Emerging Experience

Last night I had my first real bonified emerging church worship experience. It's interesting because up to this point the emerging church has been a theory for me. What I have gained from following this conversation hasn't really affected the way I practice, except I suppose, for the fact that I haven't been practicing corporate worship regularly for quite some time.

Tiffany, the girls, and I attended the Worship Freehouse at The Refinery. My first impression that I had once we got there was that this was not like any church service I had ever been to. Instead of pews there were couches. There was a big canvas on the floor, which I later learned is called a mandala, and a projector was displaying cool images onto an improvised screen.

Everybody was really friendly and one of the highlights for me was being able to meet some of the bloggers whose work I have enjoyed. Jordon and Wendy Cooper, and Rebekah Bennetch were all in attendance and it was great to be able to put a face to the names.

Almost without warning the worship began. It was very casual, much like the rest of the evening without any real call to order or ceremony. I found it interesting that even though I am very interested in exploring alternative worship styles, in new surroundings were I felt uncomfortable part of me longed for the familiar, if only for a moment. I could tell Tiffany was feeling the same way as she shot me a "what have you gotten me into" look.

This got me thinking a bit about theology (shocking I know). How people cling to the familiar in their walk with God because doing so means they can avoid discomfort. I don't think God is really interested in helping us avoid discomfort. While Jesus isn't a sadist interested in watching us suffer, He understands that the growth that comes from periods of discomfort is worth it.

But I digress.

After we began to worship God through singing I suddenly became very comfortable. There were readings and meditations which I enjoyed listening to and reflecting on. Tiffany and the girls became involved in some of the visual art stations that were set up. We all were blessed by the experience.

The chief concerns I've heard raised by critics of the emerging church are based on orthodoxy (or the lack thereof) in this segment of Christianity. What I can tell you is that the message I heard last night was very orthodox in it's tone, even if the presentation of it wasn't.

This morning I find myself wishing that the Freehouse happened more than once a month. I could really get into worshipping this way.

technorati tags: Christianity, emerging church

A reminder

The Freehouse is this Sunday night.  Worship, mandala, coffee, discussion, and a lot of creating together.

Technorati Tags : Saskatoon, worship, worship.freehouse, Christianity

Andrew Jones to the American emerging church

Andrew Jones has this to say to the American emerging church.

I have been listening to the latest wave of criticism against the emerging-missional church in USA and I don't know if i am more angry with the critics for getting it so wrong, or angry at emerging church practitioners for either not communicating the heart of what we (the global emerging-missional church) are doing . . or not knowing it in the first place.

Technorati Tags : Andrew+Jones, Tall+Skinny+Kiwi, chuch, emerging+church, theology

Andrew Jones to the American emerging church

Andrew Jones has this to say to the American emerging church.

Technorati Tags : Andrew+Jones, Tall+Skinny+Kiwi, chuch, emerging+church, theology

Imago Dei :: February 19th

Imago Dei is an interactive worship installation hosted by the worship.freehouse on February 19th at 7:00 p.m.

It is the fusion of music, liturgy, art, and discussion as we explore the image of God in the first of a series of worship gatherings looking at our relationship with God, others, and our world.

We will be at a brand new location in the Refinery Art and Spirit Centre at 609 Dufferin Avenue (map). If you have never been there, it is right behind Victoria School, just off Broadway Avenue by five corners.

Technorati Tags : worship+freehouse, alternative+worship, worship, Saskatoon, The+Refinery

Oprah's world vs. our world.

Courtesy of the vast research staff over at Beyond Magazine, this may be the best Jon Stewart clip ever.

 

Technorati Tags : Jon+Stewart, James+Frei, Oprah

The Resonate Soapbox

Just a note to those readers of you who care passionately about theology, the church, and the emerging church conversation, the Resonate Soapbox weblog has been tweaked and redesigned.  The posting has picked up as well so if you are interested, check out the discussion from a Canadian perspective over there.

Technorati Tags : Resonate, blogging, emerging+church