My name is Bill. I'm recently engaged to a beautiful woman named Meghan. I have been serving at the United Church of God in Harrisburg for the past five years, primary as youth pastor and secondly as worship leader. I also work at Starbucks as a barista and teach piano lessons. I am enrolled in the first cohort of the MACD program, and hence why I'm the one who lives so far away! In March I will conclude my ministry at United to seek mentoring and development from other growing ministries. Spiritual Formation is a passion of mine, as well as worship, so it is only fitting that spiritual formation is my degree concentration. As for goals for this course I hope to continue to develop my own spiritual discipline as well as learn how to coach and counsel others in their journey toward Christ. My vision is that I can be a solid resource and help to those who want a deeper and lasting relationship with God by teaching others tools they can use for spiritual formation as well as helping them explore their own lives in relation to the life God has in store for them. Another vision of mine is that solid Christian spiritual formation nourishes the regular worship of a congregation, helping people to worship more freely and genuinely on Sunday because of the disciplines they practice through the whole week.
On Calhoun
1) One of the most common words in the New Testament translated to "worship" is proskuneo, which has this idea of bowing before God, adoring him for his splendor, his sovereignty, and his power. The elders proskuneo at the throne of the Lamb in Revelation 5:14. Worship also has the idea of regular service of God, of constancy in sacrificing oneself to the will of God. Romans 12:1 reminds us to offer our bodies as "living sacrifices ... for this is your spiritual act of worship" (NIV). Spiritual disciplines guide us outside the corporate worship settings to help us become living sacrifices, daily offering ourselves, our wishes, wants, desires, pride, sinfulness, and claim to anything to God. Worship in most of my ministry contexts has been limited to an hour on Sunday morning. Hymns and choruses are sung, a sermon is heard, prayers are prayed, but the obligation beyond that hour seems minimal. My experience on the other hand tells me that God wants more from us, namely daily denying my selfish desires, taking up my cross and following Jesus (Matthew 16:24). Perhaps the reason I desire so greatly to help others in spiritual formation is just that: passionate Christians are formed because they live lives of worship.
2) I have often thought about this issue. It seems that the congregation I have been part of desires greatly to do much for Christ, but rarely makes the space to just be with Christ. We have filled every weekend day with rehearsals and other activities that flow in the already excessive activities that people do throughout the week. It is no wonder that I myself have repeatedly run dry for lack of sufficient time to rest and renew. The Sabbath is a special type of rest, one where we let go of life's stressors and remember our purpose and our place in the Kingdom of God. One of the most convicting things I have read was on how pastors must keep the Sabbath, a section from Eugene Peterson's book Working the Angles. My recollection (the book is packed up since I'm moving out of my office) is that he demanded that a day of true recreation is observed in honor of the fourth commandment, and by recreation is is most certainly a re-creation, where we rediscover ourselves in our relationship to God and realize what it means to be a new creation in Christ. We move from being Martha's to Mary's, who sit at the feet of Jesus and do what is better. I find it interesting that the result of Mary's sitting at the feet of Jesus is that "it will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:39-42, NIV). I think it could be perhaps a very viable "ministry" of the contemporary church to exhort families to practice sabbath. Any more, I believe it would be wise for any church to not allow any activity other than worship services to take place on Sunday and actively and consistently encourage the congregation to spend the day in recreation with God and with friends and family.
3) Oh Lord, you are worthy!
No one else deserves praise.
When I was destitute, lost in my way,
You gave yourself, paid the cost, provided grace!
When I was hopeless, alone, wanting a change,
You conquered death, removed the stone, gave me victory!
O God, the everlasting God,
I will worship you in the morning,
When I rise I will sing to you songs of thanksgiving,
As I work, I will honor you in all things,
As I lie down, I will again give you praise for another day.
In my sleep I will rest in you.
Teach me your Word and Your ways,
Help me to follow you in all things.
May I run after your love and never grow weary,
And may I praise your name for unnumbered days.
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3 comments:
Hi Bill I enjoyed your posting. Getting people to embrace "being" as opposed to "doing" is definately a challenging process when it comes to growing spiritually and where worship is concerned. I like the idea of the Sabbath being a day of recreation. It will make an interesting title for a sermon title.
Bill I can tell that you have a heart for worship. I am sure that what God has spoken to you about worship is different from what many in you congregation desire. Is your passion for worship and desire to see it as a lifestyle in the life of the people at the core of your leaving aat united? I do think that it is refreshing to find someone in music ministry who has a desire to enage others in worship beyon the walls of the churc. Keep up the good work.
Howdy Bill, thanks for an insightful post. Your re-creation/Sabbath focus is a vital message and margin for people of any era. Perhaps we can brainstorm on utilizing your musical gifts at the Retreat. Worship is a life not just a one hour activity on a Sunday morning.
Bill,
Greetings and congratulation on your engagement. I found your posting very interesting in reference to your vision for helping others and your take on your own physical fatigue. Sometimes in our eagerness to serve God, we exhaust ourselves with many things that have nothing to do with what God wants us to do. This is why listening to the prompting of the Holy Spirit is so important,but we must slow down our busyness to hear what the Spirit is saying. Blessings to you.
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