the missional church

So this gift thing Bruce is doing throughout December has me thinking. It's actually pretty easy for most of us to come up with some kind of gift of service or time, especially to our family and friends. Isn't that basically what we do all day, anyway? (wash clothes, make supper, help w/ homework, pick up something for a co-worker, etc.) However, to do something like that to a total stranger is a bit more challenging.

For those not familiar with the terms, attractional church and/or missional church, here's my brief definition. The attractional church does all it can to be, well, attractive to the unchurched. Friendly, easy to get around, organized, invitive, relevant, etc. The missional church takes it "to the streets". The true challenge of the missional church is that it demands we respond to people we don't necessarily like or want to hang out with. I got my chance to have something to write down on the card Sunday when a homeless man wandered in right at closing time & I obligatorily listened to his rambling for fifteen minutes. Then I gave him some advice (which probably sounded a lot like, "get a job")....but the point is...he's God's child too. It got even more difficult to be charitable when I noticed the expensive headphones around his neck and he told me that Bruce could "reach him on his cell phone". (so where does his cell phone bill go?). Anyway, that sort of stuff does not help my naturally cynical side. But God doesn't call us to be cynical, or judgemental, or proud. He calls us to be of service. I loved the good Samaritan story on Sunday when Bruce pointed out that we are not the religious professionals, or the good well-bred citizens...we are the ones in the ditch.
Hmmmm, so maybe next time I'll try to listen to that guy for 20 minutes.

more from ZOE

One of the most precious aspects of the human experience, I feel, is listening to each others' stories. Were you to compare my sister's memories to mine, you might question that we were even raised in the same house...but we were. In like manner, I welcome all comments from all backgrounds and hope, as the church, we may do more to validate each others' voices and not discount those who don't fit safely into any preconceived molds. So, thank you, out there, for your reading and your responses.

{Although, unfortunately, I don't feel it best to publish those from "anonymous", not because I don't find them valid or interesting, but because it pretty much closes the door to any more discussion or availability.} (by the way, to my last anonymous comment....please expound a bit more so I can understand more clearly your intent, if you don't mind...Thanks!).

Anyway, it is my understanding that Tim Schwamb is also blogging and covering the ZOE conference...so I can't wait to read and hear his impressions. The keynote speaker, Scott McNight, spent quite a bit of time on explaining why twenty million 20 & 30 year old "somethings" like Jesus but not the church, and ten common principles of their philosophy. If you're interested in that, give me a call & I'll gladly share. He also had an interesting talk on "why read the Bible". Is it to supplement theological arguments? Is it for the feel good verses at the top of our calendars? Is it to dutifully get through a chapter a day? He came to the conclusion that it is to listen to God.

Other nuggets I jotted down: "the cure for spiritual weariness is spiritual intimacy"

Truth goes through three stages: 1) it is ridiculed 2) it is violently opposed
3) it is accepted as self evident

"When a person's comfort level in worship is worshipped more than God, than true worship is threatened".

and finally, "Real freedom is doing what God has called you to do."

So, how free are you feeling these days? :)

ZOE

It felt like a rather different conference this year than in the past. There was a huge emphasis on being a missional church---which I appreciate---however, the job of the worship minister generally falls under the camp of being the "attractional church". So, the age old question of "Do we in any shape or form resemble the church Jesus established?" becomes even more problematic to the wearied worship leader who is spending 6 hours a week on powerpoint slides that people only notice when they're missing. Even the scripture stating "they who have a new song or scripture, have them bring it..." seems only plausible for a house church size. Which throws us right back into the structured "institutionalized" worship time for large congregations, which (hopefully) does its prayerful best to be relevant, connecting, and honoring. [the only option to that is to be irrelevant, disconnected, rote and boring....which I believe to be also dishonoring].

Some of the ministers I met felt they had done much more ministry before they were paid ministers. But, as Bruce noted, no matter where you put your emphasis, "somebody's got to mow that grass". The most comforting illustration I heard was, "yes, we all need to be soldiers in the field--but somebody's got to be at the camp when it comes time to refuel."

