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Rector's Blog
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
About two weeks ago a woman contacted Sara (our Parish Administrator/Communications Officer) about a book the woman is writing about faith, American style. The author is looking for a broad sampling of faith experiences. Her angle seems to be to be provide an appreciative look at spiritual formation in "all sorts and conditions" of men and women.
Some time ago Sara wrote a hip article in Bust Magazine, "Who's Down with G.O.D.?" (rated NC17) about her own formative journey, which the author-to-be happened to read and enjoy. This led her to explore Sara's website www.goingjesus.com (Some material may not be suitable for all viewers. Parental discretion is advised.)
Something in Sara's singular style of faith, captured the woman's interest. This led her in turn to our website, www.sttims.org. The woman contacted Sara hoping to arrange an interview.
In an email exchange the author asked Sara to describe our parish. She wrote,
"Would it be fair to call it a middle of the road evangelical community? I know these labels are silly, but I am working on getting a nice balance of different communities, so I am just curious if you could check the box that best applies. . . . Thanks, and my apologies for the pigeonholing!"
When Sara received this email she yelled at me.
"Hey Kevin! What are we?!"
What do you mean what are we?
"Are we a 'middle of the road evangelical community'?!"
I stepped out of my office. I stared at Sara. She stared at me. And we both starting laughing.
Let's see.
One parishioner is a regional leader for Bible Study Fellowship in Northern California. I am confident that everyone would agree that we could call BSF a right of center evangelical movement, although this parishioner would be to left of BSF, but not so far as to be cast out.
We have a parishioner -- a Charismatic, Baptist missionary to the Middle East ( on furloough working at Fuller Seminary on a masters degree in global leadership) -- who just got a job working at a nearby Presbyterian mega-church but who made as a condition of accepting the job that he would continue to worship with us and maintain his membership here. This parishioner slides upon and down the continuum, depending upon the issue.
Another parishioner's idea of a good time is going to "Free Palestine" rallies and running around waving a Palestinian flag to whip up the crowd. That would be left of center.
And what about Jay? Remember Jay? Our former Parish Administrator? He used to come to work wearing a novelty t-shirt featuring a headless ballerina in a tutu. One day he went to a play in San Francisco about a "gay Jesus." As he stood outside the theater he encountered a couple of young men from Modesto carrying signs: "God hates fags." Jay walked up and politely introduced himself. "Do you really believe that?" I'm not sure Jay registers on the continuum. He hovers above it.
So. How would you describe our parish: "Middle of the road Evangelical?" Sara's laugh rings through the parish, echoing out of the communion cup, threatening to cause her to choke on the dry bread that is, nevertheless, the body of Christ in our midst.
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Monday, August 08, 2005
I just returned from vacation and found an email waiting for me from a thoughtful, well-read, grounded seminary student. He invited me to respond to an innovative liturgy-planning project.
It's not that I am some big liturgy guru. I think he is inviting the whole world to put in their two cents. If you would like to put in your two cents, go to: http://thecorner.typepad.com/913planningblog/
My only response to the "planning blog" is that using the internet to plan liturgy is in itself an interesting exercise. For this pre-PC Neanderthal it seems like a lot of work as a way to gather people for prayer. But then, the planning journey is itself a form of prayer, so I guess that redeems a long process.
In my experience authentic prayer follows the gathering of an authentic community. The liturgy is the voice of the community at prayer. (Ministry is the work of the community in service, for that matter.) Liturgy must never be an end in itself. Love of God/Love of Neighbor is the aim of liturgy. We gather for liturgy/prayer as a means to our formation in, and expression of, love.
If you ever encounter a listless, powerless worship service, chances are you have stumbled into a church building that houses a bunch of strangers who happen to meet in the same place for individual prayer, and not a genuine community that experiences the profound mystery of neighbor-love in Christ Jesus.
Genuine community in Christ Jesus grows out of individuals who have each responded personally to follow Jesus, and in that response, have discovered spiritual intimacy with other people. When a genuine community gathers together to pray, you can feel the energy in the room. This kind of liturgy cannot be manufactured by a priest with magic hands. It only comes as people realize in relationship with one another the power they share in relationship with God.
When a student comes out of an Episcopal Seminary thinking that there is "one right way" to do liturgy, we have already lost the game before it has begun.
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