Epic Churches for Epic Times

E-P-I-C(onnected) -- Part 2

Building Connections Where Few If Any Exist.

PCUSA churches that blaze the trail to this new world will have powerful ministries for years to come. Few will try; even fewer will succeed. I am aware that those are hard words—but they come from the battle-worn trenches of church redevelopment. Our Presbytery’s Redevelopment Committee met with several struggling churches and there was one constant theme—they wanted growth but refused to change what they were doing. If churches that barely have a critical mass of participants refuse to make the necessary changes then what would lead one to believe that other churches would be willing to make the sacrifice of change?

My wife and I just bought a different house that sits on an acre. The area is zoned at four houses per acre. We plan on dividing the property into four separate parcels and eventually building on each of them. The current house (built in the early 1970s) has a septic system and is on a neighborhood/community well. New subdivisions have gone in just across the street. There is now water and sewer within a few feet of the property. The community well cannot have any more houses on the system. The water pressure is less that desirable. We could choose to keep the current house and property the same. Here’s the challenge. We can take the time, effort and $$$ and divide the property as long as we hook into the public utilities (water and sewer). The growth potential in terms of investment has a tremendous upside IF we are will to make those connections.

Here’s my fear for the PCUSA—it will be business as usual! What connections with the “boomers” have been made? When was the last time a Praise and Worship Band/Team led the worship for multiple days at GA, Synod or Presbytery? A neighboring PCUSA church just decided on the new hymnal they were going to buy—it wasn’t the PCUSA hymnal. They went with a non-denominational hymnal so that it would have the best of the older hymns (many of which have been removed for political correctness from our hymnal) and some of the newer praise and worship songs. Notice, that hymnal didn’t come from our denomination. Not every church wants to sing some of those “newer” songs, but many do. They get ZERO help from the PCUSA. Is the PCUSA helping us with web design, blogging, wikis, etc. No way. We can’t even connect with the “boomers!” How can we expect to connect with the postmodern culture?

Before going on, I realize that our churches do have some younger people in them. Most of these students are the children of “churched” parents. These students might even bring a few of their friends to church. However, WE ARE MISSING THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE POSTMODERN GENERATION.

WE NEED TO BEGIN NOW! Even before we have any postmodern participants in our churches. So where do we start? Here are some of my thoughts.

First, pray, pray and then pray some more. If the Holy Spirit isn’t leading it then it is sure to fail.

Second, visit some church web sites that are reaching the postmodern culture. Compare my church’s web site with that of Mars Hill Church. Do you see the difference! Our “contemporary” service needs to have its own web site that looks like it was designed by someone under the age of thirty. Don’t stop at the design of the web sites. Look to see how the churches are connecting with people.

Third, visit some churches that are reaching the postmodern culture. What is the “feel” of the church? How do they look? How does the service flow? What does the pastor look like? Look. Learn. Don’t judge! Don’t condemn!

Fourth, unless you have a death wish, don’t try to convert your Sunday morning service to match what you have seen on your church visits. Honor those who built the church with the sweat and blood. They need to be cultivated, even converted, to see new models of ministry. Then… don’t just think outside the box, BLOW UP THE BOX!

Finally, get moving! You and I may not be the ones to lead these new ministries. We might need to bring in someone to do that. That’s ok. Don’t let your ego get in the way. Speaking of ego, don’t let your liturgical ego get in the way, either!

We already have a generation of kids who are being raised by parents that are unchurched. We cannot wait as another generation is raised apart from Christ.

Epic Churches for Epic Times

E-P-I-C(onnected)

“The paradox is this: the pursuit of individualism has led us to this place of hunger for connectedness, for communities not of blood or nation but communities of choice. The very prevalence of the word community itself—is there any sector of society that isn’t a ‘community’?”

-Leonard Sweet, “Post-Modern Pilgrims,” page 109-110.

“Postmoderns have had it with religion. They’re sick and tired of religion. They’re convinced the world needs less of religion, not more. They want no part of obedience to sets of propositions and rules required by some ‘officialdom’ somewhere. Postmoderns want participation in a deeply personal but at the same time communal experience of the divine and transformation of life that issues from that identification with God.”

-Leonard Sweet, “Post-Modern Pilgrims,” page 112.

“The church needs to reinvent the concept of ‘connection’ and ‘connectedness’ to fit a postmodern context. It is not just the extensiveness of connection that counts but the diversity of connections that make a difference.”

