Lo, the winter is past,
the rain is over and gone...
Or perhaps just beginning! Lent winding down, Holy Week approaching, Easter and Eastertide after that...
I know at least one of us here has had or will soon have a new beginning in ministry shortly (Matt, that would be you, right?).
This would be a great time to share the new beginning each of you has planned, or perhaps has stumbled onto, or perhaps has simply discovered emerging in the midst of your place of ministry...
Peace in Christ,
Taylor
2 comments:
Yep, you got me, Taylor. I'm a few weeks into my new beginning. We've been fairly successful thus far, with between 70 and 80 folks each week, a number of them being new visitors.
Part of our intention with The Gathering has been to make a very participatory worship experience. It's something you hear a lot but few people seem to deliver on it. Among the elements that make it participatory are the first 15 minutes being fellowship time, an antiphonal Psalm reading, personal reflection time after the homily, corporate prayer where anyone may speak up, and weekly communion. I'm slowly trying to integrate some of the new folks that are comfortable doing so in leading parts of the service. I'm still trying to discern ways to make folks feel more involved, so any suggestions anyone has would be greatly appreciated.
Cedar Grove is beginning a new (for us) house church for and by young people (mostly teens but also some 20-30s). Meeting in a home lets them/us be autonomous from the 60-70s and the grip of tradition that can sometimes be a blessing but other times an obstacle or burden. We are dreaming that this is an entry for more 'emergent' type worship and ministry (and the only place that apparently will agree to weekly eucharist) that then, hopefully, can be gradually introduced into the more traditional members' experience. Good things! And, congrats and good luck, Matt.
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