Re-Visioning Worship
Well, it was an interesting Sabbath, no question about it. I don't know how it all happened, but we had a very substantive discussion about how our worship time should go. Here's the consensus as I remember it. (If I get something wrong, someone please correct me.)
1) We'll have no more apparent division between presenter and congregation. Everyone is responsible to bring edification to the body. This may be a prayer, a song, a word or something else.
2) We'll work with a new emphasis on participatory structures. There will be no more rows of chairs. Seating plans will be focused on joining us rather than separating us.
3) Intergenerational participation is also expected. As I think back on our meeting, I am a little unclear as to the direction this might take. I'd like to see Drinda, Allison, Kendra, and Angie work on this during the week. Anyone else with a burden for kids is welcome to participate.
4) We'll worship with a new emphasis on edification. We are making a conscious decision to defuse dogmatism, conflict and appearances of exclusive knowledge. The group will together to insist on an edifying atmosphere. We will request that disputations be taken elsewhere for resolution.
5) We will worship with a new readiness of the Spirit working within our group, consistent with Biblical guidelines.
6) We will have one Sabbath each month with no planned services. We didn't discuss which weekend that should be. I'm going to propose the 4th weekend of each month as that weekend. If anybody has a better idea, please speak up.
Our new week has started of with spiritual challenges. I believe we can expect this to be a process that challenges us all. We'll have to work with these ideas to bring them to maturity. But every journey begins with one step.
1) We'll have no more apparent division between presenter and congregation. Everyone is responsible to bring edification to the body. This may be a prayer, a song, a word or something else.
2) We'll work with a new emphasis on participatory structures. There will be no more rows of chairs. Seating plans will be focused on joining us rather than separating us.
3) Intergenerational participation is also expected. As I think back on our meeting, I am a little unclear as to the direction this might take. I'd like to see Drinda, Allison, Kendra, and Angie work on this during the week. Anyone else with a burden for kids is welcome to participate.
4) We'll worship with a new emphasis on edification. We are making a conscious decision to defuse dogmatism, conflict and appearances of exclusive knowledge. The group will together to insist on an edifying atmosphere. We will request that disputations be taken elsewhere for resolution.
5) We will worship with a new readiness of the Spirit working within our group, consistent with Biblical guidelines.
6) We will have one Sabbath each month with no planned services. We didn't discuss which weekend that should be. I'm going to propose the 4th weekend of each month as that weekend. If anybody has a better idea, please speak up.
Our new week has started of with spiritual challenges. I believe we can expect this to be a process that challenges us all. We'll have to work with these ideas to bring them to maturity. But every journey begins with one step.
Labels: WhatsUp
posted by Bill at 9:00:00 PM
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