Worship Weblog

Pella Book Group – Second Meeting

Posted by cicw

Monday, November 9th, 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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A central question in our discussion was the relationship between worship and education – both educating people about the nature of worship and education as a purpose of worship.

Dan admitted that we sometimes forget why we do what we do in worship, and that we need reminders about the purpose of various parts of the liturgy. Jeff told how the first time he heard God’s greeting at the beginning of a worship service, it moved him deeply to know God was saying hello and welcoming him to worship. Nancy noted that the benediction is important, too – that it is not a time to be cleaning up around our seats, but rather to receive a blessing from God. We need reminders about why each element in worship is important. Judie expressed the importance of music in worship, and how the songs from Sunday come back to her during the week.

Kristi told how the culture is asking children to learn earlier and faster. One piece of our task as the body of Christ is to educate each generation about worship, and that task needs to happen earlier and more effectively. Dan expressed his desire to have the children enrapt in church, caught up in worship. He noted that we need to make sure that children (and other groups) feel that it matters that they are part of the worshiping congregation. Do they go away from church knowing that it mattered that they were there? If so, that will draw them in.

We discussed the role of story in worship. Bruce noted we don’t often take the time to tell whole stories, but kids love to hear whole stories, again and again. Noreen observed that we often assume that the stories of Scripture are learned at home, so in church we can allude to the stories and spend more time teaching the bigger concepts. Dan suggested that if the point of worship is to move hearts toward God and salvation, then everything we do in worship, including stories, should move hearts more than elucidate the finer points of theology.

We concluded our time by talking about good intergenerational communicators and congregations. Kristi told of a congregation where she was a college student that intentionally had people interact with one another, and effectively built community in the pews. Bruce pointed out that if people aren’t interacting intergenerationally outside of worship, it is hard to get them to do it in worship. Dan said that effective speakers provide a fresh way of looking at things, and Judie added that passionate, enthusiastic speakers reach a broad audience. Jeff noted one speaker who spoke directly and intentionally to young people during sermons and was well received by the youth. Noreen noted that speakers who are biblically-focused tend to reach a broader spectrum, that letting the Bible speak will speak to all generations.

Tags: bgpella, Book Groups 2009, intergenerational