-Leonard Sweet, “Post-Modern Pilgrims,” page 119.

“The second upgraded avenue of ministry concerns, like everything else in postmodern culture, the need for the church to be decentralized and complexified.”

-Leonard Sweet, “Post-Modern Pilgrims,” page 120.

It is my belief that the Presbyterian Church has ceased being a “connectional” church—at all levels of the church! At the national level there is a disconnect between the local church and the national church. Local church doesn’t trust the national church and the national church appears to forget that the local church is the “front line” of ministry. Presbyteries ordain who they want, when they want and are disconnected from the local churches. Local churches have become “independent” in how they allocate dollars, support mission and select educational curriculum. One current example of this “brokenness” is how we serve the Lord’s Supper. The VAST MAJORITY of congregations invite anyone who loves the Lord Jesus Christ to participate in the Lord’s Supper. The “rules” of the denomination state that only those who have been baptized can participate. The national committee that advises on our “rules” refused to endorse modifying the “rules” to reflect what the vast majority of our churches are doing. The national church… disconnected from the local church and the local church disconnected from the national church.

Right now, the PCUSA cannot provide a connected experience to a postmodern culture. Additionally, the ways in which we “try” to connect with each other don’t excite those in a postmodern world. Our idea of connected is to go to a Presbytery meeting.

Our first step in connectedness should be confession. We need to confess that the “boomer” drive for individual pleasure has broken families, provided the culture for STD epidemics and is financially bankrupting our country and world due to credit card debt. The “me” generation needs to ask for forgiveness.

The second thing we need to do is move away from “religion” and move back to experiencing the biblical, risen Jesus. Our faith needs to be the center point of our life and existence. Our kids (and grandkids) know if we are “Sunday Christians.” We must connect with Jesus before we can begin connecting with postmoderns.

Third, we need to learn new ways of connection. I agree with Sweet ideas of having our connections become decentralized and more complex. But what does that mean and how can it be accomplished? To be honest, I’m not sure but I am going to try and find out.

The church I serve is currently VERY disconnected—but don’t tell anyone! Long-time members think we are the friendliest church in the world. Visitors find it difficult—almost impossible—to get to know long-time members. New people befriend new people. Long-time members want to be connected with new people provided that it happens when and how it is comfortable with the long-time folks! Connections. Connections?

It is time for a paradigm shift. We need to keep some of the “past ways” of connecting so that our older members/attenders don’t feel left behind AND we need to create new ways of connecting that will resonate with emerging cultures. My guess is that the “church” that develops will look significantly different than what the church has looked like in the past.

If Evergreen Presbyterian Church was to be starting from scratch today and I was the organizing pastor it would not look anything like it currently does. We would not buy land and have a permanent building. We would rent space and have a decentralized ministry. Bible studies would meet in homes or coffee shops. We would have multiple worship “venues” and styles to reach different cultures and population groupings. We would have a MySpace presence for high school students and a Face Book presence for college students. We would have a HUGE web presence. Daily podcasts. Streaming video of our worship services. We would require every person who regularly attends to be involved in “hands-on” mission through our church. We would be a “high expectation” church. We would connect. Connect! Connect!!

What can my church do? What can your church do? I really don’t know! Can new wine go in old wineskins without bursting the wineskins? I am tempted to become a ministry schizophrenic—one part of my focus seeking to build connectedness within the context of what is and one part of my focus starting new wineskin ministries that are geared to the postmodern culture.

What should I do?

What are you going to do?

Epic Churches for Epic Times

E-P-I(mage-driven)-C

“The lesson for the church is simple: images generate emotions, and people will respond to their feelings. Postmodern culture is image-driven.”

-Leonard Sweet, “Post-Modern Pilgrims,” page 86.

“We are a print-saturated, word-based church in the midst of visual technologies that are creating a whole new visual culture.”

-Leonard Sweet, “Post-Modern Pilgrims,” page 91.

“That is why the Jesus method of communication was not the exegesis of words but the exegesis of images: ‘the kingdom of heaven is like…’”

-Leonard Sweet, “Post-Modern Pilgrims,” page 95.

