Q&A
On Three Meaning of the Term Worship
Q. In our congregation, we’re spending a lot of time and money on the worship service. But don’t we worship in all of life? Why do we put so much energy into the worship service?
Q. If we show up on Sunday morning to “worship,” why is there so much opposition to singing worship songs? Isn’t that the whole point?
On the Importance of Appearance, the Catechumenate, and Appropriate Words of Greeting
Q. Our worship coordinator has hccn stressing the importance of our visual appearance as we lead worship. She's been asking us for a lot more smiles. But I think she crossed a line when she said, "You can always tell when people are worshiping." I'm uncomfortable with this emphasis on appearance. What do you make of this?
—Michigan
On Worship Team Conflict and Congregational Worship Surveys
Q. We have conflict on our worship team that is very frustrating to our congregation. What have other churches done to work with this?
—Ontario
A. To my surprise, this is the most frequently asked question we receive here at the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. Perhaps this is the inevitable result of having many more people involved in worship leadership than a generation ago. Three primary strategies appear to be the most common and helpful.
On Communion Table Kitsch and Advent Wreaths
Q. Just what may go on the communion table? Flowers? Offering plates? Open Bibles? Fake communion bread?
—Michigan
On Liturgical Cliches, Congregational Participation, and Collects
Q. I worry that when I lead the congregation in prayer I often use language that sounds like cliché. My skills with words don’t match my desire to lead people with imagination and fervor. What can I do?
—British Columbia
On Worship Planning
Q. I’ve been working hard on worship planning, but no one seems to notice.
On African-American Worship, Spoken Transitions, and Children's Music
Q. Our congregation is eager to learn more about worship in the African-American tradition. Can you recommend some resources for us to study?
On Children's Sermons, Blended Worship, and Introits
Q. In our church, we begin every service with something called an "introit." What does that term mean?
—Georgia
On Patriotic Hymns and Worship Words
Q. The Presbyterian Hymns, Psalms & Spiritual Songs contains "My Country Tis of Thee" and other patriotic songs, but the Christian Reformed Psalter Hymnal does not. Is that failure caused by the fact that the Christian Reformed Church was at one time a Dutch immigrant church?
On Mutual Greetings, Expressing Brokenness in Worship, and Church Choirs
Once more in this issue, we have selected (some Q&A's from the final section of Authentic Worship in a Changing Culture, a report to the Christian Reformed Church (CRC) synod in June 1997. The purpose of this study is to equip church leaders with perspectives and insights that will help them make decisions about worship—decisions that are biblically and theologically informed as well as culturally discerning.
