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February 2008 Winter Edition Issue #14 | |
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In This Issue Click to go to the article. · The hills are alive for Dinelle Frankland
New IWS Song
In the tradition of Chris
Alford's "Cows in the Field" and Rob Still's
"It's All About
Me," Michael Dennis (member of the Rho Class and Worship
Arts Pastor at Christ Wesleyan Church in Milton, PA) contributed
"IWS Anthem"
during the January 08 session. Click on the link to see the lyrics and music.
January Read Jim Hart selected the book, "Beholding the Glory: Incarnation Through the Arts" edited by Jeremy Begbie for our January Read and Presidential Panel Discussion. Click on the links above for book information and to hear the audio of the panel discussion that included Darrell Harris, Lester Ruth, Jack Van Marian and Rebecca Abbott.
January Session Pictures If you haven't seen the pictures from the recent January session, click here.
Don Saliers on intimacy and otherness in worship "We move between 'It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God' and 'Come, my beloved.' On the one hand, we remain mortal creatures distant from our divine source; on the other, we are those whom Jesus calls no longer slaves but 'friends.' We are both. . . . Christian liturgy flourishes when the contrast and connection between reverence and love is kept alive" (From Worship Come to Its Senses, 25-26).
Anamnetic minds want to know! Please share your news with the IWS community. Send me an email with a few details about your life, family, ministry. Anamnetic minds want to know!
Email Spam If you're still asking: "Why do I sometimes get a pile of junk email through the IWS email system?", check out Ken Rushing's advice for helping eliminate unwanted email from spamming and spoofing. Click here: Viruses, Spamming, Spoofing and More.
Click on picture to enlarge. IWS Web site has a new face With the dawn of the new year came a new look as well as new content on the IWS website. If you've not visited the site lately, have a look. More changes are coming in order to improve the recruitment features of the site and overall effectiveness of this virtual gathering place.
"Golden Compass" direction Reggie Kidd was interviewed by the Fox Network affiliate in Orlando in December on the movie "The Golden Compass" just prior to its opening in theaters. Click here to see the news clip. Reggie also blogs a review of the movie on his website.
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Highlights from the Winter EditionI'm excited to introduce what I hope will be a regular feature in future editions of Anamnesis: the Faculty Column. IWS is blessed with an incredibly gifted faculty through which all of us have been deeply impacted. The Faculty Column will facilitate the overflow of their fresh insights to the IWS community. Connie Cherry graciously agreed to write this inaugural column. Prepare to be inspired. Along with several exciting items of news and ministry highlights from faculty, students and alumni, Bob Webber's rich legacy is celebrated in this edition with the introduction of the Bob Webber Quote of the Week, and a tribute written by his children: 27 Things we Learned from Daddy. And, of course, Alumni Event 2008! Details regarding our seminar with Don Saliers this June 14-17 are included. So, alumni: it is time for you to begin planning your pilgrimage to Orange Park this June for a time of recharging and renewal. Preparations are being made for a memorable and exceedingly worthwhile event.
Grace and peace,
by Constance Cherry
I have been thinking about how song, particularly congregational song, must serve its role in telling the Story of God. On the plane as I made my way to Jacksonville for the January 2008 IWS session, I read a wonderful little book that articulated my thoughts better than I was able to do. I commend to you Paul Westermeyer’s The Heart of the Matter: Church Music as Praise, Prayer, Proclamation, Story, and Gift [1]. In this book, Westermeyer states the obvious; yet somehow it is so remarkable that it seems new: “the church’s song is about the story.” What is it that Christians sing? They sing the story of God’s mighty acts. That’s what Miriam, Moses, and the Israelites sang upon their deliverance from Egypt; and so we sing, “the horse and the rider he has thrown into the sea.” That’s what Mary sang in response to the Annunciation, and so we too sing the Magnificat. “From the beginning of the Biblical saga to its end, from one end of history to the other, the story is a song to be sung”, writes Westermeyer (p. 40). I would like to suggest that the pastoral musician is someone who helps the people to sing the story. This must mean several things for the pastoral musician: that she knows the story and is committed to telling the whole story; that he is intentional about the texts of the songs above all else; that she includes God’s story past, present, and future; that he tells the story “in time”, with attention to days and seasons of the Christian year which convey scenes from the story. These are just a few ideas of what I think singing the story is about. It is the pastoral musician who must see to it that when the worshipping community sings, they sing the whole story of God—that they sing of creation, Fall, redemption, and re-creation. So here’s the question. If you extracted all of the music sung in your church in the past twelve months, how much of the whole Story of God would have been told through song? While prayerfully contemplating these things I was reminded of an old Gospel hymn that captures my desire (and I hope yours as well) to sing the story of God. It also reminds us that Bob continues to sing the story with us. I will
sing the wondrous story of the Christ who died for me, 1 Paul Westermeyer. The Heart of the Matter: Church Music as Praise, Prayer, Proclamation, Story, and Gift (Chicago: GIA Publications, Inc., 2001).
