https://network.crcna.org/ The Network en Fri, 19 Apr 2024 17:39:26 +0000 Mon, 21 Dec 2020 18:11:30 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/worship/general-worship/hope Our family Christmas card this year includes my daughter’s painted wreath with the word "hope." When she was working on it we talked about what word to put in the middle. Joyce Borger https://network.crcna.org/topic/worship/general-worship/hope Mon, 21 Dec 2020 18:11:30 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/courage-open-our-eyes I was making room on my bookshelves when I ran across Lewis Smedes’ spiritual memoir My God and I (Eerdmans Joyce Borger https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/courage-open-our-eyes Tue, 30 Jun 2020 12:47:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/worship/special-times/advent-christmas/christmas-isnt-over If you are one of the few remaining faithful still checking email or at work, you may be reading this before Christmas—but for the rest of us, Christmas is past. We have opened our gifts and maybe even done a return or two, eaten our fill of delicious food—and then some. Joyce Borger https://network.crcna.org/topic/worship/special-times/advent-christmas/christmas-isnt-over Thu, 27 Dec 2018 17:47:14 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/worship/general-worship/contemporary-song-suggestions-worship-leaders Are you looking for new songs to introduce to your congregation? Curious where you might find them? Joyce Borger https://network.crcna.org/topic/worship/general-worship/contemporary-song-suggestions-worship-leaders Tue, 15 May 2018 14:12:35 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/deacons/worship-resources-trinity-sunday-and-memorial-day If you follow the Christian Reformed Church’s Offering Calendar, you may notice that it requests that an offering be taken for Worship Ministries of the Christian Reformed Church and wonder what or who is Worship Ministries? Joyce Borger https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/deacons/worship-resources-trinity-sunday-and-memorial-day Thu, 03 May 2018 18:12:11 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/intergenerational-ministry/worship-journey-day-renewal-and-learning-steve-bell Are you an Organist, Volunteer or Professional Musician, Worship Planner, Pastor, Visual Artist, Children/Youth Leader, or Worshiper?  Joyce Borger https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/intergenerational-ministry/worship-journey-day-renewal-and-learning-steve-bell Tue, 03 Apr 2018 15:25:09 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/crcna-and-synod/worship-synod-2017 Synod 2017 has come and gone but I still hear the refrain from Bob Kauflin and Chris Anderson's Reformation Hymn: Joyce Borger https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/crcna-and-synod/worship-synod-2017 Tue, 20 Jun 2017 16:38:50 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/biblical-justice/worship-resources-and-prayers-refugees-and-immigrants You may have seen or heard the call to pray for refugees and immigrants on Sunday March 12, 2017 (CRC Leaders Release Statement On the Treatment of Refugees).   Joyce Borger https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/biblical-justice/worship-resources-and-prayers-refugees-and-immigrants Thu, 09 Mar 2017 18:29:04 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/deacons/blessings-service-elder-and-deacon-stories I finished reading a worship article in the newsletter of the Calvary Christian Reformed Church of Edina Minnesota when the following headline caught my eye: "Blessings in Service -Elder and Deacon Stories." What followed were two stories of how being a deacon or elder was a joy-filled, amazing, Joyce Borger https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/deacons/blessings-service-elder-and-deacon-stories Thu, 12 May 2016 15:30:21 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/worship/general-worship/worship-spotlight-covenant-crc-sioux-center-ia It was a Sunday morning in June when some of the delegates and staff of the Synod of the Christian Reformed Church descended upon churches in the Sioux Center area. Joyce Borger https://network.crcna.org/topic/worship/general-worship/worship-spotlight-covenant-crc-sioux-center-ia Wed, 26 Aug 2015 18:51:34 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/worship/general-worship/tools-learning-about-worship-reframe-media As you think about this coming year and all the meetings and discussions that will occur about worship, how many of those will focus mainly on the mechanics or content of worship? Joyce Borger https://network.crcna.org/topic/worship/general-worship/tools-learning-about-worship-reframe-media Thu, 13 Aug 2015 12:47:31 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-administration/church-admin-finance/finance/paying-piper A question came into Worship Ministries this week and it got me thinking because I am sure that many churches are bumping into this.  When it comes to paying our congregational musicians, it seems we have two scenarios:  Joyce Borger https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-administration/church-admin-finance/finance/paying-piper Wed, 29 Apr 2015 15:34:25 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/preaching/sermon-series-church-growth-tool So, I was quietly eating my lunch the other day, catching up on some reading when I ran across this statement and I had to find out what you all think.   Joyce Borger https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/preaching/sermon-series-church-growth-tool Wed, 18 Mar 2015 20:25:34 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/worship/general-worship/recycled-hymns Kevin Twit wrote an article for Reformed Worship titled "My Grandmother Saved It, My Mother Thre Joyce Borger https://network.crcna.org/topic/worship/general-worship/recycled-hymns Fri, 21 Nov 2014 16:10:01 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/crcna-and-synod/synod-community-wide-worship-service Stones.  I have a love/hate relationship with them.  I think some stones and minerals are really quite beautiful but I’m not sure how I feel about the growing collection of stones in my living room cabinet.  Joyce Borger https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/crcna-and-synod/synod-community-wide-worship-service Tue, 06 May 2014 16:41:15 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/worship/general-worship/long-prayer A while back I had an email exchange with someone about the demise of the “long prayer” also known as the “congregational prayer” or “prayers of the people."  That conversation got me wondering; is the congregational prayer a thing of the past or has it survived in some congregations and if Joyce Borger https://network.crcna.org/topic/worship/general-worship/long-prayer Tue, 17 May 2011 13:21:14 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/worship/general-worship/living-easter-people Though the celebration of Easter may be over the Easter season is not.  According to the liturgical calendar the Easter season extends to Pentecost.  Whether or not we consider ourselves a “liturgical” church or a church that highlights the Christian year there is wisdom in extending Ea Joyce Borger https://network.crcna.org/topic/worship/general-worship/living-easter-people Tue, 26 Apr 2011 14:04:54 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/worship/general-worship/unsung-jesus Last weekend I had the privilege of attending a conference at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, IL where John Bell from Iona Community was the plenary speaker.  Joyce Borger https://network.crcna.org/topic/worship/general-worship/unsung-jesus Mon, 11 Apr 2011 15:24:44 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/worship/general-worship/give-it When I was growing up, there was no such thing as Lent—at least not in my church. We did know about Palm Sunday. That was the day the Sunday school kids made palm branches out of paper, though we didn’t do the whole processional with palms that is so common today. Joyce Borger https://network.crcna.org/topic/worship/general-worship/give-it Mon, 21 Mar 2011 13:58:05 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/worship/general-worship/worthy-participating-heavens-worship Though most of us would say that the “worship wars” are for the most part over I sometimes wonder if we haven’t arrived at a simple truce rather than true reconciliation. The March 2011 issue of Christianity Today has supported my uneasiness by publishing 4 articles on worship. Joyce Borger https://network.crcna.org/topic/worship/general-worship/worthy-participating-heavens-worship Mon, 07 Mar 2011 17:22:13 +0000