WORSHIP REPORT

Worship is described in the Bible as both a specific activity and a way of life. Worship serves as an expression of reverence, adoration and devotion to God through one’s thoughts, words, and actions. Worship is a humble acknowledgment of God’s greatness and our own need to surrender control of our lives over to God.

There are five Joy! staff members dedicated to creating space for worship at Joy! – Pastor Laura, Jen Marvin, Kevin Belles, Alex Rossmann, and Marcy Knudtson. Pastor Laura oversees the worship program, Jen is involved with worship administration, and Kevin, Alex and Marcy support the worship tech needs. Marcy is our newest member of the Joy! Staff, hired just this month in early January. Alex will be transitioning off of the Joy! Staff once Marcy is fully trained.

Joy! has a strong worship volunteer base of over 50 people who serve on a regular basis in the areas of music, tech, children’s messages, stage design, and drama. Teamwork and collaboration are essential for our weekly Sunday services and special services like Ash Wednesday, Holy  Week, and Christmas Eve.

There are many things to highlight that we are proud of this past year:

• We had 13 impactful sermon series that focused on themes such as finding purpose in life, how God uses broken people, staying away  from negativity, shining God’s light in the world, and gratitude. We also spent a month focused on the Book of 1 John, a month on the Book of Genesis, and a month on Jesus’s parables. One sermon series was specifically focused on mental health as we explored what healthy relationships look like.
• We added a couple of new members to our Worship Arts Team this year. We are excited about the gifts they will bring and their new energy. As our congregation continues to grow, we continue to recruit for all areas of worship to use all the gifts God has entrusted to our church.
• We were intentional about bringing more responsive readings and confessions into worship to create space for people to engage with the weekly theme in a more experiential way. We continue to brainstorm and execute ways for the congregation to engage with all the senses sight, sound, and touch in worship. 
• We added new cameras to increase the variety of camera angles on the livestream while still improving the quality of the livestream’s overall picture and sound. The livestream continues to be a popular option for people to stay connected to Joy! and grow in their faith even when they can’t be physically present. 
• We purchased a new drum set this year with the help of an anonymous donor to replace some very old and outdated equipment. This purchase has already made a drastic improvement in our sound and the energy of the Worship 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.​

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CARE MINISTRY 

Jesus intended for the Church to be a well-connected community, sharing in each other’s joys and sorrows, and bearing one another’s burdens. There are many ways Joy! provides care for our congregation, both in programmed events and active communication. Whenever a care concern is brought to the Joy! Staff, action is taken to ensure that person is well cared for.

Last year we provided care in the following ways:

• Regular check-ins with Joy! attenders
• Calls to Joy! attenders dealing with illness or facing surgery
• Pastoral care and counseling to those going through a difficult time
• Referrals to those needing extra resources such as therapy or social services 
• Connecting people with others who have gone through similar challenges
• Prayer quilts for those needing to be surrounded in prayer
• Prayer Team praying over prayer requests
• Follow up with prayer requests received through our Connect Page and Facebook page
• GriefShare and DivorceCare support groups
• Meals and meal gift cards given to those in need of meals
• Monetary gifts sent to those unemployed or facing financial hardship
• Focus on mental health in sermons and providing at least one mental health study each year
• Sympathy cards sent to those who have lost a loved one
• Planning and providing memorial services for Joy! attenders or their family

The care ministry within a church lives out compassion in action which is an essential component of the Christian faith as we strive to fulfill the commandment to love one another. The journey of life can be filled with challenges, hardships, and moments of despair. Having a caring community and strong care ministry helps to provide hope, healing, and encouragement.

Laura Kline, Associate Pastor of Worship and Care

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