Impact of Vital Congregation Example from Romans 12

 Romans 12 Newsletter

Issue #117
February 3, 2012
 
Worship—Lively, Joyful, and Traditional
 
When asked to choose which aspects of their congregation they most valued, the item receiving the highest number of responses from United Methodists participating in the U.S. Congregational Life Survey was the “traditional style of worship or music.” The survey also asked what style of music they preferred and “traditional hymns” was chosen twice as often as the next most frequent choice of styles.
 
When the Call to Action report was released, Lee’s Summit United Methodist Church in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, took note of the identified drivers of congregational vitality, including the importance of a mix of contemporary and traditional services. 

The church offers five services to 1,300 worshipers each week, with two of those services being large traditional services. Rev. David Hutchison, associate pastor, reports that the church committed to “not just keeping traditional worship, but making it excellent and meaningful—offering traditional worship for contemporary people.”
 
In addition to the various choirs and ensembles that support worship each week, the church decided to add an orchestra as a means of “reclaiming the authentic, robust nature of traditional worship” and a means for people to offer their best gifts to God and each other. Various church committees offered support and a conductor was recruited. Orchestra members, ranging from youth to older adults, came from within the church, area churches, and the community.
 
The 30-member orchestra rehearses weekly, and the piano and organ are integrated into the orchestra. Two Sundays each month the orchestra plays a prelude and postlude. It also accompanies the choir and congregational singing.
 
Hutchison says the change that has resulted in the spirit and vitality of congregational worship, especially the singing, is remarkable. Singing is strong and invigorating, contributing to worship that is lively, often spontaneous, and a joyful celebration.
 
 
 
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Some Questions for Discussion
 
• What adjectives would you use to describe worship in your congregation?
 
• What drives (or determines) the quality and vitality of your congregational worship and singing?
 
• What gifts and talents exist in your congregation that could be tapped to increase the vitality of your worship services?
 
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Dean McIntyre is the Director of Music Resources at the General Board of Discipleship. He can be reached at dmcintyre@gbod.org.
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About Romans 12
 
Romans 12 is a project of the General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church to communicate effective principles and practices demonstrated by congregations that are actively making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
 
These congregations are marked by:
- Clarity around the mission and vision of the congregation.
 
- Practice of spiritual disciplines, both corporately and individually.
 
- Nurture of growth in discipleship through mutual support and accountability.
 
- Cultivation of intentional and mutual relationships with the most vulnerable--the poor, children, the imprisoned, the powerless.
 
- Consistent concern for inviting people into relationship with Jesus Christ, combined with wise practices for initiating them into the Body of Christ.
 
- Connectional relationships that facilitate participation in God's mission of global transformation.
 
- Shared clergy and lay leadership.
 
 
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Romans 12 Newsletter. Issue #117. © 2012 GBOD. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to copy this newsletter for use in United Methodist congregations. This newsletter is provided as a service of the General Board of Discipleship and is funded through World Service apportionment giving by local United Methodist congregations.To subscribe or discontinue a subscription contact Deb Smith at dsmith@gbod.org. For previous issues of the newsletter go to www.gbod.org/Romans12
 
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Equipping World-Changing Disciples
 

By: Phil Schroeder On 2/3/2012