Drum Shield = Accessible?

For: The Institute Of Contemporary And Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen’s University, Essentials Red Online Worship Theology Course with Dan Wilt (ICEWS, eg 09)

Sometimes I wonder how I landed the most difficult job in the arts that exists? Writing and playing worship songs that somehow reflect a crowd who ranges from 8-80 years old, including dozens of ethnic backgrounds and styles can prove to be a creativity killer. It’s like pop music but worse, because you have to make more than just teen girls happy, you have to make everyone happy. And then you get a lecture that you’re only supposed to make Jesus happy. And then you get a critique that it’s not about happiness, but about joy. Staying true to yourself and being accessible in worship settings is a difficult dance. Here is a short list of the things that make my job unique:

o Scrutinized attention given to lyrics and how each songs lyric’s play off of each other.

o A weekly gig of 5 songs only. Sometimes played twice, three, or four times in a day.

o An mindless obsession with decibels.

o Rock-n-Roll at 7AM (nowhere else in the world does this happen, it’s wrong on every level!)

o Drum shields, drum rooms, guitar amps turned backwards, cheap gear, fish shaped tambourines etc…

o The “promoters” that stand and look at you during your last song.

o Ugly uninspired stages with bad lighting. o An endless list of cover songs and no one expects you to play your own songs.

Are there things in this list that actually make worship more accessible to the masses? I’m sure some of them do, but I wonder if one of the most accessible things is being yourself? Not your lazy self, but the fully creative challenged, prayed up self that is dependent on the Holy Spirit every moment of your set. For our church the most culturally relevant thing we can do is to be transparent; we have found this to be attractive and disarming! Where the church has turned accessibility into bad art I have to say I’m ashamed. I have fallen into it’s lure and we are slowly digging our way out.

From Team to Tribe: The Journey of a Worship Band

For: The Institute Of Contemporary And Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen’s University, Essentials Red Online Worship Theology Course with Dan Wilt (ICEWS, eg 09)

This week I attended a webinar teaching the value of taking a worship ministry from a task driven group to a relationally motivated tribe. A place where musicians form a bond that is not merely held together by great performances or responsive worship sets, but a deeper sense of family and shared experienced together that stands apart from the task at hand. The grid for this kind of musical collective is Galatians 5:22-23:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law [1].”

There is an expectation that each musician brings one or many of these fruits to the worship stage, serving one another BEFORE we serve the congregation. These relational bonds create a jumping off point for God to use the whole worship band to direct others to himself. If one part of the tribe is hurting than the whole is lacking, therefore everything stops in order to pray for that person. For years I merely saw the worship team as a disposable tool that led congregations to God. Job number one was to get the congregation excited about God and anything that got in the way was, well, in the way of God’s commissioning. The tribe mentality is one that says if we can go together than we shouldn’t go.

[1] Holy Bible, N.I.V. Gal 5:22-23

Essentials Red: Final Project

For: The Institute Of Contemporary And Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen’s University, Essentials Red Online Worship Theology Course with Dan Wilt (ICEWS, er 08)

View my project here: essentials-red-final-project

New Song “Baptized and Brought Out”

For: The Institute Of Contemporary And Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen’s University, Essentials Red Online Worship Theology Course with Dan Wilt (ICEWS, er 08)

Here is a link to my new song “Baptized and Brought Out”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hsro7blWmbA

The lyrics to this song were inspired by the Essentials Red course I am taking on the subject of church history. Remembering who we are and where we came from is an important theme in the class and this tune attempts to remind the worshiper of those truths. This would be an example of a song that is not accessible to everyone because it says some specific and direct things, but I believe it’s the right song for this season in our church.

