Kevin is the Director of Worship Arts and Music at Beckwith Hills Christian Reformed Church, Grand Rapids Michigan.
Woodworking, gardening, traveling, cooking, baking, watching baseball.
I'd like to give you a final post as my part of being the Worship Guide for the Network. The Network has been a place for me to go, to be inspired, and to question thoughts and attitudes regarding worship and other ministries of God's Kingdom.
"Lift Up Your Hearts" has been published and has been available for purchase since May 2013. Many have embraced the new hymnal, others seem skeptical, and others just plain ignored it. So Why? What For? Who Cares?
There is a "Balm" to heal the "sin, sick, soul" of our life. Do we see that in worship? How do we reveal Christ as the one who heals in our worship services?
I grew up in a farming community where the Summer was just as busy as the school year, so church attendance was not affected by camping, etc. But I came to the city to be a worship director and the city church left for the countryside!
As worship leaders, we go through spells on what is good congregational singing and what encourages our particular congregations to sing in worship. If you are like me, you are always striving to strike a balance between familiar, new, Biblical, thematic, liturgical, and pastoral when we plan worship for our congregation.
Worship planning goes easier and with more satisfaction when a calendar with a pattern or rhythm is in view. Four different calendars vie for our attention. A choice needs to be made.
Technology has a keen way of "updating" our life. A new and better program, an updated version of an old application, or a new device has come into the marketplace and has found a use in the world of worship.
Every week as worship planners, we look for the perfect songs, prayers, litanies, artwork, etc, that match or enhance the scripture text or sermon theme. But is that always necessary? Do we work too hard at being thematic?
Lately in our congregation, there have been many conversations about how we should respond to our members and guests who have a disability, both physical and mental.
What are some of your thoughts if you attended this year's Worship Symposium?
We are going the "Traditional" route since I have a brass group, organ, piano, guitar, bass, strings, etc.
Christ The Lord Is Risen Today
See What A Morning
Low In The Grave...
Karisa: I'm an organist and am familiar with the "Digital" organ world-specifically Allen, Rodgers, etc. I just went through the process with our own congregation. It is unfortunate that your...
I found this to be helpful:
http://www.christurc.org/blog/2010/12/08/why-an-evening-worship-service
Designing Worship Together by Howard Vanderwell, has some different forms that you can tweek, etc. to fit your context.
CICW also has some articles on evaluating worship for different...
The CRCNA holds funerals as such: Funerals and memorial services within the body of Christ should reflect the confidence of our faith and should be conducted accordingly. Such times provide...
Message me or skype me. kevin@beckwithhillcrc.org I use the organ all the time with a worship band. It's more than a paragraph to post.
I am doing the exact same thing on March 25. Greg Scheer is leading the workshop and I'm leaving it in his hands. But the day is shaping in this manner:
9:00 am - Opening.
"the Art...
Have you tried the Calvin Institute for Christian Worship online resources? This isn't a book, but if you would like to study a particular topic that your worship committee would like to explore...
We meet weekly with each other and we have a few members who join us. Sometimes we ask a group to participate because it is lent, advent, or a specific series. I never get the picture of the...
There was a book at one time published by Faith Alive, "Authentic Worship in a Changing Culture". The short story is that excellence in worship is achieved based on ability and skills. Don't'...