Worship Weblog

Vancouver Book Group – Second Meeting

Posted by cicw

Wednesday, October 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.
Learn more

We began our second meeting with a brief reflection of gratitude for God’s love and faithfulness to all generations (Psalm 100:5)

Intent of the meeting: cover subjects presented by chapters 4, 5 and 6. Discussion began with various thoughts around what different generations have contributed to worship in the settings that we represent. The topic veered toward music.

Katie – the younger people prefer ‘younger’ songs, are glad that the church moved to using Power point for the lyrics and they would like prayers to sound more contemporary.

Mitzi – while in college the past few years in Florida – worshiped at a church that was populated mainly by young people. The music was very contemporary for the most part but when a traditional hymn was sung, the singing was more powerful than ever

Edna – at a recent baptism/ new membership class was interested to note the number of people who (various ages) who expressed their appreciation for traditional hymns

Andrea – noted that recently in her congregation, a hymn was led poorly in unperfected harmony and a very slow tempo. It is such renditions that would cause people not to want to sing hymns. She believes that she will be able to assist that congregation in making hymn singing more vibrant and meaningful.

Sherry – gave a wonderful example from her congregation: The children were all taught to sing “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name” (Diadem). As they learned the hymn over the course of some weeks, they were taught what all of the words mean. As part of a craft project they all made crowns (or diadems) and on Easter Sunday they entered the sanctuary wearing their crowns and as they sang the hymn together with the whole congregation, the children lay their crowns at the foot of the cross. –great example that some of us would like to implement in our efforts to be more intergenerational.

What fosters intergenerational worship?

Luz – reminded us that we must encourage our members to look beyond our preferences of music and worship styles – as noted on page 62-63.

She wondered whether the primary thing that children learn in church is to sit still! We must help children to be engaged in the worship service.

All agreed that the ‘Sunday Morning Parenting’ insert in chapter 5 is very helpful.

Edna was glad to note that in her church there has been a conscious effort to recognize new, young leaders. Young people have been included in various leadership ministries including the search committees for senior and associate pastoral positions.
People of all ages are integrated into Sunday morning leadership roles (music, scripture reading and prayers).
Mitzi told about last Sunday morning when the children were presented with the options for a new logo for the church. Each child was asked to vote for his or her favorite choice. Adult groups in the church have also voted, and giving the children this opportunity will make them feel like they had a part in that process when they see the new logo appear on church publications.

How can we incorporate more ‘story’ (both personal and Bible) in our worship services? Do people today know Bible stories? Reflections: New believers have probably had little or no exposure to Bible stories. It is important to read scripture and to read whole stories from the Bible.

Being intergenerational needs to be a day to day event and not just a Sunday morning event – discussion about projects and events outside the worship service. Sherry spoke about the community in which she worships and works, as being very much in each other’s lives in an intergenerational way – to the extent of being in each other’s homes often and praying together as families about various needs that arise from day to day.

There are many things that need to be counter-balanced. We must embrace each other’s differences and evaluate together. At times that means stepping into conflict, working things through together and recognizing the many differences in people.

Tags: bgvancouver, Book Groups 2009, intergenerational