Worship Renewal
Worship renewal is not about a particular congregation, a certain generation, or any of the details of our services. It is a part of our daily duty to take up our cross and follow the Lamb who was slain. We seek to inspire God’s people to be lifetime worshipers, a people seeking to lose themselves in praise of their Savior as they gain new life in Him.
Discovering Your Congregations Worship Norms
Deuteronomy 16:16b – No one should come before me empty-handed. This lesson from the Old Testament law is timeless, God wants us to come before Him with our hands outstretched, ready to offer Him what we have. Some things are easier to offer than others. If we are wealthy it is easy to stroke a check. If we have few responsibilities it is easy to volunteer our time. If we love music it is easy to offer our voices. Our Father in Heaven wants and deserves all of it, whether it is easy to give or not.
Worship renewal is not about a particular congregation, a certain generation, or any of the details of our services. It is a part of our daily duty to take up our cross and follow the Lamb who was slain. We seek to inspire God’s people to be lifetime worshipers, a people seeking to lose themselves in praise of their Savior as they gain new life in Him.
Most of the time, when a congregation begins to talk about worship, they are talking about their congregation’s music ministry. Conversations tend to focus on what instruments are played, what songs are sung, and if people enjoy the worship service.
It does not take long for discussions like these to become personal and heated. Unfortunately, we tend to focus on issues of personal preference rather than deeper questions regarding worship.
Board member Chris “Doc” Wells and Spiritual Formation Catalyst Dan Nicewonger have worked to help challenge how we think and talk about worship.
Chris and Dan believe that every congregation has a set of worship norms unique to them. These worship norms fall into three categories, Theology, Culture, and Practice.
Theology
what you believe and how you think about God
Culture
your community’s history and those things which make your church unique
Practice
the way in which your congregation plans worship services and leads people in worship
It may seem obvious, but our theology ought to provide the foundation for how we think and practice our worship.
In reality, it is common for a congregation to allow questions of culture or practice to drive worship decisions. For example, your congregation’s culture may expect something that has little to do with helping people encounter God to be included as part of worship. We see this most clearly during special seasons of the year, even clearer during Hallmark holidays.
In moments like this, it is easy for questions of culture or practice to replace thoughts of theology.
A Community at Worship is a very practical book that outlines Chris and Dan’s thinking about worship renewal. They guide the reader through a process of discerning a congregation’s unique worship norms.
What does the A Community at Worship Experience look like?
Workshop I: Discerning Your Congregations Unique Worship Norms
- Worship is our thing
- Worship Norms: A new language for talking about worship
- Discernment: What is and why it’s important
- Team discussion to help discern your church’s unique worship norms
Workshop II: Communicating Your Congregations Worship Norms
- Sharing with other churches what you’ve discovered about your community’s worship norms
- Changed language drives changed behavior
- What is a communication plan, and why it matters
- Pastoral lunch session with Pastor Dan
- Working to develop a communication plan for your worship norms
Workshop III: Living Into Your Congregations Unique Worship Culture
- Share and review the progress of communicating worship norms to your congregation
- Review worship norms [theology, culture, practice], answer questions, and help think through community buy-in
- Review communication plan, add components to make it stronger
- Plan the end of project celebration worship service
The Community at Worship Experience is adaptable to meet the needs of any congregation. We can provide the training in person or via ZOOM. Working with your leadership team our facilitators can ensure that we address the unique needs that exist within your congregation. We believe that every congregation IS unique and we are committed to helping you discern your theology, culture, and practice of worship.
A Community at Worship as a One-Year Process
- A workshop every 3 – 4 months
- ZOOM Consultation in between
- Your ministry team working to develop, communicate, and adopt congregational worship norms
- Final meeting to discuss next steps at the end of the year
- Dan & Chris available for consultation via phone, email, or ZOOM throughout the year
A Community at Worship as a Weekend Conference
- Friday Evening: Workshop I
- Saturday: Workshops II & III
- Sunday: Dan and/or Chris preach during worship; Luncheon to wrap up the weekend
- Quarterly Zoom Consultations to monitor progress and answer questions
- Final meeting at the end of year to discuss next steps
- Dan & Chris available for consultation via phone, email, or ZOOM throughout the year
What would it cost for my congregation to participate?
WORKSHOPS
These workshops build one upon the other. It is essential to offer all three workshops as part of the Community at Worship experience.
Workshop I: $500
Workshop II: $500
Workshop III: $500
RESOURCES
Workbooks: One workbook per participant. $7
A Community at Worship: One book per participant. $13
IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS
Travel: mileage reimbursed at IRS rates, airfare booked by APITC & reimbursed by the congregation
Hotel: booked by APITC, reimbursed by the congregation
Food: Snacks, beverages, meal for all workshops are the responsibility of the host congregation. We can help you think through ways to make this stress free.
The team at A Place in the Conversation (APITC) will work with you to design a program to meet your specific needs. We have experience assisting congregations with all sizes of budgets.
APITC asks that at the end of the workshop experience your leadership team prayerfully consider the value you have received from participation. If you have found benefit in the training we ask that you consider “paying it forward” so we may expand our work. A Place in the Conversation is an IRS-registered 501(c)(3) public charity (Federal Tax ID: 47-4950297). We are a duly registered (#75000573) charitable organization with the Dept. of State, Commonwealth of PA. Registration does not imply endorsement.
Working with ABCOPAD Churches. APITC works closely with American Baptist Churches of PA and DE. We can assist you in applying for an ABCOPAD grant to help cover the expenses of a Community at Worship Experience. To find the grant application form visit ABCOPAD Church Resources.
What people are saying about working with A Place in the Conversation to discern a path towards renewal and revival in worship.
There is great diversity in the way people worship. For some, worship means organ music, formal service, and hymns. On the other hand, many find a piano, guitars, drums, and praise music refreshing and meaningful. Some communities gather for worship in silence, waiting for the Spirit to speak.
However you worship, your worship is guided by norms shaped by your congregation’s theology, culture, and practice.
One of the most damaging things a community can do is try to change the worship service without clearly understanding the worship norms which have shaped the congregation. Yet, this is precisely what we do when trying to duplicate the worship style of another congregation.
At APITC, we are committed to helping congregations discern their worship norms. We work with pastors, leaders, and congregation members to uncover the unique way God has created the community to gather in worship.
Learning to celebrate and live into your unique worship norms can usher in transformative worship renewal.
We would welcome the opportunity to discuss how we could help your congregation.