Modern & Traditional Church

A few people have written about the ordination of Derek Spencer (see Edenblog, Barky and Jonny Baker) which I was priviledged to be a part of last Sunday. It was an astonishing service for me in many ways, particularly given the fact that I had kind of given up expecting to find any interesting or lively worship in this part of the world.

To briefly describe - Eden is a monthly youth service held in a secondary school theatre studio conducted in the 'alternative/emerging' church style. This service was different because the Bishop came to ordain Derek within it. We wanted to maintain an Eden style while the Bishop obviously had to do certain 'church' things that are quite traditional. In this respect I disagree with Jonny who thought the old and the new clashed - for me it was a unique coming together of styles that spoke volumes about the diversity of the church today and the possibilities when God fills our rituals and gatherings.

Highlights for me - old and young all in one place comfortably together; going from an image based, drum & bass version of The Litany (itself an old prayer) into the Bishops ordination prayer which he chanted; communion being like a cattle market with people moving from station to activity to their mates; cracking neon light sticks (instead of candles) at the end as Ruth (Dereks wife) prayed about God colours shining in our lives; the band starting with a modern chorus that I'd never heard of and then sequeing into a rocking version of 'How Great Thou Art'.

This service was the kind of thing I dreamed of when I was an actor and was ordained priest - a fantastic celebration of word and song and symbol and emotion that uses all the senses to help to enlighten our vision of God.

As church people we have the most fantastically rich history to draw on as a resource which can inform and enlighten our worship if it's reinterpreted and given meaning by the things we do with it and the Holy Spirit filling it. Now we just need to try and introduce that to all the other churches!