Baptized and Brought Out
Mike O’Brien & Wilfred Cuthbert

(capo  4)

Am7  F  C  G

C                  F2                                 Am7                C
Baptized and brought out, from one kingdom to the next (we’ve been)
C                   F2                 Am7              C
Reborn and redeemed, forgiven all our sins
Am7             F2                    C
For all this Lord we thank You, and sing it once again (we’ve been)
C                  F2                                 G                      C
Baptized and brought out, from one kingdom to the next

F2             C                 Gsus         G
We remember You are the one who made us
F2             C                 Gsus         G
We remember You are the one who saved us
F2             C                 Gsus         G
We remember You are the one who called us out
F2        C                G
To the light of your glory

C                   F2                            Am7                    C
Raised up and released, to the captives we will sing (we will)
C                   F2                    Am7                    C
Tell of your goodness, and the hope that you will bring
Am7                   F2                  C
For all our days we’ll praise You and sing it once again (we’ve been)
C                  F2                        G                          C
Raised up and released, to the captives we will sing

Eucharist Ideas…

For: The Institute Of Contemporary And Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen’s University, Essentials Red Online Worship Theology Course with Dan Wilt (ICEWS, er 08)

Our church is literally 6 weeks on one side of a Eucharistic threshold. We have received communion every week since then whereas before we would do it once a month or less. I feel as if we (the worship band, congregation, and leadership) are like hungry third world missionaries seeing our first American buffet; we like what we see, but it’s a bit overwhelming! The term “worship leader” all of sudden means more that merely stringing together 4 songs in the same key, there is an increased expectation to get things right and not screw this thing up. I figure if it’s true that this is an outward sign of an inward grace, then it’s at least as important as getting the tunes tight (1). At in the infancy of our new tradition I feel it’s appropriate to explore the possibilities of how we could celebrate this meal before we get too comfortable.

The worship team serve the congregation:
Human touch and eye contact can be a powerful thing. Instead of the usual elements on a table bit, we could have the worship team or any other group of volunteers serve the elements. If you know the persons name that you are serving you could call them by name. Phrases like “this is the body of Christ that was broken for you” can remind each person what they are doing.

Include stations with real wine alongside stations with juice: For those that find a significant meaning in the fruit of the vine being closer to the real thing, this could be very meaningful. In the culture of addiction, recovery, and differing value systems it’s good to use grape juice as well.

Reconstruct an Agape Feast: Use a Sunday afternoon or other day/eve to have a huge meal with a special time set aside to pray and receive the elements. A large glass of wine shared with a loaf of bread would have significant meaning to many. People who are used to only seeing these sort of parties lead to debauchery would be blessed to witness a pure celebration! This meal was a central, defining act of worship for the earliest Christians (1).

Share a the Same Communion Scripture in Several Languages: Proceeding communion you could focus on the historical and worldwide implications of the Eucharist by having many languages share the scripture that accompanies that weeks service.

These four ideas are merely the beginning when thinking of how to excite this weekly rhythm for our Church body. I am thankful that I have a full day to prepare worship each week!

(1) Wilt, Dan. Essentials in Worship History; The Language of Baptism. (St. Stephen’s University, 2008).

Thoughts on the Christian Calendar

For: The Institute Of Contemporary And Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen’s University, Essentials Red Online Worship Theology Course with Dan Wilt (ICEWS, er 08)

Recently I have been encouraged through my studies to add both weekly communion and scripture reading to our worship services at Vineyard Community Church. We have read scripture during the sermon and received communion together periodically, but not during the worship time every week. Adding these two parts to our weekly worship rhythm seems right and biblical in general and really good for our specific community. The bible has some really good things to say about itself, the prophet Isaiah says in 5:11 “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. (1)” Jesus Himself exemplifies communion in the upper room the meal which He admonishes us to do  this act saying “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me. (2)” Since we have started doing this not a soul has complained!

Scripture and communion are both weekly rhythms and seem deeply rooted in scripture. When I started to dig into the yearly rhythms and history of the Christian calendar this week I realized that I wasn’t as convinced that these traditions of recognizing Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, and Easter held nearly the relevance to me that the weekly rhythms had. I am not ready to throw them out and I am not ready to go to a Hebrew Calendar because that seems even more irrelevant for different reasons.

I would like to think this is the place where God allows us to create our own traditions and methods. It is of utmost importance that we remember the story. Paul encourages us to remember the resurrection every time we receive communion: 1 Corinthians 11:26 “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” The use of Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter (the traditions we follow now) do a good job of redirecting us back to Christ, but in a sense I think they do too little. My hope is that we would take our knowledge of history and led by the Spirit and borrow from Hebraic, early church, catholic, and protestant traditions to make rich our local church expression of the Christian Calendar.

