Open Mike

Ancient Future Church 2021: Praying the 'Stations of the Cross' Wed - Fri @ LFC

A below-the-waterline value of ours at Lake Forest Church is to be an ancient-future church. This week we'll attempt to live it out by opening the worship center Wed-Fri for people  to 'Pray the Stations of the Cross.'

What do we mean by ancient-future church?  'Future' as in modern worship style & music, and worship elements like spoken word and illustrative short films. These practices are an attempt to speak timeless truth and sacred experience in the heart/head language of our current cultural sensibilities. 

'Ancient' as in we regularly seek to lean into some of the most effective ancient worship and discipleship practices from 2,000+ years of Christian experience. For example, in our worship planning room, we have a cork board with cards pinned to it, each labeled with a different historical church worship practice. We generally choose one of them to use or reinterpret for each sermon series.  Some recent examples have been singing The Doxology to end worship weekly in one series, reciting the Apostle's Creed weekly during another series, and more.

This Easter week we once again invite folks to the ancient practice of 'Praying the Stations of the Cross,' as a way to meditate slowly on Jesus' journey to the cross, prepare our spirit for Easter worship, and identify with him more fully in our union with Him by faith.  We are doing this instead of a Good Friday worship service this year.  There are 14 traditional stations that will progress around the walls of our worship center, and out into the Prayer Garden (when weather is nice Thurs/Fri).  Each station has original art work commissioned by us, a brief passage of scripture, and a poetic prayer for each of us to pray or make into our own.  The artwork is by a former staff member of ours, the prayers by an Irish poet. Both are detailed below, along with a bit of history on this practice, copied from the handout that will be available to all.

The LFCH worship center will be open, with contemplative music playing softly, for this prayer journey this Wednesday through Friday 9am-5pm.  Communion will be offered on Good Friday from 11am-1pm, and from 3-5m, at the end of the stations.  All this while observing distancing and masking carefully. I invite you to try it with an open mind, if you've never prayed the stations before.

"Jesus is Beaten and Scourged" by Melody Hogan

We want to be sure we are never a modern only, happy slappy clappy church (though we are certainly happy and clappy often!), but that we also lean into tried and true ways of experiencing the awe, mystery, truth and wonder of our faith in Christ. Particularly when we gather for weekly worship together.  'Ancient-Future' is how we talk about that in a 'both/and' sort of way.  Our long-time staff member Tracy Grubbs is our liturgist in chief, who always lovingly and artfully puts together events like Ash Wednesday and Stations of the Cross - thank you Tracy for serving us all so well.

As promised, here's a bit more about the origin of Stations of the Cross, and the artwork and poetic prayers in this year's edition:

The Way of the Cross:
During the Turkish occupation of the Holy Land in the late
Middle Ages, when pilgrims were prevented from visiting its
sacred sites, the custom arose of making replicas of those
holy places, where the faithful might come to pray. One of the most popular of these
devotions was the “Stations of the Way of the Cross,” which were imitations of the
“stations,” or stopping places of prayer on the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem. By the late
sixteenth century the fourteen stations, as we know them today, were erected in
almost all Catholic churches.

At each of the fourteen stations:
-Read the Scripture, view the image, pray the accompanying written prayer aloud
or silently.
-Then meditate on the prayer and image, making the prayer your own. Either gently
repeat the written prayer or pray your own life into the subject of that prayer

A Preparatory Prayer-- St. Francis
Most merciful Lord,
With a contrite heart and penitent spirit I bow down before Thy divine Majesty.
I adore Thee as my supreme Lord and Master. I believe in Thee, I hope in Thee,
I love Thee above all things. I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, my only
and supreme God.
I firmly resolve to amend my life; and although I am unworthy to obtain mercy, yet
looking upon Thy holy Cross, I am filled with peace and consolation. I will, therefore,
meditate on Thy sufferings, and visit the Stations. O Loving Jesus, inflame my cold
heart with Thy love, that I may live and die in union with Thee.
Amen.

