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Worship Seminar Well Attended

While the seminar was well attended by worship leaders, pastors, volunteer musicians, and worship team members, every one who was interested in the worship program was welcome to attend. The weekend started out on Friday night. Twenty-five people received a special invitation to attend the dinner workshop and twenty-three attended. The seminar was led by Dr. Lisa Dawson (Pictured right), an ordained worship minister with the Church of God. Lisa has led the Church of God Worship Task Force at the national level, served as a Music Minister, and currently teaches music to seminary students.

During the first night Lisa explained corporate worship and led the group through a worksheet. Her goal was to access the unique needs of our church, our obstacles, and our current practices in order to hear first hand where we were at as a church. Saturday she took that information and tailored her concurrent sessions to meet our needs. The day began when she met with our Worship Team. Lisa offered suggestions, provided website information and encouraged group studies. After lunch she helped a group of more than 40 people understand the heart of worship, the importance of worship elements, and how they are arranged in the service. We had an opportunity to break out into small groups and apply what we had learned. That evening she worked with a core group to help develop the Sunday morning worship service using some of the techniques we had learned. Before she left she answered questions, made comments and offered words of encouragement to our worship leaders.

The Worship Team will be busy the next few months processing all the information and making decisions on the best course of action for our church in light of this new information. A big thank you to everyone who attended the seminar.

Youth Leader Steps Down

Brendon Faulkner turned in his resignation to the Christian Discipleship Team this month. He cited his reason for departure was so that he could pursue other ministry options. Brendon has always had a strong call to work more with adults. “I love the kids and I am going to miss them,” he told the pastor, “but I feel like I need to move on.” The Leadership Team accepted his resignation during their monthly August meeting, and encouraged the Christian Discipleship Team to take the appropriate action to find a replacement. Christian Discipleship has decided to delay the Wednesday Night Youth Kick Off one month in light of the new developments. “We are just going to need time to prepare,” said one team member. Faithweaver Wednesday Night Friends for kids grades K-4 and the Junior High program will begin in September as originally scheduled. Christian Discipleship Team Vice-Chair Jan Kraemer led a teachers workshop Aug. 25th at 8 PM to prepare for the new fall season.

Credentials Congress Convenes in Indianapolis

Nothing is wrong, but there comes a time in every church fellowship when you need to review what you are doing and why you are doing it. That is why the Church of God decided to host a Credentials Congress this year. It was state officials from South Dakota who asked Pastor Lila to represent the state at the National Credentials Congress being hosted by Church of God Ministries. The Church of God has only convened five such events in the history of the movement. Rev. Lila Clay currently serves as the Credentials Chairperson for SD.

The Church of God is experiencing some paradigm shifts within its culture. There are multiple factors and reasons for this shift. In an attempt to ensure the future of our movement, leaders from all 50 states met in Indianapolis for three days. Pastor Clay reported an intense work schedule and long days as the delegates attempted to cover a wide range of subjects in the short amount of time. “There was discussion on the development of a National Credentials Committee,” she said, “the Congress was trying to determine if this was a wise course of action and if it was in line with our historical beliefs. We looked at the pros and cons. In the end we decided to allow a Task Force to be formed to study the issue further.” Pastor Clay also said, “We also reviewed the 85 page Credentials Manual line by line. I personally got to rewrite some of the sections in the guide that were vague and problematic.” But that was only the beginning. The Congress looked at developing a Code of Ethics for Pastors, the needs of Seminary Students, the issue of Women in Ministry, how to better assist Bi-Vocational Ministers and handle dual credentials. They looked at accountability issues and Leadership training needs. The results of their labor is still to be to determined but every time a Credentials Congress has been established the results of their work has been felt throughout the church.

“It was an honor to be there,” said Pastor Clay, “I tried my best to represent the desires of South Dakotans. There were times I opposed some of the proposals because I was concerned about the implications on our historical teachings, and there were some areas where I saw a real need for clarification on current practices. In the end I pray that God will lead us, so that we will fulfill his plan for our movement in this century.”

Chris and Ashley Huber Renew Vows

Friday the 13th isn’t always a bad day. This month Ashley and Chris Huber renewed their vows on that date. The young couple was married at Sioux Falls by a Justice of the Peace in Civil Union, but they desired to have their union blessed by God in a religious ceremony so they made plans with the pastor to get remarried on their original wedding anniversary date. About 100 people attended the unique ceremony, before heading downstairs for dinner and wedding cake. The young couple just glowed and many of their families and friends brought cards and warm wishes.