Comments on: Presbymergent in Rural Areas or Small Towns http://presbymergent.org/2008/09/10/presbymergent-in-rural-areas-or-small-towns/ Loyal Radicals Sat, 19 Jun 2010 14:21:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: David Moon-Wainwright http://presbymergent.org/2008/09/10/presbymergent-in-rural-areas-or-small-towns/comment-page-1/#comment-2209 David Moon-Wainwright Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:10:00 +0000 http://presbymergent.org/?p=286#comment-2209 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 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

]]> By: Melissa Lynn DeRosia http://presbymergent.org/2008/09/10/presbymergent-in-rural-areas-or-small-towns/comment-page-1/#comment-2208 Melissa Lynn DeRosia Thu, 30 Oct 2008 11:39:00 +0000 http://presbymergent.org/?p=286#comment-2208 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. 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.

]]> By: David Moon-Wainwright http://presbymergent.org/2008/09/10/presbymergent-in-rural-areas-or-small-towns/comment-page-1/#comment-2181 David Moon-Wainwright Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:00:18 +0000 http://presbymergent.org/?p=286#comment-2181 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 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

]]> By: Susan Phillips http://presbymergent.org/2008/09/10/presbymergent-in-rural-areas-or-small-towns/comment-page-1/#comment-2139 Susan Phillips Mon, 29 Sep 2008 04:16:10 +0000 http://presbymergent.org/?p=286#comment-2139 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... www.shawanopres.org 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

]]> By: David http://presbymergent.org/2008/09/10/presbymergent-in-rural-areas-or-small-towns/comment-page-1/#comment-2118 David Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:46:36 +0000 http://presbymergent.org/?p=286#comment-2118 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 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

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