About the artist:
Melody Hogan’s series of artwork for the “Stations of the Cross” reflects her love
of graphic design and simplified shapes and forms. Her abstractions serve as
connection points that invite hearts to earnestly engage in the sacred and
solemn observance of Holy Week as if they were hazy memories experienced
personally by the viewer.
The materials of reclaimed cardboard, rusted metal and pastel chalk were
chosen to represent the earthly, deteriorating nature of our lives as human
beings. These mundane materials also highlight the mystery of the incarnation
of God: Fully God in all His glory choosing to be Fully Man, subjected to the
constraints of a broken and fallen world.
This body of work is intended to offer us a unique opportunity to not only
witness but share in the Passions (pain and suffering) of the Christ (the Anointed
One).
It also serves as a fitting reminder of this verse in Matthew:
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy
and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in
heaven. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:19-2

Learn more about Melody's art and work here https://melodyhogan.com/

About the poet:

Pádraig Ó Tuama is a poet and theologian based in Belfast. ... He is the leader of the Corrymeela
Community, a Christian witness to peace in Northern Ireland, and is the author of two books of poetry,
Readings from the Book of Exile and Sorry for Your Troubles
the Prayers in this piece are from Daily Prayer with the Corrymeela Community

Lake Forest Creative

I love worshipping at my church every Sunday.

I love singing joyfully (sometimes tearfully) to God with my faith family.  I love the way our teams lead us to worship God in an immersive way (the lights, stage, sounds, and screen content are not meant to impress but to enfold and include all the senses, not just our rational faculties - because we are whole persons, not just brains on a stick, and want to interact with the Holy Spirit wholly).  And I love exploring and responding to God's Word weekly in our teachings.  Best of all for me, I get to experience it twice each Sunday!

A lot of our staff and Ministry Partners put much time, effort and talent into gifting us with these times of glorifying and encountering God together.  So I'm glad that Harrison Gillming and Tracy Grubbs (Worship Arts Director and Creative Arts Production) have started a new Lake Forest blog - Lake Forest Creative.

It will answer one question we get almost weekly, 'hey, what was the name of that new song today?' The song sets of each LFC campus will be posted each week.  Even better, Harrison, Tracy and others will post explanations behind things like 'how and why did LFC-H design our stage THAT way for THIS sermon series,' thoughts about song-writing, and more.  We also hope it will spark new ideas for other churches, just like we regularly learn from the examples and experiences of other creative worship teams around the world.

Check it out and check back regularly:  Lake Forest Creative

 

The Poultice of Lament: with Psalmists, Tambourine Gospel Solos, Bluegrass, Newgrass & Pschodeltic Blues

It's Wednesday, and I have already sat with more than my normal weekly share of hurting, suffering people.  That's why I tell you today, my favorite time of the year is here - not Christmas, not sending the kids back to school (anyone remember that Staple's commercial?).  Its our 'Hope in a House of Blues' series at Lake Forest the next four Sundays.  Where we do something very biblical -apply the poultice of lament (what's a poultice? keep reading) honestly together, as people who love and long for God, over our blues.  With sights set firmly on the goodness of God through his Son Jesus.

Through a mashup of Scripture (this year: Dread/Fear, Depression, Doubt, Death), Music (this year we're expanding genres - to include southern gospel singers with tamborines week 1, psychodeltic blues from NY week 2, a foremost 'Newgrass' player of bluegrass week 3, and our now-old-friend Mike Farris week 4 in Huntersville), and Art (our artists are transforming the Huntersville worship center into the feel of a grand old theatre circa 1900).

I don't just like it for the music, even though its going to be amazing (this year we're kicking it up a notch and hosting national musical guests weekly on our Huntersville campus, and musical or speaking guests weekly in Davidson - the first conversation with the musicians is always priceless "you mean you want me to play my music in church?").  I mostly like this series as a poultice.

What's a poultice? In the third grade I read biographies of Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett (so I could prepare to become them when I grew up), and ran across this word frequently. A poultice is a soft moist mass, often heated and medicated, that is spread on cloth over the skin to treat an aching, inflamed, or painful part of the body.  Native Americans used mashed up pumpkin, Daniel and Davy might use warm moist bread or soaked tobacco.  The effect?  To draw the pus and inflammation of a wound to the surface, and draw it out into the poultice.  Allowing the wound to heal and the body to return to health.  There are so many blues in our fallen world that we apply the poultice of this series regularly.  We want to be a church community that laments openly, loudly, honestly, sympathetically, often, and biblically.

Psalm 5:1 is an apt description of many of the psalms/songs/prayers in the Bible: "Listen to my words, Lord, consider my lament." The original 'liner notes' written at the beginning of Psalm 102 describe that Psalm as v.1 "A prayer of an afflicted person who has grown weak and pours out a lament before the Lord."

This is exactly how we will serve one another and our friends who live in the blues and are looking for hope this series.  Gather as people who have grown weak and are yet bold to ask God to 'consider our lament.'  Because we know God as loving heavenly Father, and Jesus told us to talk to him, through Jesus as the Great Physician.  Here's a news writeup of the series, in case you're interested, with descirptions and links for our various guest artists.  Its my favorite time of year! 

