How do we ensure that worship is integral to the culture of a fresh expression rather than something that's 'tacked on to it'?
Graham Cray, in the second of a video series from our On demand page, highlights some of the key issues surrounding worship and fresh expressions of church, including appropriateness of style; the blend of ancient and contemporary and the link between worship and formation of Christian character.
He says,
One of the things we're trying to do in worship is be contemporary and engage with the present but another thing we're saying is, 'this wasn't dreamed up yesterday; there's been a long, living tradition of people worshipping and we have a treasure chest of things that we bring from that tradition.' You don't bring them from the tradition because that's what tradition always uses but you draw from the tradition… because of their appropriateness to be transforming here and now.
Sharing communion is one of the thorniest issues to contend with but Graham Cray emphasises the importance of getting to grips with the question, saying
If a fresh expression is going to develop into a mature expression of church then the sacraments – baptism and holy communion – are going to be part of it and the heart of it.
In acknowledging that a fresh expression would normally begin sacramental life not with communion but with Christian initiation; baptism or renewal of baptismal vows or confirmation – or some combination of all of those – he stresses the importance of carrying that out in the fresh expression when and where it normally meets.
Don't cart them off to the parish church, 'proper' church or something like that to do that because you're actually undermining the long term ministry. It's this expression of the body of Christ that they're joining. If it's the tradition that everybody comes together for a bigger event that’s fine but let the characteristics of the fresh expression have some place to be offered to the whole gathering.
In looking at communion, he asks people to consider the fact that leadership of a church community and presidency are not necessarily the same thing.
When it comes to communion each denomination has its disciplines and we need to stay within those disciplines,
he says,
but there are various ways in which those disciplines can help.
It's important to remember the fresh expression's character, culture and quality when shaping shared worship – he adds.
If the heart of a fresh expression is a meal and you're going to have communion; put it in the setting of the meal – don't tack it on afterwards. Partly it's recognising the culture that, under the Holy Spirit, you have been helped to grow and making sure that the worship is integral to it and not something tacked on to it or strange.
Graham Cray goes on to consider the relationship between worship and the forming of Christian character.
What are the habits we're forming when people gather for worship? Worship is meant to have shape as well as freedom because it's meant to be habit forming; habits that equip you for the rest of your life.