I also found the class on gender & church to be very educational. The couple teaching were very humble and gracious, and some of their examples were extremely enlightening. They had worked as missionaries to Uganda. In that culture, women are generally topless, but what is worn below the waist (in the villages) is extremely important to their concept of modesty. Meanwhile, a couple of hours west in the larger city, things are very different. A young lady from the city wore jeans to church in the village, and the new congregation almost imploded. The missionary wrote a letter to them: thanking them for their good works, praising them for their new found Christian lives, etc. etc. Then he also urged the older women to have patience with the "changing" times and dress of the younger women. And then, he asked the young lady not to wear jeans. Obviously, that directive was not meant for all cultures of the world for all times...but suddenly this modern day missionary understood what it was Paul must have gone through. The critical question is this: does (whatever behavior) hinder the spread of the gospel?
Which, considering OUR area of being in the politically-correct- nation's- capital, how does the exclusion of women in the worship service look to our culture? We can have a woman vice-president but within our four walls they not allowed to read out loud or serve communion? Does it help or hurt the cause of the gospel? Worse, how are we then labeled...and how does our four walls become a barrier to spreading the message of Jesus Christ? Stuff to think about.

off to ZOE

Wow...I guess September must have been a blur. I'm off to the ZOE conference in the morning so I won't type long...just wanted to say that I'm proud to have the DAVID CAIN link associated with my blog. We hope to include several hymn stories with our release-of-the-Everpraise-II CD on November 16. That tells you one place my time has been spent lately. We also plan to have a whole new SOURCE available by then...400 copies strong...in the auditorium with about 100 songs in it!!! I also somehow was put in charge of organizing the block party this year (which tells you how serious our understaffing problem is !!!) so....time will tell (in exactly 4 days, in fact) how that will turn out! Anyway, several have asked about our Christmas production this year-----it's all being focused on Christmas Eve this time. So stay tuned and make sure you show up for that. Anyway, it's late & my plane leaves early...so I promise to tell ya all the latest real soon. Enjoy the fall weather!

memories of summer

If you're ever planning a trip to New England, here's what I remember of it a month later... which, generally, is a good indication of what's worth doing. I loved Bar Harbor, Maine (a great place to watch 4th of July fireworks), I ate my way through the factories of Ben & Jerry ice cream and Cabot cheese factory, walking through Salem is always cool, and I want to return to Mystic, Connecticut.

Then came creative arts camp. The ventriloquist was great, the illusionist fascinating, "The Potter's Wheel" was super...Valerie truly deserved the title "co-director" and the kids all jumped in there no matter whether it was step team, or singing, or spray painting blacklight puppets. It was a whirlwind of a week, but a fun one. I love grateful parents, and between donated snacks and Starbucks cards and thank-you notes...I felt truly appreciated.

For VBS I generally relaxed back at the sound booth while I watched the rest of my fellow co-workers (especially the children's ministers) sweat it out. I was already having chest pains going into the week, so I'm convinced Chad saved me from a heart attack (actually the official diagnosis was simply post bronchitis spasm). Nevertheless, it's always funny to me what invokes sympathy....and VBS generally gets lots of comments of, "I bet you can't wait until this week is over". Considering Chad did 98% of "my" part of the work, I just need to make sure HE gets ALL the credit due to him. The drama each day was fantastically done, and 500 kids hung on every word.

So now it's already August. Time for the requests for fall video demos. Time for quieter days while co-workers take last minute vacations. Time to appreciate the summer evenings that you waited all year for. So find your picnic basket....pump up your bicycle tires...run through a sprinkler. It's still summer.

vacation time and Palestine

Well, it's vacation time. So I'm wandering around trying to figure out if church services can really happen for two Sundays without me. Actually, it might be better. No doubt the big screens will suddenly work, there will be no feedback with the microphones, all communion presiders will actually show up. (And when I get back, they'll be a pink slip on my desk.) Oh, it's all in God's hands. If you can't trust church to God, who can ya trust? By the way, if any online predators are trying to determine my address to take advantage of all my belongings during my time away...don't bother. I happen to have a Palestinian refugee in my basement who is in on guard at all times. (he works cheap, too, if you need him for your time away). One kid is flying in from Dominican Republic tonight, another is driving in from Miami so we can take care of his birds while he goes to Columbia for a while, and another is on a plane coming in from China. Hopefully that plane will land before he's supposed to climb onto another one to join the family on vacation. (no doubt he'll be well rested and in a good mood!) :) I have no idea what we're doing....running around in New England somewhere. My travel-agent-wanna-be daughter will give me an itinerary each morning. So...I gotta get off here and get packing! See ya!

Arts Conference

Well, it's the end of the school year teen lock- in going on outside my door, so I thought now is as good a time as any to share inspirational thoughts from the Willow Creek Arts Conference. Speakers were: Dr. Richard Allen Farmer, Francis Chan, Nancy Beach, Brian McLaren, & Gilles Ste-Croix.

