PAUL REISSMANN
Michigan Area Communications

(The first in a series, Wesley: Making Disciples on Campus)

Contemplative and liturgical worship has become a staple in the normal operations at the Wesley Foundation at Western Michigan University. Lisa Batten, the Director of the Wesley Foundation of Kalamazoo, first considered the liturgical service in the fall semester of 2012.

Jenna Johnson, a student at her Wesley Foundation, came to Lisa and asked about a more structured and contemplative worship service that also had time for prayer.

Because of Johnson’s request and leadership, the Wesley Foundation at WMU now has two worship services: TGiT Worship, a contemporary service with a praise band and a less formal structure, and the Heart of Worship liturgical service that focuses on prayer and introspective worship. The Heart of Worship at Wesley of WMU takes place on Sundays at 5:00pm, followed by a free community meal provided by local churches in the Kalamazoo District.

Batten said that many students, including Johnson, have told her that contemporary worship does not help them feel as connected to God as that of a more introspective setting.

Johnson, who was the Worship Coordinator at the time, had previously been active in a worship and leadership role as a part of her local UMC’s youth group. Coming into leadership at the Wesley Foundation at WMU, Johnson brought this local church experience with her.

It was through Johnson’s help, as well as a number of other students invited into conversation about the new service, that allowed the Wesley Foundation to begin the Heart of Worship service. The service follows the worship order in the United Methodist Hymnal and offers communion weekly; communion being uncommon in other worship services on WMU’s campus.

Passing the Peace is also something that Batten said is needed on a campus where people do not hug or greet one another often. Students are welcomed to greet one another with a hug or a handshake.

At first, the service only saw a few regular attendees in its first year, but different elements and times were used in the service to try and answer the needs of the students in worship. The service now has a larger attendance, filling more chairs now than it has in the past.

Batten said that the service would not have been possible without Johnson’s leadership, letting her make something new in a space that gave her the permission to create.

As a result of this, Johnson was able to define her call to ministry in worship arts. Johnson is currently a part of a team organized by Worship Consultant, Marcia McFee, who was a guest teacher at Annual Conferences in the Michigan Area in 2013 and 2014.

Batten said that Johnson’s leadership in developing a thriving worship service for Wesley of WMU “affirmed my call to resource and empower emerging leaders and that birthing something new takes risking what we’ve always done.”

 

Last Updated on January 30, 2024