mission as the liturgy after the liturgy

this weekend we had a gathering of some people involved in various communities/ emerging churches/ alt worship [choose your language!]. it was a lot of fun and great seeing people. there is so much benefit in sharing stories and conversations with others on a similar sort of journey. i'm a great believer in the value of this kind of networking.

we were staying at the youth hostel in ironbridge near telford and mark berry led a communion for us on the last morning on the notion of the liturgy after the liturgy which is mission. the idea is that the liturgy, communion, worship as encountering the presence of the risen christ fuels and leads to being sent out in mission - the liturgy after the liturgy. mission is a natural consequence. mark has written up some prayers and liturgy their community shared in on his blog which i am making worship trick 91 in series 3.

my experience of liturgy is mixed as i am sure it is all of us. sometimes i experience it in this way in a sending out into the world in mission. but often it seems much more introverted and focused in on itself as though the church is living for the experience of the worship itself rather than being sent out. one of the things i have really enjoyed following mark's community's journey is that they are very missional but the liturgies and meal they share really do serve this purpose. it's a wonderful gift that mark has.

For God so loved the world - may we naturally follow suit,
That he gave his only son - may we learn the wonder of sacrifice,
That all who believe - may our love for one another be the crucial evidence,
May not perish - may we work to halt the collapse of lives, of communities and of creation,
But have eternal life - may we point to the hope you bring now and for the future.

Comments

[Erich Bennett]

thanks for these reflections - they are helpful for those of us serving a parish and looking for inspiration in the crafting of liturgy and worship movements that have meaning for our congregations - i am using these verses as responsorial opening words to help us focus for worship - glad i found your blog - many blessings