On Wednesday evening, June 8th, we had the pleasure of hosting a conversation regarding worship with Rev. Zac Hicks who serves as the worship pastor at Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church.  Zac is an EPC-ordained pastor who is both a gifted theologian and professional musician.  He helps guide and shape the worship life of the church he serves and he brought a tremendous amount of experience and insight to our time together.  Afterwards, I heard several of you comment about how valuable the time was and I wanted to make sure we didn’t let what we learn get away from us.  My hope is that we can use this format to record our thoughts and “take-aways” as well as include others who couldn’t be there in the continuing conversation we are having as a church.  Please feel free to comment or ask questions by using the response section below.

Here are the thirteen points Zac made about what distinguishes a worship pastor from a song leader/choir director/worship leader.  The Worship Pastor…

1. is equipped in and engages in classical pastoral duties, either formally or informally – visitation, preaching/teaching, catechizing, etc.
2. views the worship service – music, preaching, prayer, sacraments, etc. – as an integral whole, and he or she therefore works with others in leading and facilitating all those elements.
3. strikes a balance between comforting (a pastoral role) and challenging towards growth (a prophetic role).
4. views their musicians as a form of small group and sees the musician base as a potential mission field.
5. is deeply committed to the church and its purity and peace.
6. plans worship services like a dietician.
7. engages conflict pastorally.
8. is sensitive to those who feel disenfranchised and alienated in worship.
9. is strong enough in the Gospel to receive criticism and engage in honest, constructive dialogue.
10. is a true Presbyterian when it comes to authority and decision-making.  They are a team-player, willing to submit themselves, and believe in the wisdom of the plurality of elders.
11. is not only a musician, but a theologian and a student of the Bible.
12. thinks about how worship shapes people into the image and likeness of Christ.
13. thinks theologically about worship, from song-selection to worship’s purpose.

These are the main points Zac made and he elaborated at length on each of them. Again, I would love it if we could all list our take-aways from the conversation below so that everyone can benefit and hear what the Spirit was saying last evening.  Looking forward to the conversation, my friends!

In Christ, Doug

Adopt-A-Family Pictures - A very special thank you to our Small Groups and volunteers that helped at the Parker Task Force Adopt-A-Family event last Friday and Saturday!  Click on the Adopt-A-Family Pictures link to view the pictures!

Jason Ritter Testimony - Click the link to hear Jason Ritter’s powerful testimony from December 12, 2010.

Dear friends-

One of the great privileges of my position here at PEPC is the opportunity to hear so many faith stories. It doesn’t seem to matter where I am – at the office, at the local coffee shop, at Parker Days, etc. – so many of you have been so open to sharing how God has deeply impacted your life. This past summer, it occurred to me that I shouldn’t keep this blessing to myself but should create a time in our weekly worship service for people to share what God has been doing. The response to the testimonies given this fall has been tremendous! People have been encouraged, strengthened, and impacted for Christ in all kinds of ways.

Because of the overwhelming response, we wanted to create a space on our website where such stories could continue to be shared in the future. This is definitely a work in progress, so we ask for patience but we are excited at the prospect of posting written stories, audio files from our worship services, and pictures so that we can better tell THE story of how God is at work in our community. Look for these stories to be posted in the coming months and if you feel led, send us your story as well! Together let us “consider how to stir one another up to love and good works!” (Hebrews 10:24)

Doug

Welcome to the new blog where we will share your stories! We are excited to have a place to share what God is doing in your life. We’ll have places to share the testimonies we have on Sunday mornings and we will also have stories of volunteers, members and attenders who are seeing God work in their lives and in the lives of those around them.  Let’s celebrate together what God is doing in and through us! 

Have a story you would like to share?  Email Kristin Goodwin (kristin@pepc.org) to find out how you can share it!