Worship & Production

Why celebrate?

by Kim Murray, Cedar Falls Volunteer

“Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.  One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.” Psalm 145:3-4

When I look at scripture, I see a few different references regarding celebration.  It seems like most celebrations happened around specific feasts or included feasts in the celebration of the good things that God had done.  Some examples include: when Saul became king (1 Samuel 11:12-15), when King Josiah held an elaborate Passover celebration (2 Chronicles 35:1-19), and when the Jews celebrated their triumph over Haman (Esther 8:15-17).  God’s people openly celebrated the good things that were going on in their lives.  They really knew how to throw a party!

When God created us to celebrate Him, He didn’t leave the entire job up to humans alone.  Scripture also includes examples of worship by heavenly beings (Luke 2:13-14 and Revelation 4:6-11).

All of these are great examples of celebration, but what does that have to do with us?  God created us to worship Him with our lives on earth (check out my favorite paraphrase of Romans 12:1-2 MSG) and someday in heaven.  He created us to celebrate the good things that He has done (1 Chronicles 16:8).

God wants us to shout His goodness from the mountaintops!  He wants us to put Him on display.  As artists, we get the privilege of doing this every weekend.  We get the awesome job of leading others to the throne as we celebrate the redemptive work of Christ.

However, keeping all of this in mind, I have a few words of caution for you:

It is easy to get so wrapped up in preparation that we get tunnel vision… I am guilty as charged on this one.  I have spent a lot of time prepping for a service and been so deep in thought about it that I missed what was going on around me.  We have a big job and it is awesome that we get to lead others in celebration, but we need first be aware of the needs of those around us before we can lead them anywhere.  When you are going about your everyday life, interact with those around you, ask them how they are doing, take the time to listen to them, be invitational and most of all don’t be in a hurry!

God is worth celebrating all of the time… let me say that again: all of the time.  Even if you don’t feel like celebrating and you’ve had the worst day of your life, there is always a reason to celebrate (Psalm 42:5).  God is always doing something good in your life.  When you intentionally praise God for what He is doing in the tough times, you are an encouragement to others and unbelievers want to know why you have hope.  It is the best time to put the Gospel on display.

Get your butt to All Team Meetings… What does that have to do with anything?  We have the opportunity to come together once a month to celebrate what God is doing in our lives and the lives of others in W&P.  It’s a perfect time to share what God is doing in your life with others who have the same passion you do for leading people to the throne through the arts.  When you read the Bible, it is clear that God’s people gathered together to celebrate with food and conversation.  Let’s follow their example.

My challenge for you is to be more aware of how you are celebrating Christ’s work in your life.  Do your words and actions proclaim that He is worth celebrating?

Finding the Spark and a Giveaway!

Friends, I have a confession to make.

I've found myself in a busy season that seems to have squelched any spark of creativity.  I don't really want to read, write, or even listen to music . . . I'm feeling kind of artistically blah.

I'm sure you know what I'm talking about.  

I'm not worried about that spark coming back, mainly because I'm hard at work looking for it.  But losing that spark happens to the best of us, and usually at the most inopportune times!  Just when you really need your creative juices to be flowing is when they inevitably seem to dry up!  What's a person to do?

Here are a few of the things I've tried over the years.  Some have been more successful than others, but they've all helped me, in one way or another, to get past that creative block that can be so frustrating.

• Fill up!  I find that most of the artist work that I do requires that I pour something out/give something of myself away.  When I'm empty -- physcially, spiritually, emotionally, or intellecutally, I don't have anything to offer.  I'll grab a book, eat lunch, get away for some quiet time, or call a friend and fill that tank back up.  When I return to my work, there's something there to be given away.
• I go outside.  The sights, sounds, and smells of nature never fail to remind me of the creativity of God, and I almost always encounter something that sparks an idea.
• I find a new place. There's great value in having a place that is your work space -- your brain and your body know that when you get there, you are there to work.  But sometimes I need something new and fresh so I can approach an idea in a different way.  I find a new place to work and something clicks and I'm able to start.
• I get rid of my "go-to's" and do something unexpected.  Along the lines of the bullet above, sometimes what usually works won't work for some reason. I'll listen to some music I've never listened to before, I'll put away the books that usually help me get un-stuck and grab an economics book or a book on the inner workings of the U.S. military.  Anything unexpected that might shake something loose.
• I make myself WORK.  I will set a timer and won't get up or take a break or walk away until I've put in the time.  I may not always get a good product out of it, but eventually I find that working produces something -- even if all it is is a reminder that this is NOT what I wanted, I've still got a starting place.

