Joel Stone
Weekly Report #5
2-23-07
Conversation on preparation for prayer.
This week I met with Pastor Judy and discussed my preparation for the prayer that I will be leading next month for the Sunday night service.
I had never really formally met Pastor Judy and in doing so, I was taken back by her presence. She is a sincere and humble person, and I could tell throughout the whole meeting that she really cared about me. She asked some questions to get to know me a little bit, and then she prayed to open our time together.
She told me that she was going to have me lead the pastoral prayer for a service in March. I was intimidated yet excited about doing this. I have never formally gotten up in front of a group of mixed generations and prayer. So she gave me some thoughts and ideas on what to do for the preparation of my prayer. She also stressed the importance of preparation and writing out that prepared prayer. She shared with me her thoughts on writing out prayers and how she came to her believe now that the spirit truly can work through written prayers.
I hadn’t really thought much about this, but that is what I thought before, it seems so insincere when a person writes out a prayer, but it made so much sense what she said. God gives us the ability to prepare and the spirit can talk to us during that preparation time and it also gives the spirit more time to work in that prayer.
I really enjoyed meeting with Pastor Judy this week and talking with her and getting her views and thoughts on corporate prayer.
Friday, February 23, 2007
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Joel Stone
Weekly Report #4
2-16-07
Setting up the platform for the service.
This week I assisted Pastor Brian and his wife prepare the platform for the 747 service.
This is a service for college students that meets on Sunday nights. I have always enjoyed attending and being apart of this service by playing the drums. But this week I was able to help with the setup of the stage. This was a different experience. I was to meet everyone there at 7 to which I did, but when I got there, no one was there. So I ended up waiting about ten minutes for someone to show up. Eventually Pastor Brian got there and gave me several instructions. I set up some candles and help set up the musical equipment. Then pastor Brian sent me looking for some stools for the guest interview. I thought this would be easy, but I was looking for about fifteen minutes. This was frustrating because I could not find any stools for the platform, but I ended up finding some and everything worked out.
I liked being in this part of the worship service. I got to help and yet take part in the service at the same time. It was frustrating but I was just a taste of what Pastors have to do every week.
Weekly Report #4
2-16-07
Setting up the platform for the service.
This week I assisted Pastor Brian and his wife prepare the platform for the 747 service.
This is a service for college students that meets on Sunday nights. I have always enjoyed attending and being apart of this service by playing the drums. But this week I was able to help with the setup of the stage. This was a different experience. I was to meet everyone there at 7 to which I did, but when I got there, no one was there. So I ended up waiting about ten minutes for someone to show up. Eventually Pastor Brian got there and gave me several instructions. I set up some candles and help set up the musical equipment. Then pastor Brian sent me looking for some stools for the guest interview. I thought this would be easy, but I was looking for about fifteen minutes. This was frustrating because I could not find any stools for the platform, but I ended up finding some and everything worked out.
I liked being in this part of the worship service. I got to help and yet take part in the service at the same time. It was frustrating but I was just a taste of what Pastors have to do every week.
Thursday, February 8, 2007
Joel Stone
Weekly Report #3
2-9-07
Making a power point presentation.
The use of power point projection has become important in our worship services today, and this week I had the opportunity to produce some slides for the music for the Sunday morning service. I enjoy making presentations like this. But when Emily asked me to do this, she didn’t provide the music for the songs so I was responsible for finding the lyrics. This was somewhat frustrating because the songs were hymns and I have not had to find hymns online before. But once I found them the process was simple: copy and paste.
I realize how important of a job this is. This slide show can have the ability to hinder a service if not done well. Also the layout and background can be important to help draw the congregation into worship. Sometimes I do get frustrated with the idea of a slideshow for worship because I find that it makes it easy to just read and sing and not really reflect on the worship itself. But if used correctly in the service, this is a useful tool that allows worshipers to follow and lift up their voices as one to praise our heavenly father.
Weekly Report #3
2-9-07
Making a power point presentation.
The use of power point projection has become important in our worship services today, and this week I had the opportunity to produce some slides for the music for the Sunday morning service. I enjoy making presentations like this. But when Emily asked me to do this, she didn’t provide the music for the songs so I was responsible for finding the lyrics. This was somewhat frustrating because the songs were hymns and I have not had to find hymns online before. But once I found them the process was simple: copy and paste.
I realize how important of a job this is. This slide show can have the ability to hinder a service if not done well. Also the layout and background can be important to help draw the congregation into worship. Sometimes I do get frustrated with the idea of a slideshow for worship because I find that it makes it easy to just read and sing and not really reflect on the worship itself. But if used correctly in the service, this is a useful tool that allows worshipers to follow and lift up their voices as one to praise our heavenly father.
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Joel Stone
Weekly Report #2
2-2-07
Taking part in a worship band leading worship through music.
Being at College Wesleyan Church, I had been able to be involved with the worship through the musical side of the service. This is something that enjoy doing very much. I feel I have been gifted by God with this ability and it is exciting to use what God has given me to give back to him.
Through my drumming experience within a worship service context, I have learned much of what it means to give the blessings back to God. I have spent much effort in keeping the right attitude prior to the service itself. I feel that I can become prideful at times and it is easy for me to entertain these thoughts, but I know that God has been working through me because I see how others have been able to enter into worship with God because what he is doing through me.
I try very hard not to take credit for the talents that God has given me and I learn a new aspect of that whenever I take part musically in a worship service.
Weekly Report #2
2-2-07
Taking part in a worship band leading worship through music.
Being at College Wesleyan Church, I had been able to be involved with the worship through the musical side of the service. This is something that enjoy doing very much. I feel I have been gifted by God with this ability and it is exciting to use what God has given me to give back to him.
Through my drumming experience within a worship service context, I have learned much of what it means to give the blessings back to God. I have spent much effort in keeping the right attitude prior to the service itself. I feel that I can become prideful at times and it is easy for me to entertain these thoughts, but I know that God has been working through me because I see how others have been able to enter into worship with God because what he is doing through me.
I try very hard not to take credit for the talents that God has given me and I learn a new aspect of that whenever I take part musically in a worship service.
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