AKMA has a great post about the emergent church. Check it out. I will give a post of my own in a day or two about what I think of the movement. I seem to find myself within it by some people's definitions, though that is not the original intent of the pastoral vision of Reconciler. But then again, maybe I wasn't paying attention. Heh. I certainly value what the emergent folk are up to. And I see it as a resource. But are we emergent? I don't know. You tell me. Please understand that any dispute I have has nothing to do with any negative feelings I have toward the emergent movement in evangelical christianity. I have none that I am aware of. It is a curiosity to me that we are falling into that column with our new church.
The sermon is posted in its entirety on the church blog. It is long-ish so be prepared to print it up or to take a few minutes staring at your computer screen. My third is edited a bit. You will find it in the middle of the sermon.
Today is a coffee day. I forsee just a little caffeine to get me rolling this morning. Wah. After the service several of us went out to a local diner to get food and to celebrate the officioal start of our congregation. It was a good time. I volunteered to give Justin a ride home since his car has been in the shop. On the way we picked up Trish, I missed my wife and thought a little drive would be nice. On the way home from dropping Justin off at his digs we stopped at T's. Trish was hungry. Her shows keep her very active. It seems the late night burger is just what she needs. So, we finally arrived at about 11:00. Cats were switched out. We donned our respective pink pj's. All was right with the world.
Sadly, however, this was interrupted when the alarm went off this morning.
Happy Monday, everyone. Have a blessed Advent.
Posted by tripp at November 29, 2004 06:37 AMFather Tripp, AKMA's post doesn't actually define "emergent church." What are you talking about?
Posted by: Megan at November 29, 2004 11:39 AMSister Megan, let me get a succinct definition your way. For now, let's say that there has been a movement in the evangelical strand of Protestant Christianity that is re-engaging the early church in such a way that challenges capitolism, jingoism and utilizes a great deal of symbol in worship.
That is a very, very incomplete start.
Posted by: AngloBaptist at November 29, 2004 03:34 PMHere is another possible start. It is the faith statement of one particular emergent group.
You could also go to ancientfutureworship.com. It is an interesting place. I know Bob Webber pretty well.
Posted by: AngloBaptist at November 29, 2004 03:42 PMHoney, you may be a priest, but I'm no nun. So lay off the Sister talk. ;-)
So "emergent church" means "an attempt to reconnect with what some people think the earliest forms of Christian worship may have been"?
Posted by: Megan at November 29, 2004 05:53 PMHmm...
Yes and no. It is a little simple to limit it to that. People are applying the post-moderns to theological thinking. It assumes a post-Christian era which makes it atypical in evangelical circles.
Worship is a tool for formation. It ceases to be a forum for a moving speech or insightful lecture but becomes a spiritual movement, a total focus upon God.
Questions of allegiance come to the fore. Wow. Yeah, you know, this derseves a longer post. I'll bug a couple of people I know to see what I can see.
"Sister" in Baptist circles is a term of respect. I did not assume the position of nun to be appropriate to your desires. I was thinking more in the light of potlucks and good choirs. Sister Megan will now sing "His Eye Is On the Sparrow" before we ajourn to the fellowship hall for Sunday dinner.
Amen, Sister! ;-)
Posted by: AngloBaptist at November 29, 2004 06:44 PM