I’m preparing for a workshop on sunday at the synod meeting. When i’m preparing a workshop i try to make the practical examples and ideas fit with the lectionary reading for the following Sunday. The workshop is on alternative worship within a mission context – what to do when the church’s traditional ‘them’ becomes the ‘us’ in our worship. it’s a hard topic to do a workshop on, i have to say.
it couldn’t be more fitting, though, that the lectionary readings include Luke 16:19-31 and Amos 6:1-7 – we stand convicted… I’m not sure how i’ll use this yet – if i had a dozen directional speakers i’d set it up as a whispering sound installation…
you are the beggar sitting outside our gate
the awkwardness at the edge of our experience
the provocation that challenges our perception of the world
the discomfort that urges us to action
the anger that confuses our theology
the shadow in the corner of our eye that defies us to deviate from our path
the pain that cripples our indulgence
the melancholy that interferes with the party
the discomfort that disturbs our assuredness
the dream that interrupts our sleep
the grief that halts our play
the sorrow that pervades our celebrations
the anxiety that will not let us be complacent
the silence that confounds our judgement
the void that undermines our confidence
the disruption that will not leave us in peace…