Pastor's Blog

Interview With Kathryn Scott

2008-07-30T18:19:00.001-07:00

Interview with Kathryn Scott
Causeway Coast Vineyard Church
Coleraine, Northern Ireland
Writer of “Hungry” (Falling On My Knees)
And “At The Foot Of The Cross” (Ashes To Beauty)
By Pastor John Marvin
Sr Pastor
Portland Metro Church
www.portlandmetrochurch.org

Kathryn, how do you personally define worship?
The real stuff of worship happens before we start to sing - it's the choices that we make in the small corners of life; the way we treat our spouse; the way we love our children; the way we honor our employer; the way we respond to the poor; the way we are with God when no one else is looking. It's these things that make sense of the songs we sing - they aren't meant to be our worship - they are meant to express, or give voice to our worship.

What specific goals and objectives do you have for the church as you lead worship?
My main goal is to create a safe place for people to encounter God for themselves. This affects the songs I choose; the way I lead; the way I respond to the Holy Spirit - everything.

How do you go about planning for worship, both in terms of long-range planning and weekly planning?
I make sure that I have had some time to reconnect with God for myself. I love to do that through walking!! I don't always have the time - but as long as it's still a part of my life that I come back to when I can, then I know I'm on good ground. Then, when I'm preparing for leading worship - I'm thinking through 'who am I leading in worship' - it's all about serving those people, so I have to spend some time thinking through who they are, and what they might need to express to God through the songs I choose. On the long term planning side of things, I talk over with the Pastor what the overall strategy is for our direction as a church and make sure that we are heading the same way through the worship teams as well! We are all part of the same team (leadership of the church), and so we can't afford to go in a different direction to everyone else :) I also invite his critique and thoughts on what we've done so far - there's nothing more helpful than someone who is on your side telling you things to think through that you can improve on.

How do you review the weekly gatherings? What do you look for in terms of evaluating your effectiveness?
We have a staff meeting on a Wednesday morning where we tell our stories of God intervening in our lives and the lives of those outside the church that we know, and how He is bringing them to himself. Then we review the service - the wonderful things, and any things that we could do better. I'm always keen to know if people were able to connect with God - to make sure that I either didn't push the boat too far, or not far enough!

Are you thinking of any specific age group or style as you plan the worship service?
Our church mostly has young people, but we do have quite a lot of couples in their forties and fifties, and then one or two couples in their sixties and upwards. Truthfully, I'm not so much thinking of age when I plan - I'm more thinking about who will be there in terms of what songs they might know. On any given Sunday we will have a good number of people who aren't yet following Jesus - and so, I try to use a hymn at some point along the way, because nearly everyone knows them - even if they haven't gone to church since they were a child. I also try not to introduce too much new stuff at once - again, I want people to be able to grab a hold of songs and sing them from their hearts - that's hard to do if they don't know them.

What piece of advice would you give beginning worship leaders regarding the planning and leading of worship?
Listen to your senior pastor and try to facilitate the vision of the church as you lead worship. Listen to the Holy Spirit - if you see that He's on a certain song, or present to do a particular thing in the room at that moment - just sing it out - there's something that happens when we announce what the Lord is doing (not manufacturing what isn't there - but recognizing His move when we see Him, and 'saying or singing what we see'.)

How do you incorporate being led by the Spirit into the planning of the worship service?
Usually I just plan the set based on the things we've already talked about. Songs are vehicles - the real deal is all about where the journey goes. So, almost in a sense it doesn't matter what songs we use (as long as people know and connect with them) - it matters that we listen to the whisper of the Holy Spirit as we actually lead, because that's how we know where to go.

