Kris Nordstrom
Weekly Post #8
04-13-07
This week I helped set up for Sunday Worship. That entailed arranging a ton of flowers at the front of the sanctuary and covering a 9 foot cross with small flowerettes. In the end it was very satisfying to see the end product and to see and hgear the reactions on Sunday morning.
The cross has been covered in vines for the first Sunday of Lent and allowed to dry and wither symbolizing the habits or burdens we gave up for the season. When the Easter service began, we had cross full of new life at the front of the sanctuary. It was beautiful.
I learned from this practicum that with just a little planning one can connect a series of services to create a great object lesson for all.
Friday, April 13, 2007
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Lenten Lunch
Kris Nordstrom
Weekly post #6
04-05-07
Lenten lunch service
This past Wednesday we had a final Lenten lunch and prayer meeting. It was not difficult to prepare for this service as the UMW prepared all of the food. The prayer portion of the service was focussed on our preparation for the rest of Holy Week. Each person was allowed to offer up a portion of the prayer with the others responding with their affirmation. It was a powerful, yet simple service.
I learned from this practicum that a service need not be elaborate to invoke strong feelings and spiritual growth.
Weekly post #6
04-05-07
Lenten lunch service
This past Wednesday we had a final Lenten lunch and prayer meeting. It was not difficult to prepare for this service as the UMW prepared all of the food. The prayer portion of the service was focussed on our preparation for the rest of Holy Week. Each person was allowed to offer up a portion of the prayer with the others responding with their affirmation. It was a powerful, yet simple service.
I learned from this practicum that a service need not be elaborate to invoke strong feelings and spiritual growth.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Scripture reading
Kris Nordstrom
Weekly post # 5
03-22-07
This past Sunday, I read Scripture from Issaiah during the morning worship service. I really wish I had this past weeks classes under my belt beforehand though. Not that I did poorly, but I think that Dr. Cherry has made several great suggestions regarding preparation for and delivery of Scripture in a public or worship setting.
I feel that I will be far better prepared in the future armed with the knowledge I now have. I learned during this practicum that it is important not only to prepare for reading Scripture, but also that the reading itself can be a means of Grace by which we can bring someone, even ourselves, closer to God.
Weekly post # 5
03-22-07
This past Sunday, I read Scripture from Issaiah during the morning worship service. I really wish I had this past weeks classes under my belt beforehand though. Not that I did poorly, but I think that Dr. Cherry has made several great suggestions regarding preparation for and delivery of Scripture in a public or worship setting.
I feel that I will be far better prepared in the future armed with the knowledge I now have. I learned during this practicum that it is important not only to prepare for reading Scripture, but also that the reading itself can be a means of Grace by which we can bring someone, even ourselves, closer to God.
Friday, February 23, 2007
Choir rehearsal
Kris Nordstrom
02-23-07
Practicum post #4
On Ash Wednesday I watched the choir rehearse before the evening service. Wednesday is the normal practice day for the choir and they only meet once a week to practice together. I was amazed at how quickly the people all picked up their respective parts and became a beautiful complete sound.
There is something about that many people gathering together and making one voice.
Anyway, they practiced for about half an hour and were ready for the service. I asked Shiela Todd (the director) how it was so easy for them to nail down such an amount of music so quickly. She told me that each member of the choir rehearses on their own throughout the week in preparation for the Wednesday rehearsal.
I gues a lot more work goes into this than I thought.
02-23-07
Practicum post #4
On Ash Wednesday I watched the choir rehearse before the evening service. Wednesday is the normal practice day for the choir and they only meet once a week to practice together. I was amazed at how quickly the people all picked up their respective parts and became a beautiful complete sound.
There is something about that many people gathering together and making one voice.
Anyway, they practiced for about half an hour and were ready for the service. I asked Shiela Todd (the director) how it was so easy for them to nail down such an amount of music so quickly. She told me that each member of the choir rehearses on their own throughout the week in preparation for the Wednesday rehearsal.
I gues a lot more work goes into this than I thought.
Sound Board
Kris Nordstrom
02-23-07
Post #3
This past Sunday i observed the sound tech during worship. Pat is an old musician friend of mine and we have done some recording in the past together which made this an extra enjoyable practicum activity.
The church records all of its services on CD to distribute to shut-ins or thos who live out of state during the winter months so in addition to making sure all of the microphones work for the service in general, Pat has to make sure the recording levels are correct throughout the service.
This is a great ministry and I enjoyed being a small part of it. I learned that technology is not necessarily a bad thing if given its proper place in worship.
