Worship & Reconciliation Reflections by

John Smith's Post

2025-03-26 17:20:29 UTC

What stood out for you as the 10 Core Convictions about worship were shared?

#3 I loved hearing how all the service should be scripture based. I struggle to create prayers that reflect the scriptural readings. This is exactly where I am in working on becoming a LLWL who is grounded in scripture.

What surprised you?

I need to know more about how to integrate Baptism and Communion prayers at all services.

I will be looking to see how that happens. I am most grateful for this segment.

10 Core Convictions:

2025-03-26 17:40:00 UTC

Some words stood out for me that serve to make the worship experience meaningful and engaging:

Awareness, participation, engagement, celebration, hospitality, integration.

It will help me moving forward to be more intentional in my planning of the services to make these more visible to the community. Having someone read scripture, do a solo, share a story during community time, bring in flowers, or garden offerings, using pictures from the wider community, learning a new song with actions, speaking a hym rather than singing it for a different approach, leading with an indigenous prayer, lighting another candle to remind us of other congregations meeting around the world….

And I think collaboration is important too. Community drives for the food bank, or going to an interfaith event or community breakfast together all serves to connect the wider church together.

What surprised me? How similar our statement of faith in the united church is to the Presbyterian statement. The UC is celebrating their 100th year in June 2025 of when the Congregational, some Presbyterian, and Methodists joined to become the United Church of Canada.

In God’s economy, all have a place at the table, and as we connect in forums such as this, we find the vibrant, life sustaining, body of Christ alive in our midst in so many ways.

What stood out for me as the 10 Core Competencies about worship?

2025-07-09 21:37:51 UTC

I think all the competencies came together for me under 'full, conscious, active participation.' If I am working to ensure that each congregant leaves with the feeling they have had direct access to God through singing, praying, being part of the service through reading, serving, etc., I hope each one walks away with awareness of the glory, beauty and holiness of God, etc. I often have the scripture reading on the powerpoint screen and we read it together, not just one person. celebrating baptism and communion involves many congregational members. At the service in Epiphany with the baptism of Jesus, we have a reenactment of our own baptisms and remember that communion is another opportunity to think of that immersion. Culture, the arts are regularly brought in - Pride Sunday with a member of the LGBTQ2S+ community coming in to speak to us - a member of the Bear Clan, Street Patrol, organizer for MMIWG on Indigenous Sunday, Blessing of the Pets in October = intentional integration of all of life. The Worship Committee collaborates on planning and evaluation. This is a wonderful reminder of all the facets that are needed for worship in order to make it a rich experience and so congregants so home to do the real work of worship in community.

What surprised me?

I loved another perspective of the Trinity - the pulpit as the Word, the font as the water and the altar as the wine. Every week we can be reminded of the Trinitarian presence of God the Creator, God the Redeemer and God the Comforter before us.

Ancil Lynch post

2025-07-23 05:02:19 UTC

My core conviction is #2 Full, Conscious, Active Participation. I fully believe in participating in worshipping God. Engagement is key is getting the message to others and being as a form of welcoming others to God. Just worshipping and not engaging seems to have a disconnect from the church and the congregation.

Reconciliation

2025-09-19 22:11:19 UTC

I have always tried to do right by our Indigenous populations. I have tried to engage in reconciliation in a meaningful way, but it wasn’t until I got to the church I am at now that I realized that there is always more to do.

I learned that words without intention or action are just that, words. So I would like to make a conscious effort going forward, and make sure it involves our community, that we all strive to make reparations and have ideas that promote healing with our Indigenous populations.

2025-10-29 14:53:07 UTC

10 Core Convictions:

I like all the convictions, I have started helping with services in our church and I try to plan my services so the congregation has something from the service to take home with them. I am registered in LLWL course and theses convictions will certainly help me in my journey.