Contemporary or Traditional?

One of the recommendations from Dr. Hunter in our consultation is that we no longer refer to our services as “contemporary” and “traditional.”  In the history of our own church, as well as many churches, those two words have been at the center of what some call “the worship wars.”  It is as if some would want to say that contemporary is relevant, where traditional is no longer relevant in our fast changing culture. 

Paul and I have been looking at other churches who have two different styles of worship for ideas on what one would call the services if you don’t use these terms.  Suffice it to say that a quick perusal of web pages shows that most churches use these terms to identify their services.  But does traditional and contemporary really reflect the nature of the services?  Or are they terms that are descriptive of the music styles? Or something else?

For instance… we use the video screens, graphics and video clips at all three of our services.  Doesn’t that make them “contemporary?”  When we sing a hymn at one of our early services, does that mean we are being “traditional?”  The guitar and drums are more ancient instruments than the organ ever will be.  Does that mean an organ is “contemporary?”  The new hymnal was printed in 2007.  Isn’t that contemporary?  Do you see where I’m going with this?  In thinking about this, we tend to use these terms as ways of talking about what speaks to us, and what does not speak to us, in worship.  Perhaps these terms really have been misused and need a fresh looking at.  Truthfully, I’m throwing this out there to see if it generates any discussion.  I have found some churches that have come up with “names” for their services, and they go on in their literature to describe the instrumentation of their service which is what some people look for in a service.  I’d love to hear other people’s thoughts on this, as well as some creative ideas for service names.  What do you think?

The Simple Story of Jesus

I was at the Worship Conference out at Saddleback and saw one of the coolest videos I have ever watched about Salvation.  I share this with you with the persmission of the site it comes from. Please take 4 minutes of your life and watch this. It left a tear in my eye.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1137883230/bctid1509297822

Heroes series begins July 6

Every one of us has a hero.  I remember growing up I had a number of heroes, usually people who had super powers that kept the world safe. But the real heroes are the ordinary people who live ordinary lives and don’t have an alter ego.  Real heroes are real people who do extraordinary things.  On 9-11, we found out that our heroes were the first responders who did what they always do–gave up their lives to try to save the lives of others.

Throughout the Bible there are these kinds of heroes.  They don’t have super powers. In fact, many of them are very flawed people.  Abraham tried to make God’s promises come true on his own power.  Moses murdered a man and tried to cover it up.  David had an affair with a married woman and had her husband killed to cover up his sin. Talk about flawed!!!  And yet, God did some extraordinary things through their lives.  A hero in the Bible is an ordinary person in the hands of an extraordinary God.

Through this summer, July and August, we will look at some of those flawed heroes from both the Old and New Testaments.  When we look at them, we can ask ourselves, “How can I put myself in the hands of my extraordinary God?  What can God do through me?”  Come join us for this special sermons series throughout the summer!

Holy Week Services

Holy Week is one of my favorite seasons of the church year. It is not commercialized by society around us and therefore allows me to remember the foundations of my faith without the cultural distractions all around me. I want to invite you to our services this coming Holy Week as we walk in the footsteps of Jesus once again. We tune out the noise of the world around us, and we hear and see once again the story of our salvation.

Palm Sunday– Services at 8:30/10:00/11:15 This service will focus on a style of service known as “The Cry of the Whole Congregation.” We all become a part of the story of the passion of Jesus from His triumphant entry into Jerusalem to His death and burial. I still get chills when we cry out as a congregation, “Crucify Him!”

Maundy Thursday–7:00 p.m. This service reminds us of the day that Jesus gathered His disciples in the upper room, shared the last supper, and washed the disciples’ feet. Jesus gave a new commandment to love one another just as He loves us. As part of our service, we participate in a hand washing that reminds us of our need for forgiveness–the very reason why Jesus came. The service ends with the stripping of the altar as a reminder that Jesus was stripped of His dignity during His arrest and trial.

Good Friday–7:00 p.m. Our Good Friday service is known as “Tenebrae” which means “Shadows.” It takes place in the coming darkness of the day as we remember the seven last words (or sayings) that Jesus said from the cross. We leave in silence as we reflect on His death for us.

