It happened again, though not as bad.
Just before I left for my vacation (middle o' June), I felt that little burn-out from the job, much like I did back in January of this year. It wasn't the worship leading that was the culprit, or the relating with people, or the meetings, or the work environment, or the 17-minute commute to the church from my house --- it was the worship planning that was doing me in!! That last week came, and I thought, "I just don't want to plan any more worship gatherings!!"
To expect to plan worship practically every week, essentially by myself, is a daunting...expectation (redundancy intended). In many of the books I've recently been reading on worship, there is emphasis on planning worship in community -- valuing broad active participation not only in the executing of worship but also in its shaping. That has happened at the BC to a certain extent: for almost four years now, Mark, Cyndi, and I have been meeting each Monday to debrief the previous worship gathering and plan for the next one (or two or three). But really the bulk of the "music/worship portion" (you know I'm not fond of that sharp division 'tween worship & teaching) is designed by me.
I have started to not like that very much. (Perhaps some of you are reading this and thinking, "It's about time, Nat...") I have a deep desire to be creative in planning worship, but it's hard to be creative practically every week, essentially by myself. I'm not just talking about the old conversation about a variety of musical styles and genres, but I mean really creative, even risky -- not being sure if something is even gonna work at all! Creative with sound (more than music), visuals (more than art), other creative expressions, prose and poetry, dance, creative presentation of Scripture (not just read), use of other media like video and stuff, reconsidering of the worship space (chair set-up, use or non-use of the stage, use of lighting, etc.), people getting up and out of their seats, interacting with one another and God in a holistic (physical/emotional/relational/spiritual) way. Man, it needs to happen! If this community, this culture, is going to be reached for Christ, it's gotta happen.
I want people to dream with me on Monday mornings at 7:30 AM. I want to meet for breakfast, share ideas, leave by 8:45, be in constant contact for the next couple of days as creative juices flow and ideas are exchanged amongst the group. I want the Chapel Hill Bible Church to have a fresh experience of God and each other as we gather on Sunday mornings. I want this body of worshippers to worship with their gifts and lead others to do the same. I know I've been relatively resistant to it before, but I think I am ready to explore worship planning in a community context.
Somebody talk to me.
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4 comments:
Planning in community. If I understand you correctly, you don't just want others to be planning but you want lots of people planning together. Good goal. I think we need to think about different ways to get folks together. Monday mornings may work, another may be rotating planners where ideas and broad planning ideas are presented to you by Tuesday and you pull it together. I suspect you need by Tuesday to cut and run with what you've got , and can't afford too much dialogue at the last minute. I say go for it.
Praying for you.
I will literally be dreaming with you as I am not usually awake at 7:30 in the morning. I do think the larger group is a good direction for you to take, Nat, as it brings in more shoulders to carry the load. Back to the old conversation though, I was recently thinking about the enjoyable experiences I've had in other worship gatherings in other venues that included antiphonal choirs and processionals and so on. In one church our choir always left the loft to sit in the front two rows during the sermon. At the end of the service we singers would rise, turn to face the congregation and sing the benediction. Other times we would recess on the last hymn and sing the benediction from the back. These are fairly standard ways of doing music/worship (breathing/worship, eating/worship...sorry)and I love all that stuff and it could help stretch the envelope a bit to consider if any would meld with a bigger picture of a Sunday morning.
One very good point that jumped out at me when reading the book about missional churches was that just as "tradition is not a bad thing" nor is "invention a good thing". Too much new stuff and "creativity" can take people out of worship as they are trying to adapt to something new. Small steps I think are very important, where the congregation is an active part of the evolving process. For example if we do try something new and different we don't just "hope everyone gets it" but it is presented with explanation if need be, or appropriate context. Kind of opens up a broad dialogue. If something really bombs, having verbalized some of the thinking that went into the planning I think does invite dialogue.
Bottom line...small steps with new stuff and build around things that work well and are familiar.
With a broader planning "team" everyone I think needs to agree to that principle that so we don't leave the body confused.
Nat -- how do you envision getting people to join you? Can you personally invite some folks? What blocks are in the way?
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