Read LutheranChik's "Reverence and Ritual"

LutheranChik tells of a powerful discussion that arose from her congregation's monthly lay ministry meeting about the meaning of worship and its various symbols and gestures (from what I can tell, at her church "lay ministry" = lay assisting ministers). 

Besides being floored that her congregation actually has a monthly meeting of worship assistants - what a great model of dedication, training and continuing education! - I very much appreciate her conversation regarding the what and how of worship:

How do we initially ritually create sacred space that lets people know that they're not at a social, not in a lecture, not at a game show, not at some assembly of individuals all cocooned inside their own private faith dramas, but the gathered people of God, ready to be fed by Word and Sacrament and then sent back out into the world? . . .

. . . I fear that, in our institutional desire to be friendly and welcoming and immediately accessible to anyone who walks through the door, we lose a sense of holy mystery.

Go check out her brief but wonderful post, Reverence and Ritual.  She asks some really good questions, and in the process makes some nice points for reverence, ritual and mystery as essential elements of Christian worship.

PS: If you like her call for the importance of reverence, ritual and mystery, you may also appreciate my post suggesting that young folk are not opposed to tradition (as is commonly thought!)

Comments

[PS]

Our church has had a "worship committee", now called "worship team," for at least 20 years. This group consists of the pastor, pianist/choir director as well as several others. They assist the pastor in making decisions as to what liturgy we will use, which hymns will be used, etc. In the last 5 years, the group has evolved so that several of the people have been worship leaders (if the pastor is away) or worship assistants, including chanting the liturgy. This group has carried us through pastoral changes. I think they do a great job, although I think it would be helpful to have some new blood and some male members! [Egad, am I suggesting quotas???]

I've been on several committees at church, although not that one, and one of the great benefits is that the participants become more appreciative of the behind the scenes work of the church and pastor, and actually understand how much is involved. It is sort of like the difference between helping with set up/clean up of a pot luck dinner rather than just showing up and filling the plate. [I'm therefore grateful that men are now helping with cleanup in our kitchen.]