What do you do/turn to when you're stuck and the spark won't strike?

Here's the giveaway:  I have 2 of these PIP's -- Personal Idea Pad's from The Accidental Creative. They're neat little products to help spur creative thinking by making connections between seemingly unrelated things.

Leave a comment on this blog, answering the above question and on Friday, two of you will be chosen (out of a very literal hat!) to receive your very own PIP! 

Staff Announcement

Friends --

It's moments like these that we know what the word "bittersweet" really means.

Many of you have already heard the news but for those of you that haven't, Jon Lloyd and his wife, Michelle, are leaving Prairie Lakes Church at the end of June.

This is a decision that they have been prayerfully considering and it's become evident that this is the direction in which God is leading them.  They are leaving one chapter of their story behind and entering a new one -- and what better legacy to leave behind than to listen to and follow when God calls?

Here's a short excerpt from Jon's personal blog:

Over the past several months we’ve been feeling God pulling us in a new direction. We’ve been constantly asking ourselves the question: Where in our life is God asking us to take the risk of trusting Him in a freefall? Where is God wanting us to be obedient to what He’s calling us to do? After taking time wrestling and discerning what God’s doing in our lives and where He’s leading, this is clearly the next right step.

They'll be leaving for Arizona where Michelle plans to go back into the classroom to teach and Jon is going to pursue some opportunities to do some creative coaching and consulting as he looks for a position.

We're sad to see them go but so very grateful that we had these three years with them, that as they go they are taking lifelong friendships with them, and that they are the kind of people willing to go when God says "Go."

Blessings to Jon and Michelle as they prepare for the next part of their journey!

Celebration

by Jon Lloyd, Cedar Falls Worship Director

Celebration is a part of life.  It might be more of a part of our lives than we think.  When our sports team wins a game, we celebrate.  When our child has a birthday, we celebrate.  When we accomplish a goal, we celebrate.  Celebration is a part of who we are as people. In the same vein, celebration should be a part of who we are as followers of Christ, and who we are in the church

There are many verses in the Bible that talk about this idea of celebrating.  Here are a few examples of this: 

Psalm 150:1-6

“Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!”

Matthew 22:1-4

“And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast!”

1 Corinthians 10:31

“So, Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

Every week when we gather together corporately to worship, we should always take time to celebrate.  Whether that is celebrating who God is, celebrating a life that God has changed, or celebrating what God has done, there are always reasons to celebrate together corporately. Let’s take a look at a few times during a service we might celebrate.

Worship.  I think for most people this would be the obvious time to spend celebrating.  Music can tend to unite people and energize people toward a common theme.  There are so many great worship songs out there that talk about who God is, His greatness and what He does for us, that we could spend an entire day singing and celebrating these truths.  For most churches, as well as for us at Prairie Lakes, using the worship set to celebrate truths about God is very common.

Campus Concerns (Announcements).  This might not necessarily be a place in the service most people would consider celebrating, but it can work as a great place to highlight what God is doing in certain ministries.  Many times we will use this time for baby dedications, or use this time to highlight a person’s story and what God’s doing in his or her life.  This is actually a great space to celebrate what God is doing.

Offering.  Many people may not view offering as a time to celebrate, but I think this is a great time to celebrate.  It gives us a chance to celebrate how gracious and generous God has been to us.  This is one area in which we are trying to be more intentional, no matter where in the service it is programmed.

These are just three examples of different parts of a service where we can incorporate celebration.  Just like in our lives, celebration is common it should also be common for us to do it in the church.  God has done so much for us that it should become second nature for us to celebrate who He is and what He’s done in our lives.

What FAQ Might Jesus Have For Us?

Pastor John wrapped up our FAQ series this weekend by addressing some of "the big ones" -- some of the recurring questions we received from you throughout the last few weeks.  As I was thinking about some of the questions we saw and preparing to evaluate what we did and how we did it (something we do weekly,)  I felt a prompting to consider a different kind of question.

What are the "FAQ" that Jesus asks of me?

I think very often, we choose to believe that he looks at us like a cross school-teacher, with his hands on his hips, glaring at us over his bifocals, and shouting, "What is the MATTER with you?!" But I don't think that the frequently asked questions that Jesus would have us answer have anything much to do with our behavior.  I think they're much deeper--and much more difficult--than that.