Easter Sunday–8:30/10:00/11:15 For over 2,000 years Christians have greeted this day with the cry “Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!” We gather to remember that our ultimate enemy–death–no longer has power over us. Jesus has set us free to be the people of God! Our services share this festive spirit as we share in communion as well.

A God Sighting on the Road

Just after Christmas our area was hit with a rather large snowstorm. Even though our news originally said that we only got 6″ of snow, it became obvious after a while that we really got something like 14″ of snow with a lot of drifting. A day or two after our snowstorm, I was driving up I-75 toward Lake Orion. I was just south of the Palace of Auburn Hills. Those that live here know that there is a large mountian behind the Palace that is our trash dump. On most days, you can see trucks at the very top dumping their loads, surrounded by hundreds of seagulls. But on this day, the entire mountain was covered with snow, and now trucks had broken the pristine beauty that turned a trash mountain into a beautiful sight.

As I saw this, I thought to myself, “Wow, if God can take a trash mountain and turn it into a beautiful sight, He can cover the trash in my life with His love and grace!” Like the prophet Isaiah said, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be white as snow.” (Isaiah 1:18)

This is what Jesus does for us. With His love and sacrifice on the cross, He covers the dirt and trash of our lives with the pristine beauty of God’s love. When our Heavenly Father looks at us, He doesn’t see the mistakes and the refuse of our life. Instead He sees the righteousness of the Son, covering us with His grace. What a joy it is to know that Jesus makes me fresh and new every day. Thank God that my sin is covered, and for that reminder on a snowy day of what God has done for us all!

Pastor Bill <

Try A Little Kindness

Last Thursday I was attending a meeting at Spargos on University drive. I was there early, so I ended up being the first one there.  I had about 15 minuets before the others got there, and so I decided to read a paper.  Many times people leave papers there and they put the ones left behind up by the cash register.  But on that day, there were no papers in the rack.  I looked in my pocket, but didn’t have any change for the paper boxes outside.  So there I sat with nothing to do.

A minute didn’t go by when there was a tap on my shoulder.  A man leaving the restaurant handed me a folded paper as he was walking out the door.  All he said was, “Merry Christmas.”  I said, “Thank you so much, and a Merry Christmas to you too.”  What a difference that little act of kindness made to my whole day.

We all know this to be so true.  A little act of kindness can make such a difference in a person’s day.  But we have to be looking and ready to make that difference.  This act was multiplied by the man’s greeting and well wishes.  Take a moment today, right now, after reading this blog, and share a random act of kindness for someone.  It can really make a difference!  Ask Jesus to show you someone that can really use it.

God Bless your Christmas celebration!
Pastor Bill   <><

Christmas Eve Services

Come join us for the celebration of the birth of our Lord.

On Christmas Eve we have 3 services, all celebrating holy communion.

4:00 p.m. is our Children’s service, led by our UpStreet Sunday educational program. This service allows the children to sit up front for the message and is built with children in mind. We share communion together and then the service concludes with singing Silent Night, followed by a birthday party for Jesus in our Fellowship hall. After all, it IS His birthday we are celebrating!

7:00 p.m. & 10:00 p.m. Both of these services are candlelight services with Holy Communion. They feature special music from the music ministries of King of Kings. They emphasize the festival nature of our Christmas celebration.

We also invite those who find Christmas to be a time of sadness to join us for our “Longest Night Service” on Sunday, December 22nd at 7:00 p.m. This service is a quiet time of worship–remembering that the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it. For many, Christmas is not a joyous time, but rather a time of remembering loss, change in life, or longing for quiet time in the midst of the rush of the holiday. Come join us in this healing time of worship as we light our candles together in the darkness and look forward to the coming of the Prince of Peace.

