A searchable, downloadable PDF of the original review appears below. Nancy Bettridge is part of the worship team at Willowdale Church, Toronto, and serves on the Board of the Renewal Fellowship.
Learning to Worship as a Way of Life. Graham Kendrick.
Learning to Worship was one of those books which is full of ideas for renewing worship, but which, in reading, makes you feel increasingly discouraged and wondering where to begin in your own church. Therefore, the last chapter is the most important one in giving the reader some basic encouragement and direction in getting “here from there.” It made me realize that renewal in worship is a gradual process. First of all, the chapter gives several suggestions for change that an individual worshipper can make, and secondly focusses on corporate changes in worship.
As worship leaders, we can encourage and model a more open and vulnerable attitude in the church service, particularly during a “Praise and Prayer” sharing time. This gradually creates an atmosphere of love, one in which people feel more comfortable with new and expressive forms of worship. It also encourages a family atmosphere where people are more apt to risk changes. Kendrick also states that involving children more in services will create this family atmosphere. However, he doesn’t go on to give suggestions as to how to involve the children. I would definitely like to pursue this suggestion.
An important reminder is also found in this last chapter. We must endeavour in any changes we make to serve the old as well as the young, the traditional as well as the more adventurous. We cannot simply throw away the old forms, but must marry the old and the new, otherwise we will end up alienating everyone.
For instance, in discovering all the wonderful new Scripture songs, we need not abandon the grand old hymns of the faith, but can combine the two very effectively in our services of worship.