something old or something new?

Friday's WSJ's story about the thread of the emergent church referred to as the hip hop church set me to wondering if this is something unique or just today's version of your parent's folk mass or your older sibling's praise service. Since 2 [apparantly middle-aged] pastors (who are probably conservative evangelicals if one can infer by their publishers -Moody Press and IVP) have written a book articulating this contemporary phenomenon (no, I haven't read it, and am therefore not critiquing its content in any way), I'm guessing the latter, since by the time the established church gets around to sanctioning a movement it is usually already moribund.

I've no problem with hip hoppers expressing and exploring their faith in what seems to be their vernacular; the church has been trying to share its words and traditions with the hoi polloi since Luther. I only giggle because each generation has their preferred forms of artistic conveyances, and each one thinks they've invented something truly new: a somewhat shocking, fresh, and devoid-of-meaningless-ritual style of worship. But all group activities, even orgies or meetings of the local anarchist society have ritual, even if those rituals are as simple as gathering and dispersing as a group--we can't function as a group without them. And hey, gathering and dispersing? Aren't those 2 of the essential elements of our age-old liturgical format? Though I won't be ascertaining this first hand, I'd bet that one can (as one can in a praise service) with barely scratching the surface, find the four essential elements of our age old liturgical outline (gathering, word, meal, sending), and that furthermore, there are hip hop stand- ins that function as traditional units of liturgy, e.g. a gathering hymn, a hymn of praise, a sending hymn, etc.

My point? The more things change....? There is nothing new under the sun? Everything old is new again? Yes but even more, since the Christian faith was able to survive and speak to new faces through the folk mass and the praise service, the spirit can surely speak through the incessantly annoying sounds and movements of hip hop, and that we cannot predict when God will do a new thing and speak a new word to us.

say what?

Since I last blogged here, I have become a member of the previously mentioned "default church". They determinedly have no "bells and smells", they do not yet have an organ (tho supposedly one will be shortly forthcoming), the pastor's wife is their de facto church musician[!!!] and as the [almost] deal breaker they offer "traditional", "less traditional" and [evening] "contemporary" services. But they don't seem to be afraid of new or old hymns and liturgical settings, they're enthusiastic singers, their musical worship leaders are discreet and exist to lead rather than to perform (and include a bass recorder), worship times feature short and to-the-point sermons, celebrate eucharist at each and every service and offer the option of the common cup.

One of my pet peeves at my new church is a bit of what I call "dishonest liturgy". I've encountered this same churchly faux pas elsewhere too, but had found it merely amusing until I started hearing it every week. It goes like this: we're sailing along swimmingly through LBW Setting II, right up through the Our Father (and they recite the moldy old version every single week!), when the presider strongly and graciously proclaims "The feast has been prepared! Come to the table! PLEASE BE SEATED!" While this is not quite as perplexing a variant I once observed at a Phila UCC church ("The feast is for you! Come to the table and partake! Please be seated and the ushers will serve you in your seats."), this peculiar quirk ranks right up there on the dishonest liturgy charts with (and I've seen this one quite a few times too) ending the services with the presider saying "Go in peace! Serve the Lord! PLEASE BE SEATED FOR THE PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS", after which the momentum to go peacefully to serve, supposedly enhanced by a rousing sending hymn is most likely lost.

These two examples are really rather funny, and certainly there is no intention to mislead. But it does give some ammunition to the pooh-poohers of liturgical tradition who say that the ritualized forms of worship are "mumbo-jumbo", meaningless rote, going-through-the-motion activities, and ought to remind those of us who treasure the gifts handed down to us that they should be used with great care. If we are not doing exactly what we say we are doing (and I mean 'say' in any way, not just verbally), we are being not only careless, but dishonest and off-putting to those not already in the know. In the case of "the feast has been prepared", this bit of text is not even in the published version of Setting II, but might be a nice and welcoming touch at a gathering small enough for all to commune together, or at one in which members of the congregation commune when they feel like wandering up to the chancel. And as for the "go in peace" boo boo, those pesky announcements just don't fit well anywhere, and perhaps we should simply recognize that most parishioners can read and make an extra effort to ensure that the "Doings at St Somebody's this Week" that is usually included in the worship folder is current, and assume that if Mrs Grace Hope has died on Saturday night word will get around quickly enough.

