I was especially inspired by a component of this past weekend's spring meeting of the Southwest Ohio Northern Kentucky Association. Of course, it helped that Shiloh's own Jay McMillen serves as Association chair of the team that developed this particular part of spring meeting. The Church Development Team, that group which Jay chairs, offered a panel discussion entitled "Living the Benediction."
"Living the Benediction" was a presentation of new revitalizing initiatives from three of SONKA's congregation. Philippus UCC in Cincinnati, shared its new ministry of facility utilization that opens the congregation as a resource in its troubled community. Truth and Destiny shared its new ministry to transgender persons and communities, providing a safe and loving environment for shared ministry, service and support. First UCC, Cincinnati, shared its ministry of housing homeless families through a weekend once per month.
Each story was remarkable. One was told from the perspective of what was, for all intents and purposes, a dying congregation. Another was told by a new congregation. The third demonstrated a focus that had begun in the congregation somewhere around fifteen years earlier. In each case, the congregations have been enlivened and re-energized. Their niche ministries have breathed new life into their church and communities.
While I found each of the stories meaningful and exciting, what I most appreciated about the presentation was the basic notion of "Living the Benediction." What does it mean for our congregations to live the benediction? By the way, what is a benediction?
In good liturgical design, there are five essential parts of worship:
We Gather (But we gather in the old life of community and family and vocation)
We Die to the Old Life (We give up the old ways, emptying ourselves)
We Receive New Life (The void in us is filled with God's Word)
We Accept the New Life (We embrace God's Word as course for new life)
We Go Out and Serve in the New Life (We complete God's praise in ministry and service)
Part of that final act of liturgical worship is the "Benediction." In Shiloh's liturgical design, we call it "The Blessing." It is the promise that, as we go forth in ministry and service, God's spirit goes with us, strengthening us and guiding us in paths of faithful service.It is the notion that the congregation goes out to intentionally live out God's Word, God's will, forming God's reign and claiming God's realm.
To live out the benediction means to intentionally act to embody God's Word and will in acts and words that reflect that new life. Congregations like Philippus, First UCC and Truth and Destiny have surely embraced the new life and found ways to live the benediction. What an inspirational approach to telling the good news of what is taking place throughout SONKA! Thanks to the Association's Church Development Team and a great big way to go to our own Jay McMillen!
Now, how is Shiloh "Living the Benediction?" How might this congregation do more to intentionally embrace the new life of Christ?
Monday, April 28, 2014
Monday, April 21, 2014
Easter Hangover
I have an Easter hangover. Unlike the other, unpleasant kind of day-after payback that we suffer for over-indulging, this hangover is distinctly joyous.
This past week was, of course, Holy Week. It ended with a service of Tenebrae, where Jesus lay, dead in the tomb, and the new week started with the startling good news of his Resurrection. Life conquers death. The heavenly virtues of kindness, generosity, forgiveness, grace and mercy are demonstrated to be more powerful that those of human, physical, material contrivance.
The crowd Sunday was tremendous, both large and energetic. There was an infectious vibrancy in the air. The Spirit was surely moving at Shiloh Church. I suppose that any person who attended service here felt exactly that of which I write. It was electric.
I write on the Monday after Easter, sitting in my relatively quiet office, feeling both the sense of excitement from yesterday and the need to return to the mundane tasks of the church after Easter. Worship must be written, Bible studies need to be planned, staff needs to be organized, this coming Sunday's three message need to be built, phones need to be answered and multiple questions need to be addressed.
There remains something in the air, however. There is a vibration, just out of reach of the senses. Even in the course of the mundane, weekly effort of church work, the spirit continues to enliven the multiple settings of ministry and mission. It moves. It infuses. It flows.
Today, the feeling is palpable. It is overt, obvious. Hopefully, the vibrancy of that Easter spirit continues to move in and through even the mundane work to which we are called. Maybe it can show in the smallest of acts, in the humblest ministries, in the most hidden missions, and shine with a light so bright that it overcomes the darkness that sometimes settles around us.
Do you feel it? Is it moving in and through you as well? I sincerely hope that your Easter hangover is as pleasing and powerful as mine is today, and I hope that it shows in every word that your speak and in every act that you take. Let the world see that life has overcome death, even in us.
This past week was, of course, Holy Week. It ended with a service of Tenebrae, where Jesus lay, dead in the tomb, and the new week started with the startling good news of his Resurrection. Life conquers death. The heavenly virtues of kindness, generosity, forgiveness, grace and mercy are demonstrated to be more powerful that those of human, physical, material contrivance.
The crowd Sunday was tremendous, both large and energetic. There was an infectious vibrancy in the air. The Spirit was surely moving at Shiloh Church. I suppose that any person who attended service here felt exactly that of which I write. It was electric.
I write on the Monday after Easter, sitting in my relatively quiet office, feeling both the sense of excitement from yesterday and the need to return to the mundane tasks of the church after Easter. Worship must be written, Bible studies need to be planned, staff needs to be organized, this coming Sunday's three message need to be built, phones need to be answered and multiple questions need to be addressed.
