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Northwestern College | Classic magazine - Winter 2004-05 - Vol. 76 ...

Northwestern College | Classic magazine - Winter 2004-05 - Vol. 76 ...

Northwestern College | Classic magazine - Winter 2004-05 - Vol. 76 ...

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CampusnewsNWC happeningsRe-storied worshipJeff Barker’s worship workshops incorporated Dr. Seuss’ The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins to illustrate some ofhis principles of story-formed worship.Jeff Barker, theatre professorand director of worshipat Trinity Reformed Churchin Orange City, led three worshipworkshops on campusduring September. The workshopswere free and attendedby about 100 students andcommunity pastors, worshipleaders and others interestedin worship.The workshops werepart of a new effort by<strong>Northwestern</strong>’s theatredepartment to help prepareworship leaders who aretrained more broadly in thearts. “Worship is broaderthan music or musical style,”says Barker, who is seeking torestore story to worship.The Rev. Jon Opgenorth’88, senior pastor of OrangeCity’s Trinity ReformedChurch, agrees. “Worship isthe total experience—music,drama, story, liturgy, offering,prayers, preaching, greeting,blessing—that people havefrom the moment they walkinto church to the momentthey walk out,” he says.Restoring story to worshipcould open the door formore artists than just musiciansto participate in worship,Barker believes. Skilledtheatre and visual artists canlead the congregation inincorporating stories from theBible and from church members’lives into the worshipexperience.“Stories are so importantin the life and worship of thechurch,” says Sherri DeBoom,NWC’s French instructor andworship planner for anOrange City church. Sheattended the workshops andexplains, “The Bible is a storybook,and we are a storyformedpeople. As we planworship, we need to look forthe journey in the service.And art—such as visualimages and stories—can beincorporated along withmusic.”The workshops includednumerous examples fromBarker’s own experience asworship leader. Participantsalso were given suggestionsand handouts for experimentingwith more storyformedworship in their ownchurches.Alumni who are interestedin learning more aboutstory-formed worship canrequest DVD recordings ofthe three workshops fromBarker, barker@nwciowa.eduor 712-707-7093. The worshipworkshop DVDs are$15, which covers duplicatingand shipping costs.The workshops will beoffered again next fall, possiblyin a format that wouldaccommodate attendees fromoutside northwest Iowa. Ifyou’d like to receive e-mailupdates about the planningfor next fall’s workshops,contact Barker.4 ▲ <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2004</strong>-<strong>05</strong>

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