Yes! Our church plans combined services several times a year, Spanish and English. It is a continual learning process together, trial and error and a whole lot of listening! To start, I'd suggest bringing the worship leaders or teams from both congregations together to explore why you want to worship together and how that could look. I've found that focusing on relationship is more important than logistics, yet logistics are pretty important too. We have simultaneous translation available but songs are sung in both languages. Worship teams take turns leading. Sometimes we'll have prayer or scripture be only in Spanish, but the English words are then on screen to read. Food together before or after is a great way to encourage hospitality and togetherness as well. If you don't want to be together for the entire service, perhaps you could sing and pray together to start--each church leading a part--and separate for the sermon, coming together again for a meal after. It is a beautiful thing to worship together!
Thank you for sharing! This humble and culturally sensitive approach to both giving and receiving is key for shared ministry to take place--those important steps of hospitality, mutuality, and solidarity.
Posted in: Any Churches Conducting Bilingual Worship Service?
Yes! Our church plans combined services several times a year, Spanish and English. It is a continual learning process together, trial and error and a whole lot of listening! To start, I'd suggest bringing the worship leaders or teams from both congregations together to explore why you want to worship together and how that could look. I've found that focusing on relationship is more important than logistics, yet logistics are pretty important too. We have simultaneous translation available but songs are sung in both languages. Worship teams take turns leading. Sometimes we'll have prayer or scripture be only in Spanish, but the English words are then on screen to read. Food together before or after is a great way to encourage hospitality and togetherness as well. If you don't want to be together for the entire service, perhaps you could sing and pray together to start--each church leading a part--and separate for the sermon, coming together again for a meal after. It is a beautiful thing to worship together!
Posted in: Why Not Pay for Pastors to Attend Trainings?
Thank you for sharing! This humble and culturally sensitive approach to both giving and receiving is key for shared ministry to take place--those important steps of hospitality, mutuality, and solidarity.
Posted in: What Books Are You Reading in 2020?
Church Forsaken by Jonathan Brooks and What Does the Bible Really Teach About Homosexuality? by Kevin DeYoung