19 So then, my brothers and sisters, we have boldness to go into the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus. 20 He has inaugurated a brand new, living path through the curtain (that is, his earthly body). 21 We have a high priest who is over God’s house. 22 So let us therefore come to worship, with a true heart, in complete assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
(Hebrews 10:19-22 – NT Wright translation)
We know the early Christian churches quickly established rhythms of worship for the whole community of believers. There is something that happens in both our bodies and spirits when we gather as the body of Christ. Jesus himself reminds us “where two or three gather I am there also” (Matt 18:20).
In the passage above we are called to “…come to worship, with a true heart, in complete assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience…”
Being one of the members of the Transition Team I have been thinking a lot the past few months about what we mean by worship. A colleague of mine has developed the following definition of worship, which I think is a great place to start.
Christian communal worship is the glorification of God and the sanctification of humanity as a divine-human event where God offers transformation and healing to help people become more fully what God created them to be and do. (Peterson)
What jumps out to me about this definition is that God is doing most of the action, in our worship, we primarily aim to glorify God. As the Transition Team began to meet, we felt God leading us to work towards creating weekly expressions of worship which first and foremost reflect this focus on glorifying God.
What developed out of our conversations was the concept of a Worship Planning Team. Along with the Senior Pastor and Worship Pastor, this team is made up of a group of creative people, representing a range of generations. As a member of the Transition Team, I can personally attest to the importance we anticipate this Planning Team will play as we engage God’s future for SFNAZ.
Yet at the same time, I admit, as the Transition Team met, I never considered it would be me who would become the first Worship Pastor to work with the Planning Team.
When Pastor John was notified of Pastor Gary’s decision to step down as Worship Pastor, John approached me right away and asked if I would take over worship leadership through this interim period. We both agreed that the SFNAZ worship ministry needs focused attention during this transitional period. We also knew that I have a strong team of teen parents who can step in and carry the load of leading our youth ministry through the rest of the interim.
I have a background of both leading and participating in worship teams and choirs in several contexts. I readily admit there are numerous people with more musical talent and some with more experience than myself, but I also feel I have a lot to offer in this unique season in the life of our church.
Part of what I have to offer is an expectant anticipation of what I think the Worship Planning Team can accomplish. Pastor John, David Dixon and I will take our preliminary plan each month to the Worship Planning Team seeking their creative suggestions to make our plan even better. The Worship Planning Team will not be choosing all the songs or setting the details of the order of worship, but will serve as a creative resource providing suggestions, feedback, and ideas to make our worship even better.
The primary goal of this planning process will be to make sure our worship planning leads to a blending of worship styles and musical styles which results in everyone feeling they can relate personally to some portion of the service. At the same time, our aim in worship is to lift high the name of Jesus Christ, not cater to opinions or preferences.
The Worship Planning Team will meet for the first time this weekend. I’m excited about the group of people that God is calling together. Will you pray for our first meeting this Saturday afternoon?
Here are some specific ways you can pray:
- Pray for a spirit of unity on the Worship Planning Team
- Pray each of us to let go of a “what I want” mentality and let God show us “what God wants.”
- Pray we find ways to honor both those who have a lifetime in the church and those who are newer travelers on the faith journey
- Pray God would seed our imaginations with how worship is so much more than just music and singing
-Pastor Shawn