Presbymergent in Rural Areas or Small Towns
Wednesday, September 10th, 2008 • Related • Filed Under
Someone emailed in asking if there are any presbymergent communities in more rural areas or smaller town. Does anyone have any ideas on churches that exist in this context who are doing some creative ministry and might associate with presbymergent?
Comment by David on 10 September 2008:
I don’t know HOW rural you are talking about, but in our smallish community of 33k, we’re in an agricultural base in western illinois. I think we’re doing some creative things and they seem to be working. If anyone has any questions, they may feel free to contact me!
Thanks,
David Parker
Galesburg, IL
Comment by Susan Phillips on 28 September 2008:
I serve a church of 8k in Wisconsin and have been moving toward more participatory worship which incorporates art, ritual, meditation, conversation & movement. We’ve been at it for 8 years now — we still have trouble clapping in rhythm, we still struggle to get over our discomfort at inviting others. I’m having a great time designing this kind of integrated worship for teens in our Presbytery and am moving toward doing more of it. My question is how to move church folks faster? Not all of us can start NCD. Some of us have to commit ourselves to the work of transformation, but it is slow…
http://www.shawanopres.org
Comment by David Moon-Wainwright on 13 October 2008:
I just finished a CE course on Established Church/Emerging Church with Ed White at Union Richmond. I served a small and getting smaller congregation in a town of 5k. I hope to incorporate some things in our regular services, but am also considering doing something else that maybe even gathers elsewhere. Waiting for Spirit direction…
Peace, David
Comment by Melissa Lynn DeRosia on 30 October 2008:
David, thank you. Waiting for the Spirit direction is where I am at in this process. I serve congregation in a town of about the same size. There is movement of the Spirit that is wonderful here, but God is calling… for something. Tell me more about some of the things you are incorporating into worship.
Comment by David Moon-Wainwright on 30 October 2008:
Well, I just got back Tuesday and am looking at Advent right now. As one who generally follows the Lection I find Advent the most difficult season with an older congregation as they want to prepare for Christmas by singing lots of Christmas Carols right away, etc. So this year I want the season to be more of a dialog that relates to the folks where they are. So instead of eschatological second coming service for the first Sunday of Advent, we’ll be preparing the physical space as the service. Then we’ll prepare within our selves. Then, preparing within the community (going out caroling or something else?) Those are my thoughts thus far, but have yet to talk to other folks about this direction.
Within the services, I do hope to add times for silence, allowing for the Spirit to speak without my voice. I’ve been impressed with the Episcopal services where time after prayers and sermon are left in silence for people to BE with God.
I think recapturing the disciplines is the best bridge for my congregation: so meditation, fasting and alms is where we’re headed. Troy Bronsink’s essay in “An Emergent Manifesto” talks about this and his take on Henri Nouwen “… discipline means, ‘the effort to create some space in which God can act.’” (p. 72) has really resonated with me and is the direction which I believe God is leading us into.
Thanks for asking! Peace, David