Church is New Once More

What have I learned in this class?

I've learned not only that church can happen in a hundred different ways, but that it is happening in thousands of different ways, all around the world, in ways I never dreamed of before.

I've had the opportunity to meet with many of the people in the world who are bringing new visions of church into being, in ways that are as unique as they are. And the stories told by class members of their alternative church experiences have been rich and exciting. (I love the idea of a church filled with a mix of donated comfortable couches and chairs instead of pews. Not fancy, but comfortable and home-like, with room for kids to crawl and stretch out!)

I've attended virtual Bible Study, visited the Sunshine and Anglican Cathedrals in Second Life, and become a regular participant at a recently-launched outdoor ecumenical church here in Northampton, Massachusetts called Cathedral in the Night.

The energy, talent, creativity, love, and desire to be welcoming, engaging, and inclusive that I have seen in these alternate expressions of church has been amazing! And outdoor churches are a great way to reach out to people who would never walk through the doors of a conventional church--and who might be met with suspicion if they did.

Cathedral in the Night, which offers a short service followed by a meal, feeds up to 100 people, especially later in the month when people run out of money. I think the meal is the real point of this church, although the brief worship service is as inclusive, flexible, and engaging as possible: no bulletin or hymnal, no musical instruments. We sing easy or well-known songs a capella. Prayers allow for input and the pastors will engage in a sermon dialogue if a member of the congregation starts one. It's really flexible and friendly. An offering of talents is given by people picking up and returning star and heart shaped wood pieces with words like "listening" and "love" that they will share with others during the week, so no money is collected. And the food, donated from local stores, is always great. There are usually simple sandwiches left for people to bring home. We often have guests from area churches, including local confirmation classes. I can't help but think that this is what the early church must have been like: open, spontaneous, loving, and missional.

Thank you, Julie, for this wonderful class. Don't change a thing! The talk with the Bishops was great too! And I think they enjoyed it as much as we did!