Real Worship

Since March 2008 Sundays have looked a little different.  Once the morning service has finished in Stevenage, a group of us will jump into a car and drive 240 miles to Exeter (stopping for lunch along the way – usually KFC), where we meet together with the congregation there.

Dilemma: Do I post a set list for each congregation separately, or together?  Hmm… Let’s try together:

Stevenage:

It has become the norm for Ali to choose the set list for the Stevenage congregation.  Here are the songs that we got to sing from the list he chose this week:

• Come Love of God (Ali Loaker) Ali
• Your Grace is Enough (Chris Tomlin) Mike
• Holy is the Lord (Chris Tomlin) Ali
• Passion (Mike Ellis) Mike

There is a different dynamic for me when worshipping with the Stevenage congregation.  This is because we have a larger, more established band with multiple “worship leaders” and I may only end up leading 1 or 2 songs in a set.  When I am not leading, I may be playing second guitar, adding riffs; I may be strumming an accoustic whilst adding backing vocals.  In the set above, for example, during the first song (which Ali led) I played second guitar on my electric, playing a riff high up the neck.  In the second song, I led it whilst playing my accoustic.

The challenge for me is to continue to remain connected & focused; hearing God, connecing at a heart level, pouring out my heart in worship, and play the right notes – all at the same time, whether or not I am leading.  The temptation is to back-off when I am not leading.

Exeter:

As it is mostly me who travels to Exeter to “lead worship”, I usually choose the set list for Exeter.  The songs we got to sing this week were:

• For Who You Are (Marty Sampson)
• Holy is The Lord (Chris Tomlin)
• Dove’s Eyes (Rick Pino)
• My Romance (RickPino)

All 4 songs were played in the key of A (I actually played capo 2 G – deliberately, to give a more open sound on the accoustic & make it easier to add in bass note runs between the chords).  As often as possible, I will try to play songs either in the same key (even if it means changing the key they were originally written in), or I will play them in keys that flow together.  I find this helps not just by having smoother transitions between songs, but it provides the space in between the songs for us to get into more free, spontaneous worship – these are my favourite times!

For me, the songs themselves are often only a journey to a place where we all connect vitally with God & each other; giving Him the space to lead & direct as He wills and through whom He chooses.  In fact, the reason why (in both congregations) we didn’t get to sing all the songs from the set lists is because of spending as much time as possible in these spaces.  I will often only introduce the next planned song in the list as a tool to help people engage with God when I sense that they are starting to disconnect.

As an aside, the term “set list” is one that is becoming more uncomfortable for me.  This is because it suggests performance; and our heart is most certainly not to perform or entertain, but rather to play our part in the divine dance that is this small expression of worship; and to facilitate the body moving together with Him.

For the sake of ease & continuity, I will probably carry on using the term “set list” (at least for now).  Perhaps in the future, I may change the name of this post to the “Redemption weekly round up”- or something similar… we’ll see – watch this space!

This post can also be found in the “Sunday Setlists” blog carnival at FredMcKinnon.com

I’m currently reading through an amazing  book by Wayne Jacobsen & Clay Jacobsen called Authentic Relationships.  At the start of the book, they quote the following which is taken from a sign on the wall of Shishu Bhavan, a children’s home in Calcutta.  It really inspired me.  I hope it does you.

Anyway

People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered.

Love them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and true enemies

Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.

Be good anyway.

Honesty and frankness will make you vulnerable.

Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.

Build anyway.

People need help but may attack you if you try to help them.

Help them anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God.

It was never between you and them anyway.

As promised, here is the interview with Frank Viola & review of his latest book, From Eternity To Here.  At the end of the post I will publish a list of other bloggers participating in today’s blog circuit.  If you’d like to gain other perspectives on the book, visit their sites and join the discussion.

Before we get to the questions, here is my take on the book.

“From Eternity…” is to Viola what Star Wars episodes I to III was to George Lucas, or what the “Origins” films are to the “X-Men” series.  To give it a biblical metaphor, you could say it is the Genesis of his writings.

It is a prequel, if you like; the inspiration for and foundation on which his other books are written.  Viola himself says that if you were to read only one of his books, then this would be the one to choose.

The book is a compelling narrative of God’s eternal plan in the church, following 3 distinct threads: the church as the bride of Christ, the house of God and a new species i.e. the body of Christ and the family of God.  The upshot being that the Father wants a house to dwell in and a family to relate to; and the Son wants a bride to marry and a body to express himself through in creation.

I must confess that the first section of the book, (on the bride of Christ) was my personal favourite.  This in no way diminishes the other sections.  I found that reading through the exploration of Jesus’ passion for His bride stirred a heartfelt, passionate response in my heart and reminded me of why it is I do what I do.

That Viola has a passion for the purposes of God is plainly evident.  If you are passionate for God and His purposes, then read this book.

As with his previous writings, this book may (and should) challenge your paradigms concerning church.  Don’t let that put you off.  Whether or not you agree (either wholely, or in part) with his ultimate vision for the practical expression of church, this book is a must read.

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So, here are the questions I posed to Frank and his answers.

1. In chapter 14 of the book, you contrast Moses’ & David’s tabernacles.  There we see a beautiful picture of “God’s people… worshipping freely” and “God’s holy presence… open for all to enjoy”.  Do you see those involved in what is currently referred to as the “worship ministry” (i.e. musicians, singers & worship leaders) playing a part in the restoration of the tabernacle of David?  If so, would that look any different to what we currently see – how?

No, I do not. The whole worship leader/team phenomenon is a throwback to Old Covenant worship. We are in the New Covenant now where all believers are ministering priests, and they should be allowed to function as such. In organic church life, all carry a piece of the ark. Worship is in the hands of everyone together under Christ’s headship. (I describe what this looks like in my book REIMAGINING CHURCH.)

