Communal Worship

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So I’ve been thinking about worship as a communal act. In scripture we are told that true worship involves loosing the chains of injustice, setting the oppressed free, to feed the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless (Isaiah 58). All of those things are done in community. But in our churches we are so focused on worship as singing that it has come to be an individual act. Yes singing to God is a form of worship, but perhaps we go to far when we make the worship time just about us personally connecting to God.

What got me thinking about this was what happened at church this past Sunday. There was the regular worship song selections led by the band and pretty much only by the band since the powerpoint was off the whole morning. We had a great sermon about the life Christ has called us to, but what stood out was what occurred after the regular church service ended. After most people had left, the band started jamming and ended up playing a great rendition of Sweet Home Alabama. It was obvious that the people in the band were enjoying themselves as were those of us just standing around. We were clapping and dancing and cheering them on. There was an energy in the room as we all experienced something that we all really enjoyed. We were a community at that moment – participating in a mutual experience and enjoying it for what it was.

I’ve felt that same energy a few other times before. Strangely enough it has been among groups of strangers. I felt it at the Bristol Renaissance Faire when at the close of the day the crowds gatherer into the drum circle and dance to the beat of the drums. It is a wild, tribal, pagany gathering – buts it’s alive and full of energy as we dance as one entity full of the joie de vivre. Similarly I’ve felt that same energy in a crowd of 5000 at the National Youthworkers Convention as caught up in singing with the David Crowder Band the joy overflowed into dancing.

Some may say it’s a mob mentality – a large group of people being swept up into some communal mind. It happens at concerts all the time. But I think there is something deeper there as people are moved to express the energy and joy that is welling up inside of them alongside others. It is community experiencing joy together and having no choice but to let it loose. Too often we fear what others think instead of encouraging them to give into the joy that God fills us with. To me that is worship. To share joy with others. Be that through energetic displays of passion or through helping those who need help. Something big and wondrous can happen when we join others in worship – when it moves past just us and involves all of God’s children.

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Emerging Women’s Voices – An East Coast Gathering

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A Seat at the Table

You are invited to the Table!!!

Emerging Women’s Voices – An East Coast Gathering 2006
October 1 – 3
Virginia Beach VA.

We’ll be staying and meeting at the Sandcastle Oceanfront Resort www.sancastle-vabeach.com

The theme will be “A Seat At the Table” and will offer many ‘table gatherings’ (sessions) to choose from as well as plenty of time to enjoy our beautiful surroundings.

The registration fee is nominal and ‘scholarships’ will be available to those in financial need. Lodging, transportation and meals are not included.

Registration and more information are available here.

You are invited to join us at this table, and are encouraged to invite others as well. Please spread the news of this event to any women you know interested in the emerging church conversation.

I look forward to sharing a place at the Table with you!

Contact:

Sherri – [email protected]
Liz – [email protected]
Julie (me) – [email protected]

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Simply Christian

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I recently read Simply Christian by N.T. Wright and want to recommend it to anyone interested in a good overview of Christian belief. This book is similar to C.S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity , but it is more relevant for today’s readers. Whereas Lewis wrote as an Anglican and dealt with a certain set a questions apropos to his historical moment, Wright (himself an Anglican) takes a more ecumenical approach and addresses faith in a way more palpable to today’s audience. It is of course not an exhaustive work on why Christianity makes sense, but it is a great general introduction. He addresses the issues humbly and acknowledges the necessity of faith (as opposed to proof) in the Christian life. Wright does a good job placing Christianity into its cultural context and still exploring what it means to live for the kingdom of God in today’s world. In all it is a good introduction to Christianity that is appropriately written for the postmodern ethos of our historical moment.

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Parenting

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So I recently read Unconditional Parenting by Alfie Kohn. He’s the guy who wrote Punished by Rewards which was a love it or hate it type book. His focus is how we (in school, businesses, and in parenting) have bought into the concepts of Skinnerism and behaviorism. We dangle to chance of reward or the threat of a punishment in front of people to manipulate them to change their behavior. Its everywhere. In schools there are grades and gold stars, at work incentives, at church badges for scripture memory, at home time-outs, spankings, praise, and bribes. Kohn’s theory is that contrary to common belief the use of such manipulation actually causes people to be less motivated and less interested in the behavior itself. He uses many studies to prove his point.