Anyway, Dr. Richard Allen Farmer was hilarious. He took us on a virtual tour inside the artist's mind. The basic components seemed to be an insatiable curiousity, the ability to push (buttons, edges, envelopes, whatever), and the ever present fog. Another common attribute seemed to be the habit of taking two very different genres/styles/tempos, etc. and mesh them; the friction of which often causes yet a brand new art form.

He read from Harold Best's book, "Unceasing Worship", which I paraphrase, "Concerning the different styles of song, it is not the separation that is needed---a sort of apartaid of the arts---rather it is the creative friction that could bring the stylistic synthesis to the body of Christ that it so desperately needs. I want the diversity. I want the friction in my life. Some may say that people can't take that; that they need to go in one direction or the other. I disgree. People are not stupid and unable to adapt, accomodate, and appreciate."

And here I thought I hated labeling services either traditional or contemporary just because I felt it was divisive and lead to further uneducation of different styles/types of songs. It's nice to be cutting edge (even if I don't realize why). Ha!

I also went to a class on copyright law. After which I figured the only ministry left for me to do was prison ministry---from the inside. Seriously--- don't worry, we still may not be perfect in the future...but we are going to at least be several steps closer to the law. I am happy to report that, out of the six thousand present, I was one of the eight people who chose to go to such a left brained class. Northern Virginia is rubbing off on me after all.

recap

In trying to encourage my co-workers to also keep a blog, I often say...you don't have to write daily---just once every week or so is good too! Now I see that I'm past a month...way past. I'm still in recovery from Defining Moments III if you want to know the truth. First of all, there are certain people that I will always think of and pray daily that God keeps healthy...especially the 90 days before a production. People like the Kerby family...and Chad Davis...and Denise Rickard....and Valerie Chinn...and Katelynn Yoder....and Steve Church...and Jim Shifflett. And altho' they've now gone on to greener pastures, the Lawrence family should also be on that list. These are people who consistently (for some strange reason) take my phone calls day or night, let me ask them some random question re: the latest crisis in production- nightmare- land, give me advice, and then continue to work with me the next day whether their advice is heeded or not. I don't deserve such niceness. But I am grateful for it. There was something especially hard hitting and intense about the show this time. It was one punch after another. People still come up and want to say something nice about it but end up crying in the middle of their sentence. I feel that way too. Anyway, I think the words on the program are worth repeating:

"The amount of effort and dedication that each and every participant put into sharing their story this time has been truly mind boggling. There have been recordings & re-recordings, video tapings & re-video tapings...pictures gathered & songs carefully selected...props garnished & costumes borowed. I, for one, am humbled and grateful. Sharing our lives with each other takes an enormous amount of courage and time and trust. Let us never take that or each other for granted."

I usually only do things in groups of three, and this was to be the end of a trilogy...but of course...it is after watching one that more folks come forward with a story. I don't know....give me a couple of years. I'll think about it.

3 funerals in one week

In Kentucky, it seems the funeral homes are used much more than the church buildings. But I really prefer northern Virginia's way of doing it...after all, I can't think of a better place for this sort of thing than one's church home. As most of you know, my mom passed away a few hours before Bob, which made for an interesting work week. As the church staff went over the checklist in preparation for Bob's service, I was doing the same over the phone with my sister. Mom had actually given up on having much fun in life fourteen years ago when my Dad suddenly died. Even her final two favorite passtimes of eating out and shopping were reduced to a hospital bed in front of her soap operas the last several months. So, it was certainly expected, and in some ways, a relief. Still....Bruce finally told me the staff had decided it was time I leave and go mourn the passing of my mother like a normal person and quit hanging around the church. (He actually said it with much kinder words, but that was kinda the basic drift of it). I guess it is true I'm the Queen of Denial. For example, I couldn't wait to get out of the funeral home and go call mom so I could tell her what a lousy job they did with her makeup. (I couldn't even recognize her!) I already knew exactly what she would say..."Well, for Pete's Sake, you woulda thought they could do better than that, wouldn't you have? Didn't they have a picture?" But, of course, you can't call where she is from here. I was OK through the reading of the obituary and the recalling of her accomplishments. Then came the singing of "Blessed Assurance" , the opening measure of which my dad would whistle on his arrival home from work every evening. That's the moments when one remembers their upbringing. Mom's death marked the end of an era, which few from today's generation could possibly understand. She was the family matriarch, left over from a time when gift giving and gardening and advice giving was a career. I'll miss ya mom. I'm not sure you ever really understood this crazy little redhead you gave birth to...but it doesn't really matter. You loved me anyway.
See ya in heaven, Darla

near death experience (kinda)