If you thought preaching was all about speaking, think again. The
speaker's body is a powerful communication tool—for
good or bad. Todd Farley, DWS 702 instructor and Associate Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences at Calvin College, presented an engaging seminar this past October at Calvin College's Preaching Conference: The Embodied Preacher. Some 150 pastors attended—the seminary's largest turn out for a fall conference—and it was very well received. Todd says, "We stand in front of congregations that have learned to recognize intellectual ideas. Let us move our words as well as say them—and perhaps move our congregations." Click here for an informative article on Todd's seminar. The link includes numerous resources on the subject that many will want to pass on to a pastor friend or co-worker. Three streaming video links from the seminar are available online:
Sermon on Hosea 12:10
This past Thanksgiving I was flooded with gratitude to God for the insights of our founder and mentor, Bob Webber, which he has shared so prolifically in his writings. I had just reread The Divine Embrace. The "vintage Bob" passages popped out from my highlighting and underlining, further emphasized by the "yes" exclamations and other notes I had made in the margins. Acknowledging that genuine thanksgiving is never static, I decided to start a quote of the week link on the Web site so that others could be challenged and hopefully changed as I have been by the stockpiled wisdom of this man of God. I quickly culled 20 or so quotes from The Divine Embrace and then created the Web page and link (click on the picture below). Each Monday morning (give or take several hours) since then I've updated the page with a new quote, shifting to seasonally appropriate quotes from Ancient Future Time during Advent, Christmas and Epiphany. Some of you have recommended your favorite quotes from Bob's writings. I'll use them in the weeks to come, and I heartily welcome additional submissions as you come across more "vintage Bob" statements in your reading that you would like to share with the world.
Let's extend Bob's legacy and promote his life mission—genuine worship renewal. I encourage you to add this simple icon and link to your Web site.
It has been a delight to get to know this servant of God in our preparations for the seminar. Don taught with distinction at Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta where he served as the William R. Cannon Distinguished Professor of Theology and Worship and Director of the Master of Sacred Music Program before he retired last year. He continues to be active in speaking, writing, composing and leading retreats. Dr. Saliers has written, edited and contributed to numerous books. Students of worship will be familiar with his works Worship as Theology: Foretaste of Glory Divine (1994), Worship Come to Its Senses (1996), Worship and Spirituality (1996), and Music and Theology (2007). He also wrote a book with his daughter, Emily: A Song to Sing, a Life to Live: Reflections on Music as Spiritual Practice (2006). His most recent publication is a hymn collection, Sounding Glory: Hymns for the Church Year (2008), which includes traditional texts set to new tunes, new texts set to familiar tunes, and new texts set to new music in hymn style. Click here to see a more detailed biographical sketch. This year's alumni gathering begins on Saturday, June 14, with a lunch hosted by President Jim Hart and Chaplain Darrell Harris and continues with a visit to a DWS or MWS class, social opportunities with fellow alumni, and participation in the Commencement Service on Sunday evening, June 15, in which alumni are invited to wear their regalia and process as guests of honor with the faculty and staff. The registration fee is $100.00, which does not include the cost of meals or lodging. The registration link below offers more details and allows you to register online. Please contact Kent Walters if you have questions regarding Alumni Event 2008. Follow the links below to see the seminar schedule and description of the sessions and to register. See you in Orange Park in June! Alumni Seminar 2008 Links: Schedule and Description of Sessions Registration Information and Register Online Here is one more link to an article by Dr. Saliers: Body Language: Eight basic gestures every worship leader should know. Jerry Borchert Here is an update from Dr. Borchert written January 26. Please see and utilize his contact information below to express your support and prayers.
I want to thank everyone for their prayers. I really believe that they have upheld Dorie and me during this time. I also am confident that the Lord has been directing the doctors since I could not go to IWS this January. I am now able to teach at Carson Newman on Tuesdays and Thursdays in spite of difficulties and although I cannot spent too much time at the computer, I was able to do the final editing of my manuscript on Revelation. So God is with us. We would be grateful for your continued remembering of us so that we will be able to see everyone again in June at IWS.
Dr.
Gerald L. Borchert
David Brown, DWS
(Lambda, 2007)
David moved from Tennessee to Pataskala, Ohio (Columbus area) in January, where he assumed the position of Associate Minister responsible for worship and spiritual formation ministries at Tri-Village Christian Church. He has also assumed an online teaching position with Rockbridge Seminary. This summer he will teach the masters level course: The Theology and Practice of Worship. David and his wife Lynn are expecting their first child in August.
