|
|
Dear Joy!,
“Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy.” Psalm 100:1-2 (NLT)
Worship in the Bible is portrayed both as a specific act and as a way of life. It is an expression of reverence, adoration, and devotion to God through our thoughts, words, and actions. Worship is a humble recognition of God's greatness and an acknowledgment of our need to surrender control of our lives to Him.
Worship at Joy! is a constant and unbroken rhythm, happening every week—52 weeks a year—along with additional special services for Lent, Holy Week, Advent, and Christmas. We are committed to using this time to create meaningful spaces where people can connect with one another and experience the presence of God.
And this year was yet another where our worship attendance continues to trend upward. In 2024 we saw an 11% increase in weekly in-person worship attendance.
We kicked off 2024 with a range of worship experiences that had us having Dinner with Jesus, following In the Footsteps of the Savior, and thinking about our Legacy. We finished the year with Faith and Grounded in Gratitude.
“Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy.” Psalm 100:1-2 (NLT)
Worship in the Bible is portrayed both as a specific act and as a way of life. It is an expression of reverence, adoration, and devotion to God through our thoughts, words, and actions. Worship is a humble recognition of God's greatness and an acknowledgment of our need to surrender control of our lives to Him.
Worship at Joy! is a constant and unbroken rhythm, happening every week—52 weeks a year—along with additional special services for Lent, Holy Week, Advent, and Christmas. We are committed to using this time to create meaningful spaces where people can connect with one another and experience the presence of God.
And this year was yet another where our worship attendance continues to trend upward. In 2024 we saw an 11% increase in weekly in-person worship attendance.
We kicked off 2024 with a range of worship experiences that had us having Dinner with Jesus, following In the Footsteps of the Savior, and thinking about our Legacy. We finished the year with Faith and Grounded in Gratitude.
|
|
|
In June, we bid farewell to Pastor Laura, who accepted a call to become the lead pastor at Hope Lutheran Church in Long Grove. Joy! has been deeply blessed by her many years of dedicated leadership. After prayerfully considering our next steps, we felt God's guidance to restructure our worship leadership in a way that would build on the strengths we already have at Joy!.
Our worship planning team now includes:
Together, we collaborate to craft meaningful and authentic worship experiences that engage all our senses through a blend of song, scripture, sacraments, and visual media, creating moments that draw us closer to God.
Joy! remains committed to servant leadership, drawing on a team of worship leaders who bring diverse insights, energy, and perspectives to enrich our weekly worship services. Joy! is blessed with a dedicated volunteer team of over 50 individuals who regularly serve in various areas, including music, tech, children's messages, and stage design. Teamwork and collaboration are at the heart of creating and delivering all our worship experiences.
This year, we welcomed several new members to our Worship Arts Team in a variety of roles. We are thrilled about the unique gifts they bring and the fresh energy they add. As our congregation grows, we remain focused on recruiting for all areas of worship, eager to embrace and utilize the diverse gifts God has brought to our church. Please reach out if you are interested in being a part of the Joy! Worship Arts Team.
Worship remains a vital and vibrant part of Joy! as it connects us to God and others and encourages us to be the Church God intended. Engaging in worship at Joy! helps the congregation find renewal, inspiration, and transformative power to go forth and make a difference in our world.
Thank you for all your support and for making worship an important part of your faith life here at Joy!
Jennifer Marvin
Our worship planning team now includes:
- Jen Marvin, who serves as the Worship Director, overseeing all aspects of worship
- Kevin Belles, who manages the technical elements of our worship arts team
- Marcy Knudston, who creates the weekly worship presentation
- Todd Stickney, who has taken on a new role focused on bringing creativity and fresh ideas to our worship
- Pastor Mark Borgetti, who prepares our weekly messages that are grounded in biblical truth and speak to the realities of our lives
Together, we collaborate to craft meaningful and authentic worship experiences that engage all our senses through a blend of song, scripture, sacraments, and visual media, creating moments that draw us closer to God.
Joy! remains committed to servant leadership, drawing on a team of worship leaders who bring diverse insights, energy, and perspectives to enrich our weekly worship services. Joy! is blessed with a dedicated volunteer team of over 50 individuals who regularly serve in various areas, including music, tech, children's messages, and stage design. Teamwork and collaboration are at the heart of creating and delivering all our worship experiences.
This year, we welcomed several new members to our Worship Arts Team in a variety of roles. We are thrilled about the unique gifts they bring and the fresh energy they add. As our congregation grows, we remain focused on recruiting for all areas of worship, eager to embrace and utilize the diverse gifts God has brought to our church. Please reach out if you are interested in being a part of the Joy! Worship Arts Team.
Worship remains a vital and vibrant part of Joy! as it connects us to God and others and encourages us to be the Church God intended. Engaging in worship at Joy! helps the congregation find renewal, inspiration, and transformative power to go forth and make a difference in our world.
Thank you for all your support and for making worship an important part of your faith life here at Joy!
Jennifer Marvin
