SCD Ideas

by Elliott Wright*Orlando, FL, August 2, 2008–What kind of music is best for worship in a new church start? That question was explored in a seminar for church developers, but there was no single and simple answer.“There are many options,” said Marcia McFee, a specialist in church music and worship. New music that appeals to contemporary groups is often a good choice, or new uses of older music. “We need to remember that the contemporary movement in worship is 35 years old, and there are also other options today. One size does not fit all.”

She reminded the seminar that music is the “glue” of worship services, often determining the flow and setting the tone.

The seminar was part of the 2008 School of Congregational Development, held annually to assist pastors and other church leaders in understanding better how to start new congregations and to revitalize existing ones.

McFee has a broad experience in many forms of church music and styles of worship. She was co-director of music at the 2008 United Methodist General Conference, the legislature of the denomination that meets once every four years.

Her central point was that music is what connects the verbal, visual, and visceral aspects of worship: “what we hear, what we see, and what we do.”

McFee presented the variety of musical forms and idioms that can be appropriate to new church starts, depending on locations, interests, and instruments available. These include:

hymns old and newcontemporary songs old and newblues and spirituals

popular music

global music

music from contemplative religious communities, such as Taizé in France and

Iona, an international ecumenical movement that began in Britain.

Both McFee and another speaker, the Rev. Carol Howard Merritt, stressed that many young adults today are strongly attracted by contemplative, meditative music and worship. “Don’t make the mistake of assuming that contemporary praise songs are the only option when trying to reach young adults,” McFee said. She also noted that young adults today have no problem combining the joyful praise of God with a concern for justice.The approach to music when starting a new church or revitalizing an older one should be that of “intentional design,” McFee explained. Emphases should fall on:

“Music that inspires us to action”Music that connects us to the timeless, ageless foundations of faith”Music that creates community, celebration, and intimacy

“Music that draws us close to the immanent God and the deep wells of our souls.”

McFee proposed that planners of worship learn to think like filmmakers, who use music to move along the story and its action.

Some seminar members asked if it would take a great deal of time and talent to follow McFee’s suggestions.

She agreed that it did take planning and rehearsal time, and perhaps the recruitment of students and others who might want to donate their musical talents, for example, to form a small band for a church just getting started.

The effort is worth it because the music helps to create an “environment in which to express the holy,” McFee said.

The School of Congregational Development met in two locations this year: St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Orlando, Florida, and Cornerstone United Methodist Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Some plenary sessions and worship were shared by satellite links. Three hundred people took part in Orlando and 150 in Grand Rapids.

*Elliott Wright is the information officer of the General Board of Global Ministries.

In preparation for this year’s School of Congregational Development here is a list of books from some of our leaders that you might want to read:

7 Myths of the United Methodist Church

 

Written by Craig Kennet Miller and with contributions from leading edge pastors 7 Myths talks about the things we say to ourselves that keeps us from growing.  This is a must read for anyone who wants to get a fresh look at the current state of the United Methodist Church or who wants to lead a study in his or her local church to see their church in a whole new light.

Go to www.gbod.org\7myths for more information.  You also can download presentations to share with your congregation.

http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=541308

Deeping Your Effectiveness

Dan Glover and Claudia Lavey

 

This is has been a best seller at the School of Congregational Development since it came out.  It gives great insights of how to develop a discipleship system for your local church in a way that allows you to impliment its principles in your congregational setting.

http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=343629 

Touch

Rudy Rasmus

Touch tells the story of St. John’s United Methodist Church in Houston, a once dying church that is now one of the largest churches in the country.  As Rudy tells his story of redemption you can’t help but be encouraged to take a new look at your ministry and to view the people in your community as God’s gift to your church.

http://www.amazon.com/TOUCH-Pressing-Against-Wounds-Broken/dp/0849919851/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1215114547&sr=8-1

Dirty Word: The Vulgar, Offensive Language of the Kingdom of God

Jim Walker

Dirty Word is an honest and sometime raw theological story of church mission and ministry with people who are turned off by the practices and appearances of the traditional church.

http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=564487

Opening day with Vince Scully has been a Dodger tradition since the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles and had its first season in 1958.  For fifty years his golden voice has been the heart beat of the Dodgers.  From Sandy Koufax’s no-hitters to Steve Sax’s no-throws to first base, he has told it all.  One of the last of the old-time baseball announcers, he grew up in an era where the story was more important than the action on the field.  While baseball can be seen on TV, in many ways it is best experienced on radio.  As a kid there was nothing like settling down for the evening as I heard Scully’s voice reverberate with reference and passion as he decribed the game that was bigger than life.  

