Worship Community - City Church
Hi all
I hope you're all well.
Last Saturday, I ran a worship support/training day for lots of different worship leaders and musicians from Ireland (and further afield), with help from a few friends (David and Claire Hamilton, Christian Barr and Josh Galbraith). I left the day feeling inspired, encouraged and challenged. For me, it felt like the start of building something important and symbolic in Ireland.
I dont know if it is just me but I felt deeply encourged about the range of people who participated in the day. There were Baptists, Presbys, Methodists, CoI's, Charismatics and possibly a few that I am missing. People travelled from Larne, Bangor, Dublin, Portadown, Ballyclare, England and Newtownards to be there...and it seemed to me that the day seemed to be serving a local need that needs to be acknowledged and appropriately addressed.
There are many worship leaders and musicians who faithfully serve in their local churches week after week who feel ill-equipped, under-resourced and at times frustrated. The purpose of the day was to give space to these experiences/feelings but to also explore vision, solutions, possibilities and how we can support each other. I want these days to result in empowered people making a compassionate, positive contribution to others around them. I am interested much more in the solutions and in unity rather than the problems and division. How can we continue to do what we are doing and do it even better?
One of the things I am most excited about is that we are in the process of building a community of people who can give a committment (even if it is limited) to look after and support each other. I have a vision for a community of people who commit to each other for 5 years or 10 years and who are genuinely interested and passionate about creating the songs and music that need to be sung in their locality and in this land. Imagine that...local people resourced and supported to find and express God's creative heart for this land (rather that only reproducing the songs tht come from other parts of the world). This is so necessary if we are genuinely to bring light, hope and freedom into our communities.
For those of you who participated, I want to thank you for you openness and your decision to be there. Thank you for sharing your hearts and ideas. I am really interested to hear from you about how we can make this as good as possible.
One of the things I am particularly interested in is how we can continue to keep this an inclusive community rather that something that excludes. How can we open our arms to others? How can we invite more in?
I am really looking forward to the next time we meet.
Peace
Johnny xo
I hope you're all well.
Last Saturday, I ran a worship support/training day for lots of different worship leaders and musicians from Ireland (and further afield), with help from a few friends (David and Claire Hamilton, Christian Barr and Josh Galbraith). I left the day feeling inspired, encouraged and challenged. For me, it felt like the start of building something important and symbolic in Ireland.
I dont know if it is just me but I felt deeply encourged about the range of people who participated in the day. There were Baptists, Presbys, Methodists, CoI's, Charismatics and possibly a few that I am missing. People travelled from Larne, Bangor, Dublin, Portadown, Ballyclare, England and Newtownards to be there...and it seemed to me that the day seemed to be serving a local need that needs to be acknowledged and appropriately addressed.
There are many worship leaders and musicians who faithfully serve in their local churches week after week who feel ill-equipped, under-resourced and at times frustrated. The purpose of the day was to give space to these experiences/feelings but to also explore vision, solutions, possibilities and how we can support each other. I want these days to result in empowered people making a compassionate, positive contribution to others around them. I am interested much more in the solutions and in unity rather than the problems and division. How can we continue to do what we are doing and do it even better?
One of the things I am most excited about is that we are in the process of building a community of people who can give a committment (even if it is limited) to look after and support each other. I have a vision for a community of people who commit to each other for 5 years or 10 years and who are genuinely interested and passionate about creating the songs and music that need to be sung in their locality and in this land. Imagine that...local people resourced and supported to find and express God's creative heart for this land (rather that only reproducing the songs tht come from other parts of the world). This is so necessary if we are genuinely to bring light, hope and freedom into our communities.
For those of you who participated, I want to thank you for you openness and your decision to be there. Thank you for sharing your hearts and ideas. I am really interested to hear from you about how we can make this as good as possible.
One of the things I am particularly interested in is how we can continue to keep this an inclusive community rather that something that excludes. How can we open our arms to others? How can we invite more in?
I am really looking forward to the next time we meet.
Peace
Johnny xo
posted by Johnny Parks at 4:09:00 p.m.
4 Comments:
Hi Johnny,
I've already left comments on Claire "Hambette's" blog, so I'll try not to repeat myself too much.
I just wanted to say thanks for such a great day. It was well worth crossing the channel for! I was particularly challenged in the areas of our responsibility to be creative, and many of the issues we raised in the small group discussions. It was great to hook up with people who are experiencing similar joys, challenges and difficulties.
The one thing which has really stuck in my mind was what you said about whether we are on the side of "cause" or "effect". This has really challenged me to take more responsbility in creating new things, pushing my faith, and leading worship, rather than making excuses as to why things may be as they are. Also whilst the issues of locality and community (particularly talking of the songs we sing and the motivation behind choosing these) were talked about, I was very challenged in ways I hope to push forward in my own Church, even though it may be many miles away from sunny Belfast!
A comment on the question about how to be inclusive: I believe that a community such as that which was started on Saturday will grow in a natural way. It's a real tough balance to strike to keep the intimacy of the small, and open group discussions, as well as the open Q&A times, whilst also growing the community. The two options which spring to mind would be whether to publicise this in a wider way, or whether to rely on a more organic type of growth (through word of mouth and a culture of inclusion).
Well I'm meeting with the Senior Pastor and Elder responsible for worship at my home church on Saturday...so I hope to be able to express to them some of what took place last Saturday.
Thanks again for the opportunity to share in this experience.
Kev
I aso had a great time. I got the impression that many of us wanted to pray and support each other beyond the conference. Maybe we can start to pray for Kev. Didn't even talk to you mate, sorry but I can still pray for your meeting next saturday. Anyone else up for this?
I came away encouraged, inspired and challenged too. It was a fantastic day Johnny - a great big thumbs up! Thank you.
ok just trying to push something here. I want to let kev know that I was praying fo r his meet with his Pastor and elder.....found my self praying around the theme of peace between them!! amd sure others were praying too. am trying to pick up on that cause and effect theme we pray God acts!!!! Hope it went well. Give us details JP about the next meet so we can pray in that cause and effect... C'mon God!!!
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