Worship Pastors, how do you measure your work in relation to the church’s worship? We live in a society obsessed with utility. One of the stumbling blocks to giving and receiving Gospel is a prevailing attitude of “What’s the use?” The dominance of utilitarianism has certainly not been exorcized from the church and [...]
Archive for the ‘Shared Ministry’ category
Unuseful
February 13, 2012Do You Suffer from Worship Fatigue?
January 10, 2012Do you ever get tired of worship? Those who serve in worship leadership roles have good reason to be tired given the workload that comes with weekly worship preparation, not to mention the mental and emotional strain of a kind of forced creativity for which we strive week in and week out. But [...]
Christmas Lives On
December 26, 2011The day after Christmas we are still picking up shreaded wrapping paper and emptied toy boxes. I feel like I have been stuffing myself with rich food for three days. I think it’s because I have been stuffing myself with rich food for three days. Christmas day 2011 has come and gone, but there are [...]
Here and Gone
October 19, 2011I was in my office busily working on a September day when a gentleman I did not recognize came to my door and asked, “Where’s the printer?” He had some papers in his hand. His light Hispanic accent was somehow engaging, but no more so than his winsome personality. As often happens, Charlotte overheard the question and jumped [...]
Healthy Leaders Healthy Churches
September 29, 2011Over the past three weeks I have led two churches through aWorship Renewal through Congregational Singing weekend experience. The times of studying, remembering, sharing, and of course, singing, were laced with sweet moments of fellowship, inspiration, discovery, and encouragement. Some very practical realities were clear through these and all the experiences I have had sharing these conferences in [...]
Epic Themes of Worship
September 26, 2011In preparation for a weekend retreat involving our Tennessee Ladies Chorus and Tennessee Mens Chorale I have been listening to a new (yet to be released) recording of Christmas music by Keith & Kristyn Getty. Keith slipped me a copy of the rough recording knowing that Kristyn and he would be joining us for a [...]
The Struggle Within
September 14, 2011I had coffee and lunch last week with two of our fine young worship pastors. In each case we talked a good bit about the challenges of worship music ministry. In one case we talked about the challenge of helping those in our worship ministries to develop as disciples of Christ, and not just as performers [...]
Meaning and Significance in Worship Singing
September 5, 2011On Sunday, September 16, 2001, I was serving as interim music minister in a church. During my short tenure there I had been approached by persons on either side of a dispute over styles of music to be used in worship; one group wanting hymns and another wanting contemporary fare (sound familiar?). The worship plan [...]
Engaging Imagination in Worship
August 30, 2011Does worship in your church engage people’s imagination? Let’s look at what a Wikipedia article has to say about imagination: Imagination, also called the faculty of imagining, is the ability of forming mental images, sensations and concepts, in a moment when they are not perceived through sight, hearing or other senses. Imagination is the work [...]
Greatest Song of All
August 24, 2011This post is a pretty personal transparent reflection on experiences of last weekend. Those who regularly read the column who are expecting more objective fair may be disappointed in the content. I welcome your response, but beg your indulgence with my attempt to describe experiences in which I sensed the Spirit at work. Last [...]
