The sabbatical was a blessing, which I truly treasured and enjoyed. The blog is not over, though! Now, at the end of three months of reading, thinking, praying, and resting, I decided I should coalesce many of my thoughts into broader conclusions. Here are some of them. Chad
The liturgy of Eucharist, as an order throughout Christian history, distills to four elements: Word, table talk, prayer, Meal.
Be mindful of the pattern (the form, the vessel) of liturgy and embrace the many possibilities with which to follow the pattern (to flesh out the form, to fill the vessel.)
Be mindful of what parts of the liturgy are almost always necessary, and what are dispensable.
For example, the Great Thanksgiving and Eucharistic prayer combination has a more central place in worship historically and functionally than the Canticle of Praise.
We always hear scripture, but which ones? All or some from the RCL? Another lectionary? Omit some, keep others?
Context and tradition matter, but they are not binding.
The traditions we have inherited come from many sources. Many times, elements of our liturgy suited specific needs for a local congregation. (For example, the Kyrie eleison as part of the 4th century Roman procession from basilica to basilica.)
I think we can be flexible yet intentional every Sunday with how we organize our worship.
Words matter! What are the texts we are singing, praying, and hearing?
Liturgy is formative. Lex orandi, lex credendi. (As we pray, so we believe.)
Be mindful of a tension between a desire to be creative or pragmatic and a desire to establish pattern and memory.
Establish a formative pattern? For example, use the Kyrie every Sunday for a significant period of time (i.e. a season) and from the same setting.
Worship should be authentic. Embrace and use the gifts of the local assembly. Let the liturgy tell something about ourselves.
First Lutheran: care for creation: hospitality to all; missionary spirit; love for art, music, poetry, drama; intellectual curiosity; service to community, others?
We should take time to educate our members about worship.
Once a month sessions in the chapel following worship?
One confirmation class?
Monday morning study of the biblical texts that form liturgy?
HYMNS and hymn selection
Words matter!
1) Identify a core of hymns appropriate to our setting, context, tradition and desires.
a. Repeat these hymns often.
b. Review the core and add and subtract to the list as time passes.
2) Identify hymns that tell the story, in contrast to hymns that curve inward upon our own story. Sing these more often than other hymns.
a. Hymns of personal piety have a place in worship, but in a society already consumed with a focus upon the individual self, we should do more proclaiming than reflecting.
b. Hymns should express our worldview as Christians.
3) Seek to balance these four kinds of music that illustrate ways of knowing God:
a. Music of majesty
b. Music of meditation
c. Music of meeting
d. Music of memory (This is where hymns such as Precious Lord, Take My Hand or What a Fellowship, What a Joy Divine fit into the picture.)
