Unity
Posted by bransonsheets | Tags: unity, worshipIf you weren’t here this past weekend at one of our Sunday worship services, then you missed my five-minute word to the congregation.
I did not share it at the Saturday night service, so those of you who attended worship on Saturday may also like to hear what I said. I encourage you to click here to listen to it.
Please hear my heart about why I spoke. I have been trying to discern for some time now why there seems to be something missing in the area of unity at Covenant. As I said Sunday, I believe that I have heard from the depths of people’s hearts (certainly not everyone, but a good number) that they felt disconnected in the area of worship on Sundays. After praying and asking God for clarity over a period of time, I believed that God would have me apologize to people who were feeling hurt and disconnected. I believed that I needed to speak that word publicly and humble myself as the leader of our church. I believed God was nudging me to speak this message on Sunday, so that’s exactly what I did. It turns out, His timing was impeccable.
I believe that the message was received loud and clear to those who have felt a sense of loss in worship. They heard me say that we really want everyone to be able to worship. They sensed that we care about our choir and want to help them be able to use their gifts to bring joy to God’s heart as well as value to our experience together.
Listen, I love everyone in this church. I look at the “big picture” and want to help all of us accomplish our vision of intentionally following Jesus. My pledge Sunday to the congregation was to help us all move forward in the unity of the Holy Spirit.
I also want all of you to know that I am so proud of where we are with Saturday Night Worship. That service continues to grow and have amazing energy. Three hundred or more are there each week, and we have no intention of changing a good thing!
I also want to be clear about our Sunday worship experiences. I believe that we need a tweak and not an overhaul. We have hundreds of people who have not experienced any disconnectedness on Sundays. Please know that all I want is for all of the dear people that I pastor be able to come along with us!
So, don’t be confused at all. We are and always will be a worshipping congregation. We want God to receive great glory and for everyone to help sing His praise! Please pray for our Creative Arts team as we craft worship that “connects” everyone with our Great God!
See you this weekend,
Branson
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Dawn Knight says:
Hello, I know I am not alone thinking…."what, is Branson talking about"? I sat near a few of my CCM Garden co-servers on Sunday morning, and they wondered the same thing. I love Covenant and all the people who serve. Your family also Rocks! So, I'm not sure I understand the "issue" completely; however, you handled your "5-minute word" with compassion, grace and wisdom. We also enjoy your spin and humor in your sermons, that also makes you such a good fit for our family. Have a Blessed Week! Dawn Knight
Vic Corey says:
As lead pastor-Branson did fail to appreciate the worship arts department when he arrived on the scene at Covenant. The worship experience at Covenant was a special gift to its people that could not be taught at a seminar. Leaders from across the State of N.C. were welcoming an opportunity to participate in events where Covenants Music Ministry were leading the worship. I do believe that his apology is a good gesture. I hope many of the leaders of the Music Arts Ministry somehow receive knowledge of this apology that may no longer be attending Covenant presently – for they felt that they were no longer wanted and were driven away. Lastly-"a tweak" now and a dozen more to follow may possibly right the ship onto the course that was intended.
Renie Queen says:
Branson, this congregation is so blessed to have you as our Lead Pastor. I had not even been to church in 20 years until I moved here – and as you know, I now commute to Greenville……thank you!! R. Queen
Sonya Norris says:
Beautiful!! I have such excitable anticipation for what God has in store for all of us. Worship led in such humility can only put us in a position to be wowed by an outpouring of God in us, through us, among us! When we WORSHIP in UNITY, God will use us to reach so many lives, lives that were created to WORSHIP HIM!! I pray that we worship as one mighty sound and that we move God in such a way that lives are reached and that they in return reach others over and over!!!!!!!
Lisa Peterson says:
Branson, I want to express a sincere thank you from the bottom of my heart for the character and humility that this had to take. We are blessed to have such a leader.
Let's move forward! I am so excited! Learning from the past but looking ahead to the greatness of our Creator when we worship HIM in spirit and in truth. To God be the glory, great things HE is going to do in and through us in worship arts.
Larry Parker says:
Branson- Your apology to Covenant was a wonderful gesture. It was an apology that was needed .It was and is the right thing to do. It's a great start and should be followed up with a direct apology to those choir members who felt driven away and offended. In the spirit of the unity that you have spoken of…I hope the leadership of Covenant will extend a loving invitation to our previous worship leaders and former choir members to return to Covenant Church. We look foward to seeing previous worship leaders and choir members return to the heart of worship here at Covenant Church. I would hope that such an invitation would be extended by the lead pastor of Covenent Church.
jeffdaigle says:
I love the digital world and the options to communicate through so many outlets. However, when there is friction between people, we need to really ask ourselves if email, facebook or even a blog comment is really the most effective and God-honoring way to communicate. Issues, hurts, perceptions and concerns would most likely be resolved more quickly, completely, and gracefully with a nose-to-nose conversation. We would be wise to consider what we want to say and let that drive how best to say it.
Sonya Norris says:
Jeff, you are so right!!! This digital world can so misconstrue intent. Just because it is easy to communicate this way, does not make it the best way!!!