His parenting book took his theory a step further in that he claims that not only are the methods of behaviorism (bribes, threats, time-outs, spanking, praise) not effective (and sometimes cruel), they stand in the way of our childing knowing that we love them unconditionally. For even if we say that we love our children as we manipulate them in order have their behavior line up with our desires – what really matters is what the child perceives us doing. If the child perceives that we only express interest in them (act happy) when they perform tasks well – the message they internalize is that our love is conditional on their performing well. While I fully reaffirmed his theories on why hitting/spanking children is always wrong, the book caused me to think hard about the subtle messages other more accepted forms of discipline send to children. And to evaluate as he suggests what the ultimate goal of all of my interactions with my child is. Am I encouraging her to be the kind of person I want her to be, or am I using my power over her by giving or withholding my love in order to get her behavior to be the way I find most comfortable.

The book has sparked a lot of thought for me and some good discussion. I highly recommend it for anyone who has kids or works with kids. Even if you don’t agree with all of it, it helps to see how deeply behaviorism has infiltrated our culture.

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Emerging Women

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For all the women out there interested in the emerging church – we now have a blog. Check out Emerging Women to see whats happening in this community. Here’e part of the welcome/description of the blog –

Welcome emerging women!

Right away there are issues. Who are the emerging women? What defines an emerging woman? Those are questions I won’t even attempt to answer on my own. I hope as a community we will gather together to use our voice within this emerging conversation. Why? Because we need each other, because our voice is not always heard, because we have voices that need to be heard.

I envision this space as a gathering place of sorts for women with some connection to the emerging conversation. It can be used to discuss ideas, theology, philosophy, and praxis. It can be a space to share frustrations as a woman, as a believer, or as an emerging thinker. It can be a place to share what you have written, to ask questions, to share experiences, recommend books, to encourage and give advice, or whatever we feel like making it. I hope we will use it and gain and grow from it.

The space is open to whoever desires to post and join the conversation. I encourage anyone interested to add comments, to respond, and get the conversation going.

So check it out, join the conversation, and support the effort!

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In (Annoyed) Mourning

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So the Alias series finale was last night… and I’m still annoyed and disappointed. For a series that was so into twists and mystery the ending was horrible. Nothing was explained and it was well – predictable and boring. It scares me now to watch Lost – will that end with no purpose or resolution to its mystery as well! What was JJ Abrams thinking!! anyway – just had to rant to the world

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ReGathering Journal Cont.

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The third session at the ReGathering revolved around the metaphor “letting go of jeans that no longer fit.” I found this particular image amusing and rather apropos to my post pregnancy state. The talk brought up instances of when people had to leave ministry positions for various reasons. My discussion group also focused on letting go of things that don’t fit within the church context itself.

We discussed how often we create ideals of what we think church is or what we want church to be. Those conceptions are not always a true representation of church or the best thing for the church. Sometimes we are comfortable with how we do things, but we need to always remember that our ways are not always God’s ways. I was intrigued how in this particular gathering this idea could be discussed from a variety of perspectives as an intellectual and not solely emotional concept. All too often the unbiblicalness or unholiness of an idea seems to rest on the accusers dislike of it. It’s the Christian cliché of the day to call whatever one dislike “unchristian.”

What was refreshing at this gathering was the willingness to take a step back and examine our preconceptions. The idea is to consider what the purpose of a church (and the church in general) is and therefore to consider if what we are doing aligns with that purpose. If something doesn’t align why are we doing it? Because it is comfortable and we have always done it that way? Because we won’t acknowledge a program has passed its peak and we don’t want to offend those who put so much time and energy into it? Because we read certain books and uncritically think that coffee, candles, and couches are cool? If things don’t fit the purpose of church then we need to let go. And yes – sometimes that means letting go of that particular thing and sometimes it means letting go of the church. God’s ways are not our ways and perhaps he just might have better things in store.