Kevin Johnson, DWS (Eta, 2005) Kevin's book, Lenten Lessons: Preparing for Worship in Lent (Year A) was recently published by Micah Publishing. Kevin also contributed 16 articles to the three-volume Encyclopedia of Christian Civilization that is due to be released this summer. Kevin is Associate Pastor for Worship, Music and College Ministries at First Baptist Church in Boone, NC.
Tony McNeill, DWS candidate (Xi) Tony serves as the
Minister of Music and Arts at
Friendship Missionary
Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC. Last
July, he established The Call 2 Dinelle Frankland Teaches in AustriaDinelle Frankland (DWS, Delta 2004) is the Associate Dean of Student Formation and Associate Professor of Worship at Lincoln Christian Seminary in Lincoln, IL where she receives rave reviews from students and graduates of the worship studies program. Last summer she taught a worship course in Austria. Pictured below with her class, she is standing second from the right. Here is her report. Last summer I was given the opportunity to teach at Haus Edelweiss in Heiligenkreuz, Austria (about 30 miles from Vienna) for TCM International Institute—a graduate theological school that is currently preparing more than 750 men and women from Eastern Europe and Central Asia for Christian leadership.
The students at TCMII are eager, dedicated, and serious. They are extremely appreciative of education and hold professors in high esteem. Many of them traveled for several days to get there. Beside the groups represented in my class there were students from Russia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Moldova and Austria. Most students spoke at least some English; if they did not, there were others to help them communicate. In terms of worship, they face some of the same issues that we do, contemporary versus traditional being one of the most obvious. They readily identified with the traits of the “younger evangelicals” and postmodern thinking. I learned two important lessons. First, the need for theological education in the area of worship is universal. Second, good teaching is cross cultural. Even if the students speak a different language, they connect in the same ways. I was very moved by their dedication to God and education. I am sure I learned more from them than they did from me. I am grateful to IWS for the training which made this experience possible. I am returning next summer and eagerly anticipate another group of fine students. The following is a list composed by Bob and Joanne Webber's four children. It was read at Bob's funeral held in Michigan. They chose the number 27 because Bob was born on November 27 and died on April 27. 27 Things we Learned from Daddy 1. How to be friendly to everyone 2. How to be gracious and forgiving 3. How to have a sense of humor 4. How to appreciate silence 5. How to eat ice cream standing up, right out of the carton
6. How to be a realist 7. How to be an optimist 8. How to say I’m sorry 9. How to see the best in everyone and let them know it 10. How to do what you love and let the chips fall where they may 11. How to fight fire with grace 12. How to not take yourself too seriously 13. How to take yourself seriously 14. How to be dignified in the face of adversity 15. How to stand up for what’s true 16. How to be broken bread and poured out wine 17. How to cut your losses and move on 18. How to find true humility by giving the glory to God 19. How to march to the beat of your own drum and let others do the same 20. How to go with the flow and roll with the punches 21. How to appreciate the past but live in the present 22. How to be very silly 23. How to hug like you mean it 24. How to hold your tongue 25. How to speak your mind 26. How to take it all with a grain of salt 27. How to seize the day, grab the bull by its horns, and live a life that’s worth living. © 2007 The Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies |
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Contact Information
Worship
Studies
Director
of Alumni Activities and Editor of Anamnesis
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Our
fifth annual Alumni Event will feature a two-day workshop filled with
wisdom, inspiration, and worship resources taught by
The
doctor removed a large calcium build-up in my right eye at the end of
November. Following the procedure, I developed a serious infection. The
medicines were very painful. It became very serious during the Christmas
holidays, and on December 31, I underwent emergency surgery to clean the
eye. The doctor sewed a flap over the hole that had developed in the
cornea and sutured my lid. The infection is now under control and the
sutures have been removed from the eye lid but not all of them from the
flap that covered the hole. A recent scan indicates that the retina has
not been damaged as of now which is the good news. It will be some time
before the hole is healed but we are making progress. The eye, however,
is basically a non-seeing eye at present although I can see light through
it and a little movement. What comes next will have to await further
healing. But I am upbeat about it and I have learned another lesson in
dependence.
Worship Group, LLC--a ministry resource for the local church and community
that provides referrals, education, communication and other services in
the areas of music and worship. Tony says his vision for this
ministry was prompted by "the epidemic shortage of qualified, committed
church musicians, clergy and support staff facing many African-American
congregations in the United States." He is also concerned about "the lack
of available ongoing opportunities for personal development and worship
education for those called to lead music and worship in the local church."
