Minister's Musing

Rev. Mark Ward
Unitarian Universalist Church of Asheville

March 2009

Last month in this column I talked a bit about some minor changes I’ve made in our Sunday worship. This month I’d like to explore further one development that I discussed that you will see later this year, and that’s a program called Worship Associates. Because I am designated the worship leader of our church, some people think of what happens Sunday mornings as my show. While it’s true that the buck stops with me when it comes to the quality and effectiveness of our worship program, I regard what goes on Sunday as the work of our whole community. For, while it’s true that I have a prominent role, every one of us participates in worship by our presence in that sanctuary, by our shared singing, speaking, meditation, even our laughter, our tears, or our uncomfortable squirming.

Our movement arose from a tradition in which ministers were called from the congregation, not as performers but to give voice to what the congregation needed to hear: the struggles, the epiphanies, the puzzlements, the wonder. And I take that heritage seriously. When I compose sermons, reflections or affirmations, I write them with the common life of this church, with all of you, in mind. But again, worship is not my work alone. Like every part of our community it is a shared ministry. My vision of a worship associate program is that it will enrich our worship life by helping lay leaders develop skill and depth in worship arts.

My hope is that beginning in September worship associates will work with me each week to prepare and present Sunday worship, assisting me with elements of the service and supporting guest speakers when neither our Assistant Minister Sarah York nor I are here. I will be looking for people to participate who are committed church members who value the worship life of the church and are good writers and speakers. Every age is eligible, and diversity of background and experience is welcome. If you are interested, please let me know and let’s talk about it. I will hold a training session on Saturday, May 2 for our first group, and we’ll plan to meet every other month through the year to continue training and worship planning. I’m looking forward to the richness that I think this program will give to our church.