the default church

Back at the closest church of my faith flavor today--it will now be known as the default church until further notice, and I don't expect to unmask them. Also made advent vespers Wed night, and so far nothing has seriously alarmed me yet. I'm looking forward to chatting with the pastor (I have lots of questions, and always interview potential pastors before joining their flocks) but will probably get more of his attention if I wait til after Christmas now.

Wed night vespers was pleasant. A fair number in attendance, a woman sang the leader part of the service not too badly, and I gave her extra points for eschewing a microphone. They were using the same old-same old 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship Vesper's setting, but as parts of it are quite lovely, and it's not terribly simple to sing, I kept a positive attitude and gave the group a big gold star for enthusiastic participation. Also sang a song that the pastor had written. Looked at the text, and thought, hmm, he's not going for the easy warm fuzzy feeling here. It made me think of the really wonderful Advent song by the Gays "Each Winter as the Year Grows Older," although the tune looked drearily simple and predictable. But when the congregation came to it, the fact that it was simple and predictable served it well, and the group did very well with it. Thumbs up again.

Not a bad worship experience this morning either. Sang the appropriate advent hymns (although the keyboardist/music leader) completely missed the dance character of "On Jordan's Banks" and whoever is responsible for the musical decisions (after 3 visits, I can't figure out who is responsible for making sure the music happens or keeps things organized) doesn't seem to have a grasp of how the music of Taize works best and most effectively. Hey, but at least they're dipping their toes into it.

My two biggest red flags to date are that 1)I can't figure out why they have 2 different worship plans on Sunday morning. I looked at both folders, and wouln't call one "contemporary" and one "traditional", although I'm afraid that maybe they do, and 2) the philosophy/theology behind some of their worship and music practices. Maybe resolutions to these concerns will become apparent when they are able to meet in their new worship space, which should be done before I return.

and a blessed and bright solstice to you!

What's the major hot button for those who call themselves Christians this season? Not bringing relief to the earthquake victims in Pakistan, though we may have written a check for that relief fund. Not making a concerted effort to deal with the detritus of New Orleans, though we may have sent southward some stuff from our last garage cleaning. Staffing the inner city missions and suicide hotlines? Nah. Bringing the good news to the lonely and brokenhearted? Get real--gotta shop.

We're upset that some stores are greeting us with "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas". That some towns, in an effort to elude legal bills that would indubitably be incurred in fighting the ever vigilant ACLU are calling their decorated fir a Holiday Tree, instead of a Christmas Tree. And we're fighting mad that some public schools, under pressure from our omnipotent American God of Political Correctness, have dispensed with all of this season's religious overtones. It's all inane and artificial, both sides of the conflict. To the best of my understanding (and I make no pretence of being a legal scholar), the constitutionally sanctioned doctrine of the separation of church and state was instituted to protect the church from the state, not vice versa, so I see no good reason for anyone to be fussing about that creche in the town park. On the other hand, the church sold out its particular claim on Christmas long ago, when we who purport to live our lives by the church year instead decided to follow popular culture into believing that the Christmas season begins with that mad shopping dash on the day after Thanksgiving. Neither side comes off looking very good in this picture.

In that context, it seems to me ridiculous to me that retail employees (or anyone else we encounter) should at this point greet us with any seasonal greeting beyond "Happy Holidays," acknowledging that Thanksgiving heralds a month-long frenzy of generically festive get-togethers. First of all, as of today, Dec 2, Jews are 13 days away from the beginning of Hanukkah, which Wikipedia says begins on the evening of Dec 15th this year, and Christians are 23 days away from the onset of the 12 days of Christmas. (Do even churches remember that Advent and Christmas are two very distinct seasons? I'm driving by churches, even liturgical churches, and some have their seasonal finery already displayed.)