Who would have thought that Madonna would have something to give to the church? Madonna is driven by images. She has an above average voice. She isn’t the most beautiful woman in the music business. She doesn’t have the greatest “body” among singers. What does she have? She understands the importance of images. The way she looked and dressed for her “Blond Ambition” tour has become legendary. Her current tour has a “crucifixion” scene—it made news around the world. No one is talking about her songs. The news is all about the image of Madonna being crucified on a cross. The power of “image” or “metaphor.”

The Christian church has the most powerful images in history—but we are trapped in an ocean of printed words. Pastors quote knowledgeable authors. Other pastors read their sermon—composed of words that have been carefully chosen. The “Lord’s Prayer” is used so regularly that people mechanically say the words. Words. Words! Printed words!! A printed “Call to Worship.” A printed “Prayer of Confession.” Worshipper’s eyes are glued to the hymnal to be sure that they sing each word correctly. Words. Words! Printed words!!

Worship snobs seek to tear down modern worship songs. I have heard it said that the songs are “so shallow.” Many of these “shallow” or “simple” songs paint pictures. They allow the worshipper to focus on the one being worshipped—not getting lost in volumes of “words.” At our Saturday night worship we have recently learned the final song from the new “Passion: Everything Glorious” cd. The lyrics for the song are, “Our God reigns. Our God reigns. Forever your Kingdom reigns.” That’s it! Nothing more! The song starts quietly with just one instrument. Additional instruments are slowly added as the volume builds. It was powerful to see people worshipping God during the singing of that “simple” song. Eyes closed. Hands raised. Hearts opened. The picture that song paints is powerful.

The Psalms have been loved throughout the ages. Why? Because of the pictures they present. “Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold.” (Psalm 69:1-2a - TNIV) Can you see the picture? Can you feel the despair? Powerful! “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.” (Psalm 42:1 - TNIV) Do you feel the parched, dry throat of the deer? Of the Psalmist? Powerful!

Last year we add several thousand dollars of new spotlights to our sanctuary. Why? Was it for show? No… it was so that we could craft visual “pictures” to enhance worship. Some of our older worshippers just don’t get it. That’s ok! We have plenty of “words” to communicate to them. Recently, I preached a multi-week series using the book, “Blue Like Jazz,” by Donald Miller. On Saturday nights I preached in jeans, black t-shirt, backwards-turned English driving hat and leather jacket while sitting on a “bar stool.” The only lights on in the sanctuary were two blue spotlights. The picture it painted went along with the book, scripture and messages. Images. Metaphor. Communication. (Note: This would not have been a good communication style for Sunday morning worship so it was not used there.)

What images has your church used in worship? (Don’t use the obvious ones like communion, baptism, etc. – we use those all the time.) Start thinking outside of the box.

Epic Churches for Epic Times

E-P-I(mage-driven)-C

“The lesson for the church is simple: images generate emotions, and people will respond to their feelings. Postmodern culture is image-driven.”

-Leonard Sweet, “Post-Modern Pilgrims,” page 86.

“We are a print-saturated, word-based church in the midst of visual technologies that are creating a whole new visual culture.”

-Leonard Sweet, “Post-Modern Pilgrims,” page 91.

“That is why the Jesus method of communication was not the exegesis of words but the exegesis of images: ‘the kingdom of heaven is like…’”

-Leonard Sweet, “Post-Modern Pilgrims,” page 95.

Who would have thought that Madonna would have something to give to the church? Madonna is driven by images. She has an above average voice. She isn’t the most beautiful woman in the music business. She doesn’t have the greatest “body” among singers. What does she have? She understands the importance of images. The way she looked and dressed for her “Blond Ambition” tour has become legendary. Her current tour has a “crucifixion” scene—it made news around the world. No one is talking about her songs. The news is all about the image of Madonna being crucified on a cross. The power of “image” or “metaphor.”

The Christian church has the most powerful images in history—but we are trapped in an ocean of printed words. Pastors quote knowledgeable authors. Other pastors read their sermon—composed of words that have been carefully chosen. The “Lord’s Prayer” is used so regularly that people mechanically say the words. Words. Words! Printed words!! A printed “Call to Worship.” A printed “Prayer of Confession.” Worshipper’s eyes are glued to the hymnal to be sure that they sing each word correctly. Words. Words! Printed words!!

