Comments on: The Missional Church and Worship

By: Rob Parker

Rob Parker — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 16:07:35 +0000

Really good, solid post. God is up to something new and we will either follow Him in true worship or continue on the same path which has left us very desperate.

By: Are Mission and Worship the same? | James Henley

Are Mission and Worship the same? | James Henley — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 09:10:31 +0000

[...] Mission and Worship the same? I really enjoyed reading Julie Clawson's reflections on the Missional Church and Worship, posted on her blog last [...]

By: Phil Anthony

Phil Anthony — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:11:17 +0000

Thee might want to check out "The Eucharist and Social Justice", by Sr. Margaret Scott, ACJ (Paulist Press, 2009). It's rooted in the Roman Catholic liturgy of the eucharist, but offers insights into its value as a model of social justice that even a Quaker like myself can ponder and use. In her introduction she writes: "The Eucharist offers a counter-narrative: an alternative way of looking at history, one at odds with the widely and uncritically accepted pack of corporate myths and political half-truths crafted by the rich and powerful. It presents, rather, the story of humanity as read through the eyes of the poor…" (p. ix).

This from a 67-year-old Catholic sister who (these days) directs a retreat house in Bryn Mawr, Pa. The reason I write all this is simply to suggest that the practices of piety contain within themselves Isaiah's passion for justice – and Micah's, and Amos', and yes, Jesus' too. What Margaret is doing, and what we might do as well, is insisting that the practices be cleansed of the cultural overlay that domesticates them, and reclaimed in their full wild devotional and social richness. There's no either-or about it.

By: Calvin R. Wulf

Calvin R. Wulf — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 18:47:39 +0000

Well said, Julie. Justice pours from the compassionate heart of Christ. Prayer is about being, service is about loving. Loving our neighbor urges us to justice through social action. At the same time, as we grow into Christ, we become the Incarnation, his body, his church.

By: Worship and Justice | onehandclapping

Worship and Justice | onehandclapping — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 15:27:14 +0000

[...] light of my recent post on mission and worship, I was fascinated to read this post over at the God's Politics blog and wanted to repost it [...]

By: Paul Heppleston

Paul Heppleston — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:46:18 +0000

Your words have brought inspiration to [and from] people Julie. Your writings and John van de laar's response about why we worship and the effect it should be having on us in our Mon-Sat lives resonate deeply. Thank you for being a catalyst Julie.

By: Ed G

Ed G — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 02:15:43 +0000

what wonderful words to start off the year. and what makes them wonderful is that we know they are not just words. peace to you. i am thankful that you actively seek justice.

By: John van de laar

John van de laar — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:35:36 +0000

Julie, thanks for this reflection.

It is a deep poverty in our worship when it becomes nothing more than an "uplifting" experience for the individual to carry us through the week feeling "close" to God.

If worship doesn't change the way we live, it's not worth the effort. What we do in the sanctuary is not about what we do in the sanctuary, but about how the world is better because we are changed into those live out what we sing and pray in the sanctuary.

The more voices that keep saying this, the sooner the "worship culture" of the world (not just the USA) will shift.

Thanks again.

By: Kara

Kara — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 04:43:24 +0000

Well said, Julie! Thanks so much.

By: david trigueros

david trigueros — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 03:29:28 +0000

yes!