Finding Fresh Expressions of Convergent Worship

Rev. Brad Hoefs

As I leave overseas for a month I'm thrilled to have an entry to cover my time away from my good friend, Pastor Brad Hoefs (read more about Brad below). He runs WorshipOutlet.com, an exceptional resource for churches who want to use the best of contemporary worship while also reaching back to the touchstones of the foundations of our faith. 

I look forward to blogging more when I return. I have a lot to share about the practical implementation of worship. I can hardly wait to write!

I know you'll enjoy Brad. Read on and be enriched . . .  

You might call the German Mass that Dr. Martin Luther wrote in 1526 a “contemporary version” of the ancient Latin mass.  It was written not only in German but also used sing-able hymn tunes.  Luther took the five major parts of the mass, the liturgy, translating them into German and set each of them to a hymn tune to be sung by the congregation.  What Luther was doing was providing a new way for people to express their worship of the Lord.   Liturgy, which means “the work of the people”, got a new voice, a fresh expression, through the German Mass and it continues on today as many churches continue to offer fresh expressions of the liturgy in new forms for the “work of the people” today. 

 

There is a segment of the evangelical community that are more “ancient-future” in their approach to worship. They continue to format their worship services with elements of the liturgy. However, they desire to offer the expressions of those elements of the liturgy in new ways.  If you are one of those congregations then you know the weekly creative challenge of offering up various parts of the liturgy in new and fresh expressions of worship on an ongoing basis.  Of course, this challenge is even greater if you are in a medium to smaller sized congregation because your time is spread thin but the expectations are high.  However, today there are more resources available for creatively offering fresh expressions of the liturgy on a weekly basis than ever before! 

Creatively using video with a worship service can really draw today’s worshipper into the experience of worship.  Consider using a video as the call to worship.  There are thousands of downloadable videos online today.  There is a great video called “Welcome to Our Church” which is a good way to start a service. (http://www.sermonspice.com/product/38536/welcome-to-our-church-2011) They now have a number of versions of this video.  It really sets the tone for a service. 

You also might consider using a video instead of reading the Scripture.  In a liturgical service, usually the three assigned Scriptures for the day are read aloud.  It is quite possible to find various assigned reads of the Scriptures anymore in video simply by doing a Google search.  This is a great way to incorporate video into the liturgy.

Another way to use video- would be to create your own video for the confession of faith.  In addition, at the time of the confession of faith- the congregation is led in their confession of faith by the video, which adds not only the audio but would also be adding the visual aspects to the creed!  (A downloadable Apostle’s Creed video will soon be available from www.WorshipOutlet.com )

Drama and dance/movement are both great ways to give new expressions to the liturgy.  Drama can be something as simple as doing a reader’s theater type reading of one of the lessons for the day.  Or, using dance or some type of banner movement for one of the sung parts of the liturgy.

You also might want to consider subscribing to a service, which provides you with creative liturgical websites.  For example, WorshipOutlet.com provides creative worship recourses of all types.  One of the subscription-based services that are offered is called “Worship Alive Plus!” Each week a completely new thematic liturgy is offered along with both contemporary and traditional musical options and sermon notes.  This is a comprehensive resource and is great for those who find themselves swamped weekly with little time to be creative.  If you register at WorshipOutlet, you are able to download three services free.

Giving a fresh expression to the voice of people in worship weekly is no doubt work.  But, it is this work that so blesses the “work of the people”- the liturgy weekly that also blesses the body of Christ and the Lord Himself.  So, it is more than well worth the effort!

WorshipOutlet is committed to offering different types of worship resources that connect that past with the present through fresh expressions of worship.  The resources range from comprehensive weekly thematic services to simple sermon themes with musical options.  The resources are fitting for both liturgical and non-liturgical churches.  One of the offerings of WorshipOutlet is WorshipShare which is a free virtual filing cabinet where pastors and worship leaders can share with one another their best and most creative worship ideas.  WorshipOutlet: We do the work- you do the worship!

Brad Hoefs is the pastor of Community of Grace Lutheran Church in Elkhorn, Ne.  He and his wife, Donna, are also directors of WorshipOutlet.  They along with a team of writers provide hundreds of churches throughout the world with creative worship resources.  Brad us also the found of a ministry called Fresh Hope which a network of Christian support groups for those who suffer from mood disorders- and their loved ones: www.FreshHope.us.  Brad and Donna have two grown children who are married and two grandchildren.