myopic pilgrim

This is like crack. Whoever created this doesn’t know the power Boggle has over me.
What’s frustrating is I’m not the best at the game. Around here, I’m the undisputed heavyweight. On Weboggle, I’m a little above average. There must be something wrong with the program.

I’m not going to post the entire service set, just a section that went particularly well. I’ll write the basic sequence and explain it and give links afterwards.

• Stations of the Cross video
• O Sacred Head

- jazz arrangement

• Lamb Of God - Twila Paris

The Stations video from the Digital Glass DVD by Sacramentis.com has great evocative art by Ghislaine Howard portraying the events leading up to the Jesus’ death. It has a tribal, earthy soundtrack by (funny enough) Tribe, a congregation in L.A.

Following the dramatic video was the jazz arrangement for O Sacred Head which was performed rubato (rhythmically free) and sung by a guy who seemed like he was trying to channel Harry Connick, Jr.. But I think it came off as a great contrast.

The piano led into the chorus of Lamb of God in the key of A minor. Then everyone sang.

A while ago we transitioned into two services with two different worship styles, one “more traditional” and the other “more contemporary.” It means the more traditional service is blended. And the more contemporary service is contemporary in that acoustic adult contemporary sort of way.

I wrote a letter to the congregation explaining what the two services were about. I wanted to give a few specifics, but overall I wanted give a vibe of what it means. I’m pretty proud in how it turned out. If you’re making a transition into traditional and contemporary worship services, you might be interested in reading the letter for inspiration in how to explain the changes.

As a side note, I know some people don’t like using the traditional and contemporary labels because everybody has they’re concept of what those words mean. In the past I’ve suggested using ambiguous name for the services. You could have the Power service in the morning and the Glory service after that. Or use names like these for your services: Gold, Ascent, Glow, Lift, Life, etc.

Ephesians 3:14-21

- Introduction, Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4

• Theme - Jesus breaks down walls of division (Eph. 2:14)
• Doctrine - God’s redemption, re-creation, and renewal of creation.
• Need (this addresses a need of the hearers) - reconciliation between those who differ with us and are different from us.
• Image - Wall
• Mission - Build relationships with those different from us. I brought up classmates and the people in Darfur.

[tags]activism, Darfur, genocide[/tags]

Lately when I’m asked to teach, I’ve organized using principles from The Four Pages of the Sermon. It’s not four literal pages, really it’s more like four sections: Trouble in the Bible, Trouble in the World, Grace in the Bible, and Grace in the World. It also encourages sermon unity by seeking to have only one main text, theme, doctrine, image/symbol, need, mission. In addition, it places the emphasis is on what God is doing, how he’s already poured out grace for the trouble or mission we face.