I am an Executive Search Consultant with the Rukes Search Group, as well as a retired CRCNA pastor. I have had the privilege of serving congregations in both the RCA and CRCNA. When I am not working, I am hanging out with my family or reading a book or fishing in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan or serving as the Commissioner of the Chicago Suburban Baseball League or playing piano.
Leon, thanks for the reminder that the Psalms are the best of the formed prayers. Your comments harmonize with today's reading in the One Year Bible - Psalm 36. Verses 5-7 offer a great prayer of praise.
Surely. Thanks for the opportunity clarify. If all of life is worship, then everything we do is worship. Hence, worship becomes indistinguishable from every other action; worship gets lost in our actions. It is no longer an identifiable action. Does that help?
Good to "hear" from you, Joyce. You caught me. I prefer a narrow definition of worship. The primary reason is that I have not find adequate answers to the questions stated in my blog. As a result, I am not sure that scripture supports the more commonplace and broad view of worship.
Your questions regarding lament and confession lead us down a different road. Suffice to say at this time, I think it may be advantageous to take a broad view of the Sunday service or liturgy by suggesting that it includes more than worship. Perhaps it is helpful to affirm that the Sunday service includes many types of prayers, including, but not limited to praise, lament, confession. As you will readily discern, such an approach was normative in our circles before the 1970s. I wonder if it may be helpful to revisit it?
So - a narrow view of worship and a broad view of the Sunday service! Thanks for helping me clarify that!
I like your last question. I wonder if the story I cite of Mary and Martha suggests a difference between service and worship with both understood as sacred.
Thanks for the report on Bethel and for the question. I would need to research the schools at a deeper level to get a handle on both their doctrinal statements and their worldviews. My hunch is that the church based ones lean towards the Pentecostal-Charismatic wing of American Evangelicalism. The 10,000 Fathers Worship School,however, resonates with both my Reformed soteriology and my worldview. One example is its founder's song "Sovereign Over Us" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPkMbhydU9
But if you know of other schools, please let me know.
Thanks for the positive feedback, gentlemen. Allen Ross book is a gem. It is a good resource for a sermon or teaching series on worship as he looks at the worship of God's people at various times in their biblical history.
I agree with you that "a Christian Reformed Church Building is just that - a building which needs resources for the upkeep. Since the local congregation is in charge of the building they can set rules - who to share the building with and how much to charge." I agree that congregations are under no obligation to do otherwise except, I would add, the obligation by which all Christian congregations live: to love God and neighbor as they have been loved. I agree that there are no arbitrary rules by which a church must act except, I would add, the commandment to love God and neighbor as guided by the Word and Spirit.
I regret that you received the impression that I was suggesting a mandate to guide all congregations renting space to other congregations. The relationship between two congregations which prompted my first post was not meant to provide an example of a relationship guided by rules. Rather, just the opposite. It was provided as an alternative to the typical rule-guided relationships between congregations which own property and those to whom they rent their property.
There is another facet of the landlord-tenant relationship and that is power. Doesn't it seem that the one receiving money (landlord) is in a position of power over the one handing over money? And how do we harmonize that position of power with our unity in Christ?
Not sure I was influenced by the philosopher Foucault. Maybe his writings have seeped into my psyche through someone else since I haven't read him. I will have to check into that.
I do see a recurring thread, however, in some of the comments thus far: an assumption that a church charging another church or ministry rent for the use of space is normative and, hence, exceptions to that norm unusual.
If that be the case, I want to lift up the Hanford (CA) CRC as a model worthy of emulation. By treating the ministry of another congregation on their campus in the same fashion they treat ministries like GEMS, Cadets, and Coffee Break, they provide an admirable model for other congregations. Wouldn't you agree?
Lambert, thank you for the details regarding your practice of sharing space with another Christian congregation. I hope and pray the relationship continues to be blessed.
Posted in: Winging Our Prayers
Leon, thanks for the reminder that the Psalms are the best of the formed prayers. Your comments harmonize with today's reading in the One Year Bible - Psalm 36. Verses 5-7 offer a great prayer of praise.
