Worship Together

Worship Resources of the Christian Church in the Upper Midwest

April | 2024

Learning New Things


Rev. Joshua Patty

Regional Minister and President


Ten years ago, on Easter, I did something I’d never done.  I showed a teaser trailer for a sermon series I planned to offer.  The series wouldn’t begin until September and would last well over a year – one sermon drawn from each book of the Bible.  It was audacious, to say the least.  That Easter, I didn’t have anything written or outlined.  I had a series title (with related URLs), a logo, and an overall approach – serving as a tour guide introducing the Bible.


After Easter, I imagined the various ways this could be experienced in a congregation: worship services, daily suggested readings, social media interactions, etc.  I started reading the Bible, book by book, to adapt in this way for the series, making notes.  And then I wrote book overviews and introductions to recommended readings.


It was a lot of work.  It stretched me in so many ways – Biblical knowledge, teaching, cross-posting across multiple media.  And the effort was worthwhile – it was well received and influential in that congregation’s ongoing ministry.  (For example, those daily readings became a thirst for other daily practices, which led to a spiritual practices calendar and seasons of shared daily prayers.)


Looking back, I think a key reason for the success was my engagement and learning throughout.  My willingness to learn and stretch set an example and offered an invitation for others to do the same thing.  Even more, this opened me to new ideas and changed how I preached and led worship.


What have you done that engaged you and stretched you as a worship leader?  Was it a positive thing for your congregation?  What new thing or audacious thing can you try this year to learn and stretch?


You don’t have to plan a 68 week sermon series (there were intro and wrap up sermons; I didn’t discover new books of the Bible).  Find something that engages you about prayer, music, the Bible, communion, giving, announcements.  Then stretch yourself – learn more about it, explore, dream – and share.  I have a hunch it will be a blessing for you and for those you lead in worship.


Current Visioning Together Sessions


  • Tuesday, April 9, 6 pm, First Christian Church, Burlington
  • Saturday, April 13, 10 am, First Christian Church, Coralville
  • Thursday, April 18, 7 pm, Marion Christian Church
  • Wednesday, April 24, 12 pm, First Christian Church, Ames


You can participate in any session in person or via Zoom. And we will offer additional sessions in April and early May.

Register to Join a Visioning Together Session

2024 Regional Calendar

 

For more details go to the Regional website:

uppermidwestcc.org



Apr 9 - Visioning Together, Burlington, 6 pm

Apr 13 - Visioning Together, Coralville, 10 am

Apr 18 - Visioning Together, Marion, 7 pm

Apr 19-21 Work Days at CCC

Apr 24 - Visioning Together, Ames, 12 pm

Apr 25 - Operations Council, 7 pm

Apr 26-28 - Work Days at CCC (rain dates)

May 2 - Praying Together, 9:30 am

May 12 - Pentecost Special Offering

May 19 - Pentecost Sunday; Pentecost Special Offering

May 23 - Operations Council, 7 pm

May 31 - Summer camp begins!

Oct 19 - All Congregational Gathering



Looking for Worship Resources?


2024 Regional Prayer Calendar


Shared UMW Worship Resources


Zeteo Preaching and Worship


Videos:


Music:


Prayers, Liturgies & More:


The region is offering an opportunity for elders across the congregations of the Upper Midwest to engage in study, conversation, and relationship building. Each group meets via Zoom, typically in the fourth week of the month. Meetings start in April. A new group has been formed! For more information and to register.


  • Group 1: Mondays @ 4p
  • Group 2: Tuesdays @ 6:30p
  • Group 3: Wednesdays @ 2p
  • Group 4: Thursdays @ 10a
  • Group 5: Thursdays @ 7p
  • Group 6: Thursdays @ 2p


2024 UMW Summer Camps


Registration for Summer Camps and the September Senior Retreat is now open!



Special Resources for Worship and Education

Pentecost Special Offering


Yesterday, today, and tomorrow, God is singing a new song: not a song of judgment, but of welcome and forgiveness; not a song of superiority, but of humility and grace; not a song of hoarding, but of sharing everything we have! God’s movement for wholeness is already underway. Our job is to listen, and learn, and follow – supporting leaders and communities as the Spirit calls them into being, laying down a new song for a new generation.


Your gifts to the 2024 Pentecost Offering, received in most congregations on Sunday, May 12, and Sunday, May 19, are divided equally between your regional ministry, which supports local new churches, and New Church Ministry, which trains, equips, and assists emerging leaders to be “movement initiators.”


Learn more and access resources here.

The link for the May Praying Together.

Preaching in a Climate-Changed World: Engaging Climate Science, the Bible, and Theology


LTS is hosting this Earth Day Event, moderated by the Rev. Dr. Leah Schade and includes panelists climate scientist Carlos Martinez; LTS professor of Christian theology Dr. Esther Parajuli; and LTS professor of biblical studies Dr. Jerry Sumney. Click here for more information and to register.

Rev. Lisa Grace, our Transitional Executive Regional Minister, offers a sermon that explores what it means to be in this thing called faith and life together. You can download the video here, or stream on the region's YouTube channel.

Previous Resources and News

Resources to Strengthen Your Worship Services


These are some resources that have been featured in previous issues of Worship Together:


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