So, I have been at GUMC for about seven Sundays now and am settling in---and folks have been so kind to me--thankfully. It might be apparent, but if I see something that needs mending, I am willing to try to fix it. I guess that I am feeling that way about our "contemporary" worship service that has the acronym of JOG (for Journey of Grace). As I understand it, JOG started when Catalyst UMC (a new church start) ended up worshiping at GUMC. Over the years, the service has changed somewhat. In the beginning, there was a JOG planning team which worked on everything from music to videos to setting up various worship stations. Within the last year, changes were made in the time frame of the service in order to allow folks who attend JOG to find time on Sunday morning to attend Sunday School. When that change in time occurred, the previous pastor and Susan Hobbs rotated preaching from week to week.
When I came in June, I felt that it was important for the preacher of the day to preach at all three services--after all, we are all a part of the same body of Christ. But I quickly realized that if the JOG service started at 10:40 AM, the preacher would find it difficult to preach at JOG and then go to the traditional service. The reverse wouldn't work well either. So, I asked that JOG start at 10:30 AM and that it intentionally start on time--instead of when "folks arrive." In the meantime, I have asked several groups to get together to talk about JOG. On a couple of occasions, we were able to SKYPE Chris Kelly, who is our worship leader for JOG. Through it all, I have been able to collect some important information and have tried to prayerfully think about where to go from here.
On Thursday, August 19, several of the leaders of JOG will be spending the afternoon together to talk about the format of the JOG service. We will be dealing with large matters and small ones---and I want your feedback. Some of the questions that have been raised are "Are we truly being "contemporary" in our JOG worship?" "What is the role of music---do we need more...less...more singable songs...etc." "Does having a band make us "contemporary" or are we really going towards a "blended service?" "Is a traditional sermon what we want,or do we want a mix of spoken word, video, drama, etc?" "What about ambiance: lighting, sound, the set up of the altar?" "Can we be informal and yet still have participation planned in advance like an usher schedule, special singers, drama?" "Do we need a new name and a new start?" "In short, where do we go from here?"
I invite your responses. Remember that responses to this blog can be potentially seen by anyone. You might want to email me directly at bill.haddock@garnerumc.org or call the church at 919.772. 2042. In all things, we will worship the Lord Jesus above all. Pray for us as we are led by God's spirit to do what He would have us to do in His Church.
A blog about JOG
Posted by Pastor Bill Haddock on Friday, August 13, 2010. Comment.
A note from the Pastor to be:
Posted by Pastor Bill Haddock on Tuesday, June 22, 2010. Comment.
I am deeply humbled to be appointed to Garner United Methodist Church as of June 22, 2010 (unless there are unexpected changes between now and Annual Conference). Jean and I are honored to follow Bob and Linda Redmond—and I know that you will duly show them both the respect and love that they deserve in this time of transition for them. Remember that Bob is your pastor until the afternoon of June 22 and that I will honor that completely during this time of transition.
I have been honored to be the pastor of Wrightsboro United Methodist Church in Wilmington for 13 years. Before that, we were in Shiloh in the Burlington District for 8 years. Jean and I want to be your pastoral family for a long time! You have a right to know some things about me—and other things you will get to know soon enough. I have now graduated from three schools of higher education: UNC-Chapel Hill (I still love Tar Heel basketball---but don’t let that freak you out); Duke (I went to all the basketball games there too as a student); and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary from which I just got my Doctor of Ministry degree in Missiology (and which regrettably does not have a basketball team at all). Other things you need to know are that my weight varies, I have a variety of suspenders that you will get to see, and that I enjoy reading about World War II.
What will I bring to the Church? First of all, you need to know that I love the Lord Jesus Christ and believe that the Church is the body of Jesus for the world. I preach from the scriptures and try to apply biblical principles to our daily life. I believe that there has to be a connection between word and deed, evangelism and missions, faith and works. I want the church to understand that Jesus is Lord over all and that through Him amazing and wonderful things still happen.
In all of my appointments, I have seen how dedication to biblical preaching and teaching can transform a congregation. I believe in Bible Study and look forward to teaching Disciple Bible Study (all of them---but not at one time!). I have seen persons transformed by the Chrysalis and the Walk to Emmaus and will encourage folks to take the time to do that if they wish. I love good music---of all types—and believe that worship should include a mixture of all sorts of music blended together—as long as it honors and glorifies God. I believe in working closely with other churches in the community—and being involved in whatever ways God calls us to be involved in our local community and to the “ends of the earth.” I’ve been on a number of missions work teams with my wife and family. I’ve helped to build and/or repair homes, plant community gardens, teach the Bible to prisoners, walk for the hungry, work for cancer, heart, and diabetes patients. In short, I serve a mighty God who is able to transform whatever skills we have to offer into signs which still point people to the one who offers abundant life now and eternal life in the world to come.
