Allen Kleine Deters
I am a former church planter and now pastor at Northend Church (Mennonite Brethren) in St. Catharines, ON church plant yet to be named. I am married to an amazing godly woman now a retired nurse. She has a huge heart for hurting people and especially those working through trauma and seeking healing. Between us we have 7 children 5 grand babies. I am committed to Kingdom Theology and deeply believe in a biblical community that develops disciples for Christ. I am a small group geek and believe they are the best avenue in this endeavor. When managed with vision and mission small groups can cover most areas needed in developing as disciples of Jesus Christ and guiding people to live in missional communities.
Oh yeah, I'm also "The Reverend" formerly of the blues band, Reverend and the Blues Pushers, but now playing solo in my new parish community.
"Agape love alive and breathing, the Word and the power of Holy Spirit = reached people and changed lives"
Posted in: What Would You Like to See on This Site?
Hey John,
I think this has great potential if enough people get on board. I hope you guys promoted it at the symposium. Couldn't make it this year.
Anyway, I think that the worship end of this site would best be served if it included discussions on resources, best practices, developing a balanced worship ministry. I think people are also looking for how to do contemporary well. My only concern with CICW is that it seems to promote a more high church model for worship which doesn't fit every context well. I think it would be helpful to people who haven't a clue about getting started with contemporary to have discussion on how to pick songs with good theology and biblical content, how to develop worship teams with all the instruments, training for techies whether sound or projection. I think we lack this in the CRC so it is being done quite poorly, especially in rural places.
Just some thoughts.
akd.
Posted in: What Would You Like to See on This Site?
I just look at it this way, in worship God is the audience we are the participants. As covenant people we show our love to God and reflect how much we do to those "outside" who may also be there. In the process, God "inhabits the praises of his people" and his Spirit moves through the worship experience.
Posted in: What Would You Like to See on This Site?
Joyce,
I have not yet seen the Contemporary Songs for Worship and are not planning on purchasing as far as I know. We don't really have need for it here since we have access to most everything through the web. As part of the discussion earlier or maybe it was in another part of this forum, my main concern with such a book would be two things:
1. That some of the modern songs do not lend themselves well to traditional instrumentation and thus kind of "hurt" the song and its original musical intent. Kind of like the Trans Siberian Orchestra playing Handel's Messiah. They could do it, and maybe they have, but it just wouldn't cut it for most folks.
2. That such a book could lend toward churches not attempting to develop more intentional modern worship, encouraging youth and others to attempt a band approach to music that was intended to be played as such. Mark H. may disagree with me on this one or on both my comments.
Perhaps I'm just too much a purest in this regard. When I hear a song that just screams guitar, but is played on an organ and even a piano, it just falls flat. Then it just seems like we're singing songs for the sake of being more modern, but not taking seriously their musical intent. I know that the younger crowd generally see right through it and will think it's "lame" with the idea that if the church isn't going to attempt to do it "right" then why bother. I say this after working in many churches where traditional tried contemporary on traditional instruments and the response from the youth and young adults -- and those listening to Christian worship radio -- was always the same.
I think our people set a higher standard for playing and leading contemporary music. Even if a band flubs through a contemporary piece, it's still better than being played well on the organ, an instrument that seems to rarely fit, unless it's a Hammond B-3 organ sound played as fill or padding. That has been my observation from Canada to the USA in the churches I've served.
Perhaps others have used it and have a different experience.
Posted in: Social Networking & Church Life
Mavis,
Where is this "Social Media" tab of which you speak?
Posted in: New Songs That You're Excited About?
I'm thinking, Mighty to Save, How Great is Our God, How Deep the Fathers Love for Us, In Christ Alone, ...
Actually, I just looked at CCLI's top 25 and I have to agree that there are some pretty awesome songs. Lot's of Tim Hughes, Paul Baloche, Hillsong, Chris Tomlin, good stuff.
Posted in: Handy Web Resources
Just got this hooked up into our site,
Logos refTag -- shows bible references in a little popup window when you do a mouse over. Great in your blog and anywhere else on your site where you reference scripture. http://www.logos.com/reftagger
Also YouVersion.com has some great badges to put on your site to connect people to the Bible online. You can also connect to it via smart phone as well. It has many different Bible versions to choose from.
Posted in: Feedback on Your Church Website
We're still in progress, but it's slowly coming together. we use slightly larger type because we have a number of active seniors on the web who don't necessarily know how to enlarge the font or web page in their browser.
Thoughts and ideas are always helpful.
we are using the CMS Joomla and will be switching all to K2 component style. right now it is laid out between standard Joomla and enhanced K2
www.alamosacrc.com
Posted in: New Songs That You're Excited About?
Ken, no worries. I know the Carnegie hall thing. My son sings opera and has been invited back a number of times. What an experience.
I love Paul Baloche's stuff and have sat in on some sessions with him. I'm trying to get some of his stuff in our church too.
Posted in: "Why I Don't Tweet"
I Tweet and Facebook. Those are my main social networks where I have actually done ministry with other people in my congregation and friends. I mainly use Twitter for colleagues in ministry across denom lines, but I do follow some interests such as homebrewing, cooking and music.
I have learned about online webinars and valuable resources that I would have otherwise missed.
Social networking is not for everyone, especially the less computer and internet savvy who would most likely find it an infringement on their time.
For me it is part of my ministry tool set.
Posted in: Neither Rain, Nor Sleet, Nor Snow: Church Services in Any Weather
David,
I've been thinking about something like this for awhile now and brainstorming all the possible ways to use it. I just wasn't sure about what platform to use. I checked out UStream and was pretty pumped at what I found.
You got my brain going now. I can see using this in the future at our church just to reach into our community and wherever else.
Thanks for the connection.
Posted in: Going to the Mall for Christmas?
Actually, as much as I appreciate much of what Jamie Smith has to say his recent comments on the Messiah in the mall are not included. I say we can sometimes be too critical about such things.
I think we should just be able appreciate it. If it moves you to tears or makes you smile and feel a bit more alive in the moment isn't that what well done art does? Being too critical can rob one of enjoying the moment.
I never consider whether it was a liturgical thing or not. I just thought it was cool and wonderful to enjoy.
Posted in: Going to the Mall for Christmas?
That is a sweet video. I've seen it all over Facebook. There's another one by Random Acts of Culture -- opera done in Macy's in NYC and other department stores.
But what a great way to bring the Messiah to a community who may otherwise not here it.
I wish I had a mall here, but alas we have to buy most of our gifts online... I do hum hymns and carols while I shop at the local City Market. I go to Wallmart only when I have no choice and do the same.