Until March 2020, I took for granted that nearly every Christian congregation would offer a weekly in person worship experience that would include congregational singing and musical worship leadership by a choir, orchestra, and/or a praise band. Starting in March 2021, I began to learn experientially about the many ways congregations are moving toward a "new normal" or "next normal." During the first two months Mainline Protestant congregations in the Dallas - Fort Worth area were Read More …
music
Marketing Adult Ministries (#1481)
Last week the fourth annual Naples United Church of Christ Adult Enrichment brochure was published. While this booklet is shared with around 1,000 households by old fashioned postal mail in a single mailing, the electronic version is shared with an even larger audience over a much longer time period. History Like most newer initiatives in an established congregation, this marketing piece has developed over the years. A basic timeline: 2012 - a simple booklet offering information about Read More …
Music in Worship (#1411)
David Neff, former editor in chief of Christianity Today and church music director for nearly three decades, recently suggested that music in worship should be intentionally eclectic - utilizing a variety of styles and sources, and focused on enabling worship rather than artistic excellence (or a performance mentality). So What? Music plays an important role in Christian worship. When a given congregation experiences only a very narrow range of music styles or theological Read More …
Ministry in 2014 (#1354)
Todd Rhoades, a prolific blogger on matters of faith, recently reminded his readers of the importance of churches doing ministry in the present using 2014 friendly approaches. Not only is Rhoades troubled by congregations that behave more like what one would expect in 1984, 1994, or 2004, he also believes many congregations that have moved beyond those years but are not quite up to date are nuts: If you’re using the same communication methods, technology, music, delivery style, and format Read More …
Pew Sitter Requests (#1287)
In their recent book, Why Nobody Wants to Go to Church Anymore: And How 4 Acts of Love Will Make Your Church Irresistible (2013), Thom and Joani Schultz' shared "10 Wishes of a Pew Sitter." They suggest that people attending worship really want their pastors to end the "meet and greet" time during worship, avoid preaching a 3 point sermon, invest time in their congregants - especially away from the church campus, invite their input, ensure that musical leaders don't Read More …
Praise Songs = ? (#1007)
I appreciate a variety of music styles in general and in worship. I do not, however, like praise songs that are little more than a musical excuse to repeat a few lines over and over again or sound like something anyone could have written in five minutes or less. The following video makes fun of what can be seen as the worst of so-called contemporary praise songs. So What? Developing a Christian service of worship around a key theme or Scripture in ways that all elements Read More …