A Christmas to Remember

I’ve lived through a lot of Christmas celebrations (okay, almost 50!) and I do remember some of them, especially the ones that are more recent. But there is one Christmas that really stands out in my mind. I think I was in 3rd or 4th grade and our family was living in St. Clair Shores, Michigan. I remember we had a family meeting that year and my dad shared that it was not a good year. Money was tight and my brother and I should not expect as many presents as we would usually get.
I remember it so well, because I recall thinking, “I can give something this Christmas by not wanting so much!” Christmas morning came and there were still some presents under the tree. I think I even remember one of them. But what I remember most was that we were working together as a family and that Christmas meant taking care of each other.
Christmas isn’t meaningful because of how many gifts we get. It’s the relationships we share together. The reason for that is because the first Christmas was all about relationships. Emmanuel–GOD WITH US! Christmas doesn’t come in a box or with the amount of packages under the tree. It doesn’t come with the most lights on the house or the most lighted deer in the front yard. It comes when we give to each other in special ways as we remember what God has given to us.
Make a Christmas to remember. Do something together with those you love–whether friends or family. Give of yourself… as God gave His best to you!
PB <

How Close is Jesus to you?

From way back in college, I remember going to chapel one day and watching a drama.  In the play, there were only two actors; a young student, and a person playing Jesus.  The student was telling Jesus how wonderful it was to have Him as a part of his life now.  But then the calls from friends started coming in, inviting him to attend different parties on and off campus that would involve drinking, women, and other “extra-curricular” activities.  Each time he wanted to go, but Jesus would start following him.  The Jesus character explained that now He was a part of this young man’s life, He would go wherever the student went.  You could tell that the student wasn’t too keen on this idea. 

 Finally, the student has an idea. He is going to go out with his friends, and not take Jesus along.  He went off stage, and then returned with a hammer and some nails.  He took Jesus’ one hand and nailed it to the wall, and then the other hand, in the shape of a cross.  The student then set the hammer down, wiped off his hands, and left the stage.  The Jesus character hung His head, and the lights dimmed. 

When Jesus comes into our lives, He is with us everywhere, listening to everything.  There is no time when He is “off duty.”  He is closer then we could ever imagine Him.  It is easy to think of Jesus with us at church or in our small group, or watching us when we are doing something good and noble.  But Jesus is also there, watching in our darkest moments.  He is there when we mess up and act in the most unchristian-like ways.  Thank God He doesn’t come with judgement.  Instead He comes with Grace, love and mercy. 

How many times have I crucified Christ again and again?  How many times have I nailed Him to the tree and tried to leave Him behind? But no matter how many times I fail, He loves me still.  Thank God He is always that close to me!                PB <><

Watching the Bumper Stickers

I read bumper stickers. If I’m not close enough to read it, I get closer so I can (usually when we’re stopped at a light, not on the interstate). Bumper stickers say a lot; about the driver, and about our culture.

I was riding behind a car the other day that had a bumper sticker that really caught my eye. This is what it said:

“I like your Christ.
I do not like your Christians.
They are so unlike your Christ.”
(Mohandas Mahatma Gandhi)

It was like a slap in the face. I immediately felt convicted. It reminded me of all the times (daily) that I don’t measure up to the example Jesus gave us. But rather than despairing, it drove me to the one thing that this person with the condeming bumper sticker doesn’t understand… GRACE! Thank God that when I don’t measure up, there is forgiveness for my faults. It doesn’t excuse them, but I am washed clean in the blood of the Lamb. There are too many people who are trying to get to heaven just on their own efforts. But we all fall short. Not a one of us is like Christ. Even recently in the news, Mother Theresa struggled with her faith and her worthiness. Thank God Jesus died for her, for you, and for me. Thank God Jesus came for you and me. And for the driver of that car.

But that bumper sticker also reminded me of something else. Calling myself a Christian, believing in Jesus, living my life in Christ is 24/7. I don’t get to take a vacation from it. I don’t get a coffee break from living my faith. I don’t get to leave my faith at the door of the church so I can pick it up next time I show up at the building. People are always watching. Especially people who want to judge us by our actions, and not by our faith. We don’t have to be perfect. We have to be forgiven. But we also need to know that others are watching.