WhateverThings

I just finished up day one of the Worship Symposium at Calvin Seminary. I am staying in Grand Rapids with by brother Bob and his wife, Maureen. Maureen even spoiled me by putting chocolates on the pillow in my room. She’s the best.
I had a good day at the symposium. Opening worship was a change from what I have been used to over the past few years. Along with the pipe organ was a 60 person orchestra. It’s amazing how different a song like Twila Paris’s “He Is Exalted” can sound.

It’s the same song, but the orchestration was wonderful. There were also far more responsive elements in the service than I normally use. I think I would like to do more, but it just doesn’t happen (need to plan better, which is one of the sessions I went to). One of the elements in the service that I particularly liked was a call and response of the Kyrie. I think I will try that one back in Cheboygan, I asked the leader for the source. We would not have the full orchestration, but could even do it a cappella.

I went to two different sessions, one on Paul Scott Wilson’s Four Pages of the Sermon, and another on collaboration in worship planning. I have read and appreciate Wilson’s book but the seminar did not go much beyond the book so I went to the other one (don’t tell the people at the symposium). I got some good ideas on thinking about how to better cooperate and collaborate for worship planning. The key now is implementing the ideas.

In the afternoon, I made the trip to the book tables - lead me not into temptation. I could spend my entire year’s book allowance in one day. But, I restrained myself. I wrote down the books that interested me and am going to think about them tonight and tomorrow. I am also going to make a trip to the Eerdman’s bookstore and see if any of the ones I was looking at are on their damaged table. I need to be careful, I already have a large number of unread/to be read books on my shelves. I told my sister-in-law it was an occupational hazard of being a pastor. She said I had the problem long before that. So true. I am looking forward to tomorrow’s sessions.