3 Common Values in Emergent Church Gatherings

Chapter 7 in Dan Kimball's "Emerging Worship: Creating Worship Gatherings for New Generations" is titled "Common Values in Emerging Worship Gatherings." Here are some pertinent points and quotes from this chapter.

1. Emerging worship moves away from a spectator type of gathering.

It is so easy to subtly shift into making sure that everything runs smoothly, everything is well planned and rehearsed, that our sermons are polished and of high quality. Subtly we begin putting on a "show." Even when our motives and desires are by no means even considering that possibility, it can happen. As we get into the routine of these gatherings weekend after weekend, we can lose sight of the fact that it is not about the production, nor the excellence, nor the way things are programmed, nor how many people are there. It is about coming together to worship God. (p. 75)

What is most frightening to me is that we have subtly trained so many people to view their church experience this way. We have framed people's expectations of what a worship gathering and church is supposed to be. That is a very sobering thing to ponder. Do people view your "church" as a spectator event? Do they see it as a "show" that they attend once a week and then go home? Have you ever thought about the comments they make as they leave and walk to their cars in the parking lot? Do they say, "The sermons was really good" or "He was really funny this morning" or "I loved the story she told"? Or do they say, "I sensed the Spirit prompting me to do something as a result of how the Scriptures were taught"? There is a big difference between the two. (p. 76)

Nobody intentionally leads worship gatherings with a "show" in mind, but how often it strays in that direction. Thishappens in contemporary seeker churches, this happens in traditional Baptist churches, this happens in non-denominational Bible churches, and this can happen in emerging churches. (p. 76)

2. There is an organic design to the worship gathering

Many emerging worship gatherings seek to be nonlinear. They don't want to be so pre-planned that the Spirit isn't allowed to work in people or change things. (p. 76)

It means thinking through how the greatest number of people can participate. Being organic means intentionally thinking through how not to box things in such a rigid form that it becomes a "presentation" and a "production" instead of a church gathered to worship the risen Jesus. It means thinking through creative ways for more interaction, more involvement than just a sermon and some songs. It may mean setting up enough prayer stations so that everyone can use them, no matter what size the room is. It means changing the setup of the chairs and room to avoid a theatre feel. The point in this value is that we are trying to be a family worshiping together, whether we're a group of 10 people in a home or five hundred people in a sanctuary. (p. 77)

3. A sacred space is created for the worship gathering

What makes a space visually sacred and conducive to worship, however, is subjective. In many contemporary modern worship settings, well-meaning leaders and designers have removed the sense of awe, wonder, and transcendence. Christians sometimes build and decorate facilities to look like large hotel conference rooms set up for a business presentation. (p. 78)

Emerging congregations are very visual. They crave a sense of mystery and wonder of God as they worship. They desire a spiritual environment for worship. That is why in most emergent church gatherings you will see crosses set up on tables or hung or propped up in various other places in the room. In many contemporary and modern churches a large simplistic cross may be displayed behind the pulpit. But emerging churches use crosses that usually look ancient. Some use Celtic crosses, and some use corsses normally seen in Orthodox churches. (p. 78)

The reason emerging gatherings use crosses is they aren't embarassed about or hiding the fact that they are gathered to worship the living resurrected Jesus. Many contemporary church buildings have removed the cross or put it off to the side somewhere, but in emerging churches the cross is seen everywhere. They always want to remember that the risen Jesus central is the focus of their gatherings. They also want to aesthetically remind people that Christianity is an ancient faith, prompting their use of Celtic crosses and other artistic and decorative forms of the cross that have more of an ancient feel to them. This is not using the cross as a gimmick; displaying the cross points to Jesus. Even amont non-Christians the cross is known as a sacred symbol. (pp. 78-79)

You will see artwork as you walk into emergent church gatherings. This artwork is displayed all around the room. If the building is theirs to use during the week, you may see murals and artwork that represent the community painted on the walls. You will see artistic prayer stations set up with decorative symbols or props communicating scriptural truths so people can meditate and pray. Bible verses are written in creative ways at these stations and you will see other Scriptures used in artistic ways throughout the emerging worship gathering. (p. 79)

Even before the gathering starts, visual images often are projected on screens. Art from throughout the ages, including stained glass artwork, might be shown on the screens to invoke a sense of history and artistry while telling the story of Jesus and stories throughout the Bible. Somewhere in the room there might be artistic props or symbols or paintings displayed that may have something to do with the teaching for that meeting. (p. 79)

The room invokes a sense that this is a spiritual gathering happening here, and that Christianity is not just a modern religion. The space also communicates loudly that creativity is a vital part of the community culture. This makes a big statement to anyone who visits. Emerging worship expresses love and adoration through creativity with theology in artistic expression. (p. 79)