From Services to Service
As I mentioned in an earlier post, we need to shift the principal focus and locus of Christian commitment away from Sunday morning to every morning, to every day, to life itself. One way of breaking ground in this tough transition from event-based Christianity to lifestyle Christianity is to emphasize that attendance at worship services should lead to personal and familial acts of service. In other words, our worship of our God should lead to living for our God by “loving our neighbors as ourselves.”
In fact, the basic shape of liturgical worship is organized around this premise. The congregation – mostly scattered from each other during the week – gathers together to remember who they are, to acknowledge the divine Other, and to be strengthened for service by Word and sacrament. Traditionally, it is the deacon, who is an icon of servant hood (more on that here), who dismisses with the congregation with a charge to “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.” Unfortunately, we could, to fit popular attitudes, change the dismissal to something like “Thank God it’s over!” or “See you next Sunday” or “Religious obligation done for this week” etc.
Communal worship is where God’s people are gathered together and then sent out as individual and familial “lights of the world” into their neighborhoods, schools, and jobs, as well as their family and friendship circles. After a week of living for Christ most of us have had some failures, have taken a hit or two or experienced some amazing moments of grace. It is then high time to return from our scattered lives to be gathered once again as the people of God. This cycle of being gathered and being sent can be found in the life of Jesus and in many the great renewal movements of Church history (As an aside, Dominican spirituality is particularly modeled after this pattern of gathering and sending, contemplation and proclamation).
What can we do in our worship services to highlight this reality?
- You will find in some churches the following sign above their exit-ways, “You are now entering the mission field (see here).” I imagine the effect of this sign depends in large part on the frequency of that congregation’s teaching, witness, and preaching regarding the call to Christian service.
- There are some congregations that are canceling their regular services one or more times a year to engage in volunteerism and service in their community (see here). I think this is on the right track, though there are some subtle dangers in the cancelling of worship services for other (more?) "worthy causes.”
- Perhaps a series of testimonies/faith stories from individual congregants that highlight the connection between worship and their service to others throughout the week
What ideas do you have?
Dear Br. Kevin,
ReplyDeleteQuickly in response and I want to think about it some more.(I've been paying close attention to the previous posts and listening to learn more) However, I like "Perhaps a series of testimonies/faith stories from individual congregants that highlight the connection between worship and their service to others throughout the week"
It reminds me of a very (if not one of the most)
important parts of AA. Meetings, Meetings, Meetings...We get together and share for our mutual benefit...'this is how I live my life out-there'... we share our experience, strength and hope with one another. This way we learn new ways and affirm old ways of our living. Then we go out and live that way.
Also...a sign above the church door like the 'Fighting Irish' that they jump-up and slap before going onto the field. It reads (?) 'Play like Champion today.'. I suggest that our sign
read "Live like Jesus today!"
I agree with Br. Gordon that personal faith testimonies are very powerful, yet, we have little opportunity in worship to do this. A couple of weeks ago, Father Kevin followed the sermon with a bit of discussion. We were all shy. I think this was not so much that we had nothing to say, rather, it was just something new.
ReplyDeleteA couple of Sunday's ago I presented a challenge to the congregation to tell at least three people about what God has done for you. I'd like to hear if anyone followed up on that, and if so, what happened.
Perhaps one thing we need to be better at doing is following up with messages from the previous week. How did that sermon, lesson, etc. impact folks in life as it is lived? How did God make a difference in your life this week?
As I was checking other blogs I noticed this entry from Methodist Ecumenical News about Gifts from the Treasure Trove. http://ecumenicalissues.blogspot.com/2011/06/gifts-from-treasure-trove.html
ReplyDeleteThe blog contains pdf links to leaflets for discussing gifts we receive from others.
A post worship discussion seems like a very appropriate way to hear testimonies and ways of implementing our faith in the coming week.
Sister Pam,
ReplyDeleteI do know of at least one person who told me after worship on Sunday that they had taken your challenge seriously and had made an effort to share their faith (plant a seed).
I also agree with the comments about their not being enough faith stories shared on a regular basis, both in worship and other venues (newsletters, etc.)
Good thoughts so far.
I would not want to see the mass turned into a discussion period. Yet, there is a way to make this work...if we get over the notion of Sunday worship being going to the service for one hour and then leaving or socializing. Have a parish meeting before mass, for example, and share faith experiences, each at his own comfort level. Then all go together to the mass. This should bring everyone together more for the common act of worship and also make it more meaningful to each individual. This could alternatively be done after the mass.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I discuss a lot of these issues in my new book, An Incidental Priest, available on Amazon. You can read what people are saying about it by clicking on my name on this post. I would like to encourage each of you to read the book. For some, it might seem "too catholic," but nevertheless, the message is still there. It deals with a lot of what is discussed on this blog and what a lot of you want. It is about how one person with faith can make a tremendous difference in the world and the lives of others.
ReplyDeleteThose who want to live as true Christians in the modern age should find it time well spent and a good spiritual booster shot (only without the needle!)
Proceeds from book sales go to the Church.