Journey of Worship

How do you like your eggs?

Scrambled, fried, over-easy, hard-boiled, in an omelet, with cheese, with salsa, etc?

What if all the eggs you ever ate where the exact same? What if the cook at your favorite breakfast restaurant only knew how to make one kind of egg?

In the same way, I don’t think it’s a good idea for a church to put all their eggs in the Sunday morning basket.

Is this an odd statement to hear from a worship pastor? One whose primary task is often the Sunday morning gathering?

Perhaps.

But, as I continue to grow in my understanding of church, discipleship, and people, I’ve come to believe this is something we can’t miss.

Why?

Here are 5 reasons: Continue Reading…

Life is full of favorites.

Original Image Credit: sxc.hu/klrsche222

We have our favorite food, color, place to vacation, tv show, movie, and clothing item.

(For me it’s cheese, blue, historic cities, Good Eats, Return of the Jedi, and my Pumas and hoodie.)

As Christians, we also usually have a favorite Bible verse or Bible story.

(Proverbs 3:5-6 and Jonah)

And a favorite song. Continue Reading…

Editor’s Note: The Journey of Worship Road Trip continues with Chris Vacher. I met Chris through his blog and Twitter. He is the director of worship at Orangeville Baptist Church just outside Toronto where he lives with his wife and four kids. He says things funny because he’s Canadian, but he doesn’t let that stop him! Chris is also the founder of WorshipRises, developing worship resources for & from the Canadian church. 

When I was asked who has influenced my journey of worship my thoughts went first to other Canadian worship leaders who have become friends and an inspiration to me

A couple of years ago I was frustrated that all of these great songs were coming from Australia, the United States, the UK – great songs that my church loves to sing – while at the same time not having any outlet or platform for Canadian songs to be developed and celebrated

I began talking with some friends and found that many of them have the same frustration and we decided to do something about it. So two years ago we begin the journey of WorshipRises.

WorshipRises exists to develop worship resources for and from the Canadian church and in the last two years we’ve run 15 songwriting events all over Canada, seen over 150 worship leaders participate. We’ve had songs recorded and released and sung in dozens of church churches all over North America.

The numbers are great but the best part of it is a new set of friendships and relationships that stretch right across the country. Relationships with people who have become some of my best friends.

So who has marked my journey worship? Most recently it’s been some of the other great worship leaders here in Canada.

Thanks, Chris. The Road Trip will continue with more stories and experiences from others on the journey of worship. Would you like to contribute your experience or marker to the series? Be sure to contact me and let me know.

One of the greatest privileges of life as the Church is the practice of communion. As I’ve served in pastoral ministry, leading a congregation in communion is one of my most favorite expressions of worship.

Yes, I said worship. Communion is a valuable part of the corporate worship expression. Sure, you can do it alone, but so much is missed out on when it’s not done as a group.

In fact, communion is one of the few things that we are commanded to do together as a body. It’s what is known as a sacrament. Continue Reading…

When you approach worship, do you see it as an option depending on how you feel or as a necessity in your relationship with God?

We may all say worship is important, but what if you’ve had a bad week or are tired?

Original Image Credit: sxc.hu/leroy

Have you ever found yourself grumbling and dreading having to stand and sing together? Struggling to lift your hands or clap because you just don’t feel like it? To even gather with other believers when it seems that life just stinks and you would rather be alone?

To often we (including me) allow our actions to be determined by our feelings instead of letting our feelings be shaped by our actions and engagement. Continue Reading…