There remains something in the air, however. There is a vibration, just out of reach of the senses. Even in the course of the mundane, weekly effort of church work, the spirit continues to enliven the multiple settings of ministry and mission. It moves. It infuses. It flows.
Today, the feeling is palpable. It is overt, obvious. Hopefully, the vibrancy of that Easter spirit continues to move in and through even the mundane work to which we are called. Maybe it can show in the smallest of acts, in the humblest ministries, in the most hidden missions, and shine with a light so bright that it overcomes the darkness that sometimes settles around us.
Do you feel it? Is it moving in and through you as well? I sincerely hope that your Easter hangover is as pleasing and powerful as mine is today, and I hope that it shows in every word that your speak and in every act that you take. Let the world see that life has overcome death, even in us.
Monday, April 14, 2014
What is Worship?
I was asked on Sunday a very interesting question. It arose in the midst of Shiloh's April Church Council meeting ( for those not steeped in UCC-speak, a Council is a congregation's governing board, usually meeting monthly to conduct the business of the church). A few members of the congregation posted the question through representatives to Shiloh's Council.
The question is this: "What is worship?"
While I was asked only second-handedly, I want to take this week's post to The Shiloh Insider to attempt an answer. What is worship? It occurs to me that worship, like ministry, evangelism and stewardship, is an intentional act of the praise of God.
Worship is the intentional praise of God. It is a verb. It is an act. It is work. More concretely, worship is the intentional praise of God that requires the gathered community to work, act and do. We can draw this type of worship, using an image from the theater:
In passive forms of worship, the characters of the theater of worship look like this:
The Pastor is the actor. She or he does worship.
God is the director, who sets what is to be done and how.
The congregation is the audience to and recipient of worship.
In an active form of worship, the characters of the theater of worship look like this:
The Pastor is the director, ensuring opportunities for praise in the how and what.
The congregation is the cast of actors, doing the work of worship.
God is audience to and recipient of worship.
Worship is intentional, active praise of God.
That definition leaves us wanting, however. How do we praise God? Are there not as many approaches to corporate acts of praise as there are persons in the community? Is praise objective or subjective? Is it an established set of rituals, behaviors and practices, or is the process of praise more intuitive, inductive, creative?
Shiloh attempts to address three distinct styles of the intentional praise of God in its worship life. One of our services meets the needs of those persons and times when persons might prefer a more quiet, uncomplicated opportunity for reflection around and application of God's Word. Another of Shiloh's worship opportunities offers a more traditional weekly experience of the Crucifixion and Resurrection from liturgical structure, seeing that some persons engage in acts of praise within the context of tried and true formulas of relative orthodoxy. Another of Shiloh's services offers an opportunity to praise God in overt, often loud and messy, celebration of God's love and grace.
Shiloh offers three varying weekly opportunities for intentional acts of praise in worship. The 8:30 service offers acts of praise that are introspective, quiet and uncomplicated (which is not to say "easy"). The 10:25 service offers a liturgical experience of Crucifixion and Resurrection, though less formally so than in decades past, for those who prefer a sense of order and orthodoxy. The 7:00 p.m. service is celebratory and is for those who desire praise to be boisterous, fun, uplifting and energizing.
Each worship type offers the opportunity for persons to engage in the work of praise, though the form of that work and praise differs. Each is worship. Each is praise. Each is faithful. Therefore, worship does not always take the same form or meet the same needs, it is not always a set formula of beliefs, statements, behaviors or responses. While expectations of persons may sometimes fall into such solid formulations, worship includes all of these, and more.
Worship is an intentional act of praise, in which Shiloh engages faithfully. I hope that you will join us regularly, or perhaps for the first time this Easter Sunday!
The question is this: "What is worship?"
While I was asked only second-handedly, I want to take this week's post to The Shiloh Insider to attempt an answer. What is worship? It occurs to me that worship, like ministry, evangelism and stewardship, is an intentional act of the praise of God.
Worship is the intentional praise of God. It is a verb. It is an act. It is work. More concretely, worship is the intentional praise of God that requires the gathered community to work, act and do. We can draw this type of worship, using an image from the theater:
In passive forms of worship, the characters of the theater of worship look like this:
The Pastor is the actor. She or he does worship.
God is the director, who sets what is to be done and how.
The congregation is the audience to and recipient of worship.
In an active form of worship, the characters of the theater of worship look like this:
The Pastor is the director, ensuring opportunities for praise in the how and what.
The congregation is the cast of actors, doing the work of worship.
God is audience to and recipient of worship.
Worship is intentional, active praise of God.
That definition leaves us wanting, however. How do we praise God? Are there not as many approaches to corporate acts of praise as there are persons in the community? Is praise objective or subjective? Is it an established set of rituals, behaviors and practices, or is the process of praise more intuitive, inductive, creative?
