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Anamnesis: The IWS Family Newsletter |
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July 2007 Summer Edition Volume 4, Number 2 | |
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In This Issue Click to go to the article. · Congratulations 2007 grads! · Alumni Event 2007 Reflections · New resources on the Web site · Alumni landmarks and transitions
Remembering Bob Webber A memorial service was held during the June Session of IWS. The service was planned by Bob, as were the services that were held in Michigan and Chicago. The video of the service is being edited and hopefully will soon be posted on the Web site. Several audio clips and a copy of the service bulletin are available. Click here.
Bob's last two sermons Remember the inspiration and passion that stirred and motivated you when you heard Bob speak? He was clearly at his best in the last sermons he delivered. They were preached on Sunday, August 13, 2006 at Bethany Beach Chapel near Bob and Joanne's summer home in Michigan: Who Gets to Narrate the World? (36:24), and Sunday, September 10, 2006 at Harbert Community Church, their home church in Michigan: Worship Does God's Story (36:06). Click the titles and download the files today.
In sympathy The IWS community extends our prayer and sympathy to Jim Hart at the death of his father, George, on June 29. Click here for more details.
Listening to the Beliefs of Emerging Churches If you haven't heard the faculty panel discussion on Bob's book from the recent June Session, click here. And, if you haven't picked up a copy of the book, click here for more details.
D.W.S. thesis library As many of you know, I have been posting your thesis abstracts on the Web site to assist those doing research. Our next goal is to publish entire theses online to further assist in research and greatly expand our Web resources, which is an important endeavor for a web-based, cutting-edge institute like IWS. Monica Lopez, our new librarian, is currently exploring this possibility. You will be contacted as this progresses. Many of you have submitted your thesis abstract for publication on the site. Check out the thesis lists and see if your abstract is there. IF NOT, simply copy and paste it into the body of an email and send it to me today.
New book Mark Torgerson (IWS bibliographer) has written a timely book on sacred space that has recently been published: An Architecture of Immanence: Architecture for Worship and Ministry Today (Eerdmans, 2007). Click here for more information. Listen to Mark's presentation on the topic:
Embracing Our Inheritance: Appreciating and Maximizing Our Worship Environments.
June Session Pictures
Click
here to view pictures from the recent June Session and Alumni
Event 2007.
And,
click here to see graduation 2007 pictures.
IWS Mission Statement The Institute for Worship Studies forms servant leaders in Christian worship renewal and education through graduate academic praxis, grounded in biblical, historical, theological, cultural and missiological reflection in community. Hear Jim's overview of the Statement(5:11). Read a related document by Eric Bolger: The Missional Theology of IWS: a Working Description.
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This Issue: the Seasons of LifeThe seasons of life are incredible gifts from God. Each season brings CHANGE--sometimes joyfully anticipated, sometimes fearfully dreaded. But since the seasons of life are God's good gift to the fruit-bearing plants in His garden, our hungry souls trustingly reach through the branches of our being to absorb the life-giving benefits of each cycle of life bestowed by the hand of our wise Creator. The IWS family is walking through the life-changing season of death and renewal: the death of our founder, mentor and friend--Bob Webber, and the renewal of his life by way of legacy in and through us and the institute to which he gave birth. May we be inspired to "lean into the wind" (to quote Darrell Harris) during this season of grieving and rebirth, and thereby gain strength and resolve to proliferate the principles and delights of worship renewal inspired by our leader that have decisively transformed ("ruined") our lives and ministries. Seasons help us reflect and dream. Seasons help us work and rest. Seasons help image bearers become what they were created to be. May the theme of the seasons of life inform your reading and reflection through this issue of Anamnesis.
"Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. In his final days Bob said that his legacy would reside in his books and IWS. He poured his life into both, and both are expressions of his person and passions. It is not surprising that through Bob's last healthy days he continued to write as long as he had strength, completing two books just a month before his death and starting yet another.
