We're probably doing it all wrong. Sunday afternoon we had our first meeting to plan Mosaic, a new worship service. Six youth and five young adults met with the youth minister, the music minister, and me to see what we might do to create a new worship experience in our church. Most had never heard the term "emerging worship." So I gave them a brief introduction about the ancient-future orientation, emphasizing the goal of making worship highly participatory. I shared some stuff from the Gen. Board of Discipleship web site about the four movements of worship: gathering, proclamation, thanksgiving and Communion, and sending forth. Then I reviewed what the staff had already done: choosing a name, designing a logo, collecting the equipment we have available, and reserving a time on the church calendar. Then I turned it over to them and sat back, wondering what would happen.
The youth jumped in first, excited about the possibilities. Then the young adults started filling out what the service could look like. Then came a call to prayer and then they split into groups to work on the music and the worship. Mosaic is to begin in two weeks! Just two weeks.
I've read the books and I have considerable experience in how churches operate. Allow a minimum of six months to initiate a new worship. Build interest and gain approval through the right church structures. Pray, plan, design, incorporate, and communicate every step of the way. Well, we're out of the box on this one. We have six Sunday evenings lined up for the fall series of Mosaic, and for me, the big question will be whether leadership will emerge to sustain it. But I have to admit it was delightful to just be a participant in the plannings and to see the way the others jumped right in with ideas and commitments.
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3 comments:
Excellent blog Stephen. I will follow. I am praying that the Lord will continue to bless your ministry and our attempt at worshiping Him in a new, mosaic way.
My church, an old, ex-Southern Baptist-cum-Neo Baptist, but in the Methodist/Presbytery tradition with robes, pipe organ, etc., wouldn't begin to dialogue about anything close to a "Mosaic" kind of worship service. Dyed-in-the-wool, stuck-in-a-rut, whatever you want to call it, they feel that this kind of worship isn't holy enough, or close enough to God, or something. But I come from a church where we worshipped like this, and it was warm, and loving, and I never felt closer to God. And just the fact that your church body is willing to open the dialogue shows a willingness to stretch themselves in ways may form just the kind of cracks where God likes too shine God's light in new and unexpected ways. Blessings on all of you.
I could feel the excitement in your words. To have that kind of thrill conveyed in words tells me that it was a Holy Spirit filled planning session. It seems to me that we can plan a good idea to death. There has to be a graceful place between too little and too much, and I think you have found it! Scarlett
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