Grace and peace to you,
Sam
Posted in: All of Life is Worship - Really?
Surely. Thanks for the opportunity clarify. If all of life is worship, then everything we do is worship. Hence, worship becomes indistinguishable from every other action; worship gets lost in our actions. It is no longer an identifiable action. Does that help?
Posted in: All of Life is Worship - Really?
John, your suppositions seem right on to me. As for your last two questions - the answers to those are above my pay grade! :)
Posted in: All of Life is Worship - Really?
Good to "hear" from you, Joyce. You caught me. I prefer a narrow definition of worship. The primary reason is that I have not find adequate answers to the questions stated in my blog. As a result, I am not sure that scripture supports the more commonplace and broad view of worship.
Your questions regarding lament and confession lead us down a different road. Suffice to say at this time, I think it may be advantageous to take a broad view of the Sunday service or liturgy by suggesting that it includes more than worship. Perhaps it is helpful to affirm that the Sunday service includes many types of prayers, including, but not limited to praise, lament, confession. As you will readily discern, such an approach was normative in our circles before the 1970s. I wonder if it may be helpful to revisit it?
So - a narrow view of worship and a broad view of the Sunday service! Thanks for helping me clarify that!
Peace!!!
Posted in: All of Life is Worship - Really?
I like your last question. I wonder if the story I cite of Mary and Martha suggests a difference between service and worship with both understood as sacred.
Posted in: The Rise of Worship Schools
Leon,
Thanks for the report on Bethel and for the question. I would need to research the schools at a deeper level to get a handle on both their doctrinal statements and their worldviews. My hunch is that the church based ones lean towards the Pentecostal-Charismatic wing of American Evangelicalism. The 10,000 Fathers Worship School,however, resonates with both my Reformed soteriology and my worldview. One example is its founder's song "Sovereign Over Us" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPkMbhydU9
But if you know of other schools, please let me know.
Peace!
Posted in: Time-Regulated Worship
Thanks for the positive feedback, gentlemen. Allen Ross book is a gem. It is a good resource for a sermon or teaching series on worship as he looks at the worship of God's people at various times in their biblical history.
Posted in: Why We Don't Want To Rent Space
August, thanks for your comment.
I agree with you that "a Christian Reformed Church Building is just that - a building which needs resources for the upkeep. Since the local congregation is in charge of the building they can set rules - who to share the building with and how much to charge." I agree that congregations are under no obligation to do otherwise except, I would add, the obligation by which all Christian congregations live: to love God and neighbor as they have been loved. I agree that there are no arbitrary rules by which a church must act except, I would add, the commandment to love God and neighbor as guided by the Word and Spirit.
I regret that you received the impression that I was suggesting a mandate to guide all congregations renting space to other congregations. The relationship between two congregations which prompted my first post was not meant to provide an example of a relationship guided by rules. Rather, just the opposite. It was provided as an alternative to the typical rule-guided relationships between congregations which own property and those to whom they rent their property.
Posted in: Why We Don't Want To Rent Space
There is another facet of the landlord-tenant relationship and that is power. Doesn't it seem that the one receiving money (landlord) is in a position of power over the one handing over money? And how do we harmonize that position of power with our unity in Christ?
Posted in: Why We Don't Want To Rent Space
Not sure I was influenced by the philosopher Foucault. Maybe his writings have seeped into my psyche through someone else since I haven't read him. I will have to check into that.
I do see a recurring thread, however, in some of the comments thus far: an assumption that a church charging another church or ministry rent for the use of space is normative and, hence, exceptions to that norm unusual.
If that be the case, I want to lift up the Hanford (CA) CRC as a model worthy of emulation. By treating the ministry of another congregation on their campus in the same fashion they treat ministries like GEMS, Cadets, and Coffee Break, they provide an admirable model for other congregations. Wouldn't you agree?
Posted in: Why We Don't Want To Rent Space
Lambert, thank you for the details regarding your practice of sharing space with another Christian congregation. I hope and pray the relationship continues to be blessed.
Posted in: Why We Don't Want To Rent Space
Even sharing the copier? Wow!