Lake Forest Church Brings Blues Worship Fusion to Sunday Morning Setting

Hope in a House of Blues Series features national artists from a variety of
Blues genres

Huntersville, NC: A Lake Forest Church tradition returns with a new spin
in 2013. The Hope in a House of Blues series is four weeks of finding hope
amidst the reality that the blues are inescapable in our lives. Each
Sunday includes special guest speakers and/or musicians who will share their
words and music (gospel, bluegrass, rock, Americana) as a sweet balm for our
weary souls.

“We use this series to point out the fact that art and music are inherently
spiritual activities, allowing us to express both the human spirit and our
desire for God,” said Lake Forest’s Lead Pastor, Mike Moses. “Although we’ve
done this series four times before, year after year, we never run out of
material. The blues in this world and in our lives are so ever-present. In this
rendition, we’ve explored new opportunities to fuse the music, worship
environment, and Bible teaching. We hope it will be a powerful, transformative
and ultimately healing experience for everyone who walks in our door.”

Hope in a House of Blues begins April 14, 2013 at the church’s Huntersville and
Davidson, NC, campuses and will continue each Sunday through May 5, with
services at 9:30am and 11am. The theme of the 2013 Hope in a House of Blues
series is “Blues in the Key of D” and includes messages that address dread,
despair, doubt and death – all with an inspiring, blues-based musical backdrop
and worship environment.

Schedule of Guest Musicians

The McCrary Sisters will bring their passion and soulfulness to kick
off the first week of the series in Huntersville. Ann, Deborah, Regina and
Alfreda are the daughters of the late Rev. Samuel McCrary, who was one of the
original members of the legendary gospel quartet, The Fairfield Four.

On April 21 in Huntersville, Kerry Kearney, a slide guitar master, will
play and work his instrument to limits that amaze even the most seasoned
musician or cultured music fan.  Kearney’s style, which is referred to as
“Psychedelta,” is his own brand of music containing an upbeat mix of American
Blues and Roots with a twist of a very unique sound all his own.

Concord’s own Jim Avett, father of Seth and Scott of the Avett Brothers,
will bring his honest country tunes and the stories he uses to introduce his
music to the Lake Forest Davidson Campus on April 21. The son of a Methodist minister and a
classically trained pianist, you can find Jim performing at musical festivals
up and down the East Coast. His performances have been described as similar to
“spending the evening on the front porch singing and talking with a good
friend.”

Bluegrass banjo player, Stevie Barr, will perform with The Church
Sisters in Huntersville on April 28 and in Davidson on May 5. Barr’s family
owns and operates Barr’s Fiddle Shop in Galax, VA, a gathering spot for
bluegrass and old-time musicians the world over. Stevie literally grew up in
the shop, taking it all in and becoming a fine player in his own right.

The Church Sisters, twins Sarah and Savannah Church, are now appearing on
numerous TV specials including "The Joey and Rory Show",
"Larry's Country Diner" and "Country's Family Reunion.” In 2012,
they were honored to join Christian superstar, Brandon Heath on his "Blue
Mountain Tour.”

Long-time Hope in a House of Blues guest, critically-acclaimed musician and
vocalist Mike Farris comes for the finale of the series in
Huntersville and will play with worship leader, Kyle Dillard. Recipient of the
Americana Music Association’s “New & Emerging Artist of the Year” award in
2008 and winner of the 2010 Gospel Music Association’s Dove Award for “Best
Traditional Gospel Album of the Year.”

Farris’ voice connects and mesmerizes in such a way that it doesn’t matter if
the songs are his own compositions or ones sung 200 years ago.  As Mike
puts it “this music - it’s so beyond us, we only perpetuate it. We are just
cooks in the kitchen.”  If so Mike Farris is one “cook” with an immediate
voice.

Lake Forest Church is a growing, Evangelical Presbyterian Church with campuses
in Huntersville and Davidson, NC (just north of Charlotte). Since its
beginning, LFC has been known for reaching “people who’ve given up on church,
but not on God”, through a clear and engaging focus on Jesus. Sunday worship
times in Huntersville, located at 8519 Gilead Road, are 9:30 and 11:00am.
Worship times in Davidson, located at Davidson Elementary School at 635 South
Street, are 9:30 and 11:00am. 

