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Is your church being called to develop a new worship service or to make changes in your existing service? If so, where do you begin? The following is an overview of a class I teach based on my two publications. I hope it will give you and your church direction as you consider worship changes in the future.
WHERE TO START
- Develop a Task Force.
Select people who represent the many different facets of your church. Don't choose people who all think alike. Opinions are needed that represent the entire congregation.
- Define clear objectives with deadlines for the Task Force.
Objectives should include:
- Study, read, and discuss books (see resource list below).
- Visit other churches.
- Survey your people (survey questions can be found in several of the resources listed below).
- Look at the church's history through times of change.
- Discern the purpose/priority for this service.
- Wait for God's direction.
Planning Resources
- Changing Your Tune: Musicians' Handbook for Creating Contemporary Worship by Lynn Hurst (Abingdon Press, 1999)
- Worship Matters, Volume 1: A United Methodist Guide to Ways to Worship edited by E. Byron Anderson (Discipleship Resources, 1999)
- The Worship Workshop by Marcia McFee (Abingdon Press, 2002)
- The Power of Teams by Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church, Tipp City, Ohio. Phone 937-667-1069. A how-to video on the use of teams for designing worship
- Contemporary Worship for the 21st Century: Worship or Evangelism? by Daniel T. Benedict and Craig Miller (Discipleship Resources, 1994)
- Contemporary Worship: A Sourcebook for Spirited, Traditional, Praise and Seeker Services edited by Tim and Jan Wright (Abingdon Press, 1997)
- Come Celebrate! A Guide for Planning Contemporary Worship by Cathy Townley and Mike Graham (Abingdon Press; Cokesbury #0-687-08711-2)
The work of the task force is complete when a decision has been made to either start a new service or to make changes in the existing service. The task force should put in writing the purpose for the new service or the priorities for the changes in an existing service. It is important that the work of the task force is acknowledged when completed and its members thanked. The next step is the selection of people who are willing to serve on a design team that will develop the new service or facilitate changes in the current service. Some members of the task force might want to become a part of the design team.
THE DESIGN TEAM
- Develop an overall plan to include:
- Time and place of service
- Personnel needed for the service (staff and lay)
- Equipment needed (instruments, sound, video)
- Budget
- Worship space design
- Recruitment of singers and band members
- Publicity
- A core group of worshipers to begin the service or facilitate the changes
- Define a new "holy" space.
Consider: the size of the room, the sound of the room, the best placement of the band instruments, where the worship leaders will stand, if platforms are needed for visibility, how chairs will be set up, where the projection screen will be placed, where the altar will be placed, if kneelers will be used, and if plants and banners will be used.
- Recruit and/or hire personnel needed.
A job description should be developed for each of these positions. Sample job
descriptions can be found in my book, Changing Your Tune.
- Director of Worship
- Singers
- Band
- Sound Operator
- Video Operator
- Visual Designer
- Determine equipment that will be needed.
- Know your sound needs: house speakers, monitor speakers, microphones, mixing board, amplifiers, equalizer, sound conditioners, direct boxes, and so on.
- Train a sound person.
- Type a troubleshooting plan.
- Label all inputs/outputs and plugs during installation.
- Know your projection needs: type of projection unit, type of screen, size and specs of computer.
- Purchase necessary Licenses:
Christian Copyright Licensing, Inc.
1-800-234-2446
Motion Picture Licensing Corp.
1-800-462-8855
Equipment Resources
DESIGNING THE SERVICE
- What will be the main theme?
- Is there a subtheme?
- Cross reference Scripture and theme with other resources (music, skits, liturgy, movies).
- Choose components that will be used.
- Consider the flow of the service.
- Type a script for all participants.
- How will the service be visually depicted?
- Practice — ALWAYS practice worship
Worship Design Resources
Music Resources
Liturgy/Sermon Resources
- Sourcebook for Worship Resources by Communication Resources, Inc. — Excellent liturgy resource including: Call to Worship, Invocation, Prayer, Benedictions, and so on. See www.ComResources.com
- The Abingdon Worship Annual edited by Mary Scifres and B. J. Beu (Abingdon Press)
- The Contemporary Pulpit (III Volumes of sermon series); 806-351-1075
- Homiletics Magazine; www.HomileticsOnline.com
Other Resources
WHAT TO EXPECT AND HOW TO BE PROACTIVE
- Expect birthing anxieties.
- Expect a shift in the congregation's attendance.
- Plan for at least a one year break-in time.
- Ask, "How has the church adjusted to the new family dynamics?"
- Be aware of the "service hierarchy mindset" of the congregation.
- Plan ways to remain a unified church body.
• • • •
Copyright © 2003 Lynn Hurst. Used by permission. This article may not be reprinted without the permission of the author.
Lynn Hurst is an ordained deacon in The United Methodist Church In the last twenty-five years, she has served two large churches as Music Associate and one as Minister of Music. Her publications include Changing Your Tune: A Musician's Handbook for Creating Contemporary Worship; Praise Now! Ready-to-Uuse Services for Contemporary Worship; and Church Music for Children, Year 3 (older elementary). Lynn was also a consultant for The Faith We Sing and a contributor to its Worship Planner Edition. As of January 2004, she and her family will be living in Colorado Springs; and she will be available to do consulting work. She may be contacted through First United Methodist Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Phone: 719-471-8522.
Posted 9-22-03
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