You used to know who was in the worship services you were leading, or attending. You could look around and you'd see familiar, beloved faces. You'd know, in most churches, who the "new" people were. It's the familiar, beloved ones we're (mostly) lamenting right now. They're the ones we pastors picture when we stand before a camera in an empty room. When some of us have posted pictures along our pews to represent the absent worshipers, theirs are the faces we've included. With churches now empty and worship freshly moved online, it would be easy to focus on the ways we're in the … [Read more...] about When You Don’t Know Who’s Worshiping
worship
A C&E Connection Primer
As Christmas Eve rushes toward us, it's a good time to brush off our collective plans and skills for an opportunity that will be literally within arm's reach: Making connections with the C&E folks who will sit down the row from us. C&E, as in "Christmas and Easter church-goers," used here as a helpful description and without judgment. Some of my best friends--and certainly some of my blog readers--would describe themselves as C&E-ers! Since connection--relationship--is at the core of the (desirable) foolishness I'm always talking about, Christmas Eve seems like a reasonable … [Read more...] about A C&E Connection Primer
In the Event of a Mistake
A bell choir on a recent Sunday was running through its music before worship. I heard the director calling out measure numbers, a common help to keep the ringers together. She commented to me a few minutes later that they had a new member, a man who was a bit uneasy about this debut. She encouraged him by telling me, in his hearing, “I tell him, if he makes a mistake, just keep going!” It’s good advice for all of us who dare to offer music in worship. If we make a mistake, we keep going. Beyond worship music, it’s good advice for living. I have this conversation often with my sisters in … [Read more...] about In the Event of a Mistake