How do you do the same during the worship service?
While I'm leading I start to sense that the Lord is present to do a certain thing - or that we need to linger for a moment on a particular song. I try to simply be obedient. Sometimes I've given an altar call right there in the middle of worship, and people have given their hearts to Jesus then and there. Sometimes I've sung out that people are going to be healed because I've sensed that the Lord is doing that right then at that moment - and people have been healed. Sometimes I've just led worship and not sensed those things at all, and so I've led as sensitively as I can. The temptation can be to 'make something happen' - but we are just waiting to see what the Lord will do, and then be obedient when He moves.

Kathryn, do you have any last words?
Pastor John, It was lovely to meet you! God bless you so tremendously as you continue to serve Him. I just feel like I have to say 'He gives rest to the weary' - it's wonderful and right to rest too - just in case you were feeling tired and not sure if you were letting Him down by taking time out as well.

We are now meeting in the Theater!!!

2008-07-25T12:19:00.000-07:00

You are invited to join us at the Lloyd cinemas, 1510 NE Multnomah, Portland, OR 97211, for our Sunday Morning service. We meet in Cinema #10 at 9:00 am for prayer and our service begins at 9:30 am. There is plenty of parking, wheelchair access,

When we are finished with the morning service we head back to our Alberta Campus, 607 NE Alberta, Portland OR, 97211, where we have adult interest groups including:

Parenting 101

The Prayer of Jabez

Growing Strong in Christ

We also have activities for youth and children on Wednesday Nights...

Wednesday Nights we meet at the Alberta Campus, 607 NE Alberta, Portland, OR, 97211, at have Bible studies for Men, Women, Youth and Children.

If you have any questions you can call the church at 503-287-4825 or e-mail us at info@portlandmetrochurch.org

There's no place like home...

2008-06-08T07:26:00.000-07:00

We finally made it home...It is great to travel and see other places but it is true, "There's no place like home". I would like to thank Ginger and all the others that have been following the Blog. (Ginger, David told me to do this)... I will refocus the blog to getting ready for our move to the new venue at the Lloyd Cinemas Theater...There are so many things that we need to do before our opening on July 6th...If you can join us we would love to have you. We will start Sunday am at 9:30 at the theater and will have a picnic in the park across the street for the day and we have an evening speaker Zollie Smith at 5:00 pm... If you would like more information you can e-mail me at pastor@portlandmetrochurch.org

Blessings,

Pastor John

I really was going to try and post every day!!!

2008-06-02T18:57:00.000-07:00

I really had good intentions of trying to post everyday. We have been up early every morning and out until late at night. Sunday AM I went to three services, two I spoke at and one I just visited. One of the churches we visited was a church that we had started and it was so great to see things carrying on and to see all the people that we had led to the Lord still serving God and growing in their faith. I enclosed so pictures of them. Today we were our of the house by 6:00 am and met the boat at 7:00 am at the dock for a half day of sport fishing. We caught a total of 3 fish but had many others bite and on the line that got off. Wednesday night we are going to friends house for a fish feed...They are going to cook up all the fish we caught. We took the fish over to them tonight so they can season them up. I caught a Dorado or Dolphin fish as they call it (No Not the "Flipper" type of Dolphin)..See the picture and you will see what it looks like. David caught a King fish and another person caught a Barracuda. If that was not enough we went to Darkwoods beach tonight and did some snorkeling. I got one fish and I put it up on the shore and when I wasn't looking a dog came along and ate my fish and my bait I was using. Tomorrow we are going to Pineapple Beach Resort and Wednesday during the day we are going to the island of Barbuda. When I get home I am going to need a vacation from my vacation...

Blessings,

Pastor John

Day One in Antigua

2008-05-29T13:29:00.000-07:00

Well, I finally made it to Antigua. I had a lay-over in Puerto Rico last night and just arrived in Antigua. I was picked up by an old friend Bro. Johnathon. Bro. Johnathon and his wife Glennis and their son Madarhi just came back from Brazil. They work with Youth With a Mission. I will be staying with Pastor Lester Emanuel who used to be the Superintendent of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the west Indies in Antigua and Barbuda. The pictures I have attached are from their back yard. You will see mangoes, bananas and coconuts...I have been away for awhile so it is going to take a few days to get used to the heat. Just now I had to wipe drops of sweat off of the keyboard. My son David and his friends fly in tonight. I will be giving daily updates...

