We would like to take this opportunity to invite you and others from your church to our 2007 Worship Conference, “If These Walls Could Talk…” being held on February 17. The conference is funded by a grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship through the generous support of the Lilly Endowment, Inc. One of the exciting aspects of receiving a grant like this is that it means we are able to bring in nationally-recognized speakers while still keeping the registration costs low. Our conference this year will focus on the spaces in which we worship and how to use them as effective ministry tools.
We know that, like us, you receive many conference invitations in the mail and that your time is heavily scheduled and precious. So why should you take a Saturday in February and spend it at this conference?
For us it came down to our inability to answer questions like these:
• Who does your worship space say that you are as a community? Does the space properly communicate your identity and values?
• What does your worship space say about where you are going as a church in response to the call of God? Does the space properly communicate your mission and vision?
• What does your worship space teach about God—even before anyone says a word?
• Why are the symbols and decorations you have in your space there? What do they mean to both newcomers and faithful attenders?
• And… are there fresh and creative ways to do any of these things better?
The worship space of a church not only reflects the ways we worship as Christians, but it also shapes the ways we worship or, unfortunately in some cases, misshapes the way we worship. As part of our project, we have traveled to different churches to see and “read” their worship spaces. Sometimes our worship spaces send mixed or unintended messages simply because we don’t take the time to consider what these walls say to the person walking through the door.
Corporate worship can take place anywhere that Christians choose to assemble. But inevitably there is a setting that is chosen and returned to on a regular basis. So if we are going to have buildings and walls (and the expenses that go with them), shouldn’t we do all we can to use them for the glory of God? Shouldn’t we seek to develop a space that speaks of a God who is both transcendent over us and immanent among us?
The goal of this conference is to help us do that more effectively. We hope that you will join us!