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ReGathering Reflections Continued

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The first parts of the ReGathering focused on the metaphors “jeans that no longer fit” and “jeans that have been ripped off.” These topics brought up the pain that many of the women had experienced in the church. Some of that pain came because they were women trying to serve God, but there were other stories as well. I found myself overwhelmed at the hurt the church inflicts on its own. Here are my journal thoughts in response to listening to those stories. –

We sing “They will know we are Christians by our love,” but all too often I instead hear about the pain, hurt and hatred done by Christians. On one hand there is the harm done to those outside the faith, but what seems most alarming is the hurt Christians inflict upon each other.

I have heard story after story of Christians who have been wounded deeply by others in the church. Believers who leave church crying every week. Believers whose passions have been mocked and whose dreams have been crushed because they don’t fit within a certain box. Believers who have been pushed out of a church family because the questions they are asking are unacceptable. Believers whose very love and passion for Jesus is dismissed because they hold a particular view on a certain doctrine. Believers who have been called by the Holy Spirit to teach and minister, but whose calling is denied because of their gender or color of skin.

When doctrine becomes more important than relationships, when your God becomes too big for the box, when power triumphs over love, when trivia supersedes mystery, when personality preferences quench the spirit of mission, when prayer is used to manipulate, and when pastors lie and gossip about their staff – something is wrong. To deny that there is an issue is to deny the pain that the victims have felt.

And so what does one do? Does one stay silent and endure the pain? (and shrivel up and die inside?) There is much to be said for forgiveness and mercy. To work through the pain to bring healing is a goal to be sought. But sometimes something more must be done. Sometimes the place you are in is so dangerous and toxic to ones soul that to remain there could lead to damage that could never be repaired. Sometimes to flee the danger, to find the antidote to the poison, to save one’s soul is the only option we can affirm. Sometimes we must pursue dreams, answer the call, and listen to the prompting of the Spirit.

The pain can then be used. Used to push us not only out of danger, but be used to move us to a new and better and healthy place. We endure what we have to endure until God releases us and pushes us onward. Being open to hearing and then following God’s voice can be frightening, but the joy and healing is worth taking the first steps.

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Emergent Women’s ReGathering

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I spent this past weekend in a barn outside of Indianapolis. The occasion was the Emergent Women’s Roundbarn ReGathering (which explains the barn part). The what was a group of about 25 women of various ages coming together to encourage one another, tell our stories, and discuss what it means to be a women involved in the emerging conversation. The “official” (whatever that means) description of the event read –

“The Round Barn Re-Gathering is bringing together a group of strong,
gifted, and wise women who love God, and are seeking faithfully to do
God’s will. Each one is an expert in her own right, and possesses
much that can enrich and encourage others. And each wise soul is her
own best teacher, able to learn and discern and grow as she listens
well to the stories of others and hears anew her own story. Over the
next day and a half, we hope to create space and opportunity to do just
that. Using the metaphor, “jeans that fit” we will be sharing our
lives, and inviting one another into a place of listening to our own
souls for fresh inspiration, new insight, and increased strength to
live our lives in ways that honor who God has called us to be.”

Going into this gathering, I honestly didn’t know what to expect. I wanted to trust it because it had the Emergent label, but I also was afraid it would just be a typical women’s retreat. To put it bluntly – I didn’t want to spend my time or money listening to devotional talks that have about as much substance as a Hallmark card. Needless to say, I shouldn’t have been worried. The weekend was a good mix of stories, metaphors, pragmatics, worship, debate and laughter with at least a sprinkling of theology thrown in. While it was touchy-feely and emotional, it was not surfacy or shallow. It was draining and overwhelming, but in a healthy way. And it kicked my butt – in a variety of ways.

As we explored the metaphor of “jeans that fit,” we were able to share and hear stories of how women have struggled to find their fit in the church. I heard stories of blessing and creativity, but more frequently of hurt and pain. The common theme of the group seemed to be ways the church (or individuals in the church) have hurt, manipulated, crushed, and destroyed the women who are just trying to serve God. And these are churches and people who on paper even say that they support the concept of women in ministry. But the weekend didn’t merely dwell on the pain, but explored the paths of healing that many of the women had pursued. We encouraged one another, gave practical suggestions for growth, and brainstormed concrete ways to gain a voice (especially in the Emergent conversation).