Blessings,

Pastor John

Getting ready to fly...

2008-05-25T21:20:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of Brown's Bay...One of our families favorite spots in Antigua & Barbuda. This Wednesday my oldest son, David and I will be flying to the Island of Antigua & Barbuda...We used to be missionaries there and pioneered churches. I will be sending pictures and video to my blog and to my podcast. If you need a link to both of them you can go to our church website:

http://www.portlandmetrochurch.org/

On the left side of the website you will find links to the church podcast and the church blog. I have been working like crazy to get thing ready to go. I am still finishing school work and have also been running our church coffee shop "The Meeting Place"

and so I have been training a person from our church to take over when I am gone.

I will be preaching in a couple of churches and I will be able to see many of the people that we led to the Lord when we pioneered churches. David and I have decided to eat jerk chicken for lunch everyday that we are there...It is the best!

Please be praying for our trip.

Pastor John

Theater Church in July

2008-05-01T17:06:00.000-07:00

I am really looking forward to meeting for our Sunday services in a theater...July 6th we will be meeting at the Lloyd Cinemas in Portland. It is a challenge and a step of faith but through prayer and fasting we feel that is what we are supposed to do. We will keep you updated as to the progress of this new venture. If you would like to get more information you can call the church at 503-287-4824 or you can go on our website at http://www.portlandmetrochurch.org/

We have a desire to reach people that wouldn't normally come to a church. On that first Sunday in July we will start our service at 9:30 am and go to approx. 11:00. After the service we are going across the street to the park that is right by the MAX stop...We will have a picnic/BBQ at no cost and will have various music and speakers throughout the day...At 5:00 we will have a guest speaker from New Jersey...Zollie Smith...

Come and join us,

We would like to meet you...

Pastor John

Racial Reconciliation

2008-01-13T00:20:00.000-08:00

Through our website, www.portlandmetrochurch.org I was asked the question, "Why does your church encourage people from different races and cultures to come together?" "Isn't it better to be separate?" Many people say that Sunday is the most segregated time of the week. That might be the truth in many churches but not at Portland Metro Church. The first item to understand in this discussion is that there is only one race – the human race। Caucasians, Africans, Asians, Indians, Arabs, Jews, etc. are not different races. Rather, they are different ethnicities of the human race. All human beings have the same physical characteristics (with minor variations of course). More importantly, all human being are created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27). God loves the entire world (John 3:16). Jesus laid down His life for everyone in the entire world (1 John 2:2). The "entire world" obviously includes all ethnicities of humanity.God does not show partiality or favoritism (Deuteronomy 10:17; Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11; Ephesians 6:9), and neither should we. James 2:4 describes anyone who shows discrimination as "judges with evil thoughts." Instead, we are to "love our neighbors as ourselves" (James 2:8). In the Old Testament, God divided humanity into two "racial" groups: Jew and Gentile. God's intent was for the Jews to be a kingdom of priests, ministering to the Gentile nations. Instead, for the most part, the Jews became proud of their status and despised the Gentiles. Jesus Christ put an end to this, destroying the dividing wall of hostility (Ephesians 2:14). All forms of racism, prejudice, and discrimination are affronts to the work of Christ on the cross.Jesus commands us to love each other as He loves us (John 13:34). If God is impartial, and loves us with impartiality, that means we need to love others with that same high standard. Jesus teaches at the end of Matthew 25 that whatever we do to the least of his brothers, we do to Him. If we treat a person with contempt, we are mistreating a person created in God's image; we are hurting somebody that God loves and Jesus died for.Racism, in varying forms and to various degrees, has been a plague on humanity for thousands of years. Brothers and sisters of all ethnicities, this should not be! To victims of racism, prejudice, and discrimination – you need to forgive. Ephesians 4:32 declares, "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." No, racists do not deserve your forgiveness, but we deserved God's forgiveness far less! To perpetrators of racism, prejudice, and discrimination – you need to repent and "…present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God" (Romans 6:13). May Galatians 3:28 be completely realized, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." I have been told by many well meaning Christians that what we are doing will not work. It does work and every Sunday people from many diverse backgrounds, cultures and situations come together to draw closer to Jesus, to reflect the Image of God on earth, and to join together as the Body of Christ.
Pastor John Marvin

