The promise (threat?) of 'All age worship' can send the shivers down the collective spine of many a congregation, but it was a joy for me this week to worship in my church as part of my congregation beside my wife and child and enjoy every minute of what was going on as well. There were lots of balloons and bright colours in the church and many people came (they had been primed the week before) dressed in liturgically appropriate red clothes. We had puppets exploring what the power of God might mean for us all, we had pass the parcel presents to unwrap, (and the chance to share the gift within) we had children with windmills rushing round the church making loud whooshing noises, and so enthusiastic were they that they actually managed to put out the 'unputoutable' candles there to represent the fire of Pentecostal Spirit. We're trying not to think too hard about the symbolism there!
But there was space too for prayer and scripture reading and an excellent reflection by Ian, our student from the South Wales Baptist College, http://www.swbc.org.uk/ He based it round the poem written on the Holy Spirit by Kim Fabricius in his book Propositions on Christian Theology. (He didn't know it at the time but a nice bridge to my reflections on poetry this Sunday)
The poem is copied below but all in all what a wonderful day to belong to a fellowship of people so inspired by the creative Spirit of God, so thanks to Sarah and Ian and Daniel, Louise and John, John, Paige and Peter and lots of other people, (sorry if I've missed your name out) including the musicians at Calvary Baptist Church who gave their pastor one of the best presents he can wish for ....
no not a Sunday where he doesn't have to do anything,
but a Sunday where worship was creative, provocative and inspiring.
Thank you
and the poem was this:
Holy Spirit, sudden gust
and darting tongue of flameone whose presence is a must
or worship's limp and lame,
as we gather here to meet
come and sweep us off our feet
where we're cold, turn up the heat,
it's new creation time!
Holy Spirit, gentle dove
all animating breath
you bear fruit in peace and love,
you bring life out of death
draw together those apart
with your reconciling art,
stimulate the stony heart -
it's new creation time.
Holy Spirit, one of three,
the God who goes between,
you declared the Jubilee
through God the Nazarene,
through the Church communicate
words and deeds that liberate,
and the world will be a fete -
it's new creation time!
2 comments:
Interesting that you observe how many people view "all-age" worship with dread.
I think there may be many reasons for this. One is simply the fact that folk are comfortable with worship as they have grown up with it, and don't embrace change.
However, those of us who promote inclusive worship need to ask whether part of the dread comes from the fact that "all-age" worship isn't anything of the kind. More often than not, it is children's worship in which adults have little or no involvement. As such, it frequently does represent the dreaded 'dumbing down.'
Clearly, what you did on Sunday sought to be genuinely inclusive.
Sounds absolutely fantastic to me. Ticked all the boxes for good all-age worship, pushed a few boundaries (or at least made people push their own a bit)and allowed spirit-refreshment. Fantastic!
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