So, anyway, here we were traveling out of the Grand Canyon National Park on our way to Flagstaff in two different rental cars (with me following my husband) last weekend. There was a horrible blizzard going on. Now I know enough not to slam on the brakes...but in trying to follow Dan...I almost followed him too well and needed to tap the brakes so I wouldn't run into him. That's all it took. No doubt the rental car from California with the "bicycle tires" was just too freaked out and did a fast 360 degrees deep into the median snow bank...only 4 feet from a concrete ravine complete with a 30 foot drop. Through his rear view mirror, Dan saw the whole thing. Of course, he stopped, backed up...and came running to see if he still had a wife. Once he saw I was OK, then started the "What in the world were you doing?" I had flashbacks to thirty years ago when we were traveling from Nashville back to Lexington after picking up new bridesmaid dresses in readiness for our upcoming wedding. There was a blizzard going on, and I had taken the wheel so he could rest his eyes for a little bit. All I can tell you is that the wind literally blew me off the road, so that Dan awakened from his nap to found us stuck in a huge snow drift. He asked the same question, "What in the world were you doing?" So here we are again, thirty years later, with him still "yelling" at me and saving my life at the same time. Who would have thought? Thirty years (probably close to the exact day since our anniversary is near), five kids, five practices, and five degrees later....
Life is wonderful. Anyway, I'm not saying I exactly had my life flash in front of my eyes...but I do remember asking God if I could somehow get home to my dining room table where all my photos and albums are sprawled out. I'd like to get that project done before I go to heaven.
I told Bruce that since my "near death" experience I had been really mellow. He said he couldn't tell any difference....he thought it would take at least 4 or 5 such experiences in a row to achieve much mellowness. (He's a pretty funny boss, huh?)

Winterfest once more...

Ah, the year comes full circle. Once again, I sit secluded (half hiding) in my office as Lisa and Ellyn coordinates the yearly drama of who gets to sit on which bus. They leave and quiet falls once more in the lobby of the church building. I pray for good weather, that the buses stay on the road, and that lives are changed for the good.

This weekend, as conversations are being had and new elders stand in readiness for a huge change in their life, it's amazing to see how fragile all life is...human life, church life, the ebb and flow of a congregation---a group of believers. I pray because it is the only thing I can do and because it is the most that I can do. It is all that I can do.

Did you know that worship means doing those things that tell God He is preeminant in your life? In other words, if something is not meaningful to you when doing it, it's not going to be seen as worship by Him. The reverse is also true. By the way, a couple of elders have found some interesting articles online regarding worship that they have been circulating. Let me know if you want to get in on the reading of those.

I stand corrected...

Apparently the broken hand incident was on the morning of Winterfest, not the teen lockin.... Which reminds me, Winterfest will soon be here, too. Did you know we're about to have a whole new involvement and integration program rolled out? I got to hear all about it this morning, and I think it sounds terrific!!! Anyway, at one point this dear volunteer looks at us and asks meekly if the staff could possibly help make reminder phone calls or emails. The short answer from the beleagered staff was...well, "no". I remember (back when I was a volunteer), I used to wonder how a church job could possibly have all the days of the week so jam full, too. Shortly before I was hired, at one point in my ignorance, I said something to Murray like, "I'm pretty hyper---I hope you can keep me busy." I think he almost burst into tears, and rightfully so. [Murray, if you reading this, my sincere apology for my past stupidity]. Anyway, I thought my "many" readers might find a partial list of my weekly chores interesting: staff meeting, confirm elders' mtg, log all hymns from day before, log volunteer hours for worship team/AV team/communion presiders, line up communion participants coming up, schedule AV team/praise team, help plan songs w/ worship leader, meet w/ Bruce & worship leader & do 4 week out planning, send out rehearsal schedule for any production coming up, plan rehearsal for SOS (puppets or improvisation), email out worship agenda, order and/or pickup any needed worship team supplies or SOS supplies, make notebooks if needed, get rehearsal room set up for Wed night, process worship budget bills, prepare auditorium for Sunday, approve proofs and order any needed banners/PR materials for upcoming sermon series, accompany worship team rehearsal, move all from rehearsal room back to Murray's office after Wed night, set up both puppet stages in teen & kids' room for Chad, handle my visitor contacts, write scripts for any needed videos (shoot footage & edit), & make sure mikes & sound & Apple computer & class signs are all out & ready for Sunday! And that's just the routine easy stuff. What's really hard is trying to pick out the perfect song for the kids to sing for Easter. I've listened to ten kids' C.Ds so far, and it's not going well. Actually, reviewing all the materials that come in takes a lot of time...and just about the time I turn on some video clips that might make for some teachable moments and be appropriate for upcoming topics....someone comes by and says, "man, I wish I had a job where I could watch TV." And that's when I try not to burst into tears. :)

A year ago...

