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Ryan Clevenger's avatar

I vote for making Advent and Lent more sad.

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Daniel Jesse's avatar

I do too! But not sad about sin. I think Advent allows for more sadness around waiting and longing then Lent does.

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Ryan Clevenger's avatar

¿Por qué no los dos? What are we waiting for in Advent is still connected to sin even if not every aspect is equally about sin.

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Daniel Jesse's avatar

I'm not going to disagree. I just think Advent is easier to introduce sadness that's not directly related to sin. I'm looking for easy starting points in the tradition.

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Ryan Clevenger's avatar

That's fair. I just know how much you enjoy me disagreeing with you about...anything that I figured I shouldn't disappoint you. :)

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Daniel Jesse's avatar

True, it's one of my favorite things.

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Amanda Lawrence's avatar

Okay this is so fascinating and I especially like your points about the necessity of feedback. I’m still trying to wrap my brain around a system for feedback that isn’t a form and is instead, perhaps, an ongoing conversation of some sort.

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Daniel Jesse's avatar

That's what I am also thinking about. How do we get feedback from the congregation that is a conversation. Forms take too much effort and feel too distant. Also, forms usually only get negative comments.

After the service, people want to either leave or talk to friends while the worship leaders and teams are trying to pack up their gear and are busy.

I really think that the congregation needs to take more ownership over the worship and be actively engaged with the leaders.

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Amanda Lawrence's avatar

Exactly. Currently, comments given after the service or via an occasional text/email is the only time I receive feedback as a worship leader. So when I don’t receive feedback, I’m left to fill in the blanks or interpret meaning based on my experience. Or, honestly, wonder if it wasn’t a good week. 😅 It’s tricky, though, bc personally I can seek out affirmation as a form of feedback when really, it’s not really about me or my efforts (as your interviewees rightly stated).

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Daniel Jesse's avatar

It's about all of us coming together as a community which includes the leaders. How are you supposed to lead unless you know what is needed? Leaders are left unaffirmed and guessing. There's a decent amount of responsibility on the leadership that often gets played off by pointing only to God.

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