But there does exist some common ground between popular culture, Jewish tradition and the Church, if we bother to remember it. Constantine, you know, that emperor famous for seeing that vision in the sky that told him to conquer in the sign of the cross, and for legalizing Christianity? To the end of his life, Constantine seemed to have some confusion as to whether he was worshipping the Christian God of Light or the Roman Sun God, perhaps an honest misunderstanding. If we northern hemisphere folks could remember that we are in that long, dreary, short-dayed time of the year, when our bodies crave carbs (usually in the form of cookies and rich cakes) and our psyches more light (which we supply with those little twinkling bulbs adorning anything and everything stationary), we could stop trying to force religious contexts on this long stretch between TDay and Christmas and those twinkling lights on the fir (originally part of pagan, pre-christian celebrations anyway), and simply remember that we are waiting for the return of light along with our pre-christian and pagan ancestors. Pop culture can celebrate those cute little snow babies, the coca cola santa and elves by singing "Jingle Bell Rock" ad nauseum. The Jewish tradition can keep its proper celebration of the Maccabbean miracle of light, and Christians can call the light for which we are waiting and will properly celebrate on Dec 25 "Christ". (A funny, and countercultural thing that Christians celebrate the waiting, the coming, the "advent", but that's the church for you! At its best and most clear, countercultural every time. I'll always love us for that!)

Put up the damned tree and lights already, and call them whatever you like. I'll put up a Christmas Tree on Christmas Eve--if at all. Sing the seasonal ditties that are appropriate for your community and school: certainly there are contexts where "Frosty the Snowman" is more comfortable than "O Come, O Come Emanuel", and I won't be singing "O Come all ye Faithful" before midnight mass on Christmas Eve anyway. Go ahead WalMart employee. Say "Merry Christmas" to me today, and I'll likely stop and lecture you about the church year, and make you practice saying "Richest Advent Blessings" with me. Or maybe "A Joyous Solstice to You", because that light (by whatever name you choose to call it) or temporary lack of it, is really the "reason for the season".

Now. About staffing that soup kitchen. Maybe on Christmas day. How about it?

the best intentions

I've been in Michigan for over a year now, and haven't yet joined a church--way too long to have been away from the communion of the earthly, earthy saints. My method for choosing a church has always been that you go to the church of your chosen or inherited denomination that is closest to home, unless some very compelling reasons force one to range farther. Sort of a nod to the catholic parish system, and an acknowledgement that the church and the community have benificial and inextricable connections. I attended this "closest" church today. This church had been my first reject when I moved here; surely I could find a church with a better organ (actually, any sort of organ), more polished musicians, more attention to the details of worship and a presiding minister that did not feel compelled to remind the congregation on what page of the worship folder they were to be reading/singing at every step of the way.

I came back to this "closest" church a year later, humbled, convinced that a church of which I can express admiration and approval of its worship practices is simply not within reasonable driving distance, and open to what this body might have for me, and what gifts I might bring to it.

The Lutheran churches in this area of Detroit that I found to take worship practices and music seriously and to do them well turned out to be the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod bodies, and it turned out that unless I wanted to jump through a lot of hoops, and pretty much recant my extensively busy (and rather impressive) ELCA background, they didn't want me. From the many folks at today's church that not only introduced themselves to me, but found time to chat, I came away with the impression that I won't have to go through a doctrinal grilling to be accepted.