We quickly acknowledge that we are not to follow or idolize a person--other than the God-man, Jesus Christ. Bob would say a hearty "Amen" to that. We are, however, to remember and imitate the faith of those who have spoken and lived out God's word before us (Heb. 13:7). God has used this man to show us the Savior and to inspire us in profound, life-changing ways. So, how do we rightly remember Bob and extend his legacy? Let me suggest two ways. First, we give praise and thanks to God for Bob's life and influence. Bob is a gift to the Church, and he remains so for each of us who continue to receive and apply the wisdom he taught and lived. Second, we commit ourselves to perpetuating his life and teachings, which have so powerfully impacted us and our ministries. You know how you can best do this, but here are a few examples: rekindle your commitment to worship renewal in your sphere of influence (semper reformanda); use Bob's books as gifts, and recommend them to others; send the mp3 link to the audio files of Bob's talks by email to interested friends; recruit students to IWS who can, in turn, exponentially expand the circle. IWS was born as Bob pursued his vision for a unique, one-of-a-kind (though now imitated) worship institute. His personal contacts attracted students more than anything. No longer will someone meet Bob at one of his seminars or receive a call from him encouraging them to attend IWS. Bob's legacy through IWS is now in our hands. And, thanks be to God, there is evidence that the baton is successfully being passed. Andy Hill and Lester Ruth routinely poll the incoming DWS students to learn how they heard of and came to IWS. The greatest draw has always been personal contact with Bob. However, the numbers now indicate that more students are coming as a result of personal contact with Bob's disciples. (Sounds like a biblical pattern, doesn't it?). More students in the new Rho class this June came as a result of personal conversation with and recommendation by an IWS alum than did those who had personal contact with Bob. The legacy lives! Bob Webber will continue to influence lives and inspire worship renewal in countless venues. The impact will come through the books and school that bear his name and are being so powerfully used by the Lord.
Jim Hart's Presidential Inauguration
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Contact Information
Worship
Studies
Director
of Alumni Activities and Editor of Anamnesis
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Brian's sessions were inspirational, to say
the least. But quite frankly, Brian addressed issues and attitudes in a
loving and genuine way that exposed and shook the paradigms that define
the way we live and serve. The
and to reconnect with fellow students as well as to meet new friends. Brian McLaren’s seminars were helpful, instructive and inspiring. I found the session around the “rituals of gathered worship” to be especially valuable. It seems that Brian’s overarching message in this session was to see community of faith as something related to discipline and perseverance. This was a welcome message in an era where participation in community of faith seems more related to personal preference. In a related discussion, Brian suggested that when community of faith gathers, we “expose apprentices to masters in prayer, teaching, artistry, faithfulness, service, hospitality, etc.” Seeing church in the context of apprentice/master relationships is something I found intriguing and have already introduced in my own faith community. Another helpful discussion was related to the idea of “practice.” Brian suggested this definition of practice: “Actions within our power which we do to train ourselves to do things currently beyond our power, and to become people we are currently incapable of being.” I felt personally challenged to pursue this kind of practice. I am glad I was able to participate in this session as well as attend Bob’s memorial service.
This
being my first IWS alumni seminar I headed to Florida with anticipation mingled
with curiosity. I was thrilled to see many faces I had seen in the past 4
years and many other new ones as we gathered for food, fellowship, fun,
and food-for-thought from Brian McLaren.
Jerry
Borchert spoke briefly to the alumni gathered for the alumni seminar in
June to fulfill a promise made to Bob Webber. As you may know, Bob
encouraged many students and grads to publish their research and writings
on worship. (His legacy lives on!). As his health declined, Bob
asked Jerry to take up the joyful task of encouraging and
facilitating the publishing of books by IWS alumni. Listen to 
Following eight years of ministry in Saint Augustine, Florida, Carl and his family moved to Grass Valley, California after graduating from IWS to serve at First Baptist Church in the Sierra Mountains, not far from Lake Tahoe, where he served for 3 years. He is now serving as music and worship pastor at Anchor Baptist Church in Lexington, KY. The church is seven years old and is projected to grow by 120 people a year. In the middle of moving, Carl and Renee were blessed with a new baby boy—Hayden, now seven months old. Daulton is eleven and Kendall is eight. Carl says, “I continue to write about worship, teach classes on worship, read about worship, talk and obsess about worship.” Check out his excellent blog
at: 
Mark was surprised by a celebration on April 15 in honor of 30 years in the ministry. He served 14 1/2 years at Camden Ave. Baptist Church in San Jose, CA as Minister of Music and Education, and 15 1/2 years at Sequoia Heights Baptist Church where he is currently serving as Minister of Worship and Education. He is pictured with his granddaughter, Taylor, at the surprise party. 
led
me to resign my position as Pastor
of Worship and Music effective April 30th. God has provided for us to be on sabbatical until the end of the year.
I'm very grateful to the Lord for this season in my life: a much needed gift of
time and space for rest, renewal and re-visioning. Though uncertain where
or to what ministry the Lord may lead in the coming months, we are at
peace that He will open the doors that will
reveal His plan and fulfill the desires of our hearts. Thanks for your
prayers.
ministry and nine years as the minister of music at Kilbourne Park Baptist Church in Columbia, SC. He will be leading The Doxology Institute, a missional ministry to the artistic community based in the Midlands of SC, and teaching in higher education. Barry will be available to serve as a substitute or interim music and worship leader and also for workshops and speaking engagements. He can be contacted through
session to introduce the
IWS library and the tools available on the Web site (pictured at right).