CyberGroup Discussion - Beyond the Worship Wars

Catherine Pace

INow we look at chapters 6 & 7 of Long's book, Building Vital and Faithful Worship. Our focus is on worship space and how worship and mission relate.

Long talks about the history of the sacred space for worship and notes that early worship was in tents which traveled therefore changed a great deal. Then came the temple which was stationary and fixed, and also basically untouchable; very formal. Finally came the smaller congregations - synagogues, house churches - where the table and the element of community became very important.

With these structural changes also came changes in the human perception of God. In the tent God traveled with the people from place to place, enduring the good times and being present in the difficult times. In the temple people were taught that God was an awesome and holy presence and that only a very few people could come into the very presence of God. In the house people acknowledged God in the breaking of bread and God was again present for all the people. It was here that the emphasis of worship shifts to the gathered assembly and to the instruction, conversation, interaction and fellowship of those gathered.

"From the tent then we receive the idea of movement in worship; from the temple, the idea of awe; and from the house, the idea of koinonia, fellowship" (71).

Long notes most churches are not built for creative use of space yet asserts that there are things we can do to make our worship space more inviting, more welcoming. The use of light, colour and art are the easiest to use in all spaces. Then there is the shifting around of the fixtures we already have.

Long makes special note of seven important spaces:

Gathering Space. That is having a foyer or room large enough for folk to meet and greet and gather for fellowship.
Movement Space. This is space in the sanctuary to do some different things from time to time. He shares an interesting story about a minister has a couple of pews removed on the sly to create this space, knowing that if he asked there would be a hew and cry. No one noticed and he finally confessed.
Congregational Space. This is sometimes difficult to create since in many churches the pews are bolted to the floor, the idea of liturgical hangings, other art or art objects can change the space dramatically.
Choir Space. Long notes some very interesting aspects regarding the placing of the choir. Well worth some heavy discussion in most churches.
6. and 7. Alter - Table Space, Baptismal Space, Pulpit - Lectern Space. While Long acknowledges that often these three share one space , still the location of these furnishings are important. They should remain somewhere within our view but their locations can be adapted.

Thus, chapter 6 causes those of us who attend worship to open our eyes , to look around in new ways, and to become more cognizant of what we do in our buildings.

Chapter 7 asserts there must be a strong connection made between worship and local mission and that this connection should be expressed in every aspect of worship.

Long feels that every congregation needs to have a clear mission thrust but notes that not everyone in the congregation will describe that mission using the same words. (While I found this chapter extremely interesting the examples on pages 82 and 83 best served to get the meaning across for me).

Three local mission examples include work with mentally disabled children, ministry to the local arts community and service as a social conscience in the community.

Some of these examples struck close to the heart and home life of many of the congregations I have served and helped to explain reasons for some of the struggle we presently face at St. David's.

These chapters challenge and support the church at the same time and are good discussion starters.

Questions for Discussion:

Discuss whether Long adequately covers the development and significance of worship space with his three images of movement, awe and fellowship. Talk about what he may have left out that is, or could be, of significance to us at St. Davids.
People often speak of how exciting it was to be part of St.Davids during the formative years of the fifties and sixties. We are now a middle-aged church with all that might entail in terms of body wear (physical plant) as well as encroaching (human) fatigue.

In light of the themes of worship and mission, discuss how we might tap into our history to recover something vital of what we have lost. Discuss how we might revision our future to capture new energy and inspiration.

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