The Evangelical Liturgy 13: The Offering

Photo of a Collection PlateAll the posts in this series can be accessed under the category “Evangelical Liturgy” on the sidebar. If you don’t know what I am up to, read the introduction.

Go up in the hollers of southeastern Kentucky, find a backwoods Holiness church where the shouting, “hollerin’,” jumping and “barking” style preaching seem to come from another world; a church where no one could read an order of service if they had one.

Right in the middle of the service, they will have the offering. It’s the same at almost any Protestant and evangelical church unless they have purposely changed the way the offering is done (which is the case in many churches that are rethinking their service along contemporary/seeker lines.)

Like several other points in the liturgy, the evangelical/Protestant worship service is still connected to its Catholic and liturgical roots, and such is the case with the offering.Continue reading “The Evangelical Liturgy 13: The Offering”

Riffs: 10:01:09: Special Needs Members OR How I Was Right and Wrong About Baptizing An Autistic Boy

bapt55PLEASE keep this discussion on topic. No Baptist bashing.

First, read Matt Schmucker’s short piece regarding his advice on “special needs” church members. (Note to commenters: be respectful of Matt, please. If you disagree, do so graciously.)

In 1983 I was finishing seminary and serving as youth minister at a church near the seminary and populated by mostly seminary students and their families. Among the non-seminarians was a single mother and her 15-year old son Bryan. Bryan was what some would call “special needs.” Severely autistic, Bryan gave no outward signs of communication. He lived in a self-contained world of a few repeated movements.

Bryan and his mother had been part of the church for years and were much loved. Bryan accompanied his mom to adult Bible study, worship and Wednesday fellowship meals. She gave him commands for everything. To any observer, it appeared that nothing much registered with Bryan and nothing came from him in any form of communication.

One day, Bryan’s mother came to see our pastor and asked that he baptize Bryan. While we could not see his faith in Christ, she could, and as his mother, she was asking that he be baptized and be included as a professing member of the congregation.Continue reading “Riffs: 10:01:09: Special Needs Members OR How I Was Right and Wrong About Baptizing An Autistic Boy”

Thoughts on 10 a.m. Eucharist: Church of the Holy Cross, Sullivan’s Island, SC

sm_tcsi_big2I discovered last night that the large church I’d passed several times this week here on Sullivan’s Island was an Episcopal church with a 10 a.m. Wednesday Eucharist service. After checking the church’s web site, I noticed that one of the contributors at Mockingbird, John Zahl, was a pastoral associate at Holy Cross. IM readers know of my appreciation for what these Lutheranized Anglicans are doing, so I hoped that John would be leading this weekday service.

I was delighted to discover that I was right, and that Pr. Zahl was the minister preaching and leading the service.Continue reading “Thoughts on 10 a.m. Eucharist: Church of the Holy Cross, Sullivan’s Island, SC”

On The Older Teaching The Younger: From Commenter Becky

Time to blog will be short or non-existent today, but this comment from
“Becky” in the “8 a.m. Mass” discussion is the best post of the day anyway. Thank you Becky, for framing what it means to be human in a beautiful and helpful way. She starts out quoting two of us, then hits the ball out of the park herself.

Jeff: “More experienced, mature Christians who should be teaching the young about and sharing with them their great Christian heritage are instead asked to ‘get with it’ or ‘get out.’”Continue reading “On The Older Teaching The Younger: From Commenter Becky”

Thoughts At 8 a.m. Mass

09_01_13_AnnArbor03UPDATE: Jeff’s comment is so profound it needs to be read by everyone:

The wedge contemporary evangelicals are driving between young and old is incredibly short sighted and deadly. Doesn’t the Bible itself say that the older should teach the younger? We’ve turned things around so that anything new (even if unproven) and appealing to the not yet mature, still developing young is trotted out as appropriate worship. More experienced, mature Christians who should be teaching the young about and sharing with them their great Christian heritage are instead asked to “get with it” or “get out.” The evangelical church will die if all it can do is try to keep up with secular culture and make its focus offering whatever the latest fads or glitz it can to “attract” the young as if the church were somehow dependent on a Christian advertising machine rather than God to draw people to Him.

 

I took Denise to morning mass at Stella Maris (“Star of the Sea”) Roman Catholic Church in Moultrieville, SC. Almost 50 in attendance, of every age. Two priests. Two acolytes and two altar boys. Traditionalist. Ad orientem. Eucharist offered in one kind and most didn’t receive it in the hand. Lots of other traditionalist stuff happening. Several Latin masses during the month. All the little things.

