Another Perspective on Worship for the 21st Century

Photo comes from a stole of the many hands who help us in our professional work:  https://www.pinterest.com/pin/24277285469414640/

     Sunday, June 26 2016’s Sunday Morning worship at the Unitarian Universalist Association’s General Assembly has had people talking!  Rev. Nancy McDonald-Ladd preached an inspiring sermon that had the attendee’s shouting her praises and shouting joy for an on pointe message.   As my colleague Pat Infante stated on Facebook:  “Rev.  Nancy McDonald Ladd knocks it out of the park at ‪#‎uuaga‬!.”

     I watched the service online (http://www.uua.org/ga/off-site/2016/worship/sunday).  It was a great message.  It was one of those messages that takes the nonverbalized feelings many of us carry deep within us and puts words to it in such a way that we say, “Yes, that is it!  You have articulated something that I have felt for a long time.”

I was moved by her message. 

     I was also moved by the spiritual leadership and poetry of Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout who served as music leader and co-worship leader for this Sunday morning experience (check out his poem god is no noun at http://www.questformeaning.org/quest-article/god-no-noun/)   Dr. Rideout had the presence to bring us all closer to the holy.  In every word he spoke and every movement he made, I watched a transcendence that I rarely see on Sunday mornings.

     One of the most poignant and yet spontaneous examples of this leadership occurred when there was an electrical feedback through the microphone.  He paused for a moment and said, “What a beautiful thing it is that we create worship together that even makes the microphone want to sing.”  Then he went on to ask all of those worshiping to note how quickly this loud moment of feedback was taken care of.  In this he thanks the many hands and we should honor all of those who were making this morning’s worship a holy worship.

     Amen.

     Collaboration and honor of all of those who do so much work behind the scenes is a valuable part of our church experience.  Church has always run on the success of many hard working hands but I believe that collaborative ministry is moving closer to the center of vital church community than ever before.  Why is this so?  Because in our search for something greater – in our search for the holy, we find it in relationship with other people and with our world. 

     Thank you Dr. Rideout for lifting up the collaborative effort of this worship experience.  I would dare say that part of the holy was there because the congregants – who had no official duty- were involved in the service with their singing, their clapping and their shouts of joy!  Rev. McDonald-Ladd’s sermon was even more powerful because the congregants participated in the sermon conversation.  If you watched the streamed version of this service, you will see what I mean. 

      To go deeper, I have another thought that has been a part of my reflection this week.  The accolades Rev. McDonald-Ladd received during the days following the worship service were too many to count.  Facebook was peppered with many postings praising her for her on pointe message.  Rightfully so -it was a great sermon and it was delivered with passion.  I have thought about the success of this message inline with an unspoken and misunderstood emptiness that a growing number of church folk feel.  People have been leaving the churches of the United States in vast numbers – Unitarian Universalists are no different.  I have heard many a parishioner say, “I come to church for a good Sunday morning message.  If it is not a good preacher, I would rather do something else.” 

     Those who attended the Sunday morning worship at GA on June 26^th got an excellent, inspiring message.  For many, it is exactly why they come.  But in the broader picture, is this not like craving sugar when what your body really needs is water?  We do not always get such a moving message.  And honestly, I believe that if we did, we would soon tire of it.  So, how are we going to re-hydrate our “holy” existence?  How are we going to be engaged in church so that we find true nurturing in engagement with people and world? 

     Just as mentioned by Dr. Rideout, worship takes many hands.  I believe that reaching holy places also takes many hands.  Church is changing and it time for us to work collaboratively to find new models.  I believe that worship is shifting from its central place in church to a vital sideline activity in church life.  I further believe that worship is a needed component of church but only an outpouring of praise and conviction that is powered by the collaborative work of its members.  Every congregation must identity their "work" and then identify the way they will act it out.  This may seem like a daunting task.  I believe it is exciting work!  Each of us has the opportunity to play a vital role in the Re-creation of ministry.  It will be exciting to see what creative models will emerge.

     My question for reflection:  How can the church of the 21-st century engage so that we are a part of a vibrant 21st-century church? 

     Important note:  Even though the worship service mentioned in this blog was for a Unitarian Universalist audience, it fits well with all Christian denominations and people of faith.  That is also true for this discussion on the present and future vitality of church.  Even if you are not UU, I hope you will reflect and engage with the question.