"This is a jazz church ... Not just improvisation, but jazz in the sense that jazz pulls in all styles of music. You have to listen to everything. You become a better player. It comes out in your music."
— p. 247 in Christianity for the Rest of Us
1. How might your congregation respond if your minister preached a sermon like Bruce Freeman's? As a community, do you welcome change? Fear it? Avoid it?
2. What do you think about the possibility of your congregation experiencing metanoia?
3. Of the churches described in this chapter, which would you most like to join? Why?
4. If your church was not called by its current name (for example, "First Presbyterian," "Our Savior," or "St. Mary's"), what might it be called? Pick a name that fits with its identity and share with the group the reasons for choosing it.
3 comments:
1. How might your congregation respond if your minister preached a sermon like Bruce Freeman's? As a community, do you welcome change? Fear it? Avoid it?
It is difficult to even think of someone leaving our church a million dollars. I don’t think that a sermon encouraging change (other than from sin) and opening itself to a larger community would be received very well. A couple of years ago, the minister being considered to fill a vacancy was denied it because of his changes (leaving the pulpit and walking around the congregation when preaching and talking to individual children instead of just blessing them during communion) that several prominent members found disturbing. Change is definitely not welcomed, but I don’t know if this is because of fear or desire to avoid changes.
2. What do you think about the possibility of your congregation experiencing metanoia?
Possible, but highly unlikely.
3. Of the churches described in this chapter, which would you most like to join? Why?
Saint Mark Lutheran Church would have a familiar background for me since it is Lutheran and I love the atmosphere described in which the church feels like a village square. The outreach with book events and special speakers provided by Holy Communion as well as its welcoming approach with the symbolism of the circle also appeals to me. The mission of serving the poor in the community, the concert series, labyrinth walks, and book groups of Epiphany appeal to me, but given my preference of avoiding large city traffic would not be a good choice for me. I love the idea of the church as being “an adventure into creating authentic spiritual community”.
4. If your church was not called by its current name (for example, "First Presbyterian," "Our Savior," or "St. Mary's"), what might it be called? Pick a name that fits with its identity and share with the group the reasons for choosing it.
I’m brain dead on this one.
1. My congregation would listen politely, then let it fall by the wayside if they didn't like the changes. They welcome change if it doesn't directly involve them taking a public and active role in making change happen. We are, for the most part, an older and set-in-our-ways congregation.
2. I think there is little chance of my congregation at Ashland Terrace Christian Church experiencing "metanoia" because too many in the congregation are satisfied being tourists with little interest in becoming pilgrims. Pastor Brad works very hard to nurture all of us toward transformation, but it just might be too late for us as a community.
3. I would like to join Calvin Presbyterian, the Jazz Church because I like the idea of going "organic," faith practices that are natural and internal, the listening to God.
4. I would rename it to reflect our strengths of mission, hospitality, and focus on the Lord's Table, something like the One Table Welcoming Missionary Community.
Since I don't have a congregation, I will just answer some of the questions.
Holy Communion in Memphis would be the church that I would want to join.
I like their openness to all and their deep interest in monastic prayer.
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