October 16, 2019
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Creating Worship Practices at Home
Are you wondering how to guide your family into faith formation practices? Consider establishing routines to guide your family into God's word and prayer.
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October 9, 2019
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Peppermints, Mentos, and Communion With Children
If communion is spiritual food for our soul, don’t kindergarteners and pre-adolescents need that as much as any adult?
August 26, 2019
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In Defense of the Children’s Message
I started out a skeptic, but I’ve come to see a lot of value in children’s messages.
August 21, 2019
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Can You Hear Me?
157 volunteers and tech leaders attended Church Sound Bootcamp, a two-day event that covered any and all questions related to audio equipment. Learn more and consider joining in the future!
July 23, 2019
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Way More Than Twice
If we leave a worship service on any given Sunday, even the second service, with the attitude that we can now check “worship” off our to-do list, then the Church Order mandating 10 services per Sunday won’t help us!
June 6, 2019
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Classis as a Worshiping Community
What does it mean for a classis to worship and pray as a community of churches?
May 29, 2019
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Pulling Out All the Stops
Sound and light in worship services excite our God-created sensory systems. While some worshipers welcome them, they could make others uncomfortable. Barb Newman shares some ideas on “sensory friendly” worship environments.
January 30, 2019
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Thank God for Fossil Fuels!
Fossil fuels are much criticized these days. Rather than lamenting them, I thank my loving Creator for them.
January 2, 2019
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The Sounds of the Worship
Worship in multiple languages can unite, not divide, us when we appreciate the beauty of the expression of the sounds of our faith in one God.
December 27, 2018
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Christmas Isn't Over
Isn’t it strange that while society is so eager to begin celebrating Christmas, it is equally quick to drop it like a hot potato?
December 4, 2018
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Jesus at the Sleazy Diner
To my great surprise, the musical food was more nourishing than the physical food. And I wondered if that Flint diner had some things in common with that stable in Bethlehem.
November 1, 2018
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Maximizing Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve has the potential to be your church’s biggest day of your year. As you prepare for this special gathering, here are some things to consider.
October 16, 2018
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Singing Broken Hallelujahs
Too many times people think that Christianity is all happy-clappy being blessed (especially by other Christians). But that is far from the truth. And thus we sing, with tears in our eyes, broken hallelujahs.
September 26, 2018
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National Gathering 2019 - Gearing Up!
I am greatly encouraged, inspired and delighted by God’s people in the CRC and I believe that I should pass on that encouragement to you all as well. God is moving and it is amazing! Although the worshiping style of each community varies, as does the perspective on how to “do church,” I have found in the Catechism’s first Question and Answer a common thread that binds us all together.
August 30, 2018
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Good News for Reckless Love Christians...and the Rest of Us!
While the adjective "reckless" is difficult for some of us to sing, there is some Truth in this song. There is also a conflicting message: are we hiding from God? Or are we seeking Him? Is our God omniscient? Is our God omnipresent? Who can sing this song truthfully?
March 28, 2018
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Holy Week Meditations: The Ungrateful Party Guests
Oh merciful Father, I’m the one who rejects the Kingdom invitation. I know you have the best and most satisfying food and drink, and yet I’d rather eat baloney and mustard sandwiches. Father, forgive me.
March 28, 2018
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Healing Worship
No matter what the setting, formal or informal, or economic class or neighborhood, can’t worship leaders self-consciously see their work as healing?
February 7, 2018
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Lent in the Christian Reformed Tradition
Growing up in a Christian Reformed Church, I can’t say that I was very aware of the season of Lent. However, my ability to experience Lent has grown proportionately with my involvement in planning worship.
December 5, 2017
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A Birthday Cake for Jesus
A few years back my Grandma brought a birthday cake to our annual Christmas Eve party. And then she invited us to sing.
November 29, 2017
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Hamilton and Jesus
What if we thought about worship like Hamilton? More and more I’m convinced the Church’s captivating, timeless gospel song plays most memorably in the classic liturgy.
August 2, 2017
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2017 New Psalm Contest at Church of the Servant
In an effort to encourage Psalm-singing, Church of the Servant invites congregational songwriters to submit a Psalm-based song to its 2017 COS New Psalm Contest.
August 1, 2017
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Ideas and Variations on Psalm 150
I recently asked Scripture readers in my church to share their own versions of Psalm 150 (verses 3-5) based on their experience. Here are some of the ways they praised God. Will you add yours?
July 13, 2017
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I Lie at Church
One Sunday as I sang along to the song on the screen, I realized I might not entirely mean what I was singing.
June 9, 2017
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Lessons From the Cracker Barrel
Whoever designed the first Cracker Barrel restaurant was a genius. Everything in that place screams, "Welcome, we’ve been expecting you!" What if our church foyers radiated this same intentionality?