02-23-07
Post #3
This past Sunday i observed the sound tech during worship. Pat is an old musician friend of mine and we have done some recording in the past together which made this an extra enjoyable practicum activity.
The church records all of its services on CD to distribute to shut-ins or thos who live out of state during the winter months so in addition to making sure all of the microphones work for the service in general, Pat has to make sure the recording levels are correct throughout the service.
This is a great ministry and I enjoyed being a small part of it. I learned that technology is not necessarily a bad thing if given its proper place in worship.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Ushering
Kris Nordstrom
Weekly Post #2
01-30-07
This week I served as an usher for the Sunday morning service. In actuality, I am the head usher, and had to fill in for an usher that was home ill. Anyhow, My responsibilities included ensuring the acolytes were present, prepared, and robed. I also was charged with making a head count during collection of the offering. (We Methodists are funny about keeping track of all sort of stats!)
Other usher duties include greeting people and passing out bulletins, as well as helping some people to their seats. That might also include letting the pastor know if someone will not be able to come to the rail for Communion.
Some things that most people don't think about while in church are also the usher's reality. For instance, who does what if there is a fire of tornado? Who calls 911 in case of an emergency? (heart attack, stroke, fall, etc.) Are there any qualified health care professionals in the congregation and who arethey? Where are the first aid supplies and fire extinguishers? (and how do they work, and are they full?)
What is the evacuation plan in case of emergency, and is there an alternate plan in case the primary is for some reason not plausible?
Getting the idea?
Weekly Post #2
01-30-07
This week I served as an usher for the Sunday morning service. In actuality, I am the head usher, and had to fill in for an usher that was home ill. Anyhow, My responsibilities included ensuring the acolytes were present, prepared, and robed. I also was charged with making a head count during collection of the offering. (We Methodists are funny about keeping track of all sort of stats!)
Other usher duties include greeting people and passing out bulletins, as well as helping some people to their seats. That might also include letting the pastor know if someone will not be able to come to the rail for Communion.
Some things that most people don't think about while in church are also the usher's reality. For instance, who does what if there is a fire of tornado? Who calls 911 in case of an emergency? (heart attack, stroke, fall, etc.) Are there any qualified health care professionals in the congregation and who arethey? Where are the first aid supplies and fire extinguishers? (and how do they work, and are they full?)
What is the evacuation plan in case of emergency, and is there an alternate plan in case the primary is for some reason not plausible?
Getting the idea?
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Worship Committee Meeting
Kris Nordstrom
Weekly post #1
1-25-07
On Monday evening I met with the Worship Committe that serves First United Methodist Church, in Marion Indiana. This was the groups first meeting this year and there were a number of items on the agenda.
Those items that took the majority of the time were related to the upcomming season of Lent, and Holy Week. After some debate, it was decided to have an Ash Wednesday evening service with the imposition of ashes and Holy Communion. The main arguments against this service were that in the past few years, such services had not been well attended. It was decided however, that it was probably important to those who have attended in the past, so it should continue. To Lenten Luncheons were also scheduled for the season. Holy Week was much easier to naol down. Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Easter Sunday will have services, with a possible Good Friday service if there are no community services.
Other items that were discussed, which I guess I had not considered as being related to this committee were: Acolyte training and supervision, greeters, Communion Stewards, and ushers and their responsibiliyies.
All in all I learned through this practicum setting that a great deal of planning, even beyond that which one might normally assume, goes into the mechanics of weekly worship. I am looking forward to seeing how music, scripture, and the other elements of worship are chosen each week.
Weekly post #1
1-25-07
On Monday evening I met with the Worship Committe that serves First United Methodist Church, in Marion Indiana. This was the groups first meeting this year and there were a number of items on the agenda.
Those items that took the majority of the time were related to the upcomming season of Lent, and Holy Week. After some debate, it was decided to have an Ash Wednesday evening service with the imposition of ashes and Holy Communion. The main arguments against this service were that in the past few years, such services had not been well attended. It was decided however, that it was probably important to those who have attended in the past, so it should continue. To Lenten Luncheons were also scheduled for the season. Holy Week was much easier to naol down. Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Easter Sunday will have services, with a possible Good Friday service if there are no community services.
Other items that were discussed, which I guess I had not considered as being related to this committee were: Acolyte training and supervision, greeters, Communion Stewards, and ushers and their responsibiliyies.
All in all I learned through this practicum setting that a great deal of planning, even beyond that which one might normally assume, goes into the mechanics of weekly worship. I am looking forward to seeing how music, scripture, and the other elements of worship are chosen each week.
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