Joyce Borger
I am a self-professed worship geek, nerd, or wonk (chose your term). In other words, I love to talk about, participate in, and lead worship. I currently serve as the Director of Worship Ministries for the Christian Reformed Church.
I took my first worship class in 1990 at Kuyper College (Reformed Bible College when I went there), which was a major “aha” moment in my life. After graduating from Kuyper with a Bachelor of Religious Education I continued to study music at Calvin College and graduated from there with a BA in Music Education. During those years I worked with developmentally challenged individuals of all ages, began an inner city youth ministry with a group of young adults, and worked with established church ministries. After graduating I taught highschool Music, Bible, and History for a year before becoming a youth director at a Covenant CRC in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
God continued to lead me this time to seminary and I wondered how God was going to bring all these experiences together. When I graduated with an MDiv from Calvin Theological Seminary in 2003, that question was answered with a call to serve as music and worship editor for Faith Alive Christian Resources. As the music editor I edited the music for educational curriculums, Friendship Ministries, and 7 songbooks including Lift Up Your Hearts. This means that I got to be in conversation with people as we together talk about and discern what various groups within the church and the church as a whole needs to sing to express their joys, sorrows, prayers, and praises. It is a great honor to have been able to serve the church in this way, to listen, and then mould a songbook. As the worship editor I have worked on several projects including the quarterly journal Reformed Worship. As a worship planner I relied on RW to provide me with thoughtful articles and useful resources and as an editor my challenge is to continue doing so, relying on the readers themselves to share of their treasury of creative gifts. Again I got to listen to the churches, take the gifts given and mould them into a useful tool for the church.
I am grateful for the privilege I know have to serve the CRC in a new way as Director of Worship Ministries. For more information on what that is all about check out our developing website at crcna.org/worship.
Posted in: What are the pros and cons of using Planning Center Online?
I spent a fair amount of time looking at it and was blown away by what it can do and how user friendly it was. I am curious if other similar programs exist that people are using.
Posted in: What are the pros and cons of using Planning Center Online?
Do you use other programs in addition to the Planning Center? (i.e. Song Select from CCLI) Do you project and if so, is it just words or words and music and what program do you use for projection?
Posted in: What's the best way to share original worship music?
I think this Network site is the perfect way for CRC musicians to share their music with other CRC folk. You can't attach the actual file but you can always point us to where we can find it. Personally, I would love it if people like Nick would post a simple note like: "Hey, I just wrote a new song X about XX and you can find it at XXX." If you include information on how we can use your song legally (i.e. this is free for your church to use, or this song is listed under CCLI, or contact me for permission to use this song, or...) that would be helpful. Some additional background information on the song,some interesting points about its musical structure or textual references for example, would be a great aid for worship leaders. So Nick, what is the link to your music?
Posted in: Any Past or Present Worship Planners?
Keith, you may find these resources of interest to you:
"The Heart of Worship: Learning to Inhabit the Liturgy for the Life of the World" by Prof. Cory Willson
"Everyday Church -Iglesia Cotidiana" by Rachel Bouwkamp and Kent Rottman
"Sunday's Prayer and Monday's Work: Praying for Discipleship in the Workplace" by Dr. John Witvliet
Webinar: "Work and Worship" by Prof. Cory Willson
Posted in: Any Past or Present Worship Planners?
If you haven't already, join the 455 CRC worship folk on facebook. "CRC Worship Ministries" is a closed group and you are asked to answer a few questions before joining but it is full of delightful, encouraging, and helpful folk. https://www.facebook.com/groups/crcworshipministries/
Wanting to know what is happening in the CRC related to worship? Sign up for the monthly worship enews at crcna.org/worship/
Posted in: Any Past or Present Worship Planners?
We are thrilled to have you join the Regional-Advisory group, Ben!
Posted in: Does Your Church Hold a Blue Christmas Service?
If you'd like to learn more or find resources on Blue Christmas, Longest Night services, or lament during Advent consider these articles and resources from Reformed Worship published by Worship Ministries of the Christian Reformed Church.
https://www.reformedworship.org/article/september-2017/longest-night
https://www.reformedworship.org/article/september-1997/time-weep-during-advent
https://www.reformedworship.org/article/september-2010/real-joy-genuine-faith
Posted in: Family Worship: Something to Get Excited About
You can purchase Teach Us to Pray and see a sample at https://calvin.edu/directory/publications/teach-us-to-pray
Posted in: Is Heidelberg Catechism Required?