So one of this church's best intentions is obviously to make visitors feel like family, and they seem to be succeeding at this. A less successful ministry was that of having a group of worship leaders/asst ministers lead the singing in a non ostentatious way, the good intention here being the avoidance of the performance oriented type of "Praise Teams". (I'm treading carefully here, because this church is currently meeting in their 2nd temporary worship space since their new, permanent location went into its construction phase, and room acoustics may have been as much the problem as the musicians. There's also the ugly possibility that they have lurking in the wings a performance oriented praise team, complete with a leader who shouts "OK now, sing it!," and team members who sing with their eyes closed in ecstasy and wave their hands around over their heads). A group of singers and instrumentalists lined up on the left (gospel) side of the ersatz nave, and it was obvious that their intent was to support and give confidence to the congregational hymn and service music singing. In spite of the fact that they all had microphones (unnecessary in a room this small and acoustically lively) and seemed to have known all of the music in advance, the assistance they provided was minimal. Perhaps they had not been educated about why they were there, and perhaps the congregants hadn't been told to look to them for help, but there simply wasn't symbiosis happening, nor was any contagious enthusiasm spilling over from the leaders to the laity (or vice versa). The group included a keyboardist, who seemed to be spreading her skills between two keyboards/synthesizers, who could have contributed to successful singing much by simply giving her "registration" a lot more oomph. "Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending" and "Wake, Awake for Night is Flying", while perfectly good, sanctioned-by-"Sundays and Seasons"-hymns for this first Sunday of Advent cry for an organ, and had I been unable to give the congregation the underpinning of sound that these hymns need with my available tools, would have chosen different, more manageable hymns. Yes I do see much that I can contribute here. More after next visit.

"the heart of worship"

Do you know that ubiquitous "Heart of Worship" praise song by Matt Redman? It's one that always sets my teeth on edge for a couple of reasons. First of all, it rather startlingly places the accent on the second syllable of Jesus at the end of each of two couplets in the chorus. Secondly the writer is saying that the "heart of worship" is "all about you, Jesus," which is at best sloppy trinitarian theology. That having been said, the text has some depth and loveliness "When the music fades All is stripped away And I simply come Longing just to bring Something that's of worth...". Maybe not "A Mighty Fortress", but certainly not the work of a hack.

Matt Redman seems to be part of a concert at a local Metro-Detroit church this week, and the Freep's (that's our affectionate name for the more left leaning of Detroit's 2 dailies, The Detroit Free Press) religion feature writer chatted him up. Contrary to the prevailing evangelical- protestant-mega-church-praise-chorus-only trend, Mr Redman stressed how important he feels it is to juxtapose both old and new music in worship, fessed up to currently being on a Wesley hymn binge and discussed tradition as an anchor. But something else he said in this interview has been bugging me all week; Mr Redman talks about being part of a new, start-up church near Brighton, England, and he says "It's a new church we're starting, a fresh canvas on which to express ourselves". I'm pretty sure that worship is not the place to express ourselves for the sake of being creative--that belongs at the art gallery or on the stage or in the recital venue, and I don't see how anyone harkening back to the Wesleys for inspiration and acknowledging tradition as an anchor can see an opportunity for worship as a blank slate--we're the heirs in worship of all the saints that went before, and this is baggage not to be discarded lightly. But I've decided (in light of him being a Wesley freak) to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume that he means that we offer up our creative gifts to God in worship.

You just might be a church nerd if...

• You have your own personal copy of your denomination's hymnal or prayer book and you keep it where you can easily find it.
• Before going to church on Sunday morning you check your own personal copy of the hymnal or prayer book to make sure you're on the right Sunday, because no one likes a person who says "a blessed quinquagesima Sunday to you" when it's actually sexagesima Sunday.
• You care less about whether your Sunday clothes are fashionable and appropriate than whether the altar guild has managed to get the right color of paraments in the chancel and on the ministers.
• You know what the altar guild does.
• You think that the music director choosing "O Little Town of Bethlehem" for a hymn on December 22 is cause for charges of heresy.
• You think that the music director choosing "We Three Kings" as a Christmas Eve hymn is cause for a new reformation.
• You're pretty sure that "cantor" is a more appropriate title than "music director" for the person responsible for leading the musical aspects of worship.
• You're sure that the organist using the trumpet stops on the organ during Lent is punishable by hanging.
• You can (and frequently do) quote statistics on bacterial transfer in the various methods of communing.
• You genuinely don't know where the person who asks you to meet him in the church lobby wants to see you.
• You have a difficult time controlling yourself when the lady next to you calls the chancel a stage.
• You find it extremely upsetting when the altar guild members don't remember to reverence the altar when approaching to arrange flowers.
• You (if you're Lutheran) know the hymn numbers for "A Mighty Fortress"--both settings.
  
