A Worship Interview

21Nov06

A few months ago I met a great guy called James McWalter. He's a worship leader at a local Catholic Church and is doing some really amazing things. I thought it would be interesting to pick his brains on what he's been up to and learning. Here's what I found!

1. What do you do?

I work for a fashion company called Boden, I'm a merchandiser. Inside my
church I'm head of youth and worship.

2. How long have you been a catholic?

I've officially been catholic for 24 years, but I guess I was about 16 when
I began to open my heart to Jesus.

3. How did you get involved in leading worship?

I'd loved worship music, and had been challenged to learn to play the
guitar (when I say challenged I mean that I wanted new music in church, but couldn't play anything. But the priest said we could only have new music if I played it. So with Gods spirit on me I learnt to play quickly, with lots
and lots of prayer) but the priest wasn't to sure on the newer stuff so I
set up a home group that met every so often to praise. Then one day down in Devon I received some prayer from an older couple saying that God wanted to bless my music and for me to return to my church and lead worship. I smiled told them of the trouble - but they anointed me everywhere and sent me off.
So When I returned home I spoke to the priest and he agreed - and after
years of struggle it was that simple - God had paved the way for sure. What
a miracle. Then a few months later I felt that it wasn't enough to limit the
worship to being just in mass and God gave me the vision of breathe.

4. Tell us about the Breathe nights you've been running?

OK. so breathe is in a nut shell a chance to come and breathe in God and let
him breathe in you. The whole vision came from God so it's all his idea, but
more than it being about Catholics, or Methodists or whoever, it was more
the idea of Public worship - so no matter what your background is come along and praise God for 90mins (see the football link). It's laid out in such a way that it's hopefully un threatening if your not used to going to church.
It's come just as you are. We praise for 90mins and God turns up, blesses
us, does his thing. Sometimes we have moments of silence otehrs people are scremaing out prayers - it is so good to see.

5. What do you enjoy most about leading in a Catholic church?

Inside the service I love the way the traditional mixes with the new, we
have the Eucharist and everything centres around that, the flesh and blood
of Jesus, so everything we do in the mass is preparing out hearts to receive
Jesus into our bodies in a physical way. So the hymns we choose lead us into a deeper relationship, bring to mind how great God is...I always love the final song - people always belt it out because they have Jesus inside. It
feels good.

6. What are some of your main challenges as a worship leader?

Newness and people's fears are a massive part of it. Also bringing people gently out of the traditional side of things without making people feel uneasy. But on a personal level, the feeling of inadequacies, staying humble - but more than that making my whole life an act of worship. That's the major side of it - the technical bits are, I'm self taught, not a musician, and generally don't know much about guitars what works what doesn't....but hey, I'm surrounded by very gifted people.

Howdy all,

If I can just add a note onto the above - a few people have contacted me about starting a breathe or coming along to one....yes to it all!!!

you can learn more on www.breatheworship.co.uk or email me on breathe@breatheworship.co.uk

Peace

James

JimmyMc

21Nov06

Hi Tim & James,

Happy New Year!

Thanks for this interesting read. I have some questions/concerns, and I'm aware that as this is my first comment these could come across as being either a personal attack or as me being critical and narrow. This isn't the case, and I certainly don't intend to stir-up trouble.

I do care about being doctrinally right and faithful to the word of God, and I'm sure you do too. So I'm hoping we can discuss these questions without worrying that it's just mudslinging.

I appreciate the warm-spirited appeal for unity:
"more than it being about Catholics, or Methodists or whoever, it was more the idea of Public worship - so no matter what your background is come along and praise God..."

It's easy for us to sing songs together but there comes a problem when we begin to talk in any detail about doctine between Catholic and Protestant people.

"...everything we do in the mass is preparing out hearts to receive Jesus into our bodies in a physical way..."

"I always love the final song - people always belt it out because they have Jesus inside."

These are teachings that the Protestant church fought to reject, and churches like HTB and my church and many others stand in this heritage.

James, this is what you believe about the bread and wine and I cannot tell you to change your mind- but
in all good conscience, I have to come to you with great love and tact and say that I think this doctrine is a mistake. And there are other doctrines within the Roman Catholic tradition that we as Protestants must gently but firmly challenge, believing them to be mistaken.

Tim, I wonder if uniting to worship and swap ideas over a denominational gap that is so large can be truly helpful for us? I'm not denying the possibility, but trying to work-out if our experience of singing and praise can really overrule what we believe to be the truth when it comes to the means of our justification, the place of good works in our salvation, the leadership structures of the church, the nature of communion etc.

Thanks for reading. Again, I hope this is no cause for upset, but only good healthy dialogue and plenty of prayer.

Yours in Christ,

Dan Hames