Worship snobs seek to tear down modern worship songs. I have heard it said that the songs are “so shallow.” Many of these “shallow” or “simple” songs paint pictures. They allow the worshipper to focus on the one being worshipped—not getting lost in volumes of “words.” At our Saturday night worship we have recently learned the final song from the new “Passion: Everything Glorious” cd. The lyrics for the song are, “Our God reigns. Our God reigns. Forever your Kingdom reigns.” That’s it! Nothing more! The song starts quietly with just one instrument. Additional instruments are slowly added as the volume builds. It was powerful to see people worshipping God during the singing of that “simple” song. Eyes closed. Hands raised. Hearts opened. The picture that song paints is powerful.

The Psalms have been loved throughout the ages. Why? Because of the pictures they present. “Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold.” (Psalm 69:1-2a - TNIV) Can you see the picture? Can you feel the despair? Powerful! “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.” (Psalm 42:1 - TNIV) Do you feel the parched, dry throat of the deer? Of the Psalmist? Powerful!

Last year we add several thousand dollars of new spotlights to our sanctuary. Why? Was it for show? No… it was so that we could craft visual “pictures” to enhance worship. Some of our older worshippers just don’t get it. That’s ok! We have plenty of “words” to communicate to them. Recently, I preached a multi-week series using the book, “Blue Like Jazz,” by Donald Miller. On Saturday nights I preached in jeans, black t-shirt, backwards-turned English driving hat and leather jacket while sitting on a “bar stool.” The only lights on in the sanctuary were two blue spotlights. The picture it painted went along with the book, scripture and messages. Images. Metaphor. Communication. (Note: This would not have been a good communication style for Sunday morning worship so it was not used there.)

What images has your church used in worship? (Don’t use the obvious ones like communion, baptism, etc. – we use those all the time.) Start thinking outside of the box.

Epic Churches for Epic Times

E-P(articipatory)-I-C

“Every congregation must become a participant-observer congregation. The body of Christ is a participative community. Not just in the Eucharist is everyone a “participant,” a part of the action, not apart from it. There are no more “professional clergy” and pew-sitting laity. There are only ministers who look to leaders to mobilize and release ministry through them. All “participant” are full partners.”

-Leonard Sweet, “Post-Modern Pilgrims,” page 72.

“Whatever level of interaction you choose, there needs to be an interactive segue at least every eight minutes (which is three times people’s visual attention span, now down to two or three minutes).”

-Leonard Sweet, “Post-Modern Pilgrims,” page 74

The most powerful union in today’s culture is the “pastor’s union” in the Presbyterian Church. There really isn’t a union but it sure functions like one. Pastors like to feel important. Pastors like to think that they are the only ones who are qualified to carry out certain tasks in the church. Take baptism for example. Where does it say in scripture that only pastors are qualified to perform the baptism? IT DOESN’T! Where does it say in scripture that only pastors are qualified to preside over communion? IT DOESN’T! Our strong “union” makes sure that only pastors (or elders in specific situations) can do these things.

Post-moderns want to participate in everything that impacts their lives. They want input on their medical decisions. It is easy to “google” a particular disease and evaluate different types of treatment. There are other areas where people want to participate. Wikipedia is a great example of a participatory culture. Everyone can add to this online “encyclopedia.” Everyone is an expert—all can participate. Everyone can be an “expert” by using the internet.

The Reformed Tradition talks about the “priesthood of all believers.” What a crock!! Most churches don’t even come close to practicing this idea. We try to get people to serve on a committee. The committee comes up with an idea. They pass the idea on to a bigger committee or to the Session (church speak for church board). The Session eventually accepts the recommendation, modifies it or kills it. The decision is then passed back to the committee for them to implement. Most “boomers” and post-moderns have very little desire for this type of service. Why don’t we trust those “priests” who serve on committees? Could it be that those in positions of power don’t want to give up that power?

Time to shift gears and talk about learning styles. Sweet talks about attention spans and interactivities. The typical sermon is a 20 – 25 minute monologue. The pastor speaks and everyone else sits and listens. Does anyone have any clues as to how we can make the sermon more interactive?

Epic Churches for Epic Times

E(xperiential)-P-I-C – Part 2

I apologize for not posting on Friday. My intent is to post Monday – Friday each week. We are in the middle of moving from one house to another—I am still pastoring Evergreen Presbyterian Church. We were finishing the last of the painting at the “new-to-us” house and did not have time to post. Sorry!