Although I have been known to be a “change agent,” you can count on me to listen before acting. I’ll be listening to the Lord in prayer (He created us with two ears and one mouth, I believe, so that we would listen more in prayer than we speak). I’ll be listening to you, the people who call Garner UMC your home. I will be listening to my wife and family. If, after listening, I feel God is calling us to change, then I will advocate for that change. But my country upbringing reminds me “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” I already see a lot of things that I love about Garner UMC and I want to work with each of you to take us as a church to a higher level for the excellent Kingdom with which God has entrusted us.
My wife Jean will speak for herself. (I’ve learned that in marvelous ways over the 30 years of our marriage). She is a physical therapist by trade and also has a Master’s in Public Health from UNC-CH. She is a native mid-Westerner and did her undergraduate work at Wheaton College, but she has been thoroughly indoctrinated in the culture of North Carolina. We have two children—Gaby and Will. Gaby lives in Portland, Oregon where she works in a research laboratory. Will lives with his wife Kara and their 4 month old son Aengus in Lafayette, LA. What, I forgot to tell you about my grandchild? Well…listen up!!
Pray for us during this time of transition. In the midst of this enormous change, my parents and Jean’s mom have all been going through some difficult health issues. Pray by name for William and Ann Haddock and Millie Carlson. God is still in the healing business.
I have been honored to be the pastor of Wrightsboro United Methodist Church in Wilmington for 13 years. Before that, we were in Shiloh in the Burlington District for 8 years. Jean and I want to be your pastoral family for a long time! You have a right to know some things about me—and other things you will get to know soon enough. I have now graduated from three schools of higher education: UNC-Chapel Hill (I still love Tar Heel basketball---but don’t let that freak you out); Duke (I went to all the basketball games there too as a student); and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary from which I just got my Doctor of Ministry degree in Missiology (and which regrettably does not have a basketball team at all). Other things you need to know are that my weight varies, I have a variety of suspenders that you will get to see, and that I enjoy reading about World War II.
What will I bring to the Church? First of all, you need to know that I love the Lord Jesus Christ and believe that the Church is the body of Jesus for the world. I preach from the scriptures and try to apply biblical principles to our daily life. I believe that there has to be a connection between word and deed, evangelism and missions, faith and works. I want the church to understand that Jesus is Lord over all and that through Him amazing and wonderful things still happen.
In all of my appointments, I have seen how dedication to biblical preaching and teaching can transform a congregation. I believe in Bible Study and look forward to teaching Disciple Bible Study (all of them---but not at one time!). I have seen persons transformed by the Chrysalis and the Walk to Emmaus and will encourage folks to take the time to do that if they wish. I love good music---of all types—and believe that worship should include a mixture of all sorts of music blended together—as long as it honors and glorifies God. I believe in working closely with other churches in the community—and being involved in whatever ways God calls us to be involved in our local community and to the “ends of the earth.” I’ve been on a number of missions work teams with my wife and family. I’ve helped to build and/or repair homes, plant community gardens, teach the Bible to prisoners, walk for the hungry, work for cancer, heart, and diabetes patients. In short, I serve a mighty God who is able to transform whatever skills we have to offer into signs which still point people to the one who offers abundant life now and eternal life in the world to come.
Although I have been known to be a “change agent,” you can count on me to listen before acting. I’ll be listening to the Lord in prayer (He created us with two ears and one mouth, I believe, so that we would listen more in prayer than we speak). I’ll be listening to you, the people who call Garner UMC your home. I will be listening to my wife and family. If, after listening, I feel God is calling us to change, then I will advocate for that change. But my country upbringing reminds me “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” I already see a lot of things that I love about Garner UMC and I want to work with each of you to take us as a church to a higher level for the excellent Kingdom with which God has entrusted us.
My wife Jean will speak for herself. (I’ve learned that in marvelous ways over the 30 years of our marriage). She is a physical therapist by trade and also has a Master’s in Public Health from UNC-CH. She is a native mid-Westerner and did her undergraduate work at Wheaton College, but she has been thoroughly indoctrinated in the culture of North Carolina. We have two children—Gaby and Will. Gaby lives in Portland, Oregon where she works in a research laboratory. Will lives with his wife Kara and their 4 month old son Aengus in Lafayette, LA. What, I forgot to tell you about my grandchild? Well…listen up!!
Pray for us during this time of transition. In the midst of this enormous change, my parents and Jean’s mom have all been going through some difficult health issues. Pray by name for William and Ann Haddock and Millie Carlson. God is still in the healing business.