I’m watching a father bring his 5 year old (?) to mass, take his hand and dip it in the water, make the cross for him, then take him to his seat and show him how to genuflect. Teenagers around me- apparently on retreat- are immersed in the various actions of Catholic worship, as are all the worshipers of every age this morning. Of course, adults of every age. Plenty of men. At least half or more of the congregation was male.Continue reading “Thoughts At 8 a.m. Mass”

The Evangelical Liturgy 12: The Assurance of Pardon

shepriestAnyone who sins has an advocate with God:
Jesus Christ, the righteous one.
By his life, death, and resurrection,
he has found the lost sheep and brings it back, rejoicing over one sinner that repents.
In Jesus, we are never beyond the reach of God’s love.
And so today, in the name of Jesus,
I proclaim to all of you who believe the Gospel: In Jesus your sins are forgiven!
Receive the Good News!

As a worship leader, I particularly enjoy the assurance of pardon. The announcement of God’s great forgiveness ought to bring joy to the heart of anyone who is able to pronounce it over God’s people.Continue reading “The Evangelical Liturgy 12: The Assurance of Pardon”

Internet Monk Radio Podcast #158

podcast_logo.gifThis week: Being better missionaries. Christian blogosphere is empowering conversation. How we got from Chesterton to Ray Comfort’s Banana

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Is a Passion for the Church the Same as a Passion for the Kingdom?

785c8833-800wiFrom Ray Ortlund at Christ Is Deeper Still:

“My passion isn’t to build up my church. My passion is for God’s Kingdom.”

Ever heard someone say that? I have. It sounds large-hearted, but it’s wrong. It can even be destructive.

Suppose I said, “My passion isn’t to build up my marriage. My passion is for Marriage. I want the institution of Marriage to be revered again. I’ll work for that. I’ll pray for that. I’ll sacrifice for that. But don’t expect me to hunker down in the humble daily realities of building a great marriage with my wife Jani. I’m aiming at something grander.”

If I said that, would you think, “Wow, Ray is so committed”? Or would you wonder if I had lost my mind?

If you care about the Kingdom, be the kind of person who can be counted on in your own church. Join your church, pray for your church, tithe to your church, participate in your church every Sunday with wholehearted passion.

We build great churches the same way we build great marriages — real commitment that makes a positive difference every day.

Someone is saying “You’re going to disagree with probably the most respected, spiritually passionate guy in the Christian blogosphere? You really are out in left field knocking down the fence.”Continue reading “Is a Passion for the Church the Same as a Passion for the Kingdom?”

The Evangelical Liturgy 11: The Corporate Confession

peteUPDATE: How The Corporate Confession Saved My Faith. And Part 2. From our friend Patrick Kyle.

Follow this series by going to “The Evangelical Liturgy” in the categories menu.

A wonderful collection of evangelical corporate confessions can be found at this post at Reformation Theology.

ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father; We have erred, and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against thy holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; And we have done those things which we ought not to have done; And there is no health in us. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders. Spare thou them, O God, who confess their faults. Restore thou them that are penitent; According to thy promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake; That we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, To the glory of thy holy Name. Amen. (BCP)

Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all men: We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, Which we, from time to time, most grievously have committed, By thought, word and deed, Against thy Divine Majesty, Provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us. We do earnestly repent, And are heartily sorry for these our misdoings; The remembrance of them is grievous unto us; The burden of them is intolerable. Have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us, most merciful Father; For thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, Forgive us all that is past; And grant that we may ever hereafter Serve and please thee In newness of life, To the honour and glory of thy name; Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP 1665)Continue reading “The Evangelical Liturgy 11: The Corporate Confession”

Which One of Us Is Lost or Confused?

teteUPDATE: Comments closed.

I wrote a bit about this person earlier this month on the “Praying to Mary” discussion.

I’ve been teaching Ethiopian Orthodox students for as long as I’ve been teaching Bible- 17 years.

In all that time, I’ve only met a handful of students who could even begin to explain to me anything about their religion. One student was planning on becoming a priest and was quite knowledgeable and willing to provide information. The others were students who were fasting or practicing some other part of their faith and could explain their practice. I’ve had many good conversations about worship and especially the Christian year.

These students have been quite passive in their approach to the interaction of their faith with the Baptist evangelicalism of most of our faculty and staff. No one was out to convert anyone and no one balked at the Gospel our ministry communicates.

Until this year.

This year I’m experiencing something quite different- an Ethiopian Orthodox student zealous for her version of her faith and eager to challenge the Christianity of others over issues that are important to her.Continue reading “Which One of Us Is Lost or Confused?”