I met some wonderful women there and left wishing that such a network of support wasn’t scattered across the whole country. Talk is underway to continue the conversations with other ReGatherings as well as regional gatherings and perhaps even join our voices together in published form. I hope the momentum is not lost and our voices stay strong. The effects of this gathering remain to be seen. What response (if any) will the men of Emergent have to the raising of the female voice? Will we fight to have a voice or give up in despair? I for one am trying to figure out my role and what sort of voice I will have.

I know this is a vague overview of the ReGathering. During the event we had time to journal our responses to the discussions. I hope to blog some of those as well as explore some of the questions this raised in me as I process the event. So for those interested – please stay tuned.

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Invisible Children

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Just wanted to do my part to help inform people about this… There are further links and action steps at the end of the article.

“On April 29th, thousands of people across the country will take a new approach to ending a devastating war abroad – they’ll take it lying down. Invisible Children Inc., an organization committed to ending the war in Northern Uganda where children are forced to fight as soldiers, has organized a Global Night Commute in 136 cities across the country.

On this night, thousands will commute to their cities’ designated location and sleep outside on behalf of the invisible children of Northern Uganda. This event is a plea to the U.S. government to help put an end to this horrific 20-year-long war.

“It’s a moral outrage to see thousands of children that have been abducted, that have been maltreated. They are going through the most horrendous torture by the rebel movement and that same group is now being neglected by the whole international community,” said Jan Egeland, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs. “I cannot find any other part of the world having an emergency on the scale of Uganda with so little international attention.”

The event promises a wide variety of people from celebrities and legislators to activists and authors. Actress Kristen Bell, from the hit show “Veronica Mars” heard about Invisible Children through co-star Ryan Hansen.

“Invisible Children is not only an inspiring movement, but it has forced me to act,” said Kristen Bell. “On April 29th you’ll find me in the streets Night Commuting.”

The start of Invisible Children came in 2003 when three naive filmmakers, from Southern California, flew to Africa in search of a story that would change the world. What they found was a situation in Northern Uganda that disgusted and inspired them. They documented their findings of a 20-year-long war where children are the weapons, and the victims. The result was a film called, “Invisible Children: Rough Cut.” After seeing the impact of their film worldwide, they formed the non-profit Invisible Children Inc.

The organization is dedicated to ending the war in Northern Uganda where children are abducted and forced to fight with the rebel army as child soldiers. For fear of being hunted by the LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army), these children commute on foot every night to find safe places to sleep in their town centers. To date, more than 30,000 children have been abducted and forced into war. That’s why Invisible Children is calling on the world to take a stand.

“The Global Night Commute is an opportunity for Americans to rally with one voice,” said Jason Russell, one of the filmmakers and founders of Invisible Children. “We are asking people to lie down and close their eyes with us for one night, so that we can open the world’s eyes to this unseen war.”

As a media-based company, the filmmakers will create a music video ‘mocumentary’ to encourage people to attend the Global Night Commute. This video will be sent out via Pod cast, a couple weeks before the event. With this video, the filmmakers are pushing the envelope on how aid is perceived in the world. They are grabbing the attention of a younger generation with media that is both funny and touching. This music video is the biggest production to date for the non-profit.

About Invisible Children Inc.

Invisible Children Inc., established in 2004, is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing financial resources to invisible children by documenting their true, untold stories in a creative and relevant way, resulting in positive change. Invisible Children Inc. was formed after the release of the film “Invisible Children: Rough Cut”, which documents a war in Northern Uganda in which children are abducted by a rebel army and forced to fight as child soldiers. The filmmakers for “Invisible Children: Rough Cut”, Jason Russell, Bobby Bailey and Laren Poole, are also the founders of Invisible Children Inc. Currently Invisible Children Inc. employs over 150 people in the war-torn area of Northern Uganda and is putting 300 kids through school, with plans to see that number grow into the thousands. The organization is based in San Diego, California.”

For more information about the Invisible Children film and project click here .
For further information about Uganda and easy action steps you can take visit World Vision’s site here

Another world is possible.

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