I really like what the Christian calendar points us to, but I don’t really want to grab it all. More on this later…

(1) Isaiah 5:11. NIV
(2) Luke 22:19. NIV

The Time & Space of Worship

For: The Institute Of Contemporary And Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen’s University, Essentials Red Online Worship Theology Course with Dan Wilt (ICEWS, er 08)

The Time & Space of Worship

At this weeks service I met a first time visitor that mentioned that he loved our church. His answer had nothing to do with the sermon, music, or the numerous ministries we have to offer; he said he loved the sanctuary! My understanding of the time and space of our worship has expanded greatly this week in my studies. Could it be that God takes an interest in the boxes that contain our weekly gatherings? Could it be that part of the incarnation purpose was to plant a ritual into our lives that would need to relived again and again each time we gather, in order that we would not forget? Although almighty God lives outside  this time and space continuum He has been intimately involved in it’s purpose for humanity. As worshippers how can we best enjoy and redeem these elements in our corporate worship experience?

Commenting on the importance of space, James White says “It should not surprise us that a religion whole fundamental doctrine is the incarnation should take space seriously in its worship (1).” Our space for our church is a rented box. We have built it and rebuilt it four times since we have been here. Dirt, paint, and fabric make it useful and make it pretty. The design, art, and furniture direct and communicate many things to visitors and members alike. I recognize there are a million variables that can hinder or help us connect with one another and God. Putting the chairs at an angle so we see one other in our periphery, having communion tables that are the right height for six year olds, and replacing old candles are just a few examples of our space affecting us. The challenge for the 21st century church is exploring ways to take our boxes and make them unique expressions of a local Body.

Similar to space, making use of the gift of time has it’s own challenges. The use of ritual has been greatly frowned upon by both leaders in the early Reformation and modern day churches. Rather than being a mindless act, hindering our sincerity, employing the rhythms of the Christian calendar puts us in contact with God’s acts of past and future (1). Daily, weekly, yearly, and lifetime rhythms ground us in the story of God and remind us our purpose on this earth.

As a musician and minister the two most pivotal and valuable times have been Christmas and Easter. I have thought of them as just gigs that have high expectations and mostly bad art attached to them ( think “Christmas Shoes”). Seeing the birth and resurrection of Christ in context with Advent, Epiphany, Lent, and Pentecost makes those celebrations all that more vital to recognize and celebrate! Put those reminders with lifetime rhythms such as birth and marriage and I begin to see the richness of ritual in our lives, and especially Christian worship.

James, White. Introduction to Christian Worship. (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1990), pg. 81 and 48.

Final Project: Lectio Divina Service

For: The Institute Of Contemporary And Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen’s University, Essentials Blue Online Worship Theology Course with Dan Wilt (ICEWS, eb 08)

Click here to view project: lectio-divina-essentials-blue-final-project

My Community Worship History

For: The Institute Of Contemporary And Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen’s University, Essentials Blue Online Worship Theology Course with Dan Wilt (ICEWS, eb 08)

My studies this week have focused on the nature of worship. Let me first say,  I find it very interesting how many definitions of worship exist in the teachings of church leaders, theologians, and professors. It amazes me how convincing many of them are and how many of them I have exclusively prescribed to over the years. N.T. Write immediately focuses on creation/the creation and our relationship to Him, Don Williams is all about the King and our relationship to Him, John Wimber focused on our relational connection in worship. Each teacher balances their thesis out with each others points, but it’s good to see that each of them have an anchor and a starting point. My starting point is still a bit undeveloped. Stay Tuned.

I thought it might be good for me to review my corporate worship history as I conclude this Essentials Blue course.

My first worship experiences were in the Presbyterian Church (USA). As a youngster I sang in the children’s choir, performing was probably the best way to get me to engage in worship since my personality leaned that way. The next church was a PCA Presbyterian Church where I was mentored by the worship leader  and began to understand what was happening. Still my definition of worship had only something to do with Sunday mornings and a general sense musicality. My understanding of worship was merely formed by my experience, not scripture. I look back at the lyrics in the hymns and I recognize that I had not experienced God like those hymn writers had. My culture at the time was communicating through electric guitars and screaming. This was not that. The worship experience was narrating the Story, but it was not engaging my heart, mind, and body in the Story (1).
I have a deep appreciation for what this time did and I cast no blame on anyone, I realize now that I was a threshold and God was going to use the former to inform and inspire the latter.

