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While I find all aspects of ministry rewarding and wonderful, I do so thoroughly enjoy preaching as well as planning and conducting worship. I approach worship aesthetically, choosing the elements that make up the order of service to create a holistic experience. Attention to small elements that may not be necessarily consciously noticed by many in the congregation, enhance the worship experience and aesthetic. |
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Preaching and worship are relational activities, for this reason worship services that emerge out of the life and multiple perspectives of the congregation are without parallel as a vehicle to build community, minister to congregants’ pastoral needs, articulate the vision of the church, bear prophetic witness, and inspire us to side with love.
I enjoy and employ multiple worship modalities. There is much to be said about the kind of exploring of a topic that the "sermon sandwich" can provide. On the other hand, worship that is layered with story, song, silence, movement, and amazing, unexpected music and moments is enlivening and engaging for a congregation. I often say that "bodies count." Most often that is in relation to social justice work, but it is true in worship as well. I use embodiment practices such as the Universal Body Prayer and breath meditations. I have introduced Image Theater, from the Theater of the Oppressed into services. Contemplative services introduce silence into our usually wordy-worship that allows for a level of depth and integration that I find people crave.
Examples of innovative worship include – a performance art service on the third anniversary of the invasion of Iraq that included the chairs being overturned in the sanctuary when the people arrived, the restoration of which unfolded like scenes in a miracle play, and afterward members of the congregation filled two commercial buses to attend the Faith Leaders for Peace service and pilgrimage; a celebration of the Hindu God Hanuman with storytelling and call and response singing with local kirtan artists. Worship that engages multiple learning styles, provides various access points for deepening, and offers opportunities to use multiple lenses, and create experiences that motivate for social justice make for dynamic worship experiences. A collaborative relationship between the minister and a committed, creative worship team is a joy.
Children, Youth, and Worship
It has been said that one of the things we teach our children and youth about worship is that they won’t like it. By banishing them from the worship service entirely we reinforce that worship is not for them. Children and youth should have regular experiences of worshipping with the rest of the congregation. This can be done through intergenerational services, having children in the service with an engaging Time for All Ages, along with meaningful participation on the part of children and youth in aspects of worship - sharing the covenant, helping with the offering, joys and sorrows, sharing reflections, participating in services and ceremonies that mark the stages and passages of congregational life.
I say "all voices are welcome" - that means gurgling babies, chatty toddlers, loud singers, people who snore - everybody.
Music, Sweet Music
Music is vital – both in my life and in the life of a congregation. I take voice lessons when I can and have sung with the choir. I loved being in choir rehearsals and working through the pieces being sung. I have such appreciation for the hard work of our musicians. I bring to ministry an appreciation of all styles and genres of music. I am fond of some of the traditional hymns and fresh resources.I will be stating the obvious here, but music can touch our souls, our hearts, our minds and our bodies in ways both subtle and powerful, in ways that the spoken word is unable to. I'll let Anne Lamott speak for me here. In her book, Traveling Mercies, Lamott describes a poignant scene in which a man dying of AIDS is tenderly lifted up and held during the singing of a hymn by a member of the congregation who had been aloof and confused because her reaction to his disease. Of this transformational act Lamott writes, “I can’t imagine anything but music that could have brought about this alchemy. Maybe it’s because music is about as physical as it gets; your essential rhythm is your heartbeat; your essential sound, the breath. We’re walking temples of noise, and when you add tender hearts to this mix, it somehow lets us meet in places we couldn’t get to any other way.” How wonderfully Lamott captures the ability of music to transform hearts and minds and move spirits to deeper community, greater justice and love!
I enjoy and employ multiple worship modalities. There is much to be said about the kind of exploring of a topic that the "sermon sandwich" can provide. On the other hand, worship that is layered with story, song, silence, movement, and amazing, unexpected music and moments is enlivening and engaging for a congregation. I often say that "bodies count." Most often that is in relation to social justice work, but it is true in worship as well. I use embodiment practices such as the Universal Body Prayer and breath meditations. I have introduced Image Theater, from the Theater of the Oppressed into services. Contemplative services introduce silence into our usually wordy-worship that allows for a level of depth and integration that I find people crave.
Examples of innovative worship include – a performance art service on the third anniversary of the invasion of Iraq that included the chairs being overturned in the sanctuary when the people arrived, the restoration of which unfolded like scenes in a miracle play, and afterward members of the congregation filled two commercial buses to attend the Faith Leaders for Peace service and pilgrimage; a celebration of the Hindu God Hanuman with storytelling and call and response singing with local kirtan artists. Worship that engages multiple learning styles, provides various access points for deepening, and offers opportunities to use multiple lenses, and create experiences that motivate for social justice make for dynamic worship experiences. A collaborative relationship between the minister and a committed, creative worship team is a joy.
Children, Youth, and Worship
It has been said that one of the things we teach our children and youth about worship is that they won’t like it. By banishing them from the worship service entirely we reinforce that worship is not for them. Children and youth should have regular experiences of worshipping with the rest of the congregation. This can be done through intergenerational services, having children in the service with an engaging Time for All Ages, along with meaningful participation on the part of children and youth in aspects of worship - sharing the covenant, helping with the offering, joys and sorrows, sharing reflections, participating in services and ceremonies that mark the stages and passages of congregational life.
I say "all voices are welcome" - that means gurgling babies, chatty toddlers, loud singers, people who snore - everybody.
Music, Sweet Music
Music is vital – both in my life and in the life of a congregation. I take voice lessons when I can and have sung with the choir. I loved being in choir rehearsals and working through the pieces being sung. I have such appreciation for the hard work of our musicians. I bring to ministry an appreciation of all styles and genres of music. I am fond of some of the traditional hymns and fresh resources.I will be stating the obvious here, but music can touch our souls, our hearts, our minds and our bodies in ways both subtle and powerful, in ways that the spoken word is unable to. I'll let Anne Lamott speak for me here. In her book, Traveling Mercies, Lamott describes a poignant scene in which a man dying of AIDS is tenderly lifted up and held during the singing of a hymn by a member of the congregation who had been aloof and confused because her reaction to his disease. Of this transformational act Lamott writes, “I can’t imagine anything but music that could have brought about this alchemy. Maybe it’s because music is about as physical as it gets; your essential rhythm is your heartbeat; your essential sound, the breath. We’re walking temples of noise, and when you add tender hearts to this mix, it somehow lets us meet in places we couldn’t get to any other way.” How wonderfully Lamott captures the ability of music to transform hearts and minds and move spirits to deeper community, greater justice and love!