This is a timely piece for me. I’ve openly proscribed any attempts at a “worship time” during our gatherings for the past 7 months, specifically because I’ve been trying to avoid the “performance church” trap it seems to inevitably lead to. Yet, I recognize that it is an especially powerful way for people to join in their worship together, one that particularly appeals certain folks. Consequently, I’ve given lots of thought to how a church could engage its people in forms of corporate worship that utilize music without seeing it degenerating into a spectator event.

At this point the only answer I have is to strip it WAY back, give it less time and prominence, and liberally mix in other interactive elements (lectio divina, communion, common prayer, etc.).

I’m open to other suggestions.