We
come to worship with an ancient expectation … We expect that God
will show up … We hope
We
come to worship with an ancient expectation … We expect that God
will show up … We hope
that he will be present in our most sacred spaces … We wait and depend on his coming … We’re disappointed when
we don’t sense his presence … We’re sorry for not always being faithful and really living out our faith. We’re grateful
when we feel him and trust that if we don’t sense him … He is here nevertheless. Worship, though, isn’t about us ...
It’s about God … And, our response to His grace. Thanks be to God!
● Guild House Campus Ministry and Memorial Christian Church (MCC) have been awarded a Worship Renewal Grant for 2008-2009. This program is made possible through a Worship Renewal Grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Grand Rapids, Michigan, with funds provided by Lilly Endowment Inc. The Calvin Institute of Worship Renewal received almost 150 proposals from 26 denominations in 35 states and 3 provinces. The Worship Renewal Grant serves to stimulate thoughtful and energetic work for worship that exhibits renewed creativity, theological integrity and relevance. Guild House and MCC will partner with college students and congregational members in a study of worship and the arts that will lead to worship planning to encourage testimony and students in leadership roles.
The project will visit area worship services, to study and reflect on worship and college student life, to create a conference on worship with college students for other campus ministries and congregations, to design and begin a regular worship service with college students, and to renew Sunday worship at MCC in ways that will be appealing to college students.
● Who is Working on the Project Grant: The project will bring together a team of U-M college students and members and friends of Memorial Christian Church. Rev. Peggy Garrigues-Cortelyou is the project director. You can contact Peggy at Guild House (phone number: 734.662.5189) or MCC (phone number: 734.662.3870) for additional information.
● What We’re Doing Right Now: Two project team members attended the Worship Renewal Grants Program Colloquim at the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship in Grand Rapids, Michigan from June 24-26, 2008. The gathering provided an opportunity to meet with others throughout North America to learn from one another and explore how worship renewal may be experienced in our congregations. We learned that congregations struggle the most to experience worship renewal when they devote too much time and concern to the mechanics and style of worship rather than the deep meaning and purpose of worship.
A different kind of dialogue can lead us to see God not as the object of worship but the source of our worship. Questions such as, ‘What do you find to be engaging? What do you find to be compelling?’ prompt meaningful exploration of purposeful participation in worship than the question, “What do you like?” We’ll explore the topic of worship through several themes to continue this essential conversation. Christian Life will be examined through several “worship renewal teaching services:”
1. July 20, 2008: This Far By Faith
2. August 17, 2008: Take Us As We Are, O God
3. September 21, 2008: I Love to Tell the Story
4. October 12, 2008: Whose Gathering Is It, Anyhow?
5. November 16, 2008: Life As Worship
The “worship renewal teaching services” may not include all the elements that people are used to participating in during a regular MCC worship service. A service may add new elements, include them in a different order or completely eliminate them. These services can be a good discussion starter for our worship committee or other groups of adults. There are many ways to capture the grandeur of God’s majesty and of the day’s worship. We hope to provide an opportunity for people to experience the diverse contexts and settings for worship. We want to explore how our worship services can enable or distract people from connecting or experiencing God’s presence.
Planning summer worship can be seen as more of a challenge than opportunity. Most churches go through a slump period – the choir goes on vacation; the Sunday School doesn’t meet; and church attendance drops. Yet, the open schedule offers opportunity for beginning the “teaching” worship services. Summer is a time when visitors and potential new members come through most churches. Summer can also be a crucial time for hospitality and worship in the church. So, catch your breath this summer, but also plan to join us.
● How You Can Help: There are a number of things you can do to provide support to the project team:
1. Welcome, encourage and affirm college students involved in the project and visitors to MCC.
2. Stay connected; offer your help and ideas; pray for the project and people supporting the effort.
3. Provide constructive criticism and feedback in a timely manner to the project team.
4. Investigate the topic on your own. The recommended resources are a good place to start.
5. Donate and encourage the college students you know to attend Guild House Campus Ministry.
6. Share your faith stories. God is made more present through the stories we share with one another.
● We Invite Your Ideas and Comments: We want to encourage study and learning on the meaning and purpose of worship. We are interested in hearing what you are thinking during this year long process of study and reflection. Please feel free to respond with your thoughts, questions and information you would like to share with us at our discussion group.
● Featured Site: Take a look at this site for an interesting reading about the practices of weekly congregational worship – Vertical Habits: Missional Churches at Worship.
Come and feed the hunger you have for worship to
put you in touch with the mystery and beauty of God