Contact and reference information:
For more information on Hope in a House of Blues: Contact Susan Arrington, LFC
Communications Manager, at 704.650.2009 or [email protected]

Visit the Lake Forest Church website at: http://lakeforest.org

More on the McCrary Sisters, visit: http://musiccityroots.com/artist/the-mccrary-sisters

Visit Kerry Kearney’s website at: http://kerrykearneyofficial.com

Visit Barr’s Fiddle Shop’s website: http://barrsfiddleshop.com

Visit Jim Avett’s website at: http://www.jimavett.com/

Visit Mike Farris’s website at: http://www.mikefarrismusic.com

Visit Kyle Dillard’s website at: http://www.kyledillard.com/

LFC Soldier Prays in Jerusalem: You and I Pray Jesus' Wounds in Huntersville

The Lake Forest prayer garden has been lovingly prepared as a prayer journey through the 'Wounds of Christ' for all of us during Holy Week. You can spend unique conversational time with your Heavenly Abba - Daddy- Pappa anytime you like this week.  I did it Sunday evening late, in the fog.  Powerful is all I can say.  I've never fingered a crown of thorns before.  One of the stations stopped me in my tracks, i was  undone for a moment before the Lord. Please prepare your heart for Easter by praying through this trail this week.

But check this out...

Jason Edwards is an LFC ministry partner who served God regularly on Sunday mornings (cameras, tech) until Uncle Sam asked him to serve for a year overseas in Egypt.  That's where he is now (with wife, child, and parents back here in H'ville and at LFC), except for his current week at home (and I ran into him at Chico's last night).  Jason told me that he was able to travel to Jerusalem and follow the via de la rosa - the road of sorrows that follows Jesus' painful journey to death on Good Friday.  He says there is a church at each spot where it is traditionally believed that Jesus was wounded.  Jason has seen wonderful sights I pray I can see in my lifetime.

The LFC prayer team, led by Jeff Hathcock (aka Barstool Pastor) and his community group, has constructed a prayer journey for us during this Holy Week.  I hope you will make the time to come pray through 'The Wounds of Jesus' on his way to the cross in our prayer garden.  This is a unique week for Christians, and a unique prayer journey we offer you in conversation with your Heavenly Father.

You can do so anytime this week for as few as 20 minutes, as many as 60.  Park at LFC, walk to the front of the property on Gilead Road (at the top of the wooden stairs) and begin there.  If you'd like to wait until Good Friday, you may pray the 'Wounds' just before our Good Friday service (at 6pm) or on the Saturday before Easter.  Thank you Jeff, thank you Community Group.  I can't wait to identify with my Lord and Savior's wounds on the way to the cross.  I have many wounds myself, and I have dealt wounds to others.  I look forward to praying this part of my life.

What do you get when you cross a hippie, a rock star, and Robert Webber?

You get the right Worship Arts Director for Lake Forest Church!  Okay, that's not EXACTLY right, but our search is on, and me and the search team took a long time to craft the position and cast the right vision for the future of our church.  Lake Forest has been led well up to this point, and is being served SO WELL by our current worship team and leadership, and interesting guest leaders.  I am so thankful for the amazing servants and talents in all of our worship ministries - being a good steward of such gifted people is one of our many motivating factors in getting this national search right.

So, how do the hippie, rock star, and Robert Webber fit together? (Webber is who coined the phrase Ancient Future Worship, and wrote books on the theme).  Well, let me show you our position description.  If you are part of Lake Forest, you'll see a bit of the method behind our madness in this description, attempted explanations for why we do what we do. We don't claim to get it all right - but these are our aspirations as clearly as we can state them.  If you know anyone who may fit the position, please encourage them to apply.  One worship leader friend of mine read the job description for me and commented: "Dude, this job description leaves no time to go to the bathroom!" Re-reading it, that may be true - so we will look for a leader who can delegate well.

Our search team is led by JT Taylor (long-time LFC worship team member and international human resources professional, and crazy-good slalom water skier), combined with me, Wendy Penn, Jack Cathey, Robert Conrad, Chuck Lee, someone from LFC-D, and Jesse McLoud.  We erred on the side of over-communicating in this job description, instead of choosing brevity.  Here it is:

Overview  Are you a worship leader who can create a worship experience for skeptics, spiritual explorers, and believers alike? Do you thrive in the practical and theological tension of a church that values both attractional and missional ministry? Do you dream about the opportunity to experiment, on a large scale, with rock-oriented worship that creatively reinterprets ancient Christian practices? Lake Forest Church (LFC) is seeking a Worship Arts Director with the vision and talent to help us meet our goal: to glorify God by transforming consumers into worshipers.

