This is the fourth in a series of reflections on a seminar at the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship’s Symposium: “The turn ‘toward the formative’ in contemporary worship. The seminar was moderated by John Witvliet. The presenters were: Miranda Dodson, Aaron Niequist, Glenn Packiam, Jeremy Zeyl.
There were a number of gems of insight and wisdom that the presenters offered in the seminar.
For instance, one of them offered this insight about communion: You never take communion. You receive communion. “Taking” is what happened in the Garden of Eden. “Receiving” (life, salvation, healing, hope from the Triune God) is what will put the world back together.
Another: “Ministry is a work of the heart and we labour with a broken tool all the time.”
And: “God is most reliably present where you are experiencing the limits of your own power.”
From Ambrose: “You see with the eyes of your head. The really challenge is to see with the eyes of your soul”.
When considering changes in worship: “The deeper the trust, the sharper the turn you can make; however, the sharper the turn, the slower your speed needs to be.”
“The community is gathered around Christ first and foremost” (not around the leaders with a passive audience)
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