Worship Planning

The Worship Committee works months ahead to plan worship content for Brighton First. The Committee’s four goals include creating excellent worship that is informative, connecting and transformative. The fourth goal, that worship may be transcendent, relies on the work of God’s Holy Spirit. When the first three goals are done well, God has a fertile place to work on our hearts in worship.

Each time the Worship Committee (a combination of clergy, church staff and congregation members), we review worship. We look carefully at how worship reached the goals listed above and the places where we need to adjust to achieve those goals.

We will complete the current worship theme, “Learning Forgiveness”, on Easter Sunday. Through Lent we will have moved through defining forgiveness, setting the foundation for forgiveness, repentance and restoration of relationships.

After Easter, in April and May, our worship theme is “Room to Grow”. We will look at the words of Jesus and discover the ways that he encouraged his followers to grow in faith.

June through August, we’re going to the movies for worship with the series "Reel to Real". Each week we will explore a movie for its biblical metaphors and practical faith application. The Worship Committee decided to invite the congregation to suggest what movies we should talk about from three specific genres, Epic, Sports and Animated. Their suggestions are coming in now through the Connection Cards that congregation members complete on Sunday mornings.

As we work to makes disciples for Jesus Christ, we understand that worship is the primary "door" to our church. Worship is also an essential practice for disciples. The members of the Worship Committee, growing as disciples in the planning process,

are charged with designing worship that opens conversation between worshipers and God.

Worship Planning

The Worship Committee works months ahead to plan worship content for Brighton First. The Committee’s four goals include creating excellent worship that is informative, connecting and transformative. The fourth goal, that worship may be transcendent, relies on the work of God’s Holy Spirit. When the first three goals are done well, God has a fertile place to work on our hearts in worship.

Each time the Worship Committee (a combination of clergy, church staff and congregation members), we review worship. We look carefully at how worship reached the goals listed above and the places where we need to adjust to achieve those goals.

We will complete the current worship theme, “Learning Forgiveness”, on Easter Sunday. Through Lent we will have moved through defining forgiveness, setting the foundation for forgiveness, repentance and restoration of relationships.

After Easter, in April and May, our worship theme is “Room to Grow”. We will look at the words of Jesus and discover the ways that he encouraged his followers to grow in faith.

June through August, we’re going to the movies for worship with the series "Reel to Real". Each week we will explore a movie for its biblical metaphors and practical faith application. The Worship Committee decided to invite the congregation to suggest what movies we should talk about from three specific genres, Epic, Sports and Animated. Their suggestions are coming in now through the Connection Cards that congregation members complete on Sunday mornings.

As we work to makes disciples for Jesus Christ, we understand that worship is the primary "door" to our church. Worship is also an essential practice for disciples. The members of the Worship Committee, growing as disciples in the planning process,

are charged with designing worship that opens conversation between worshipers and God.

Worship Team Continues Work to Enhance Worship Experience

The Brighton First Worship Team met earlier this week in order to accomplish two tasks. The first was to evaluate worship services over the last month and the second, to create a worship theme for Advent and Christmas.

The Worship Team, which began meeting in the spring, meets for these purposes:

1. Work as a creative think tank for all Brighton First worship services.
2. Plan for excellent worship that connects, transforms and transcends, from initial theme development to all aspects of worship
3. Support worship leaders in implementing worship design that connects, transforms and transcends.
4. Review worship honestly and critically, assisting in adjustments toward excellence.

In discussions this week they honestly and critically considered all aspects of worship. The evaluated worship based on its ability to connect people with one another and with God. They looked how worship has opened the way for transformation and transcendent experiences.

Positive experiences in worship have included more opportunities for participation by congregation, the baptism remembrance service (late August) and the relevance of the the "screen-driven" world theme in September.

Concerns included adequate amplification for congregation members who speak, using language that is "churchy" or "insider", the size and visibility of worship images, and transition into worship at the beginning of the service.

The group worked together to develop solutions to concerns.

The time spent developing a worship theme resulted in a December worship series. Wanted: The Best Gift.

Look for the quality of Brighton First worship experiences to increase through the work of this team.

Worship Team Continues Work to Enhance Worship Experience

The Brighton First Worship Team met earlier this week in order to accomplish two tasks. The first was to evaluate worship services over the last month and the second, to create a worship theme for Advent and Christmas.

The Worship Team, which began meeting in the spring, meets for these purposes:

1. Work as a creative think tank for all Brighton First worship services.
2. Plan for excellent worship that connects, transforms and transcends, from initial theme development to all aspects of worship
3. Support worship leaders in implementing worship design that connects, transforms and transcends.
4. Review worship honestly and critically, assisting in adjustments toward excellence.