What God Wants

2007-12-29T22:43:00.000-08:00

A lot of men have problems relating to their wives. when they discover there is a problem they hadn't been aware of and then try to find out what it is, they might be told, "You should know what the problem is! The fact that you don't know is part of the problem!" Often the wife's complaint is that her husband does not give her enough attention. She longs for him to relate to her. She is not unappreciative of the things he gives her and the work he does for her. But even more she wants him.

God had a similar complaint about His people. His people were active in religious observance, meticulously offering animal sacrifices. God said, "I have no complaint about you sacrifices or your burnt offerings you constantly bring to my altar". But He was not looking for the bulls and goats from their barns and pens. He had no need of anything from them at all. More than their gifts, He wanted them! God's people had forgotten to relate to Him, and He wanted them back.

God wanted His people to thank Him. He wanted to be thanked because saying "thank you" is evidence of a healthy relationship with Him. Those who recognize who God is in their lives and know how much they depend on Him to intervene in their experiences are people who know that all they are and have come from Him. As they recognize this imperative connection with God, they overflow with gratitude.

God also wanted His people to fulfill their promises. It was God who took the initative and told the people of Israel that He would be their faithful God. In response, they assured Him that they would be His faithful people. The closest of relationships was born, but the people tended to forget-the vows lay unfulfilled, the promises were ignored, and the relationship deteriorated. But God longed to have His people back again.

God also wanted His people to trust Him. Imagine God's pain when His children get themselves into trouble and then turn away from Him to find help in other people and things. He wants them to turn to Him and ask Him for His help. He is more than ready to give it.

What God wants is no mystery-He wants thankful, trusting, faithful children. He wants people who will keep their promises to Him and live in active relationship with Him. He wants people He can delight in and who delight in Him. He wants us.

Pastor John

Devotion

2007-12-28T14:34:00.000-08:00

The man who is devoted to fishing knows that if he wants to catch fish he must accept the demands of getting up before dawn, braving the elements, and spending long hours catching nothing. But the devoted fisherman regards it all as worthwhile.

There are great rewards in being devoted to Christ. Those who believe in Him can anticipate God keeping them full of joy and can overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. But devotion to Christ has its own demands.

Christ was so devoted to the Father's will that He didn't please himself. The Father's will was intensely challenging at times-the Garden of Gethsemane comes immediately to mind. There Jesus shrank from the horror of the assignment, but He devoted himself to the Father and did His will nevertheless.

Jesus also devoted himself to the needs of those around Him. Even the outcasts of society found in Him a friend and support. His arms were open wide to those who responded to His invitation, and He turned no truly repentant person away.

Devotion to the Lord requires that the devotee have the attitude of Christ Jesus. We demonstrate this attitude most clearly when we are devoted to the well-being of others-even those with whom we disagree! We should reach out to those who don't know Christ that they might come to know Him.

If you get nervous about the demands of devotion, you should remember that among the delights of devotion is the experince of being kept happy and full of peace! Serving others, reaching out, accepting people, and not pleasing yourself certainly does not sound like a recipe for hapiness to modern man. But there is assurance enough that this is the way to fullness of Life.

The devoted fisherman who reels in his fish counts the demands of fishing as nothing. The believer who finds happiness in bringing glory to God and blessings to mankind regards the demands of devotion to Christ a delight.

Pastor John