I have a lot to learn concerning “experiential.” I use to think that it was projection units, lighting and sound. They may be an important part but they aren’t “it.” Not all post-moderns pilgrims want that “style” of worship. Some like candles and quiet.

I think the first step in becoming “experiential” is a change of mindset. It never ceases to amaze me that the Apostle Paul could change his method and message to reach different populations but churches that do that very thing are called “consumeristic.” (sp?) We want post-moderns to come to worship we like, at a time that is convenient for us, dress in a way we like, sit and listen to “the educated one” do all the talking and then stay after church and drink horrible tasting “church coffee.” HOW ARROGANT WE ARE!! Jesus went out to the “sinners.” He communicated to them in a way that spoke to their hearts. The “church people” hated it. Our Lord responded that it is the sick that need a doctor. Our churches (THAT IS YOU AND ME) are keeping these same “sinners” from the one who came to save them. WE NEED TO REPENT!

So…

Let’s start thinking serious about being experiential. What are some things we can do besides projection and sound? Projecting pictures is more powerful than text. It is hard to find an appropriate image—but it is worth the effort.

It may be time to start “satellite” worship venues. Let’s face it, those in our churches in their 70s – 90s don’t want their worship service significantly altered. Many post-moderns are skeptical of the organized church. So if they won’t come to our building we should be like Jesus and adapt! Start a worship experience in a local coffee shop late in the evening as the shop would normally be closing. PAY THEM for this time and have them keep selling their coffee (after all, how many of your churches have a rule of “no coffee in the sanctuary”). One local church started their college age ministry this way. They had no plans for these people to migrate to their “church building.” They hired a professional surfer (who is a strong Christian and friend of my son) and his wife to lead the ministry. It grew so rapidly that they had to leave the coffee shop because they grew too big for it! That is thinking outside of the box.

Appropriate podcasts.

Who listens to podcasts? Younger people. I am amazed at how many podcasts are just like our Sunday morning worship experience. That’s fine if the target audience is just like that of Sunday morning! If we are going to reach a different people group then we need to transform our podcasts. I have not moved into the podcast arena yet. I want mine to be good. I want it to target a different audience. So until I am ready to accomplish that goal I wait (this move is sucking a lot of my free time). My plan is to listen to good podcasts that are geared to the 20 – 30 year olds--my do diligence. Then do it right the first time.

Interactive messages.

Theologically, we like to say that everyone in the worship service is an active participant. Ask the person in the pews if this is true. I think we will be surprised by their answers. Scratch that—as a pastor you are not the person to ask them--they will give you the answer that they think you want them to give. Enlist some “under cover” agents to casually ask the worship attendees if our messages and worship services are interactive. We won’t like the answers, is my guess! What about our prayer time when we take prayer requests? Yes, that can be interactive. It is also the most boring and misunderstood part to the worship for many in our target audience. This normally only involves those who are comfortable enough with the church to stand up in public and tell their prayer request. What did our church do? We take written prayer requests on our registration form. These prayer requests are e-mailed (9 are snail mailed) out to a prayer group of over fifty persons—that’s half our congregation. The first week we did it the number of prayer request increased over three fold—and the numbers have not dropped! We can’t assume that people know how to pray. We can’t assume that people know the Lord’s Prayer (we project the words). Here’s what I suggest we can do to make our messages interactive…

• Get out of the pulpit—you become one of the group.
• Get rid of the robe—you say it is Presbyterian to wear that robe and its not. The original robe was an “educational” robe that had shorter sleeves, did not zip or button and was a symbol of the school you were a part of. Today they are something to show that we are more educated than others in our church. Jesus preached and taught in his regular clothes.
• Stop reading your sermon—it bores almost everyone.
• Ask questions of the congregation and have some of them respond to your questions—be sure to repeat their responses so everyone can hear.
• Have people DO SOMETHING during the message. Have them turn to the person next to them and talk about something—anything. Have them get up and move. Our Easter service had a huge bridge that represented Jesus being the bridge of life. People were invited to walk across the bridge during our final three (yes, three) worship songs (they were of the more contemporary style). What happened brought people to tears. The majority of the people who walked across the bridge were our oldest and our youngest. It was one of the most powerful things to happened at our church in the almost ten years I have been there. Have people DO SOMETHING.

So much for my ramblings.

What are your ideas of how we can make our worship more experiential? Make our churches more experiential?