Well, if you want to know the truth...Murray actually (I think) tried to set me up with a blog over a year ago. Unfortunately, I'm not the most adept person at navigating the computer world and I could never find my blog again. And it was just too embarressing to ask for help. What was I supposed to do...go to the information desk and ask, "excuse me, is there a blog in the lost and found?" Anyway, I did stumble upon it recently and thought I'd share what was happening in my life a year ago.

lock-in (or lock out?)
The loud music is blaring. Kids are screaming. I'm hiding in my office. I can only hope that Caleb's basically alive and healthy out there in the parking lot, not doubt wearing his flip-flops and shorts in this frigid weather. Thank God all this is happening at a church; else I'd be worried. Trust and community and friends and having my own hole in the wall are all wonderful things. Truly gifts from God.

I remember now, it was a teen lock in. Someone broke their hand hitting a block of ice outside. Hopefully that hand is healed by now. It's amazing how much can change in a year. A staff member said today, "the only constant we can count on is change". How true. Well, that and the fact that the Father is still in control. From the moment I walked into this church almost 12 years ago, I could sense that it was on the brink of true greatness... just waiting for permission to be all that God intended. Soon there will be new elders and eventually new staff. The potential is absolutely mind boggling. I'm looking forward to February because it is going to be a month of prayer. Prayer, in my growing up years, meant nothing to me other than some kindly old church member shuffling forward to mumble some tried and true verbage. I wasn't sure what the point was. But real prayer has been proven to have real power...real power. As a body, as a family, as a group of believers, do we actually believe that? Or is it just one more nice little phrase we use as a good luck charm--- just in case? To tell you the truth, I'm pretty sure we can do nothing without it. The church moves forward on its knees.

Don't you just love new beginnings?

I may be one of the few people in the world who actually loves January! After the holidays, there's seems to be a bit more time to think and reflect. (I remember being at a conference once where a sign said, "Welcome to worship ministry, where you get to think about Christmas nine months out of the year!") :)
Anyway, back to reflecting. Yes, I know New Year's resolutions are often soon forgotten, but what a great opportunity to try...once more...to commit to being a better _______. I think it's great! I want to run a mile 2 or 3 times a week (all you runners out there can stop laughing!). I want to be a certain weight by my anniversary. I've got photo album projects and song projects and about thirty worship DVD/CDs to review. I want to teach Caleb some piano lessons. I want to paint the basement and two bathrooms.

Actually, what I really want to do is stay in touch with God as to what He's got planned for me. What a colossal waste of time to try to embark on any endeavor without His blessing, His plan, and His timing. I just heard something over the weekend which I think may go on my door.

Regarding theology: be as immovable as possible.
Regarding methodology: be as creative and innovative as possible.

And may the above never be switched around. As Paul said, "I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some." (I Cor 9:22) Now there was a man looking for ways to connect with his community. Have a wonderful 2008, everyone!

P.S. Note to "anonymous" GatorPHD94...I totally understand where you're coming from. Give me a call so I can tell you of some cool discoveries re: this. 703-631-2100

reflections

I heard there was 580+ there on Christmas Eve. Is that true? If so, then that's a new record. Many thanks to Chad Davis for directing "The Candy Cane" story, and to those who participated in it---especially the main characters: Steve Kerby, Janay and Jordyn Bingham. They were simply perfect.

Anyway, once Christmas was over (which was very nice in our home, by the way), I was wisked away to see my mom whom has less than two weeks to live, according to doctors' estimates. Her decline the last eight weeks (since her 80th birthday party) has been astromical. Recent testing shows that her aortic valve is failing, so she is incredibly weak and frail. She's not scared of dying, but is petrified of the thought of dying in a hospital...so her wish of being home is being granted by her children and home health care nurses. Suddenly, the words of Psalms 23 and Eccl 3, and reading those out loud to her take on a whole new meaning. I will miss most being able to call her up for the re-telling of the story behind my great grandfather's arrival from Sweden, or the recipe again for her world famous barbeque. If only there could be satellite cell phone calls to heaven once a month, this wouldn't be so bad.