Updated Nov. 2011 Session Meeting Docs

 Less “bodies in the pews”
 A sense that something has to change, but
change worries us
 Time of Worship (Sports, Families)
 Differing tastes around style, music, etc.
 Cultural pushes—In all congregations
› Sundays are the #1 shopping day in the week in the
USA
› Sports/Activities
› Weekend Travel
› Busy, overcommitted people
› Different Generational Understandings of
Commitment, etc.

 Static content  Dynamically
 Enhancing generated content
knowledge  Enhancing creativity
 Information  Information sharing
download  Collaboration
 Little to no  Users are required to
interaction engage with
 Users are passive information, create
recipients of it
information  CREATING &
 FINDING SHARING

 Gathering (Call to Worship, Gathering
Song, Announcements, Welcome)
 Confession (and passing of the Peace)
 Word (Scripture, Sermon, Song)
 Responding to the Word
(Offering, Communion, Baptism, Sending
Song, and Benediction—a sending into
the world to respond to the Word until
the next time we gather)

 Worshipping God is an essential part of what makes
us human
 We do not make worship meaningful, it is already
meaningful because it is worship
 We though need to make it authentic so those we
serve can understand it
 Not everything is authentic
 “Worship is what happens when people become
aware that they are in the presence of the living
God.”
 This meets the area of practice—worship is one part
of the spiritual life, an outgrowth of it (holistic
understanding)

 Fellowship
 Community
 Sharing of Joys and Concerns
 Friendship
 Intergenerational
 Disjointed Community outside
 Celebration/Sorrow
 Renewing, Rejuvenation, Refreshment
 Others?

 Sarellen and I have been reading this
book as one way to prepare for our
conversations

 People as hungry for an experience of
God
 Where have you experienced mystery in
worship at WAPC? Other places?
 How might we engage people in
mystery, what sorts of practices might
interest us?

 People today want to know that someone
loves, accepts, and welcomes them
 Prayers of the people
 How do we reach out to strangers? How do
we invite others to worship with us? Do you
ever tell anyone about your faith or about
WAPC?
 Practical issues: set-up of
narthex, welcome, signage in front of/inside
the church
 Importance of greeters
 Allowing greater participation shows hospitality

 Not drama as in theatre, but drama as in
the drama of God’s story being
reenacted in every part of worship
 Flow in worship is very important
 Waking up all the senses in worship
 Joyful, engaging music
 What are ideas of dramatic expression in
worship for you?

 What sort of music do you like? What
sort of music do you think that people
out there who do not come to church in
our community like?
 Would we be willing to give up some of
our tastes?
 Music must be excellent but not create a
distance

 Tent—Early worship spaces as tents. Tents
were moveable, changed locations. (We
are constantly moving as the people of
God. Way station for pilgrims on the move.)
 Temple—Place for awe, wonder. Some
temples were large, some were house-
churches. (Awe and space for fellowship)
Tent: Follow me Temple: Take off your
shoes, you are on holy ground.

 Movement between areas (something we
need between the Sanctuary and the
Parish Hall)--FLOW
 Location of pews (do some come out?) Do
we configure them in a new way?
 Light, color, draping and paraments
 Choir as separated from worshipers
 Lectern/pulpit closer to the congregation
 Create intimacy in worship

 Prayers and testimony about local
mission in worship (something we have
started doing this year!)
 Doors to the church like saloon doors in
the West (swing both ways)
 Hymns that pick up missional themes
 I think this is one of the areas we can
really capitalize on at WAPC

 Expanding sing-able responses
 Expanding spoken responses
 Order of worship needs to stay
stable, but elements within it can
change. Tension between stability and
innovation.
 Bulletins are for visitors—not regular
congregational members
 Use of projection?

 Regular inclusion of Communion
› Importance type of music selected at
communion time
› How are the elements brought forward, how do
the people gather around the table?
 Sermon as an occasion for joy
› Does not mean there is no challenge in
sermon, but ending is joyful--invitational
 Music, dance, testimony
› Inviting members to share with
music, dance, testimony—focus on JOY

 Positive personal connection with
congregation
 Gather gifts of congregation
 Share leadership of worship with others
 Embody holy character of worship
 Strong lay leadership to worship changes
is essential

 What would we like to do?
 What time should worship best be at?
 What are our dreams?
 What are our hopes?
 What are our fears?
 Where would we like to be one year, two
years, five years from now?
 Others?????

 Slide #3 is from Adam Walker Cleaveland’s
presentation, How Technology is Changing
our Faith and Worship
 Info on Interactive Prayer Stations are from
Rev. Theresa Cho of St. John’s Presbyterian
(San Francisco)
 Photos are from St. John’s Presbyterian
(CA), New York Avenue Presbyterian
(DC), an unknown congregation, First
Presbyterian (OR)

Updated Nov. 2011 Session Meeting Docs

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Updated Nov. 2011 Session Meeting Docs