A Contemplative Gathering [Justin]
Dan Kimball’s The Emerging Church has helped me realize that, as a church, we need to be doing something that is both overtly spiritual and suitable for inviting people to.
One of the most valuable insights I have gained from Pete Ward’s Liquid Church is the idea that people approach spirituality the same way they shop - looking for things that will be a good fit for them, ignoring things they don’t like or that don’t make sense to them. If we are to reach people in Seattle who are not interested in church or Christianity, we cannot simply do the worship service thing, no matter how cool we make it. The people who are interested in going to a normal worship service (or a cool one, for that matter) are probably already going to Mars Hill or some other church that offers a quality worship service. That’s not our calling.
There is a tremendous number of people who are interested in exploring spirituality, and even Christian spirituality, but are not ever going to pursue it through traditional church routes, through organized services or church programs.
Now, I have written on several previous occasions that I am no fan of worship services, because I do not see them as having any useful place in the life of the church, much less any biblical support. I am not suggesting that we need to start one, by any means. Allow me to elaborate.
I envision a gathering where people can come in at any time over the course of two or three hours, probably in the late evening. It would feature a variety of stations in a setting where people could read, pray, write, think, and focus on God. Some ideas include:
-A table with bread and wine for communion
-Crosses and other Christian symbols around the room
-Paper and pens for writing reflections and prayers
-A basin of water, with cards and a water-soluble marker, for confession - write on the card, then drop it into the water, which symbolizes forgiveness and reminds us of baptism
-An incense censer where people can offer or place prayers and light various kids of incense
-A station with texts to meditate on and respond to
-A wall with a scripture or quote, with post-it notes for people to post reflections and thoughts on
-A map of the world and a map of the city, with papers to pin up prayers for various people around the world and around town
justin (nice name…)
thanks for the post. our fellowship (oddly enough named Mars Hill, but before we had heard of Seattle’s finest) is currently in transition and we are attempting to navigate the waters into our new phase. we’ve been with building since our inception 5 years ago (some were bars and movie theaters, others were leased properties) and we’re recognizing we could be much more effective financially without the expense of rent.
we’re a pretty adventurous group and have traditionally been untraditional. i think your ideas for fellowship and interactive experiences are right on and look forward to implementing them.
one question i have for you is this:
as gifts of the Spirit, what place do you see pastors and teachers having after the passing of the traditional/institutional/paid staff scenarios?
I like your ideas but one thing strikes me.
All the elements you’ve described are things that people will interact with or participate in on an individual level. What place is there for doing something corporately?
I look at my family. We all come and go as we involve ourselves in whatever we need to each day. Even when we’re at home together the kids might be playing in their rooms, Pauline might be in her study and I’ll be on the computer. However, the things that really draw us together are the things we do together.
Perhaps instead of the table with bread and wine you may choose to celebrate communion as a corporate meal somewhere in the middle of that 2 or 3 hour window. The rest of the time people are free to worship using the other elements you’ve set up.
Just a few thoughts.
Sounds like a really interesting threshold into Christian things. What do people begin to experience once they are through the threshold? Is there a corporate life they can begin to belong to if they want to explore what it means to be a follower of Jesus? Fellowship with others who are also exploring this? That is where the real work of discipling will take place. But your drop-in spirituality centre sounds like a great point of contact with people, so that they may want to begin to explore what lies behind it. Every blessing with it.
David-I like the way you described it as a threshold-type event. To answer Rodney’s question, there’s no planned “corporate” time because there is no corporate group - it’s just whoever drops in. Hopefully we can use the event to meet people that we can develop relationships with, but the time is not intended to be a church worship service.
Justin -
I suppose I see leadership as both necessary and inevitable, for better or worse. I’ve been thinking lately about viewing all Christians as pastors - seeing that as our vocation - even when none are paid. We have this phrase “priesthood of all believers,” but it’s hard to give that much flesh when you don’t really believe in priests in the normal sense. Maybe “pastorate of all believers” would make more sense - people who listen, counsel, teach, study, grow, lead, and challenge others by example.
I think certain people will emerge as leaders because they are gifted in these areas. Having said that, I think churches should be led with a team approach - the “pastor is the boss” approach is not at all biblical unless you’re talking about apostles, which I’m not. Leadership in the early church appeared to be shared, not one-man, and I think there are also plenty of other good reasons to do it that way today.
Great idea. Even though I regularly attend a traditional church, I wish there was a place like you describe for dropping in to worship at other times. I work in downtown Seattle, and wish there was a good place to go during lunch for a little quiet time, prayer and meditation. I feel awkward dropping in on some of the traditional churches downtown, as if I am trespassing or don’t belong.
I think that’s a cool heritage that we’ve lost. Remember in the movies where people go into the church to pray, and a priest or nun is there to counsel them? Isn’t that something that should be available in emergent churches as well? We’re looking at starting a 24-7 prayer room - let me know if you’re interested.