Apr 15 2009
I commend to many this strong and beautiful reflection by David Fitch.
He reminds me that however attached I am to my dreams, when I am following God, I must continually say, “not my will but yours.”
on the walk
-Ethan
Apr 08 2009
I am regularly challenged by the wise reflections of Dan Kimball. Here you will find a wise article on liturgy. With his normal careful and kind style he explores the implications of liturgy not just as the order of service in a Christian worship service, but most importantly as the “work of the people.” (This is the original meaning of the word.) This has such striking implications for how we worship as a church. He concludes his thoughts:
We have found that the goal shouldn’t be to maintain the past or to always be on the cutting edge. Our goal is to worship in a way that represents our community to God and God to our community. That means contextualizing worship for today, but not forgetting the family of God throughout history to which we belong.
That is a profound reminder for me as I help lead a church that has hundred+ year history and is also interested and influenced by many current trends in churches all over the country. Our worship cannot be the worship of the past or the worship of Willow Creek. For it to be our worship, it must be our worship. Worship properly offered, must be the work of the people.
As I read Dan’s thoughts I remembered a recent post in which I stole from my friend Aaron Wymer some of his fine thoughts on worship. But I also thought about the consistent them in scripture that true worship goes beyond the weekly worship service.
Scripture is pretty consistent that the public gathering for worship is just the tip of the worship iceberg. It is the public and visible reality of a deep and richer foundation. Our worship is the fullness of our service and prayer, our offering not just of a weekly gift but of our whole lives in every day. It not just the songs we sing but the justice we seek, not just the prayers we pray but the hungry that are fed. This is our liturgy, this is the work of the people. I think the next time someone asks me if I attend a liturgical church I will answer, “I hope so.”
on the walk
-Ethan
Apr 07 2009
I am easily susceptible to over selling. Regardless of how good something actually is, if I encounter it after it has been oversold, I find myself almost unable to appreciate it. In that spirit I offer this video which is certainly funnier than average.
Have Fun!
on the walk