Here's what I think he is asking: 

Do I reflect and embody Jesus to the people around me?  Are people drawn to the Jesus they see in me, or do they see him in me at all?  Do people crave the presense of Jesus in me -- do they sense that there is something I bring with me to our conversations and our relationship that is different and somehow more than other people?  Am I like him -- not just in my deeds, but in who I am?  Do I love like him?  Am I like him not only in his actions, but in his motivations and in his spirit?  

Are people different because of the Jesus that is in me?  Am I different?

There are lots of questions that are worth asking and answering.  There are a lot of things that are worth understanding.  There is a lot of knowledge out there that we would be wise to gain.  But all of it is for nothing if  we can't answer the other questions.

 

PLC and Celebration

by Bev Bauer, All Campus Volunteer

Our God deserves to be honored, worshiped and celebrated, and as believers, we need to celebrate!  I believe at Prairie Lakes Church that we celebrate God and our “lives with God’ quite well.  I also believe it is extremely vital these days that we provide places and specific times where we purposely celebrate God and His goodness, not only because God deserves it and we need it, but because of the difficulties in our world right now.  With disasters such as tornadoes and floods, economic hardships from unemployment, mortgage crises and rising prices of gas and food, with the U.S. $16 trillion debt and countries like Greece and Spain going “down the tubes” economically, etc., there seems to be little good news out “in the world” to celebrate. However, with an amazing God, by contrast, we can share with the world that we have SOMEONE to celebrate who gives hope and peace in times of trouble!

2 Chronicles 5 speaks of the ark being brought into the temple for the first time and the priests and Levites celebrating greatly with lots of music and instruments--let’s hear it for cymbals and trumpets! Also, talk about a “haze” machine--God didn’t need one. He provided His own “cloud” that filled the temple:  “the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God.” I smile when I read Psalms 149 and 150, remembering that we are to sing His praise “in the assembly of the saints” and “praise his name with dancing.” We MUST celebrate God--as Luke 19:40 tells us:  Jesus told the Pharisees that if the disciples kept quiet from praising Him, “the stones will cry out.”  Surely we can do better than stones!

Using mechanics in W&P

by Jim Cross, Osage Campus Volunteer

The Collins English Dictionary defines mechanics as “the technical aspects of something.” Other terms used for mechanics include “carrying into action” and “performance – the act of performing; of doing something successfully.”

Even though I have been attending Prairie Lakes Church for a short period of time, I have witnessed firsthand the excellence in the mechanics of the Worship and Production Ministry while attending services, from the use of lights, and pre-service music to the music used during the actual services.

This has become even more evident now that my entire family serves in the Worship and Production Ministry.

My wife currently serves as a backup vocalist, my teenage daughter serves as service director and I serve on video. (It’s been interesting having my daughter be my “boss”)

Through each of the areas in which we serve, a high standard of excellence has been created.

This standard of excellence has been executed from the top down.

We first see this standard of excellence through Prairie Lake Church’s desire to possess the equipment needed to produce services that demonstrate our (meaning our church family) desire to do things successfully.

Secondly, at each of our campuses, it is apparent that our technical directors have the passion and desire to produce the best worship experience possible.

This passion is apparent through both observation and assistance.

With the wide range of experienced volunteers combined with the equipment, our technical directors balance patience and understanding while motivating volunteers to capture the true “mechanics” of worship and production and, in the end, produce or perform a successful worship experience.

It's time to celebrate!

VOLUNTEER CELEBRATION

Please re-read the graphic above.  It says, "We love our volunteers".  And it's true.  It's SO true.  We can't say, or show, often enough just how honored we are to serve alongside each one of you.  But, we'd like to keep trying!  You should have received an invitation in the mail to the Volunteer Celebration at your campus [if you didn't - be sure to check with your Worship/Tech director and make sure they have your correct address on file].  We're looking forward to celebrating you and enjoying a fun night together!

• Cedar Falls - Thursday, April 26th
• Osage - Wednesday, May 2nd
• Waterloo - Tuesday, May 8th

Please let us know if you are planning to attend, so we can best prepare for the night!  You can RSVP online HERE [by April 23rd for Cedar Falls/Osage and by April 27th for Waterloo].