The tabernacle of David is a powerful picture of the ekklesia of God where all of God’s people are functioning, ministering, and beholding the glory of God with unveiled faces. Those who have experienced authentic church life … organic body life … understand this experience. Due to space limitations, I wasn’t able to go into depth on it in the book, but I have done so in a spoken message on the topic.

2. As congregations become more aware of God’s ageless purpose in the Church, what advice can you offer those who would seek to embody the expression of the bride, house, body & family of God in the Earth? Can you offer practical advice drawn from the experiences of other congregations who have made the journey?

Those Christians who are captured by the vision of God’s eternal purpose naturally seek others who have the same vision so they can stand for and display it with them. The eternal purpose is corporate, it’s not individualistic. Displaying and fulfilling it, therefore, requires a body of believers in a locale.

Two practical suggestions. One is to ask the Lord to bring others who have a vision for the eternal purpose into their path. Believe it or not, Facebook (of all things) has been used by the Lord to accomplish this recently. There’s a new Facebook page for the book where people of like mind and heart are connecting.

Secondly, there are special events going on all over the country this year on the Eternal Purpose designed to connect like-minded folks together in person and give them both vision and practical help on how to begin fleshing it out in their cities.  People can find out more about these events at www.ptmin.org/events

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OTHER BLOGS PARTICIPATING IN THE “FROM ETERNITY TO HERE” BLOG CIRCUIT

Today (June 9^th), the following blogs are discussing Frank Viola’s new bestselling book “From Eternity to Here” (David C. Cook, 2009). The book just hit the May CBA Bestseller List. Some are posting Q & A with Frank; others are posting full reviews of the book. To read more reviews and order a copy at a 33% discount, go to Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Eternity-Here-Rediscovering-Ageless-Purpose/dp/1434768708/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233609867&sr=1-4

For more resources, such as downloadable audios, the free Discussion Guide, the Facebook Group page, etc. go to the official website: http://www.FromEternitytoHere.org

Enjoy the reviews and the Q and A:

Out of Ur – http://blog.christianitytoday.com/outofur/archives/2009/05/viola.html

Shapevine – www.Shapevine.com (June newsletter)

Brian Eberly – http://www.brianeberly.com

DashHouse.com – http://www.DashHouse.com/

Greg Boyd – http://www.gregboyd.org/blog/

Vision Advance – http://vision2advance.blogspot.com/

David Flowers – http://ddflowers.wordpress.com

Kingdom Grace – http://kingdomgrace.wordpress.com

Captain’s Blog – http://www.captainestes.blogspot.com/

Christine Sine – http://godspace.wordpress.com

Darin Hufford – The Free Believers Network – www.freebelievers.com

Zoecarnate – http://zoecarnate.wordpress.com

Church Planting Novice – www.churchplantingnovice.wordpress.com

Staying Focused – http://kimmartinezstayingfocused.wordpress.com/

Take Your Vitamin Z – www.takeyourvitaminz.blogspot.com

Jeff Goins – http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org

Bunny Trails – http://bunny-trails.blogspot.com

Matt Cleaver – http://mattcleaver.com

Jason T. Berggren – http://blog.jasonberggren.com/

Simple Church – http://www.simplechurchjournal.com/

Emerging from Montana – http://wordofmouthministries.blogspot.com/

Parable Life – http://www.theparablelife.blogspot.com

Oikos Australia – http://www.oikos.org.au/blog/

West Coast Witness – www.WestCoastWitness.com

Keith Giles – http://www.Keith.Giles.com

Consuming Worship — http://www.consumingworship.org

Tasha Via – www.tashavia.blogspot.com

Andrew Courtright – www.andrewcourtright.blogspot.com

ShowMeTheMooneys! – http://www.showmethemooneys.com/

Leaving Salem, Blog of Ronnie McBrayer – http://leavingsalem.wordpress.com/

Jason Coker – pastoralia.missionaltribe.org

From Knowledge to Wisdom – http://isthistheway.typepad.com/

Home Brewed Christianity – http://www.homebrewedchristianity.com

Dispossessed – http://kblog.kevinjbowman.com

Dandelion Seeds – http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Dandelionseeds

David Brodsky’s Blog- “Flip the tape Deck” – http://flipthetapedeck.blogspot.com/

Chaordic Journey – http://jeffrhodes.wordpress.com

Renee Martin – http://www.reneemartinmusic.com/profiles/blog/list

Bob Kuhn – http://organicchurchnola.wordpress.com/

Living with Freaks: www.livingwithfreaks.com

Real Worship – http://therealworshipleader.com

Fervent Worship – http://ferventworship.blogspot.com

Julie Ferwerda Blog – www.JulieFerwerda.com /  www.OneMillionArrows.com

What’s With Christina?! – http://w2christina.blogspot.com

Irreligious Canuck – http://www.irreligiouscanuck.com

This day on the journey – http://guychmieleski.blogspot.com

Live and Move: Thoughts on Authentic Christianity – http://liveandmove.blogspot.com/

Spiritual Journey With God – http://www.elvineve.blogspot.com/

Dries Conje – http://www.echurch.co.za / http://www.thejesusfeed.com / http://www.bookdisciple.com.

Journey with Others – http://journeywithothers.blogspot.com

On Now to the Third Level – www.080808onnowto.blogspot.com

Christine Moers – www.welcometomybrain.net

Breaking Point – http://marybethstockdale.wordpress.com

Hand to the Plough – http://www.handtotheplough.com.au

Jon Reid – http://jonreid.blogs.com/oneanother/welcome-pilgrim.html

Weblight – www.blog.worldwidewebservices.se

D. L. Webster – http://gzmproductions.com/dlwebster

Searching for the Whole-Hearted Life – wholeheartedlife.blogspot.com