Trudy--Thanks for beginning this discussion! Since March I've been doing a lot of reflecting on what "worship" really is. And I've come to the realization that if God is supposed to be our focus, sitting for an hour in a building often doesn't result in "worship". Because I can, I've been using my Sunday mornings to gather virtually with about 4 or 5 different congregations each week. The impact of that variety has really sent me into an entirely different space when thinking about "worship." And this from somebody who creates and even publishes liturgical expressions! This pandemic is helping us recalibrate on many levels, I think, including fresh experiences with "worship" and new ways of "churching". Very exciting!
Lesli--I am not surprised that you find "distance experiences" actually liberating. I've discovered that the same is true for me with regard to worship services. Not only can I take in several worship services easily but I can also worship God much more fully when I can stand, walk, sing, etc. without the confinement of pews etc. So even though my church is now meeting in-person, I'm using this time to enrich my understanding and experience of different worship styles as well as the reason why I "meet with God" so much better digitally than in person. Of course, the ability of the liturgists, musicians and preachers to use the strengths of digital media makes a huge difference as well. In these last months I've gained personal experience with the "do's and don'ts" of such worship experiences. All in all, I'm not in a hurry to struggle into the right clothes, choke down a quick breakfast, and sit quietly in a hard pew--just to be "in person," Churches who have invested in learning and doing worship the right way for the digital experience are shaping meaningful connections between worshipper and God. Thanks for being descriptive of your own experience and urging our congregations to become adept at ways to make this style a living part of the "new normal". , whatever that is.
Any instrumentation has to support the congregational singing, not supplant it. I'm always wondering, for example, why worship bands position themselves in front on the congregation when their support is much more effective coming from the back. Church choirs are often in the back, lending support rather than performance to the result.
We also do a very poor job of responding to the words. There are times when the words are directed to God, but there are other times when the words are directed to the people with whom we worship. Perhaps turning to face a fellow worshipper would help us really live out the words better.
And then there are the songs that belong to personal devotional space in both words and music style. Maybe we should get in the habit of making simple changes of pronoun from "me" or "I" to "us" or "we" to make the song communal.
Posted in: Rediscipling the White Church: From Cheap Diversity to True Solidarity
An excellent interview with David Swanson about his book and background
https://fullerstudio.fuller.edu/podcast/david-swanson-on-race-and-discipleship/?mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiWkRjMk9XVmxOemRsTVRFMCIsInQiOiJwcjFRc2RXN1ZIcHIrK0tUeVErcHZrSE9YemY3TVVaOVU2d0JhSVYzVGVKUEVpdXZrVWNvTzlFYm55dnlENk5hbWh5RStBOFB0eEFiVFdOdzUxQXBlaHdybWNhNmxqT0t0R2gwbXU2NFpIMU05T0N5VDY2ZUJNUzJXSThQM3dEUSJ9
Posted in: One Mom’s Perspective on “Real” vs “Home” Church
Trudy--Thanks for beginning this discussion! Since March I've been doing a lot of reflecting on what "worship" really is. And I've come to the realization that if God is supposed to be our focus, sitting for an hour in a building often doesn't result in "worship". Because I can, I've been using my Sunday mornings to gather virtually with about 4 or 5 different congregations each week. The impact of that variety has really sent me into an entirely different space when thinking about "worship." And this from somebody who creates and even publishes liturgical expressions! This pandemic is helping us recalibrate on many levels, I think, including fresh experiences with "worship" and new ways of "churching". Very exciting!
Posted in: How Gathering Online Can Help Your Church Write a New Narrative for Faith Formation
Lesli--I am not surprised that you find "distance experiences" actually liberating. I've discovered that the same is true for me with regard to worship services. Not only can I take in several worship services easily but I can also worship God much more fully when I can stand, walk, sing, etc. without the confinement of pews etc. So even though my church is now meeting in-person, I'm using this time to enrich my understanding and experience of different worship styles as well as the reason why I "meet with God" so much better digitally than in person. Of course, the ability of the liturgists, musicians and preachers to use the strengths of digital media makes a huge difference as well. In these last months I've gained personal experience with the "do's and don'ts" of such worship experiences. All in all, I'm not in a hurry to struggle into the right clothes, choke down a quick breakfast, and sit quietly in a hard pew--just to be "in person," Churches who have invested in learning and doing worship the right way for the digital experience are shaping meaningful connections between worshipper and God. Thanks for being descriptive of your own experience and urging our congregations to become adept at ways to make this style a living part of the "new normal". , whatever that is.
Posted in: A Closer Look at Corporate Worship
Any instrumentation has to support the congregational singing, not supplant it. I'm always wondering, for example, why worship bands position themselves in front on the congregation when their support is much more effective coming from the back. Church choirs are often in the back, lending support rather than performance to the result.
We also do a very poor job of responding to the words. There are times when the words are directed to God, but there are other times when the words are directed to the people with whom we worship. Perhaps turning to face a fellow worshipper would help us really live out the words better.
And then there are the songs that belong to personal devotional space in both words and music style. Maybe we should get in the habit of making simple changes of pronoun from "me" or "I" to "us" or "we" to make the song communal.
Thanks for the conversation!
Posted in: An Intentional Advent: Share Your Ideas
Biola University puts out a daily advent devotional that clusters artistic expression around Advent scriptures. It's wonderful! Check it out...
http://ccca.biola.edu/advent/2019/#