Sursum Corda (Latin) means: “Lift up your hearts.” In the past, our corporate worship service started with the words: “Congregation, LIFT UP YOUR HEARTS TO THE LORD and confess together.” We have replaced that call of all times and places with the question: “Where does our help come from?” The …
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“The position I suggest is one of understimulation in an already overstimulated society. People coming to church don’t need another set of slides or another barrage of loud, high-intensity images. If anything, they need less – a more focused and contemplative visual environment that enhances their awareness of the presence …
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Technology in Worship Technology is essential in the twenty-first century. Technology facilitates communication, financial traffic, supply chain, mobility, information, monitoring, and more. In the church, much depends on technology for membership administration as well as organizing the calendar and schedules. Technology facilitates the online broadcast of worship services to the …
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Should we all sing in harmony or unison? Should all churches sing from the same songbook? Should we use the same instruments as others? Is singing the same songs a sign of Christian unity? God intended the world to be different. He created different colours, different types of vegetation, different …
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“Let me write the songs of a nation — I don’t care who writes its laws,” said the Scottish author and politician Andrew Fletcher (1653–1716). If you need to influence people, put your message in a song and have people sing it. Gordon D. Fee (at a conference at the …
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Last week, I read Brooks’ book “Worship Quest, An Exploration Of Worship Leadership.” Brooks does not have a Reformed background, yet, the points he raises seem familiar. For example, he identifies differences between “Event Worship” (Stepping Stones Camp, Men of Integrity Conference, Young Peoples events, VBS, etc.) and “Congregational Worship.” …
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Psalm 95 calls us to “Worship and bow down.” Worship, no problem, but what about bowing down? Many people like to stand up and look up. Bowing down is no longer part of our culture: it is a sign of submission. But should the Scriptural call to bow or kneel …
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Textbooks for the next semester arrived—some interesting quick observations. A chapter subtitle: “Why God Has Been Lost and Where We Can Look for Him.” Intriguing, and I see the author’s point after a quick scan. I found a chapter elsewhere called “Qualifications for worshippers,” which I will think about before …
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The church does not celebrate Christmas YET but is in the season of Advent until Sunday, December 25. Advent is “Sursum Corda,” lifting up our hearts. Advent is also lifting up other people’s hearts. Christians cannot celebrate Christmas without Advent. Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer said: “The celebration of Advent is possible …
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