PLANNING CENTER UPDATES

Summer is approaching [although it seems like it's already arrived], and we know that celebrations, vacations, bonfires, and camping are bound to happen.  So, we'd love it if you would take a minute to update your Planning Center availability by blocking out any dates you are unavailable to serve over the next few months.  This helps our team schedule more effectively, so we really appreciate you taking the time to help us out!

SUMMER ALL TEAM MEETING

Please check in with your Worship and Tech Director to get the summer schedule for All Team Meetings at your campus! 

Also, be on the lookout for dates and information about our Annual All Campus Fall Retreat!

A note from Abby

It was 11:00 at night during finals week, my junior year of college.  I was standing in the dark outside my house with the hood of my Jeep open, staring at the engine as if I could somehow absorb by osmosis the knowledge necessary to fix whatever was wrong with it.  I’d been headed out to a late night study group for an exam the next day, but when I arrived, my Jeep wouldn’t shut off.  At first, I thought maybe I was just so tired at the end of a long week of studying and testing that I’d forgotten to put it in park or something else simple and silly.  I sat there for a few minutes to clear the cobwebs from my brain and double and triple checked everything, but I still couldn’t turn the ignition switch to the off position.  The thing wouldn’t budge.

What?!  I’ve heard of cars that won’t start, but it was my first go-around with one that wouldn’t SHUT OFF!

I called some of my guy friends, but they were not mechanically minded, so I finally had to break down and call and wake up my dad at home, 6 hours away.  I stood in front of my Jeep’s engine and he tried to remember, after being awakened in the middle of the night, what the engine of my vehicle looked like (as opposed to my sister’s car, his truck, or the car my mom drove and which he also maintained) so he could help me figure out what was wrong and help me get it shut off. 

He finally determined that he had no idea what the problem was and talked me through the disconnection of both my battery and coil wires so I could go to bed without worrying about it being stolen in the middle of the night.

That night taught me something – something which came as no surprise – you really have to know your stuff when it comes to the mechanics of something. 

In our ministry, we also have a mechanical side to what we do.  There are all kinds of moving parts, things that need to be in working order (or fixed when they’re not) and things that need to be executed in a “just so” manner that requires a high level of working knowledge in order to accomplish their purpose.  To some of us, that side of things is tedious and exhausting.  But to others, especially to our technical artists, that side of things is invigorating and exciting.  (They’re the ones who take apart their new stuff and then put it back together before they ever attempt to use it.)

But the beauty can’t happen unless the mechanics are working, as well.

This month, let’s celebrate the mechanics of what we do.  The minute ins and outs of things that have to be in working order for us to accomplish what we need to accomplish.  And as much as I may not ever want to learn the inner workings of my car, I’m terribly grateful that there are people like my dad who have taken the time and can lend me their expertise!

So this month is to applaud all our technical artists, who work behind the scenes and who keep us functioning like a well-oiled machine!  We are so grateful to you!

Abby

Artistic Identity

by Blake Hollis, Waterloo Campus Volunteer

Any living being's identity is ultimately influenced by two forces: its genetic makeup [or DNA] and its environment.  PLC's artistic identity is no different.  We are one church on many corners, so our "genetic makeup" or DNA on all of those corners is the same.  Our artistic identity is therefore driven by the following forces:

• Biblical - Obviously, whatever our stylistic bent, the art we produce must be based on scripturally sound content and should be Christ-centered.
• Simple - To the extent possible, we can be more efficient by having uniformity across our one church on many corners.  However, this must be balanced with the need to be relevant in each instance... which brings me to the other two aspects of our DNA:
• Invitational - Whatever artistic direction we choose must be relevant and meaningful to the people we're trying to reach with our message.  Something in our worship should resonate with them in a way to which they can relate.
• Authentic - Finally, while we definitely should take artistic risks, we have to be cautious to preserve authenticity.  Our worship as a reflection of our true passion for God should never come off as contrived.

In addition to these DNA markers' influence on our identity, we cannot neglect those environmental factors that are unique to each campus.  Just as a genetically identical being would grow differently in each unique real-world setting, each campus must adapt within the context of PLC's overall DNA to its surroundings.  In other words, what is relevant in Osage might be different than what's relevant in Waterloo, which might be different than what's relevant in Cedar Falls.  We need to be flexible enough to allow some variety in artistic manifestations across our single common mission to love God, love people and influence the world.