Charles,
Thanks for your question. I am unclear if you are a member of the CRC or RCA. The two denominations have slightly different relationships with the Heidelberg Catechism and requirements regarding its preaching. I can only speak to the CRC's position.
In the CRC every officebearer (pastor, elder, deacon) is required to sign a covenant which states: "We also affirm three confessions—the Belgic Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism, and the Canons of Dort—as historic Reformed expressions of the Christian faith, whose doctrines fully agree with the Word of God. These confessions continue to define the way we understand Scripture, direct the way we live in response to the gospel, and locate us within the larger body of Christ." The full Covenant for Officebearers is found here: https://www.crcna.org/resources/church-resources/liturgical-forms-resources/ordination-installation/covenant-officebearers
As for whether or not the Heidelberg Catechism should be included in our preaching. According to Article 54 of the Church Order: "At one of the services each Lord’s Day, the minister shall ordinarily preach the Word as summarized in the creeds and confessions of the church, especially the Heidelberg Catechism". The full church order can be found at: https://www.crcna.org/sites/default/files/2017_church_order.pdf
Of course this assumes that there are 2 services every Sunday. If your congregation meets only once then I think your pastor is correct in interpreting the spirit of this church order by preaching through the catechism once every three years.
So it seems that your pastor is acting appropriately from a CRC perspective.
There are guidelines available for pastors, councils, congregations, and individuals to challenge any doctrinal or church order stance. I suggest you begin by discussing your concerns with your own elder.
Posted in: Is Heidelberg Catechism Required?
I looked up the position of the RCA and found the following in their Directory for Worship: "Heidelberg Catechism
The Book of Church Order of the Reformed Church in America requires that all the points of doctrine of the Heidelberg Catechism be preached every four years. Although the ecumenical lectionaries cover the points of doctrine, those who wish to follow the sequence of the Catechism may refer to the Liturgy and Psalms,1968, which has a lectionary for such catechetical preaching. Its advantage is that it offers the congregation a structure of theology and a familiarity with one of the finest of our confessions of faith." You can find the full Directory for Worship here: https://www.rca.org/resources/directory-worship
Posted in: Working at Two Different Churches
Thanks for sharing your experience Ruth Ann. With the number of churches searching for part time worship leadership this may be something for them to consider working with another local congregation on. Some churches have shared pastors, some share youth leaders, it would take some imagination and coordination but your experience suggests it might also be possible to have shared worship leaders.
Posted in: Worship Committee Book Study Ideas?
Andrew,
I haven't read "For the Beauty" have heard good things. I think it would be a great choice especially if you want to focus on the role of the arts in worship.
Is there a particular theme/topic you are hoping to cover?
Some other possibilities to consider (a beginning list):
Diversity/Multiethnic worship: The Next Worship: Glorifying God in a Diverse World, Sandra Maria Van Opstal
Pastoral Role of Worship Leaders: The Worship Pastor: A Call to Ministry for Worship Leaders and Teams, Zac M. Hicks
Basics on Worship Theology and Practice: Essential Worship: A Handbook for Leaders, Greg Scheer
Worship that is inclusive of all abilities: Accessible Gospel, Inclusive Worship, Betty Grit and Barb Newman
Worship as Formation/Transformative: You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit or Desiring the Kingdom: Worship, Worldview, and Cultural Formation both by James Smith and What's Love Got to Do With It?: How the Heart of God Shapes Worship, Sam Hamstra
General worship theology and practice (includes study questions): Wise Church: Exploring Faith and Worship with Christians Around the World, Emily Brink and Paul Detterman
Worship and Difficult Times: Stilling the Storm: Worship and Congregational Leadership During Difficult Times, Kathleen Smith
I commend your worship committee for taking time to deepen their understanding and practice through a book study. There are so many great books on worship that have been written in the last decade that there is something out there for any context. I am sure others can add to this beginning list.