Shiloh attempts to address three distinct styles of the intentional praise of God in its worship life. One of our services meets the needs of those persons and times when persons might prefer a more quiet, uncomplicated opportunity for reflection around and application of God's Word. Another of Shiloh's worship opportunities offers a more traditional weekly experience of the Crucifixion and Resurrection from liturgical structure, seeing that some persons engage in acts of praise within the context of tried and true formulas of relative orthodoxy. Another of Shiloh's services offers an opportunity to praise God in overt, often loud and messy, celebration of God's love and grace.
Shiloh offers three varying weekly opportunities for intentional acts of praise in worship. The 8:30 service offers acts of praise that are introspective, quiet and uncomplicated (which is not to say "easy"). The 10:25 service offers a liturgical experience of Crucifixion and Resurrection, though less formally so than in decades past, for those who prefer a sense of order and orthodoxy. The 7:00 p.m. service is celebratory and is for those who desire praise to be boisterous, fun, uplifting and energizing.
Each worship type offers the opportunity for persons to engage in the work of praise, though the form of that work and praise differs. Each is worship. Each is praise. Each is faithful. Therefore, worship does not always take the same form or meet the same needs, it is not always a set formula of beliefs, statements, behaviors or responses. While expectations of persons may sometimes fall into such solid formulations, worship includes all of these, and more.
Worship is an intentional act of praise, in which Shiloh engages faithfully. I hope that you will join us regularly, or perhaps for the first time this Easter Sunday!
Monday, April 07, 2014
A Kind Word
I ran a completely unscientific and unexpected experiment this morning that demonstrates the fact that we do not say kind things to people nearly often enough.
First, let me be clear about the intent here. The attempt at making someone's day just a bit better did not begin as an experiment of any kind. Sometime during sleep last night, I decided to message a group of my Facebook friends to let them know that I appreciate them. The selections were completely random. Whoever was on within a designated time received a message from me. To women, the message read, "Want you to know that you are beautiful, inside and out." To the men, it read, "You are a good persons and I am glad to know you."
Fifty such messages were posted, as private messages, in Facebook Messenger.
I received forty-seven responses. The majority of those return messages wondered what had spurred such a comment. Was I sick or dying? Had something happened? What did I know and what is going on? I should admit, I suppose, that it is a fairly rare occurrence for me to make such comment without context or without invitation of some kind. After all, doing so may be considered, at least in my 20-something daughter's parlance, as "creepy."
You are beautiful, inside and out.
You are a good person and I am glad to know you.
Forty-seven discussions followed. Some of these people I have had no discussion with in at least several weeks. Some have not heard from me in a year or so. I do not remember ever having had a discussion with one of those to whom I sent a message.
The universal comment was more than simply "thanks." It was, "I really needed that today (or right now)." Every single person from whom I heard in return said that the brief comment had made a difference in how they will approach their day and how they might be willing to say kind things to others.
It took exactly three minutes to send out fifty Messenger messages. It has taken two hours to field the responses and engage in conversations. I am confident that taking that time will ripple through the vast communities of those to whom I addressed the initial message.
I think that I will try this again tomorrow. Who knows? Maybe saying nice things to people can affect attitudes and moods to the point where others will take up the cause of saying kind things to one another. Maybe we have been working too hard at bringing God's kingdom. Maybe all it takes is a kind word.
Join me?
First, let me be clear about the intent here. The attempt at making someone's day just a bit better did not begin as an experiment of any kind. Sometime during sleep last night, I decided to message a group of my Facebook friends to let them know that I appreciate them. The selections were completely random. Whoever was on within a designated time received a message from me. To women, the message read, "Want you to know that you are beautiful, inside and out." To the men, it read, "You are a good persons and I am glad to know you."
Fifty such messages were posted, as private messages, in Facebook Messenger.
I received forty-seven responses. The majority of those return messages wondered what had spurred such a comment. Was I sick or dying? Had something happened? What did I know and what is going on? I should admit, I suppose, that it is a fairly rare occurrence for me to make such comment without context or without invitation of some kind. After all, doing so may be considered, at least in my 20-something daughter's parlance, as "creepy."
You are beautiful, inside and out.
You are a good person and I am glad to know you.
Forty-seven discussions followed. Some of these people I have had no discussion with in at least several weeks. Some have not heard from me in a year or so. I do not remember ever having had a discussion with one of those to whom I sent a message.
The universal comment was more than simply "thanks." It was, "I really needed that today (or right now)." Every single person from whom I heard in return said that the brief comment had made a difference in how they will approach their day and how they might be willing to say kind things to others.
It took exactly three minutes to send out fifty Messenger messages. It has taken two hours to field the responses and engage in conversations. I am confident that taking that time will ripple through the vast communities of those to whom I addressed the initial message.
I think that I will try this again tomorrow. Who knows? Maybe saying nice things to people can affect attitudes and moods to the point where others will take up the cause of saying kind things to one another. Maybe we have been working too hard at bringing God's kingdom. Maybe all it takes is a kind word.
Join me?
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