In discussions this week they honestly and critically considered all aspects of worship. The evaluated worship based on its ability to connect people with one another and with God. They looked how worship has opened the way for transformation and transcendent experiences.

Positive experiences in worship have included more opportunities for participation by congregation, the baptism remembrance service (late August) and the relevance of the the "screen-driven" world theme in September.

Concerns included adequate amplification for congregation members who speak, using language that is "churchy" or "insider", the size and visibility of worship images, and transition into worship at the beginning of the service.

The group worked together to develop solutions to concerns.

The time spent developing a worship theme resulted in a December worship series. Wanted: The Best Gift.

Look for the quality of Brighton First worship experiences to increase through the work of this team.

Brighton First Worship Design Team Lists Characteristics of Excellent Worship

The Worship Design Team, formed as a result of the Vital Church Initiative at Brighton First, met for the first time on Monday, May 18.

Members of the team include Rev. Dr. Sherry Parker, Rev. Loretta Job, Chris Attarian, Susan Snow, Barb Terry, Vic Laballister, Linda Victory, Mitchell Swanson, Barb Terry, Judy Sturm, Pauline Schaffer, Sarah Klink and Sue Sanderson.

The team began by telling stories of their most memorable and moving experiences in worship, times when they felt the power of the Holy Spirit present. Using their experiences, the team developed a list of characteristics of excellent worship and then listed those characteristics under three key words: Connecting, Transforming, Transcendent. 

Excellent, passionate worship connecting worshipers to one another and God through relevant messages, compelling personal stories, unified themes, clear messages, traditions and new experiences.

Children's worship during Vacation Bible School.

Worship is also compelling when it is transforming, when there is a sense of movement through worship and expectation that worshipers and worship leaders will be transformed by God's spirit through worship. 

The team also discussed the gift of transcendence one can experience in worship. This is not something that worship leaders and designers can force to happen, but they can intentionally work to leave room for the Holy Spirit to move in the midst of worship.

The worship team also discussed the purpose of their committee. The team agreed to be a "think tank" for creative, excellent worship experiences at Brighton First. They will support worship leaders and worship services for meeting established goals, reflecting the vision of Brighton First and excellence.

At the end of the meeting, team members committed to three tasks during the summer. Each member of the worship team will participate in at least two worship services at other churches. The team will hold informal conversations with congregation members asking, "What do you look forward to when you come to worship here?" and "What makes excellent worship for you?" The team will also read from worship resources provided at the church and on the web.

On June 10, the team will come together again to work on designing worship in September and October. The worship series will be, "Growing Up Social: Raising Relational Kids in a Digital World". 

Brighton First Worship Design Team Lists Characteristics of Excellent Worship

The Worship Design Team, formed as a result of the Vital Church Initiative at Brighton First, met for the first time on Monday, May 18.

Members of the team include Rev. Dr. Sherry Parker, Rev. Loretta Job, Chris Attarian, Susan Snow, Barb Terry, Vic Laballister, Linda Victory, Mitchell Swanson, Barb Terry, Judy Sturm, Pauline Schaffer, Sarah Klink and Sue Sanderson.

The team began by telling stories of their most memorable and moving experiences in worship, times when they felt the power of the Holy Spirit present. Using their experiences, the team developed a list of characteristics of excellent worship and then listed those characteristics under three key words: Connecting, Transforming, Transcendent. 

Excellent, passionate worship connecting worshipers to one another and God through relevant messages, compelling personal stories, unified themes, clear messages, traditions and new experiences.

Children's worship during Vacation Bible School.

Worship is also compelling when it is transforming, when there is a sense of movement through worship and expectation that worshipers and worship leaders will be transformed by God's spirit through worship. 

The team also discussed the gift of transcendence one can experience in worship. This is not something that worship leaders and designers can force to happen, but they can intentionally work to leave room for the Holy Spirit to move in the midst of worship.

The worship team also discussed the purpose of their committee. The team agreed to be a "think tank" for creative, excellent worship experiences at Brighton First. They will support worship leaders and worship services for meeting established goals, reflecting the vision of Brighton First and excellence.

At the end of the meeting, team members committed to three tasks during the summer. Each member of the worship team will participate in at least two worship services at other churches. The team will hold informal conversations with congregation members asking, "What do you look forward to when you come to worship here?" and "What makes excellent worship for you?" The team will also read from worship resources provided at the church and on the web.

On June 10, the team will come together again to work on designing worship in September and October. The worship series will be, "Growing Up Social: Raising Relational Kids in a Digital World".