MB Herald - How Worship Has Changed in 50 Years
Have you read the MB Herald lately? It’s a great magazine our conference puts out every month, and it goes free of charge to all members of KGF (and any MB church in Canada). One more good reason to become members!
Anyway, this issue is looking at worship, and one of the articles by Christine Longhurst takes a valuable look back at how worship in the church has shifted over the last 50 years. Seeing as KGF just celebrated our 50th, I found this article very thought-provoking from our context. Well worth reading, and I’d love your feedback on what you notice.
Our heart at KGF is to create a place where people can worship God in a multi-generational format, with songs that speak to a variety of styles but who’s content is intended to turn our heart to Him.
You can read the article below, and online here. The whole MB Herald can be read here. If you think you should be getting the MB Herald, but aren’t, encourage you to email Judy at the front office, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Blessings!
Mike Penninga
What a difference 50 years makes!
Over the past five decades, congregational worship in many of our churches has undergone dramatic change. We’ve seen changes in the language used in worship – from German to English and more. We’ve also seen a steady move away from formality to a more casual approach in language, leadership style, and even dress.
Many congregations have also seen a growing appreciation for the arts – for drama, dance, and art. New technologies have changed us even more – the introduction of the microphone has revolutionized the sound of our worship. Even the architecture and acoustics of our churches have changed as a result.
There have also been significant changes in how worship is planned and led – from a single pastor planning, leading, and preaching, to the involvement of worship committees, leaders, teams, and bands.
And then there are the dramatic changes we’ve seen in worship music: changes to how songs are chosen and used, how they are led and accompanied, how song texts are presented, and even how songs are sung.
With all this in mind, earlier this year I asked more than 40 long-time members and leaders to reflect on changes to worship in the Canadian Mennonite Brethren church over the past 50 years. Here are a few of the things they told me.
Read the rest of the article online here: