tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post7637605098894213358..comments2023-11-03T05:46:44.728-04:00Comments on RevGalBlogPals: Wednesday Festival: understanding ritualStephanie Anthony/She Revhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10089531643725874239noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-57145160257243078702011-07-13T22:12:51.687-04:002011-07-13T22:12:51.687-04:00Lately I've been using the children's time...Lately I've been using the children's time to talk about things we do in worship and why. One of my favorite moments came two weeks ago when we were talking about why I wear a stole (to symbolize the yoke of Christ, etc...) and one of the kids guessed "because you're Jesus?" LOL.<br /><br />I think this week I might talk about why we say a prayer of confession. it won't be directly related to the sermon, probably, but it's something I think a lot of people wonder about...and kids are a great place to start (plus the adults are all listening in!).Terihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10838436991138846332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-72072926698121953322011-07-13T21:53:49.905-04:002011-07-13T21:53:49.905-04:00I do in fact take time occasionally to talk about ...I do in fact take time occasionally to talk about why we do certain rituals...even in the Episcopal church there is a certain amount of variation between "high" church and "low' church, and I do some things differently than their previous (long-time) rector.<br /><br />I also like to talk a bit about why "ritual" is important in our tradition in general--I like to say that "we become what we do." So when we cross ourselves or bow or adopt a reverent pose it can actually increase our feelings/experience of "being reverent" or aware of the divine. (And there is psychological evidence to support this notion.)<br /><br />It's also fun sometimes to talk about why people *think* we do certain things.Rev Dr Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14686528826414330355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-28679445018572902742011-07-13T16:13:27.825-04:002011-07-13T16:13:27.825-04:00As a lay person who grew up in non-liturgical trad...As a lay person who grew up in non-liturgical traditions, I would love more instruction in our church on the rituals and elements of worship. <br /><br />I started commenting earlier about how our church is thinking about being meaningful and intentional in parts of worship, but realized I was hijacking the comments, so it became a <a href="http://bookgirl71.wordpress.com/2011/07/13/on-crucifers-and-lectors-and-things-like-that/" rel="nofollow">blog post</a> instead.Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15399916226004495031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-13512425495398867792011-07-13T14:13:25.649-04:002011-07-13T14:13:25.649-04:00Thanks for the excellent post! I've been work...Thanks for the excellent post! I've been working on a Sunday school curriculum on worship, the parts of the Lutheran liturgy, and the church year, and I've heard from many teachers and parents that there's so much that they do that they don't understand! And, it's so true. We miss out on much of the richness of our traditions when we act and speak without thought or understanding. BTW, if anyone is interested in getting more information about my curriculum or talking to me about adapting it for your (non-Lutheran) tradition, email me at spiritandtruthpub@gmail.com!Gregory Rawnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-69978565955516627312011-07-13T12:08:27.863-04:002011-07-13T12:08:27.863-04:00every now and then it's our custom to do an &q...every now and then it's our custom to do an "Instructed Eucharist," in which each element of the service has an explanatory intro or caption (there's no sermon -- time considerations, not the observation that sermons are BEYOND explanation ...or excuse, sometimes)... Another resource I have used is an article from "America," a few years back, on "how to go to church"... encouraging worshipers to find more than usual meaning in everything they do/did inside the doors. I'll try to retrieve it.Crimson Ramblerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13020190454645032359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-43486582890883119272011-07-13T10:03:20.661-04:002011-07-13T10:03:20.661-04:00I'll nominate, in my tradition, the exchange o...I'll nominate, in my tradition, the exchange of the peace. In the congregations I've served, in our efforts to be friendly and welcoming, it has turned into intermission/7th inning stretch. People move about talking about last night's game, making plans for later in the week, and commenting on the sermon. I very easily can be just as guilty of this as anyone else! We miss so much of the sacred opportunity to set ourselves right with one another and form a community shaped by God's peace as we prepare to receive communion.<br /><br />Excellent post; I really like the idea of occasionally gently using our instructions as a manner for teaching/reminding/highlighting our purpose.Betsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07399176212493797062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-15665220042975891792011-07-13T09:37:57.654-04:002011-07-13T09:37:57.654-04:00A couple of years ago we had a sermon series on th...A couple of years ago we had a sermon series on the elements of worship. seven weeks, I think. I got the idea from Reformed Worship magazine, which I think is a GREAT resource. And people in the congregation really liked it. <br />This latest issue has an article on using arrows in the bulletin to help people focus on which parts of the "conversation" are God talking to us, the people talking to God, and the people talking to each other. I think, with a little explanation, that might be helpful to do for a few weeks. <br />What part do you think is most in need to deeper understanding? I nominate the "offering".pastor cindyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06913735855442001280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-74715803000583070392011-07-13T09:14:34.156-04:002011-07-13T09:14:34.156-04:00Thanks for getting the conversation started over h...Thanks for getting the conversation started over here, too! :)Katie Z.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01143363139786424632noreply@blogger.com