The following points are from a talk giving by Brian Mclaren a while back called "Public Worship as Spiritual Formation." I think it's a great talk and it changed the way I view the whole Sunday morning experience. Here's some of the main points, if you know of an .mp3 of that talk floating around the net let me know.
Spiritual formation involves intentional spiritual practices: actions within our power which we do to train ourselves to do things currently beyond our power, and to become people we are currently incapable of being.
10 Spiritual Practices for Public Worship
* Ritual: Doing things I may or may not feel like doing to bond to the meaning they represent. Everything we do in our service, if rightly understood, can be understood as a ritual which brings about meaning.
* Inconvenience: Going to a place I didn’t choose, at a time I didn’t choose for a purpose I do choose.
* Association: Associating with some people I like, and others I don’t like, for a purpose I believe in.
* Speed: Altering my pace to see what I’ve missed and to feel a different rhythm. Weekly, seasonal, annual and lifespan.
* Hospitality: Using my presence and our space to help “the other” feel welcome in my presence, and in the presence of our community.
* Attentiveness: Waiting for what I may receive only by waiting receptively. This trains us to become the type of people who will be able to hear the Spirit’s voice and make us vulnerable enough to feel the wooings of the Spirit.
* Generosity: Taking greater pleasure in being productive (fruitful) than consumptive.
* Modeling: Exposing apprentices to masters. In prayer, teaching, artistry, faithfulness, service, hospitality, etc. Contemplative and charismatic models…
* Justice and Mercy: Preaching, singing, praying, signifying announcing justice...
* Catholicity: Quoting others, affirming others, praying for others, inviting others…
I think changing the way we "view" Public worship is a good place to start. Thanks for the reminder.
Posted by: Sivin | September 15, 2006 at 21:20