• Even if you're protestant, prefer to call the communion or eucharistic service "mass".
• You're very dubious about celebrating Thanksgiving Day and assorted national holidays in the context of worship.
• Along about early December, you begin to incessantly argue with store owners, mall managers and assorted sales people that the piped in music ought to be Advent songs rather than Christmas carols, since the season of Christmas doesn't begin until sundown on Christmas Eve.
• You expect 12 xmas gifts from your significant other since liturgical Christians celebrate the season for 12 days.
• On Easter morning, you can't wait to greet your fellow parishioners with the ancient greeting "alleluia! he is risen", and can't understand why they don't remember their proper response. After all, you told them last year, and the year before, and the year before...
• You think a great day starts with being at the local monastery in time for Lauds, and then returning for Compline.
• You show up at your priest's/pastor's office door first thing on Tuesday mornings (Mondays are his/her day off) to discuss any liturgical ambiguities during Saturday's/Sunday's services.
• You pretty much know all the words to all the verses of all the hymns in the current incarnation of your denomination's hymnal, along with those of the top 20 [acceptable] praise choruses.

What's a church nerd and why does it need to blog?

A church nerd is someone who has a serious interest in all things churchy, possible exceptions being the missions program, the coffee making committee, any type of social outreach program, all activities that fall under the heading of Christian education and the sermon content. Most church nerds I have known are interested in liturgical form and function, and in that context have a high level of concern for what is spoken in the church service (apart from that pesky sermon), all physical movement within the service, the music contained in the service (both the "service" music and the hymns) and the architecture and design of churches.

The name "church nerds" bestowed on me and my ilk in an affectionate manner and in fun may imply some lack of social grace and awareness. I accept the name in the spirit in which it was given, but would argue that rather than being nerds, we are actually highly functional and useful members of churches, never mind that we tend to wear out our welcomes sooner than the fat lady in the back row who sings too loudly, the man who worships wearing a greenpeace tee, shorts and "mandals" while drinking Starbucks or the tots tossing cheerios randomly.

Church nerds aren't afraid of traditional practices, or of old, even ancient ideas, and have a deeper desire to "renew" worship than to "re-form" it. Hence you probably won't find a lot of evangelicals of any stripe amongst us (not a thing wrong with evangelicals, but they mostly don't follow the liturgical church year --apart from celebrating Christmas and Easter-- and they don't stick with the lectionary to which most of the western kingdom adheres). They are people who are always interested in new ideas about worship, new music and general change, but you probably won't find a lot of people who like nothing but unstructured worship rooted in praise choruses and a studiedly casual style of worship in our midst.

Church nerds need to blog because we're few and far between, and after our university, grad student or seminary days, rarely are found in gaggles. My experience has been that unless your church is in a town with a university that has a healthy theology program or in a community surrounding a seminary, you would be lucky to find even one church nerd in your congregation, and many churches struggle along for decades without any c-nerds at all. (One 'nerd is actually about the right number for a congregation of 500 or fewer - more tend to unnecessarily cramp each other's style, and further complicate the question of which color candles belong in the Advent wreath, where the "alleluias" will be stored during Lent and whether the singing of "Heart of Worship" or "In the Garden" in any place other than the shower is ever appropriate.)

I made a half hearted attempt at starting this blog in January, planning to think aloud my ideas as I sort of reviewed worship practices at the churches that I auditioned, no, make that attended. (I moved to metro-Detroit from the Phila burbs about a year ago, and really need to find a church--it's hard to be a church nerd in a vacuum!!) But this seemed sort of mean spirited since most of the churches I've visited in the Detroit area have been dismally lacking in liturgical planning and care. So contrary to my usual style, I simply refrained from speaking. This reconceived blog represents a way of stating my concerns about worship practice, and possibly engaging other like-minded nerds in dialogue.