After the Watershed
Categories: uncategorized
Date: 03 May 2012 14:36:24
Sunday's accreditation service was slightly different to many circuit services locally - in that there were a large number of under 45's present. I know this wasn't just my perception - I heard it explicitly commented upon by somebody who seemed quite pleased he wasn't one of the youngest for once.
That together with seeing Third Party grow up into a young woman who is very definitely a part of the church of the present as well as a part of the future has got me thinking - where is the church going and how do we make worship accessible for people of all ages?
How do we simultaneously: honour and respect "third-agers" who I really believe benefit from having their worship needs met through songs and hymns which come from a time gone by and use of liturgy and structure which they feel comfortable with; include those of my generation whose memories are linked to the good, bad and down right theologically awful songs of the late '70's - mid '90's and whose default mechanism has often been the use of Celtic chill out; as well as reaching out to the digital generation who often have the attention span of the average gnat and who thrive on variety and want lively stuff but also often have an unacknowledged love of the very traditional ? This is a particularly important question for local preachers who move around churches and who are likely to need to be able to adapt not only to the varying needs of the congregation which contains all groups but who also needs to be able to plan services suited to specific churches which might be dominated by one or more group. Additionally - there is the problem of how do we then seek to facilitate worship which is appropriate for and ready to include anybody who happens to come in who isn't theologically literate and get it to connect with our local communities?
Whilst I have a few ideas I don't have the answers which is why I have been excited to have heard, over the last couple of months, about a conference which is coming up in November - Connected Worship.
I'm flagging it up here because I know that I'm not the only local preacher or worship leader around these parts and so wanted to share it with people who perhaps have not opened the email or who might not be familiar with any of the contributors (I've heard a couple of them in the past and rate them very highly). So the flyer for the conference that has come through is as follows:
Connected Worship 2012
Creating worship that connects with culture, with contexts and with God – a conference for local preachers and worship leaders
Connected Worship 2012, a conference for local preachers and worship leaders. Through this exciting new event we aim to equip, encourage and inspire local preachers and worship leaders in their ministry, particularly focusing on reaching and engaging others within a local context. The conference will take place over a weekend 2-4 November 2012 in Warrington, Cheshire. We will be using venues around Warrington, including The Pyramid and Bold Street Methodist Church, to help engage with issues of preaching the Word in local situations, connecting with local culture, and leading worship in different times and places. The conference will begin on the evening of the 2nd, and formally finish in the afternoon of the 4th. The local circuit invite you to stay for their celebration and circuit service on the Sunday evening.
Sessions at the conference will include:
· the challenge of mission and preaching in the twenty-first century
· a guided session on reflective practice alongside a growing Fresh Expression of Church
· streamed workshops: Preaching / worship leading / mission contexts
· space to retreat and meet other preachers and worship leaders
· bookshop and marketplace of resources.
Contributors include:
· The Revd Dr Roger Walton
· Ron Willoughby
· The Revd Joanne Cox
· The Revd Helen Cameron
· The Revd Stephen Hancock
Further information, including booking information, can be found at the Connnected Worship 2012 webpage.