Worship Weblog

Mechanicsville Book Group – First Meeting

Posted by cicw

Friday, November 6th, 2009

Book Groups

We invited 34 book groups across the U.S. and Canada to meet and discuss The Church of All Ages and its implications for their worship, and to share their notes here.
Learn more

Four Presbyterian pastors and a music director met at B&N to discuss our reading. One participant was unable to attend this first meeting. Four very different PC(USA) churches were represented. We began by introducing ourselves and sharing about the worship in our home churches as well as about worship styles familiar to us.

At least two of the churches represented are in the process of revamping their worship and all of the leaders present indicated they were making adjustments to worship. Reading “The Church of All Ages” and the discussion following will inform and influence these changes. Discussion began on the definition of “intergenerational worship” especially around the terminology that all ages are equally important to worship. Whatever the language and however you understand the meaning of “intergenerational worship”, the group seemed to agree that all ages should be equal participants in the worship of God.

In discussing the “rights of children” (p.7) it was observed that there is more freedom for children to be children in worship today and more freedom for those who are there. Memories of sitting very properly in worship as a child were shared. One of the pastors suggested that children are now allowed to be children. It was noted that the children’s time in worship brings a lighter and happier element to the service. Another pastor said that the presence of children keep us from taking ourselves too seriously. One participant reflected that we should all be happy in worship.

Discussing intergenerational worship, it is significant that this does not have to be about the style of worship although we cannot ignore that certain styles draw certain audiences. But, style does not preclude being intergenerational. Being intentionally intergenerational means we must work for the participation of all ages regardless of style; be it traditional, contemporary, meditative, or other style service. It is not the style but the elements within the service that make the difference.

Tags: bgmechanicsville, Book Groups 2009, intergenerational