At the same time I was engaged in a weekly traditional service with hymns and responsive readings I was involved in a movement called Walk to Emmaus (also Tres Deas etc…). This was a precursor to a more charismatic worship experience focusing on campfire songs. I noticed immediately that these songs had a very relational aspect to them and encouraged us to touch each other (“hug another neck, hug a neck next to ya”). . The theology and biblical basis for the songs was very weak, but they did a great service to excite me about God as relational and close. This season and these “cheesy” songs really ushered me into a deeper, enduring relationship with God.

As I left for college, immediately (almost from one Sunday to the next) I participated in my first modern worship experiences at a Vineyard Church. The first thing I noticed was a band: drums, bass, guitars, and volume! I loved music and this music spoke to me. This experience was engaging my heart, kind of like the camp songs, but it seemed more serious and pressing. For the first time in my life my body was engaging with worship and there was significant work being done in my spirit. The Holy Spirit was more real and close to me than at any other time in my corporate worship life. This felt more personal and reflective.

It’s been 13 years since that first Vineyard church experience to now; I might expound on those years in a future post knowing that the shifts are not as dramatic, but significant nonetheless. In review I am gaining respect for my Presbyterian roots. In that place of community worship I learned how to sing, read music, and perform with a group. There was a great sense of family to what we did.  I am deeply grateful that the bulk of treasured hymns were stored into my soul, as I will use them for the rest of my life. Likewise, I am thankful for the modern worship experience engaging my heart and connecting me with God the Father. My desire to create and sing found a home here and I love that this is my current expression to God. It’s really cool to be at a historical threshold of church music/worship transformation and to be able to shape it’s local expression in our church.

(1) Dan Wilt, Essentials Worship Theology – The Nature Of Worship, pg. 42

My Worldview

For: The Institute Of Contemporary And Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen’s University, Essentials Blue Online Worship Theology Course with Dan Wilt (ICEWS, eb 08)

A healthy biblical worldview is vital to the foundation of any ministry leader, especially for the worship leader in the local church. If the local church is the hope of the world and it’s being led by the winds of current culture then it will cease to be a potent remedy for the lost. It will begin the race and start over time and time again because it’s worldview and theology are bad. A worship leader with a biblical worldview formed by the truth of scripture and history will be a transforming usher of God’s Kingdom within communities. A healthy worship expression will be both corporate and personal for those he or she leads and the winds of culture will simply be the backdrop by which the work is done.

My personal worldview is a spiritual one, in which God is our Creator, King, Community, and Savior through Christ. The Genesis story is the spark, “In the beginning God created heaven and earth…” (1). And later proclaims, ”So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him male and female he created them” (2). We are personality because God has personality. We love to create because God creates!

Our allegiance in this life and the one to come is to one God, because He is the King. The book of Revelation, a picture of our future in the Kingdom of God shows us a response to the King: “Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come (3).” The non-human creation worships God and human creation proclaims to God with intelligent thought and speech a summary of the expression of praise they see (4). Our hearts and minds are transformed in the presence of the King, for in his very nature of infallible majesty we cannot help but be moved. Isaiah 6:5 resounds, “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty (4).” This King cannot be crowned by anyone or nation and His reign will never cease (5).

God’s nature is also a community of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As the trinity is community we are to emulate that in marriage, family, church, and in worship. This communal interaction is counter to our rugged individualism celebrated through media, cell phones, and consumerism. God says “We”, fallen man says “Me”.  Lastly, I believe that we need to be saved from sin and death, our rightful fate because of the separation from God which began with the fall. The only person that can save us is Jesus Christ because of His sacrifice on the cross. His death puts to death our sin and reunites us with the Father, His resurrection reveals His ability to conquer death and He invites us into that victory! I agree with Peter Davids (6) that “the resurrection is at the core of the Christian Faith.”

(1) Genesis 1:1 NIV
(2) Genesis 1:27 NIV
(3) Revelation 4:8 NIV
(4) Wilt and Wright, Reclaiming Worship. Audio CD. Vineyard Music USA
(5) Isaiah 6:5 NIV
(6) Davids, Peter. Resurrection: Our Living Hope (IW Master All, p. 311)