregation.