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 Editorial  |  | | |
 In our first newsletter I asked: "What shapes Adventist worship?" Another way to get at this important issue is to pose the
question in a reciprocal way: What kind of Christian disciples does Adventist
worship shape? In reality, our worship is not merely the product of our
beliefs, theology, mission and culture; we are the product of our worship. Our
worship not only expresses who we are
but also forms who we will become.
One cannot spend much time in Adventist circles without hearing
the adage, "by beholding we become changed" (c.f., 2 Cor. 3:18). And this
wisdom is never more relevant than when we gather to praise God. As you read below,
I invite you to consider how all facets of our worship - our songs, sermons, gestures,
architecture, prayers, symbols - both reflect
and affect the discipleship process
in our congregations. Does our worship encourage ethical participation in
society? Does it strengthen faith? Does it foster wisdom and compassion? Does
it promote growth in both knowledge and grace?
As we prayerfully plan and shape our worship gatherings for
coming Sabbaths, may we never forget that these gatherings will also be shaping
us.
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| Leadership | | | |
Our lives are lived through our five senses. And increasingly, so
much of our daily activity revolves around consuming visual experiences, as our
eyes are most efficient at taking in new activity.
When we worship God, it is natural to try to connect with Him
through all the senses.
But interestingly, our churches traditionally spend very little time
investing in the visual content that we have become so accustomed and drawn to.
So this significant attribute is left wanting in a place where experiencing God
is of the highest value, lacking the visual power of the imagery we often
encounter through mediums like film, fine art, and architecture. And it is this
power that helps lift our imaginations heavenward.
With something this important and time-consuming, the most valuable
thing you can do is appoint a visual arts director to be in charge of the visual
content present in worship. Many churches may already have someone, but ask
yourself whether or not this appointment is really one of a technical nature ��-
like someone appointed to run the slides from the computer in the back. These
are two distinct roles that at times are not mutually exclusive. But our
planning process sometimes has as much sense as recruiting a preacher by
finding out who knows how to write notes on a PC using Microsoft Office. Important,
yes, but it is missing the point. The real tools are color, lighting, and
narrative. Bring in a creative visionary to drive the development of the
imagery in collaboration with the rest of the worship team.
You might be surprised at how much more enthusiastic and gifted some
of your membership are at going beyond technology to being full-fledge partners
in infusing worship with beauty, emotion, and the creative presence of God.
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Preview: watch for Paul Kim's follow-up article in our June
edition, in which he will offer some specific suggestions on implementing
visual arts in worship. In the mean time, we would like to hear about some of the
ways you have used the visual arts in worship. Share you thoughts on our Facebook page.
 Discuss this article on Facebook
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| Worship and Culture
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The Digital Diaspora:
Do We Need a 'Portable Adventism?'
Imagine your church in ashes and its membership
scattered. How would you sustain
worship? The Jewish people faced this
dilemma after the Temple was destroyed not once but twice. During this period, Judaism underwent a
liturgical transition from temple worship, dependent on a central location and
cultic apparatus, to synagogue worship, rooted in the disciplines of study and
prayer. This "portable Judaism" played a key role in the survival of the Jewish
faith. It worked out the question
of how the God who had "dwelled" with Israel as Shekinah could continue to be
present among the Diaspora after the Temple's demise.(1) American religion may be undergoing a similar
transition. Sociologist Robert Wuthnow
has argued that the settled life of the 1950's produced a spirituality of "dwelling." Beginning with the social upheaval and increase
mobility of the sixties, this gave way to an experience of "seeking." People embarked on spiritual journeys "characterized
more by dabbling than by depth."(2) Wuthnow suggests that Americans should now move toward a
"practice-oriented" spirituality which gives them both "roots and wings."(3)
With the recent proliferation of digital technologies,
society has become all the more placeless. If not on a
plane to somewhere, young "digital natives" are mere clicks away from everyone
and everything. They are a digital diaspora, living what Sony has branded a
Location Free lifestyle.(4) Their "yearn for home is broadened."(5) They constantly traverse
the geographical and binary landscape, only to be gathered again into virtual networks
that challenge the church's fixed institutional life. Does this call for another liturgical shift? How should Christians respond to the
cultural and technological disruption of traditional models of community? Many churches now stream their services
on the internet. Others have
created "online campuses" with their own dedicated pastors. Increasing numbers beam portions of
their services to multiple sites. There are even churches in Second
Life where you can participate via an avatar.(6) Are these digital
makeovers enough to ensure the survival of Christian community and worship? How can Adventist worship leaders
foster the presence of a portable God in a digital age? Discuss this article on Facebook--- (1) Risa
Levitt Kohn and Rebecca Moore, A Portable
God: the Origin of Judaism and Christianity (Lanham, MD: Rowman &
Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2007). See Chapter 6, "Where is God?' (2) Robert Wuthnow, After Heaven: Spirituality in America Since the 1950's
(Berkeley and Los Angeles: The University of California Press, 1998), p. 168. (3) Wuthnow, p. 17. (4) Sony's Location Free products are described as "technologies for
timeshifting and placeshifting," highly portable practices which allow media
events to be experienced on demand anytime and anywhere. In a Location Free
world events (like a worship service) are separated even further from fixed time
and space, albeit a "place on the dial." See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LocationFree_Player(5) Alanis Morissette, "Citizen
of the Planet," Flavors of Entanglement (Maverick/Reprise,
2008). (6) See "NBC Nightly News - Religion Online in Second Life" at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-BGQKaKi18 | |
| Worship Leading | | | |
By Kasper HaughtonHow would
you feel if this weekend when you walked into your local congregation the worship
team had their backs to you? How would you feel if the youth group member doing
"special music" never turned to acknowledge your presence? What if the pastor's
eyes were on the cross behind him more than your gaze? Would you feel
disrespected if those participating from the front never directed their
postures towards you? Such was
the scenario as I walked into a nearby church one recent Sunday morning as part
of a class assignment for the 2010 Andrews University Music and Worship Conference. All leaders of the liturgical service presented their talents
of worship from the center of the room, facing inwards, away from me. With the congregation seated surrounding
this square stage, the Pastor proceeded to present me his back three quarters of his sermon. The environment was unsettling
at first. But as I found myself joining with that community in a service of
adoration intentionally to God, the
thought kept reverberating in my head: "This service is not about... me." To
whom is the non-verbal atmosphere of your worship service directed? How would
you feel if you walked into your local congregation this weekend and saw an
entire about face?  |
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| Worship Resources from the NAD Church Resource Center | | | |
Advent Praise
The AdventPraise DVD serves to
introduce North American congregations to a variety of new Adventist
praise and worship choruses. Worship teams may peruse through the DVD to
discover songs that might fit well with their congregation. Then after
the proper
licensing has been taken care of through a royalty licensing
organization such as CCLI, the AdventPraise worship resource may be used
for congregational worship and small groups.
The music comes in a rich variety of
digital formats good for almost any configuration. The possibilities are
almost endless but here are the four most common usages: - Musician Practice and Song Evaluation--Musicians can load the mp3 or mp4 onto
their personal players or burn them onto a CD to review the original
recording of the song.
- Small Group or Congregational Sing Along--Songs with video and lyrics can be
played directly from a DVD player as the worshipers sing
along karaoke style. Or the music videos can be played from worship
software for easier transitions.
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Worship Leader and Instrument Sing Along--Accompaniment songs can be played from
worship software or PowerPoint. Using the click track feature worship
leaders and bands can stay in time with the accompaniment track.
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Live Worship Team--Live worship teams can learn the music
by listening to the mp3 tracks and looking at the lead sheet music.
During the worship service the lyrics and stills can be displayed to the
congregation through PowerPoint or worship software.
The AdventPraise DVD was distributed to
every church in the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists
as Pastor's DVD volume 14. The project can also be purchased at AdventSource. Preview the songs and videos here. | |
| Worship Gatherings | | | |
GODencounters
Since my college years, GODencounters has greatly strengthened me in my ministry and walk with God. It has been tremendously
encouraging to fellowship with a community who shares my passion for God and desire
to worship Him. A. Allan Martin, curriculum
coach for GODencounters, explains the role of worship in the movement: "GODencounters is a spiritual
movement of young adults who are passionately pursuing a 24/7 experience of the
living GOD, recklessly living for His renown. As the movement began at the
turn of the century, the first focal theme centered on worship. Young
adults sought to go beyond attending a weekly religious program, and explore
facets of living continuous lives of worship. So the essence of worship
sparked GODencounters but is also pervasive through all seven GODencounters
themes as new generations return to the heart of GOD (Jeremiah 24/7)." For more information on GODencounters,
including upcoming gatherings in your area, visit www.GODencounters.org. | |
| Quick Tip
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Leaving Space for God
I need to
confess something: I am not a very good listener. And unfortunately, years of
worship planning and leading have not greatly sharpened this skill. Part of the
problem is that when we gather to worship God, we often leave so little room
for Him to speak. We tend to think of worship as our response to God. But if we
do not leave space for His voice, is it possible we are simply responding to
ourselves? We cannot, of course, plan what God will do as we worship Him, but
we can certainly plan not to crowd Him out.
Sermons are,
at their best, God's word to the congregation. Here are three more ways to
leave space for God in our worship services:
1. Read significant portions of Scripture. There is
perhaps no more powerful way to let God speak than through the reading of His
holy Word. Think beyond the sermon text. Consider consulting the Revised Common Lectionary or some other broad reading plan. Remember, Scripture
read in worship is the only Scripture most people in your congregation will
hear all week.
2. Plan intentional moments of silence in
the service, creating an uncluttered space for God to fill with His "still
small voice" (1 Kings 19:12). In a world of incessant auditory stimulation,
such silence may be uncomfortable, which only underscores how badly it is
needed.
3. Craft the benediction to be what it was
historically intended to be: a blessing on the congregation. Instead of
recapping the sermon or offering up one final petition, give God the last word.
Scripture and ancient Christian liturgies abound with profound benedictions.
I leave you with this one as you plan for worship in the coming weeks: "The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to
shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon
you, and give you peace" (Num 6:24-26).
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| Featured Resources
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| - It was wonderful to see some of you at the 7th annual Andrews University Music and Worship Conference (March 25-27, 2010). Resources from previous Conferences are currently available online. Presentations from 2010 will be uploaded soon.
- For cutting edge worship resources, visit Fuller Theological
Seminary's Brehm Center, an innovative space for the creative integration of
worship, theology and the arts in culture.
- Church
Copyright Licensing International (CCLI) is a leader in church licensing. They
offer an annual worship music license for as low as $49. They also off church video licenses and services that provide sheet music for worship songs. For more info, visit www.ccli.com.
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