contemporary services

HighFlightMusic · 02-25-2003, 01:29 AM

Any lutherans out there finding contemporary worship in a lutheran church? (And not just using the "blue" book.)

I'm talking full blown -- drums, guitar, bass, keys, etc....

Where are you, what's the church name?

I've found 3.

Triumphant Lutheran Church in Garden Ridge, Tx (near San Antonio)

Camino Real Christian Fellowship (Lutheran mission church) in San Antonio, Tx

River Of Life Lutheran Church in Peter's Creek, AK (near Anchorage.)

Steve

jules · 02-26-2003, 08:59 PM

i wish my church had contemporary services. my youth group has been pushing for a praise band lately, unfortunately, none of the active members can play anything...but maybe someday. our youth minister also claims that our church is trying to be more "contemporary", because they, on occasion, use an instrument of some form during the service...

HighFlightMusic · 02-28-2003, 02:38 PM

Sorry to hear that Lola.

Get with some of your friends and look at some of the other churches in your area. Often there are Saturday or Wednesday night services that are contemporary. You may even find one on Sunday morning that doesn't conflict with your church time. Go see them. Find what you like and invite your Pastor (and others from the church) to go see them too.

I have found all too often that most Lutherans just don't have a clue as to what is out there. It's about educating them.

Now, I'm not advocating changing all Lutheran churches. But too many Lutherans are afraid of change.

Point out to your pastor that the ELCA (if you're Missouri synod, you may be on your own, I don't know) has held an evangelism conference for several years. In 2000 and 2001 specifically (Houston, Denver and Mineappolis.) The music there was very contempory (my wife was in the band.) Try to get some of the materials from it. They may help you.

Richard Web has been (not sure if he still is) one of the music directors for the ELCA. Try the ELCA website.

Best of Luck,

Steve

HighFlightMusic · 02-28-2003, 02:40 PM

Forgot a couple churches:

Shepard of the Valley in Enumclaw, Wa (near Seattle.)

Bethleham Lutheran, Marysville, Wa (north of Seattle.)

Steve

Ali4God · 03-15-2003, 03:51 PM

Hi Steve

I could point you toward a lot of contemporary Lutheran churches... but I assume California is a bit far for you!

My own church. Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd (Torrance, CA) is very contemporary.

Mount of Olives Lutheran in Mission Viejo, CA is also this way.

There are a lot of contemporary Lutheran churches which surprises most people, haha.

*Alison*

AAlex · 03-16-2003, 07:21 PM

Hi,

At my church we have a very successful contemporary service. Our pastor has been very supportive. It started as an "experiment" during the summer of 1996 when we rolled a piano into the church courtyard gave a service for 60 people (we expected 15). Over the years its grown into our largest service. We now have a "complete" band: guitar, bass, keys, drums (electronic), plus an accaisional mandolin, violin, or trumpet.

We have written a liturgical form similar to the "green" book, except the language/words are standard and in a familiar form. We use modern music, mainly from the Augsburg press "Praise & Worship" Book (it's purple) and from popular christian artists like Ginny Owens, Micael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Twila Paris, Jars of Clay, Third Day, Steven Curtis Chapman, etc. whatever is available with our license. We will also use the "green" book and the "blue" (with one voice) book.

Hope this helps. Post any questions you might have. I'll be happy to help if I can.

In His name,

Alex

jules · 03-16-2003, 07:33 PM

Today my church (WELS) did a service that was very far from contemporary. Sure, it was a one time thing, but i found it to be interesting. We went back to the "old" hymnal for the service. Gotta love all those thee's, thou's, -th's, and -est's. It got pretty confusing, everyone was singing and then they'd suddenly mess up because they were singing the newer stuff.

Lucas Kaehler · 04-08-2003, 09:44 AM

Im from Curitiba, Brazil. Im from IECLB (Evangelian Lutheran Church from Brazil).
My community is Comunidade do Redendor, in the center of city.
We have +- 120 in youth. Have a band called Gotgotha (www.golgotha.com.br - site in portuguese).
I wannt to know new luthern (and others) friends.
Add me in your icq (my uin is 44669987) or send me a mail (lkaehler@terra.com.br).

God Bless you!

Luck

jmpeter316 · 05-12-2003, 02:13 PM

Hi Everyone,

My church does a full-blown contemporary service (but only once a month)...howver, we are going to move to a every week service soon...

We are Resurrection Lutheran in Franklin Park, IL (suburb of Chicago)...

I also know a lot of Lutheran Churches who are just starting to get on board...it's catching on in Chicago!!!

P.S. Our church used the blue book for a while, but it got old quick!!!

Peace,

Jay

Ali4God · 05-12-2003, 05:45 PM

We don't use the blue book anymore either. We do a lot of popular praise songs and lots of special music by various Christian artists... we just watch the theology in the music.
*Alison*

CrispOne · 05-18-2003, 11:07 PM

I'm at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Cedar Park, TX (close to Austin), and we've got a very contemporary service - drums, two acoustic guitars, one electric, a bass, and a keyboard. Some of the songs we do are The Wonderful Cross, Here am I (Send Me), Let My Words Be Few (Rebecca St. James style), Breathe, Famous One, Sweep Me Away, Enough, Here I am to Worship, Come, Now is the Time To Worship...

It's obvious that, for many people, this music really resonates with them, and it's a language they can speak, but still, I hope they're seeing past all of the instruments and volume and cool music to the God we worship.

I've wondered several times if, like Matt Redman's church, we ought not to just do away with the music altogether, and learn to worship without it.

But I guess that's beside the point of this thread. If you're looking for input or advice on contemporary worship styles within the Lutheran church, I'd be more than happy to talk to you about it.

06-10-2003, 02:54 PM

theres one in clio michigan that has spot lights, it reminds me much of a circus............................

hansel7 · 06-28-2003, 12:30 PM

While tossing out music in worship may seem to have some merit, I think it'd be quite disasterous. I mean, we're Lutherans afterall...what more HISTORICALLY defines us than our love of music (well, besides potlucks!!)?? In his time, Martin Luther was a huge supporter of music in worship. I'd say that we ought to follow his example and implement music, both new AND old. Contemporary music is a vital way to breathe life into worship, but it doesn't mean that traditional music should be thrown out. Many of us have forgotten or do not take the time to understand the beauty of those "old hymns" with their "thee's, thy's, and thou's". Afterall, what would worship be like without such favorites as "Holy, Holy, Holy", "Lift High the Cross", and "A Mighty Fortress is Our God"?!

KyleJackson · 07-27-2003, 06:48 PM

anyone in here go to the ELCA national youth gathering last week?

Papple · 08-29-2003, 06:59 PM

yeah, the national youth gathering was amazing!! My church tries to do contemporary, but that just means not using the organ. They use the with one voice book quite a bit. Every once and a while they throw in a "jazz worship" and one time they tried "fiesta worship" (see: Jazz worship with a bongo drum instead of a trumpet). It's pretty sad.