e*g Week 2

Essentials Green Week 2 Discussion Q&A

Question:
In what ways does your faith community currently embody the values of
1) Accessibility and 2) Cultural Relevance in your worship expressions?
How are these values reflected in your own life as a leader?


Answer:
About a year ago, God called me to create a personal worship leader vision statement. After some adjustments, I landed on the following:

“My vision as a lead worshipper is to submit myself fully to the leading of the Holy Spirit in creating an atmosphere for worship that is: 1. as free from distractions as possible; 2. with as many entry/access points as possible; 3. for as many people as possible to experience a personal and intimate exchange with God while corporately engaging God’s presence.”

Worship should be accessible because God is accessible. The worship moments that we facilitate, may not connect perfectly with everyone at every time, but, we certainly need to make every effort to connect effectively with the unique body we are called to serve.

I love the analogy that Dan Wilt used in the eBook about wheelchair accessible ramps (1). Yes, this is what we do - we build bridges, doorways and ramps, offering an invitation to EVERYONE to come “Taste and see that the Lord is good” (2). Catering to our likes and dislikes without regard to those we are called to serve creates chasms and builds dams.

One of the spiritual disciplines that Dr. Peter Fitch says is vital to the modern worship leader is “cross-carrying” (3). He says that there are times we need to carry a cross and sacrifice the things that make us comfortable because, “There will be more need for soul-cleansing in the people around you than there will be for you to artistically express yourself.” Profound!


1) Dan Wilt, M.Min., “Envisioning Encounter, Reclaiming Our Values in Worship” Essentials Green eBook, P. 14
2) Psalm 34:8
3) Dr. Peter Fitch, “Inside Living, Outside Giving”, Inside Worship Magazine, Vol. 53, June 2004, P. 44