Christmas and the Advent Conspiracy

As I began worship services for Advent at Green Meadow UMC, I stumbled upon the Advent Conspiracy. I led off with a worship experience with a Conspiracy theme, and introduced the congregation to the idea of an Advent where we sought to Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More and Love All -- the idea behind the Advent Conspiracy.

As we moved through Advent, I believe we actually did those very things:

• The Wednesday before the 1st Sunday in Advent, The Meadow conducted a charge conference where the community agreed to formalize our cooperative mission with Family Promise of Blount County, which includes renovations for the purpose of housing the day center under a lease agreement to be negotiated by the trustees of Green Meadow and Family Promise of Blount County.


• On the 1st Sunday in Advent, the community held its annual benefit auction and dinner, raising about $1,400, with half going to help with renovations for Family Promise of Blount County Family Day Center, and the other half going to School of Hope.


• The community of faith at Green Meadow contributed just under $200 out of $1,500 that was raised to provide for families whose bread winners had been laid off by a local company. (Pastor Buzz and Donna made deliveries to eight families, ranging from Rutledge to Niota.)


• The Rev. James R. Green led worship on two Sundays in Advent, allowing Pastor Buzz to attend to daughter Elizabeth's graduation and relocation.

To be sure, this was a different season of Advent and Christmas. And while I believe it was unintentional, for we were merely living out life as a community of faith, the people of The Meadow lived out the Advent Conspiracy: Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More and Love All.

Grace and peace ...

Waiting on Pentecost

Pentecost is one of my favorite seasons of the Christian year. This will be the first Pentecost Sunday that I have missed in worship since I can remember. Out of habit, I went to the General Board of Discipleship's Web site.

If you are creating Pentecost worship experiences, check out Safiyah Fosua's "Pentecost Fire."

Grace and peace ...

A shift in the wind ...

When I first began exploring alternative worship movements in the mid-1990s, I picked up on what the Spirit was doing elsewhere through reading various writers. Some of it was cheesy stuff, while other writings were quite thought-provoking.

In 1999, I picked up the second edition of "Worship Evangelism: Inviting Unbelievers into the Presence of God," by Sally Morgenthaler. Some of what she was saying was not new to me, but it would have been new in 1995 ... the year before we started an alternative service at Middlebrook Pike. Most of what I read seemed right on target for the time.

I still do a fair amount of exploring in the world of alternative worship, even finding time every so often to create a different experience at "The Meadow." However, much of what do there is not what most would call a "contemporary" setting. There is no band and no team of praise singers. You will hear songs from the old Cokesbury hymnal, blended with tunes from the United Methodist Church Hymnal, Hymns for the Family of God, as well as Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman and others in the pop praise and worship arena. I use digital imagery, still and video, on most Sundays. Some folks might find some of the other stuff I've done downright strange -- but that's OK, my flock is quite flexible.

My flock is also quite missional. I think they understand that we are called to something beyond ourselves, and beyond our Sunday worship experience. I guess that's why they put up with what I do on Sunday: They know that's not all there is to the walk.

I tell you all of that to encourage you to read this piece from Sally Morgenthaler.

Sally put words to what I sometimes feel when I find time to attend a contemporary worship service. Something is unsettling in my spirit when I engage in that experience, and I have not been able to put my finger on it. I think Sally has ... and I think there's been a shift in the wind.

If you are open-minded and have some time, read her words; if not, that's OK.

Grace and peace ...