Who We Are  LFC is a 14 year old church of 1,500-2,000 people in four services between two campuses, with plans to launch a third campus within the next 12 months. Started in 1998 by Mike Moses, LFC is a member of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) and is known for ‘reaching people who’ve given up on church,  but not on God’, through a clear and engaging focus on Jesus, spiritual growth in small groups, and intentional deployment outward in mission. Our worship experience has been a key element in our growth and discipleship. We seek a person with vision and experience in leading the people of God to worship Him in ways that include the following:

Worship Participants: We take Paul’s instructions for worship in I Cor. 14:18-25 as normative. Gathered Christian worship should always take into account three different persons: the believer (Christian), the inquirer (whom we call ‘spiritual explorer'), and the nonbeliever (whom we refer to as a ‘skeptic’). Thus we envision, plan and lead worship services intended to edify Christians, as well as engage skeptics and spiritual explorers.

Musical Style: LFC pursues and expects excellence in musical instrumentation and voice because it honors God and powerfully expresses God’s beauty to both the redeemed and the seeking heart. Adult contemporary rock is the primary musical style in our local culture, so it is our worship style.  We also experiment along a broad spectrum of musical genres.

Creative Worship Elements: At LFC, worship is more than words and music. We use a wide variety of art forms including: short film, ambient lighting, specific musical genres (blues), unique stage/set design for each new sermon series, original poetry, participatory rehearsal of truth (ex. use of fingerprint ink pads at communion stations for all to rehearse their identity in Christ), painting, sculpture, lots of humor, and more.

Ancient/Future Worship:  While LFC is a ‘today’s musical style’ church, we continually explore how early Christian worship models can be applied to the postmodern church, for the dual purposes of deeply rooted discipleship and effective worship evangelism. Whether celebrating the season of Lent, setting up and praying the Stations of the Cross during Holy Week, or singing hymns, ancient/future is an emerging element of our worship approach.

Role Overview   Reporting dually to the Lead Pastor and Executive Director, the primary responsibilities of the Worship Arts Director will be to lead musical worship at the LFC-Huntersville campus (personally and/or through others) and to lead weekly and long-term all-LFC worship service planning and execution (creative service elements, music, sound, lights, a/v, presentation software and more) at all of our campuses.  This person will continuously elevate the worship at our campuses by resourcing, encouraging, and developing their worship leaders.  General duties for this full-time staff role include:

Weekly Worship

• Plan and coordinate song sets and service flow for Sunday worship services that enhances the message, atmosphere and worship theme
• Manage weekly rehearsals and ensure all worship arts elements are of high quality and that all worship arts teams are fully prepared for Sunday morning
• Oversee the scheduling of the worship team including instrumentalists, vocalists, media and AV.
• Complete weekly post-service reviews

Creativity

• Act as a catalyst for creativity, pushing boundaries and translating creative vision into reality.
• Elevate the “Sunday morning experience” by immersing in and staying abreast of worship arts best practices
• Utilize special events, guest appearances and musical alternatives to open the door to new attendees

Teambuilding

• Maintain the health and spirit of the primarily volunteer worship team with regular personal connection and encouragement
• Build and expand the team and its range of talent by recruiting, engaging, auditioning and onboarding new talent.
• Mentor, teach and inspire team members, providing a strong, biblical approach to the spiritual development of the team.
• Establish and embody a Christ-focused culture of excellence

Communications

• Coordinate and integrate the work plans of other campuses and ministry areas to promote alignment in the overall vision and strategy.
• Foster the flow of communication between the worship arts teams, the Lead Pastor, XD and other ministries, fostering an environment of cooperation, trust and openness
• Must be able to manage energetic, very talented and high-spirited team members and resolve conflicts in a Christ-like,yet decisive, manner

 Leadership

• Take a leadership role in strategic thematic planning for worship, preaching and teaching
• Serve as required for senior leadership matters, particularly regarding strategic planning
• Effectively supervise staff, which include paid staff and volunteers.

 Operations

• In coordination with the XD, develop, manage and comply with annual worship arts budget
• Ensure that all instruments, lighting, sound, and multimedia equipment is in proper
  working condition and always operational.
• Plan for future equipment needs and priorities, and provide for the protection and
  inventory of church equipment
• In coordination with the Lead Pastor and XD, define success measures for worship
  arts ministry.

 Requirements

• Must have a saving faith in Jesus Christ and be willing to commit to the mission and motivations of LFC
• 5+ years of experience as a Worship Leader
• Must be able to effectively express ideas and communicate the Word of God in a relevant, innovative manner
• Demonstrated experience in managing staff and volunteers
• Bachelor degree in relevant professional field with relevant graduate degree a bonus
• Need not be ordainable in the EPC, but must have the ability to think theologically about worship and be comfortable with the Reformed understanding of Scripture

For more on Lake Forest Church see www.lakeforest.org Interested candidates should email resume and media samples to Suzanne Powell: [email protected]