Guiding Your Church Through A Worship Transition

"Tom Kraeuter is one of the most prolific authors and teachers on the contemporary worship scene today. His books are available worldwide in multiple languages. Tom's biblical, practical teaching transcends denominational lines. Nearly 20,000 people have attended his worship seminars, retreats, and conferences in churches all across North America. Many churches are considering a change in worship style--or they are in the midst of one. How can congregations walk together through a successful worship transition? Based on solid scriptural principles and the experiences of scores of churches, this wealth of tested solutions and steadfast counsel equips believers with answers that will make a difference.

Preacher and teacher David Mosser offers practical and spiritual guidance for pastors struggling to manage and respond to changes in the economy, changes in their neighborhoods, changes in their denominations, changes in the congregation, changes in culture, and the life changes present in every parishioner's life. Wise words from authors such as Alyce McKenzie, David Buttrick, Joanna Adams, and Thomas Long all contribute to this most timely and helpful book.

This book takes readers through a step-by-step process that can help any church make the transition from being program driven to purpose driven.

Transitions happen. Song to song. Music to preaching. Prayer to offering. They happen. And they can happen just how they happen, or they can happen according to a plan. An unplanned transition is at best a speed bump; at its worst it's a train wreck. When we don't plan a transition, we put a period in where a comma should be. Or a gasp where a gentle inhaled breath should be. Or a fence instead of a gate. Or, well, you get the picture. (Worship Flow, page 5) You've got about an hour once a week to engage, encourage, challenge and lead your gathered congregation. Don't waste the opportunity by distracting them with clumsy transitions and awkward silence. Your transitions matter. Don't leave them up to chance. Great segues intentionally move people along the journey of worship. Poorly planned transitions jar people out of the moment they were instead of guiding them seamlessly to the next. Worship Flow: 28 Ways To Create Great Segues is a quick, easy-to-read resource for worship leaders and pastors who plan services. In these 28 segues, Jon covers how to move in and out of all the common elements of worship-music, prayer, scripture, offering, announcements, messages, communion, and more. Best of all, this isn't another book you'll feel like you need to read cover-to-cover. It's a worship planner's "desk reference" for service transitions. Each section focus on a different service elements, and each chapter is focused on a specific segue to move in and out of those elements. So don't let your transitions between service elements be the thing that keeps people from focusing on what really matters in your worship gathering.

This book examines the influence of music on the development of the Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee). This narrative is historically driven, but relies upon an interdisciplinary approach to draw on the insights of ecclesiology, theology, liturgiology, church development, and especially music. This study utilizes a chronological and systematic approach to the relationship between music and the Church of God in the United States during the first 125 years of the denomination’s history, from 1886 to 2011. For over a century, music has been an often-neglected dialogue partner at the table of academic discussion and this research argues for recognition and a proper place in Pentecostal history. Along with primary and secondary sources, the important element of “living archives” is investigated in this work; these are interviews with people who participated in historical music events in the Church of God. The book also relies upon musical examples to explore the influence of music upon the shaping of the denomination’s history and theology.

"Tom Kraeuter is one of the most prolific authors and teachers on the contemporary worship scene today. His books are available worldwide in multiple languages. Tom's biblical, practical teaching transcends denominational lines. Nearly 20,000 people have attended his worship seminars, retreats, and conferences in churches all across North America. Drawing on his extensive experience as a worship leader, a worship seminar speaker, and an author, Tom Kraeuter tackles difficult issues involved with worship leading in an insightful, practical question-and-answer format.

Practicing untried methods and ideas on your con-gregation or music team often proves discouraging. Trying unsuccessful ventures long term can be devastating. Tom Kraeuter needs and desires of those involved in the ministry of praise and worship.

Offers step-by-step instructions on planning creative Sunday worship services that combine the efforts of pastors, volunteers, and worship leaders.