Many have wondered what unites Los Angeles, the huge metropolitan area that is bursting at the seams with millions of fans from around the world.  Baseball is now more than Americas game — it is truly international with some of its best players coming from Japan, Korea, and the Dominican Republic.   The team that brought Jackie Roberston to the field of play, the first American-American allowed into professional baseball, has a roster that spans the globe.  At 1:00 pm Pacific Time, Dodger fans across the world, whether in offices in Century City, or cars on the 101, or in Internet cafes in Tokyo will know the boys of summer are in action when they hear Scully announce the game.  While politicians, preachers, and stars have risen and fallen, one voice has remained a constant, making baseball more than just a game — in Scully’s hands it comes with parables about life.

One aspect of this can’t be ignored, this 80-year-old announcer has a lot to say to kids of all ages.  We may think that those over 70 have little to offer.  But in fact, when Scully reflects on the plays and players he has seen over the days of his career, he puts today’s game into a context that gives it meaning and purpose beyond the slide into second base or the single that sends home the winning run.   There is something to be said for those around us who can put our daily existence into a larger context of history and perspective.  So as you relish the opening day of the season, look for those around you who have lived a long life for they may have something to say to you that will put your life into perspective.  Words of wisdom, from whatever the source, should be cherished and held tight. 

According to an article in USA TODAY on “ShoWest report: 3-D is the next generation in the movie industry”, you will soon be wearing 3-D glasses and paying more at the box office to see the latest thing from Hollywood (see link below).  The article brings up some points that churches can learn from.

1.  Even though the popluation of the U.S. has grown over the years, the number of people going to movies has remained flat the last three years.

2.  Movie Theaters find themselves competing with home TV and computer screens.  They have to offer something unique to get people out of their homes.  As people convert to digital TV in the next year, the home experience with wide-screen monitors and full scale sound systems will only get better.

3.  The Youth Boom is in full force.  The “Best of Both Worlds” Concert by Disney teen star Miley Cyrus, has generated $64 million.  Through the 3-D technology they were able to create an immersive experience that you can’t get a home.   Theater owners are betting that the installation of digital projectors will allow them to offer more live-action shows like the Super Bowl and made-for-theater concerts.

Two other comments got my attention.  First, one theater owner experimented with the sound and found the installation of a new sound system was just as significant as what was on the screen.   Second, another owner pointed to the fact that if the theater experience is ruined by people acting up in the audience, no amount of technology will overcome a bad trip to the movies.

So what does this mean for the local church?  One of our biggest challenges is offering an experience that will get people out of their homes and into our sanctuaries.  Things like the sound system, the lighting, and the overall mood of the worship space effects the way we worship.  Finally, the way the audience — the congregation – behaves has a profound effect on how people experience worship.  What brings people back is not just a carefully crafted sermon or beautiful anthem.  They can get that on TV.  What brings them back is the smile from an usher, a kind word from the person sitting next to them, the invitation to return by the person in front of them, and the feeling that the people in the congregation have a passion for God.      

http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2008-03-13-showest-3D_N.htm 

http://www.media.switchpod.com/users/scdumc/turnaroundtrack5.mp3

Did I miss something?  As the Oscar awards were handed out last night I must admit I was clueless.  I didn’t know any of the movies.  I wasn’t even sure what No Country For Old Men was about.  Maybe something like that old Ron Howard movie where the old people become young again.  It turn out that No Country is a ultra-violent film that even the New York Times says is not for the squeamish and barely made a dent in the overall box office totals for the year.  Spiderman 3 and the latest incarnation of Harry Potter were at the top of the list.  It seems like people are attracted to the familiar.  If you want see a picture of the box office draw, take a look at this site.  Click on the graph and pull it back and forth and you can see which movies have drawn the best audiences.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/02/23/movies/
20080223_REVENUE_GRAPHIC.html#

So while the vast majority of people see movies that connect, the Hollywood insiders give awards to the obscure movies that only they seem to know about.  So while they held a great celebration, the rest of the audience in TV land was left scratching their heads.

Which brings me to worship.  I once was part of a church where the music director’s mission in life was to educate the congregation about all the wonderful hymns in the hymnal like a 1789 hymn written by a Monk in Germany as a lullaby for sheep.  The choir seemed to enjoy it because they could read music but the rest of us watched from the sideline.   One Sunday the director made a mistake.  A familiar song made it into the service – Holy, Holy, Holy.  Suddenly the whole church came alive as even Aunt Millie and Uncle George in the back row knew the tune.  But sadly those occurrences were few and far between.

So as you design worship, who is it for?  The insiders or the multitudes that want something they can connect to.  Do you really need to give that sermon on Transformative Substitutionary Theology or would a message on Jesus Feeding the 5,000 suffice?  Do we really need to learn to sing that new country-funk song off the Internet or would Amazing Grace with an acoustic guitar be more meaningful? 

The challenge for those in leadership in the local church is to figure out how to communicate in a way that relates to the everyday life of people in the congregation.  Our ultimate task is to share the universal truths found in faith in Jesus Christ – love, hope, joy, and peace – that’s what people are longing for.

By Craig Miller