Worship and Music

The Worship and Music program has continued to work towards achieving the vision for worship articulated in the Dinsmuir report prepared in the fall of 2005. That report concluded that our congregation values the traditional music forms that have blessed us for so many years. At the same time, however, the report noted that our congregation is yearning for change and for additional variety. This variety is not to be to the exclusion of our musical roots, but rather to be an extension and expression of the inclusivity that characterizes our church family.

Nick Sergienko joined the worship and music team in the Fall of 2007 to accompany the choir and provide piano and organ music for our worship services. Nick’s skills and passion for worship have blessed our congregation, and over the past year have enabled the contributions of many congregational members including Rob Karr as he conducted the choir, and Adri Rautenbach providing leadership to the contemporary singers. Together, Rob, Adri and Nick have worked with Robin to bring together music programs that speak to the congregation and enhance our worship experience at North Lonsdale.

Their leadership has enabled the contribution of many singers and musicians, and we as a congregation have been blessed by the musical gifts of many people coming together to worship God.

In the Spring of 2008, the Board voted to extend Nick Sergienko’s responsibilities, and offered him the position of Director of Music Ministry. This position had been defined following the adoption of the Dinsmuir report in 2005. With this change, Nick will have additional musical leadership responsibilities in addition to his musical performance responsibilities.

Lay preaching has continued to be an important part of our congregational life, and there have been opportunities throughout the year for members of the congregation to come forward to lead our worship services. This September, Robin and Linda’s leadership of a pilgrimage to the Holy Land was made possible by the willingness of congregational members to lead worship in Robin’s absence. Lay leadership of worship brings us all closer to God and to each other, and provides us with a deeper understanding of what it means to worship as a community.

Liturgical Dance has been an addition to our worship services this year as Deborah Rossouw has come to share her gift for dance, and her love of worship with our congregation. The Leadership Group was blessed by her testimony and by her description of God’s call to her in this unique form of worship. Deborah has also shared other gifts when she led the congregation through an exploration of our vision for our community in the future.

We will continue on our journey of change and growth in the coming year. Rob Karr has stepped back from leading the choir into another season. We have been so blessed by his leadership. The choir will, of necessity, experience some change as a result and there have been creative conversations exploring possibilities for the choir during the remainder of this year.

This fall also saw a change to the start time for worship services. The new 10:00 am start was adopted by the Board in early September, and has become our new norm.

Over the coming year, we hope to continue to expand the participation and diversity of our worship, and to do so in ways that are Biblical and continue to honor God’s intentions for us as His people.