Leader: Teach us, grant us insight, direct us O Lord.
Children: Help us not to get distracted!
All: Turn our hearts towards you, that we might delight in your praise.
Leader: Help us on the pilgrim way,
Children: Pick us up when we fall over
All: We praise you, for you keep all your promises.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Worship liturgy
People don't understand why we do what we do. At our place, the children bring in a Bible at the start of the service. For me, it means that we stand under the authority of scripture, that our worship is led by the word, and based on the word, and also that children are valued and included in our service.
So, we explain it. But then the explanation becomes part of the service, and part of the tradition and what you do and before you know it, you have a liturgy. And then someone puts fancy words to the explanation and writes it up and suddenly you have a tradition.
And people still don't understand why we do what we do.
So, we explain it. But then the explanation becomes part of the service, and part of the tradition and what you do and before you know it, you have a liturgy. And then someone puts fancy words to the explanation and writes it up and suddenly you have a tradition.
And people still don't understand why we do what we do.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
On funerals
We celebrated the life of one of our elders today. She was a woman of dignity, and deep faith which saw her face a diagnosis of liver cancer with grace and hope. She chose the songs for the service, and as a community we were able to proclaim the good news and affirm the Christian conviction that death is not the end, as well as celebrate a life of service to others.
In contrast, a celebrant took the service of another church member, in which the gathered mourners were encouraged to dwell on our memories of the deceased, for in this way she would never die. Vague, secular platitudes are a meager diet for those in grief.
In contrast, a celebrant took the service of another church member, in which the gathered mourners were encouraged to dwell on our memories of the deceased, for in this way she would never die. Vague, secular platitudes are a meager diet for those in grief.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
on building worshiping communities
We are in a conversation about worship in our Parish. We amalgamated four congregations on November 29, 2009. Part of the story is a commitment to the integrity of each congregation.
However, we have four similar services in different parts of our provincial town, with elderly and declining congregations which do not reflect our communities, and do not even serve well all the people who 'used to come.'
Part of our journeying together is a conversation around the fact that church or congregation doesn't consist of those who spend an hour together on Sunday morning. In fact, it is the small groups, the service, the working together that is the heartbeat of our life together as much as the corporate worship. Corporate worship is public, visible and important. But it is not the only way to be a congregation.
One of our churches closed a satellite church in 2008 and the members have found ways to still be church together through eating together and serving together. I think they are more a church now than perhaps they were, even though they do not worship as an independent small church family.
There are undertones of church size and church growth here. There are questions of ecclesiology. And there are questions of how we make decisions as Presbyterians. Other churches might just decide. But we talk and talk and listen and listen.
However, we have four similar services in different parts of our provincial town, with elderly and declining congregations which do not reflect our communities, and do not even serve well all the people who 'used to come.'
Part of our journeying together is a conversation around the fact that church or congregation doesn't consist of those who spend an hour together on Sunday morning. In fact, it is the small groups, the service, the working together that is the heartbeat of our life together as much as the corporate worship. Corporate worship is public, visible and important. But it is not the only way to be a congregation.
One of our churches closed a satellite church in 2008 and the members have found ways to still be church together through eating together and serving together. I think they are more a church now than perhaps they were, even though they do not worship as an independent small church family.
There are undertones of church size and church growth here. There are questions of ecclesiology. And there are questions of how we make decisions as Presbyterians. Other churches might just decide. But we talk and talk and listen and listen.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
The community of God in worship
The trouble with blogging or perhaps the discipline of blogging is that there is little opportunity to build a sense of shared community with your readers. It is the same in worship. Visitors want to be impressed immediately; rare are the folk who are willing to invest a month with you to see what's really going on.
You may think you know a service having visited once. But really, all you know are the ways that this group of people reinforce or upset your prejudices. Authentic worship emerges out of community, and one of the things about community is that you know and are known. This sense of journeying together emerges over time, most often. It is rare indeed when you walk into a place and know that you are home, even if you have never been there before.
Most of us figure out that we were home long afterwards, when we find ourselves missing a place, an event, a people. And too often we get stuck in nostalgia, even grief, instead of looking to be in community where we are.
How do I serve here?
You may think you know a service having visited once. But really, all you know are the ways that this group of people reinforce or upset your prejudices. Authentic worship emerges out of community, and one of the things about community is that you know and are known. This sense of journeying together emerges over time, most often. It is rare indeed when you walk into a place and know that you are home, even if you have never been there before.
Most of us figure out that we were home long afterwards, when we find ourselves missing a place, an event, a people. And too often we get stuck in nostalgia, even grief, instead of looking to be in community where we are.
How do I serve here?
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
The absence of God in worship
This is a much more difficult thing to write. Perhaps it is our lack of perception or even our projection that leads to the conclusion that the Spirit is not present or not able to move.
Can anything stop God doing what God wants? I think we can. I think God chooses to give us the space we ask for. Sometimes we ask for nostalgia, or style, or ideology above the living presence of God. Sometimes we simply want it our way. Sometimes our leaders are radical and provocative to get a response, not with the view to glorifying God. Sometimes we are experience junkies.
Sometimes we are simply tired, angry, afraid, too caught up with ourselves to be present. That's why at our church we start with a Psalm each morning. We use the voice of others to remind us of the reality that the world conspires to make us forget.
God is real.
God is here, now.
God will meet with us today.
Can anything stop God doing what God wants? I think we can. I think God chooses to give us the space we ask for. Sometimes we ask for nostalgia, or style, or ideology above the living presence of God. Sometimes we simply want it our way. Sometimes our leaders are radical and provocative to get a response, not with the view to glorifying God. Sometimes we are experience junkies.
Sometimes we are simply tired, angry, afraid, too caught up with ourselves to be present. That's why at our church we start with a Psalm each morning. We use the voice of others to remind us of the reality that the world conspires to make us forget.
God is real.
God is here, now.
God will meet with us today.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
The presence of God in worship
God is always present in our worship - just try and keep Him away! But often we don't perceive his presence. If worship has become routine or we are distracted by something - be it a fellow worshipper, the music, or lunch, then we can miss what God is doing. God moves powerfully and visibly when His people are expectant and patient.
It's not about the style of the service or even the quality. God doesn't move because we somehow get it right or make the grade. Theology 101 tells us that we can't ever do that.
However, we worship in faith that in Christ our worship is acceptable; and when we are hungry for the presence of God, and gather with the intention of having inspiring worship, when we expect the Holy Spirit to be active, when we recognise that we encounter God in worship, then we will be changed.
It's not about the style of the service or even the quality. God doesn't move because we somehow get it right or make the grade. Theology 101 tells us that we can't ever do that.
However, we worship in faith that in Christ our worship is acceptable; and when we are hungry for the presence of God, and gather with the intention of having inspiring worship, when we expect the Holy Spirit to be active, when we recognise that we encounter God in worship, then we will be changed.
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