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You are here: Home > News >United Church News > Over 225 turn out for worship event

Over 225 turn out for worship event

April, 2003
By Tiffany Vail

More than 225 people gathered at the United Congregational Church in Worcester in March to experience a wide variety of ways to enliven and enrich worship.

Behold, I am doing a new thing... Michael Bausch, pastor of the Union Congregational Church UCC in Waupun, Wisconsin, leads a multimedia worship service at a recent Massachusetts Conference event where more than 225 people experienced and learned about new ways to worship. Photo by Tiffany Vail

The day began with an intensive multimedia worship service that featured a movie clip from Spider-man and included recorded popular music such as “Hero” by Chad Kroeger.

The service was led by Michael Bausch, pastor of the Union Congregational Church UCC in Waupun, Wisconsin, which has been offering a multimedia service for five years. Bausch is also the author of Silver Screen, Sacred Story: Using Multimedia in Worship.

Bausch spent time before and after the service explaining what he does and why.
Many who attended said they were surprised by the worship.
“I came with the expectation that this was not for our church. I have changed my mind,” wrote one participant. “I can see ways media worship can be used – it is very powerful.”

Others had mixed feelings.

“It didn’t always move me, but I can see the potential,” wrote one participant. “I appreciated the examples and modeling of a new way.”

The day included workshops focused on a variety of worship elements, including ways to bring Scripture readings alive, to include laity in worship preparation and to integrate art, drama and praise music into services.

The day ended on a very different note than it began: with a meditative Taizé service, led by Elizabeth and Matthew Myer Boulton, pastor and associate pastor of Hope Church in Roslindale.

The event was co-sponsored by the Conference and Andover Newton Theological School.

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