Worship Weblog

Iowa City Book Group – Third Meeting

Posted by cicw

Wednesday, December 23rd, 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

Six pastors and lay leaders from three Presbyterian churches in Eastern Iowa met together over lunch at a local restaurant for our final discussion of The Church of All Ages as a group. Our focus was on the remaining chapters, 7 – 9.

Again questions were sent out in advance to generate our discussion of this final portion of the book.

Our discussion began with the quote from Stan Mast in relationship to worship that captures the minds and hearts of teens. We broadened this to include people of all ages, including non-Christians. Most of us were in agreement with what Mast asserts, but added several thoughts from experiences we have had in congregations we have either served or been a part of.

• While effective and passionate leadership is good, the passion of the congregation is also highly necessary. (Kyle, St. Andrew)

• Passion is key to transforming acts of worship (liturgy, music, the “script”) into heart-filled responses to God’s grace. (Michael, One Ancient Hope)

• Worship needs to be God-centered, not me-centered. (Helenka, First Presbyterian)

• People need to be open to what is happening in worship and willing to do what is asked of them. (Patti, St. Andrew)

• The leadership needs to foster an environment that is participatory, and not expect the congregation to be engaged/responsive if they have established a “spoon-fed” worship culture. (Michael)

• Even if there is no evidence of outer acts of response, it is necessary for people’s inner participation to be happening. People can be engaged through acts of prayer, wrestling with the Word spoken, or responding to a musical offering without having any outward expressions happen. (Kyle)

Our discussion then moved to educating our congregation about worship. The challenge, it seems, is how to encourage that “inner response” to what is happening in worship, and to nurture a holistic approach to our faith – worship being not just a single weekly event, but our response to all of what God is doing in our midst.

• Small groups could be very beneficial to share our experiences in worship and how it has affected our lives. (Helenka)

• This past Sunday I took time prior to the Eucharist to explain a bit of the depth of what happens during communion. Many people responded afterward of how that assisted their understanding and, in turn, deepened their experience. (Michael)

• Many people sitting in our congregations do not have the knowledge or background in the meaning of worship or the sacraments. If the sacraments are in fact God’s grace made visible, then it is all the more important for people to experience them more tangibly. (Kyle)

Our focus went on to the importance of relationships with in our communities, especially within individual families. Parental involvement in their children’s faith formation is critical. That can be extended to the whole congregation – as promised in the baptismal liturgy.

• We publish the weekly sermon text and a snippet of the theme and direction of the sermon for the upcoming Sunday. It is hoped people (including families) will use this to prepare for worship. Following worship, our community gathers into small groups to share in a meal, discuss the sermon, and pray for one another. No age barriers! (Michael)

• Many things get in the way of healthy interaction with each other. Our lives have become so frantic – filled with activity upon activity in the name of experiencing it all. I wonder if in an effort to add creativity to our worship, it only becomes another source of busyness. (Kyle)

• Our congregation (a new church of approximately 60 people) intentionally does not hold Sunday School so that time can be spent in worship, nurturing relationships with each other, and reaching out to the community. It places a higher responsibility on parents to educate their children. (Michael)

• During the fellowship time following worship at our church, I’ve noticed a polarization of ages and “classes” of people. How do we get different generations to interact? (Helenka)

• We are attempting to create a culture of transparency so that people can learn from each other, and see that they are not alone in their struggles. (Michael)

I wonder how we can create a setting for people to share snapshots of their lives with each other, enabling a sense of belonging to each other. Through these conversations, people may be able to further connect on a deeper level with shared life experiences, allowing them to seek and find others who can perhaps offer a word of advice or encouragement. (Kyle + James, St. Andrew)

Our discussions of The Church of All Ages have helped us all broaden our understanding of intergenerational worship, and how the idea of “intergenerational” really expands beyond the boundaries of worship to our daily relationships and interactions of lives shared together in Christ.

As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. -Colossians 3:12-17

Tags: bgiowacity, Book Groups 2009, intergenerational