*Worship Arts Ministry posts will return in 2020 For many of us, "O Holy Night" is one of our most cherished Christmas carols. Originally written in French (and poorly translated into English), here is a more direct translation into English, highlighting the powerful message it contains. Merry Christmas! * * * * * * * [...]
In a break from Worship Arts Ministry thoughts... a Christmas reflection. Rightly seen, Christmas is a season experienced with joy, wonder, and longing. Joy ....delight in glittering lights and sweets and festive songs and indulgent foods and sleigh bells and tinsel. Hearty laughter with family and friends at gatherings and parties. But a deeper joy [...]
The focus of a worship arts ministry should be to glorify God using the best we have while striving to better ourselves for His glory. Not for our names’ sake or for the sake of artistic ‘growth’ - but for the sake of the kingdom. We live in an age of digital mass distribution [...]
Physical Expression in Worship The first time I saw someone raise their hands in a worship setting, I was curious... but not confused. I didn't think anyone was "asking a question". I had been to see Whitesnake and Great White and Motley Crüe in concert. I had seen people fully physically engaged with something that [...]
Last time we looked at the Formats of songs used for worship - Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs. And we noted that the lyrics were of primary importance. So, how do we determine lyrical depth? Where does the line lie between God honoring emotion and pleasure-seeking emotionalism? I would contend the lyrics should be un-confusing [...]
In Part I, we looked at music in the Church - that the songs we use are to be: - richly full of the message of Christ - sung to God and to one another - from the heart and filled with gratitude But ....what about song formats or structures? What musical style should we use? [...]
I recently was speaking at a church about what our worship gatherings should look like, specifically in the area of music. It's mostly disheartening (but a bit comforting tbh) to know that the Church has argued over musical styles for centuries. Sadly, what is designed (in part) as a demonstration of our unity has been [...]
I wasn’t originally planning on a third section, but after I had written the last entry, the Lord reminded me of a few things specifically as they relate to music ministries in churches: Optics/Image– in relation to who should be allowed to serve, the word makes me physically ill. Churches, this must not be! Your congregation [...]
Firmly convinced that every person is made in the image of God, we looked last time at how that should shape our creative process as well as building relationships with our congregations. Today let’s look at how Imago Dei shapes interpersonal dynamics of a music team. 3. Fellow Servants As a music leader in a [...]
A vital part of any ministry, including arts/music ministry, is an unwavering conviction to the truth of Imago Dei, especially as it relates to the gathered Church and those you serve alongside. Imago Dei. You are made in the image of God Everyone you encounter is made in the image of God. Your best mate [...]
DREaM in London 