Worship Weblog

Sunnyside Book Group – First meeting

Posted by cicw

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009

Book Groups

We invited 34 book groups across the U.S. and Canada to meet and discuss The Church of All Ages and its implications for their worship, and to share their notes here.
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Mary opened the meeting by welcoming everyone and thanking them for their enthusiasm for this project. She also explained the genesis of the project and the mandate from Calvin Institute of Christian Worship: “to deepen the discussion about intergenerational worship and to probe how truly intergenerational worship—week after week- can call for a much deeper form of participation by participants of all ages”. Mary then read Psalm 78:1-7 as a Biblical mandate to teach all generations by word and example!

Each person present was asked to introduce themselves, tell the name of the church they attend and answer “what motivated them to say ‘yes’ to this Focus Group opportunity”! Though 3 of the 11 were unable to be there for the first meeting, the total represents 2 CRC’s and one Nazarene church.

First Question for discussion: AFTER READING THE FIRST THREE CHAPTERS, WHAT ARE YOUR INITIAL FEELINGS ABOUT EXPLORING FURTHER THIS TOPIC OF INTERGENERATIONAL WORSHIP?
Phyllis: was surprised that so many churches separate out those preferring contemporary from traditional and are provided the options of different times to meet.
Joe: Resonated with what was being written. He loved the illustration on page 21—especially the sentence, “church in worship—so quick to look for gifts and blessings, and so unready to bring something to give away.” As a pastor I like when people tell me they are “unhappy” with worship (especially the style) because it gives me an opportunity to say, “That’s good because worship is not intended to make you happy. Worship is and always should be about God.”
Twyla: Page 21 would make a wonderful drama! She had trouble getting past all the forwards and prefaces before she could start the actual book!
Lou: Had just finished Richard Foster’s Celebration of Discipline and wanted the book we are reading now to give her a better definition of Worship!
Renae: sees how easy it is to separate kids and adults and hard it is to find the right answer to some of those dilemma!
Twyla: we need to look at the purpose for separating. Moms from Coffee Break helped to determine that purpose for their church and she could appreciate their point of view. She saw how it was also to help children learn how to worship.

Second question for discussion: WHICH INSIGHTS ON INTERGENERATIONAL WORSHIP CITED SO FAR IN THE BOOK ARE MOST HELPFUL IN TRYING TO UNDERSTAND YOUR CONGREGATION?
Doug: the six stages of faith development were very interesting!
Twyla: was glad it was pointed out that the stages were not age related. That helps us understand where people are coming from.
Renae: referred to page 11 and the descriptions of different people within a congregation and she realized the truth of that in her congregation.
Doug: felt the book defined Intergenerational—but not worship.
Joe: pointed out that page Xlll has a description of the worship event.
Renae: it must be tough for a pastor to address all that ages in the pew.
Doug: It would be interesting to find out from a pastor who has served many congregations how, or if, they could identify the faith development stages of those he served.
Joe: really liked the “helps” provided on page 30 and following guidelines

Third question: IF VISITORS WERE TO WORSHIP IN YOUR CHURCH FOR 5 WEEKS, WHAT CONCLUSIONS WOULD THEY DRAW ABOUT YOUR INCLUSION—OR LACK OF INCLUSION—OF ALL AGES?
Twyla: I would hate for them to come in August when people take a break (musicians—Praise Teams-Children’s Worship leaders etc.) Then they would think we were exclusive. I would like them to come during celebration seasons (Easter, Christmas etc.)
Renae: loves how worship in her church each week looks different with a different format and instruments used as well as different Praise/Worship Leaders each week.
Phyllis: we need to be careful to make sure all those services focus on God. Page 19 uses the word “one” many times—we need to keep the right focus—unity—we need to explain better each week why different components are in our worship times. We need to understand the ‘why’ of what we do!
Renae: worship is all for the same purpose—it’s how we approach it! She says some of her teenage group thinks some newer songs are “dumbed down” and we loose the beauty of the (scriptural) words.
Phyllis: these first three chapters were an education for me—how as I age I see the difference in ages and how they learn differently because of what they are exposed to.
Harold: there is good and bad in all that is out there. How hard it must be for the kids and youth! Through the years songs such as some of the Psalms based ones call for some interpretation.
Phyllis: Sometimes songs of “today” sound like they are about ‘me’ instead of God!
Harold: there is a temptation to fall into criticism.
Lou: wondered how youth could say ‘old’ language is a problem when books like Shakespeare are read in High schools!
Joe: described the difference between ‘head’ and ‘heart’ worship. I believe good worship will always include both. Songs ultimately need to focus on God and where we stand in need of Him as well as His attributes that demand our worship.
Mary: For our next meeting: come back with ways you can identify that your congregation’s worship life has been sensitive to the stages of faith development of all who worship there!

Tags: bgsunnyside, Book Groups 2009, intergenerational