Conversation Point

Newsworthy/Noteworthy

My hometown church newsletter arrived a few days ago. Unlike some congregations, it doesn't have a fancy title for this monthly exchange of information, preferring to stick with the basic Moravian Church of Sturgeon Bay as its first page topper. Well-organized and straightforward, a casual reader would see articles about worship, education, missions, youth activities and the annual congregational retreat focusing on fellowship and renewal at the Moravian Mt. Morris Retreat and Conference Center later this spring. Included, too, are reminders that Lent is around the corner, Easter lilies can be ordered, summer camps are scheduled and church board reports that update parishioners on decisions made at recent meetings.

But mine is not a casual eye glancing over activities common to many faith communities. This particular newsletter is communication from home, a warm bundle from the bitterly cold Midwestern winters of my childhood that keeps on giving long past the first read. By virtue of these seven pages, back and front, I know the comings and goings of people I have known all my life and am a participant in the ebb and flow of the inevitable progress and change that is life's true constant.

So it was rather interesting to open my February issue of the Moravian Church of Sturgeon Bay and discover an article called "Some Thoughts on Worship: Quantity and Quality." Although not signed, my assumption is that it was penned by the senior pastor, a colleague of mine who followed a year behind me in seminary. The "Quantity" dealt with the joyful problem of a packed sanctuary for Sunday morning worship, encouraging the regulars to make space in their pews and hearts for people new to them. The "Quality" focused on applause in worship. My colleague had this to say: "I believe that applause is a worthy act of praise. Though worship is not entertainment, applause - at times - can be an honest expression of giving thanks to God for what we are experiencing in worship. We need to remember that worship is not separate pieces just jammed together. Everything that we do in a service is carefully crafted to compliment and build on what has happened before and to prepare us for the next moment."

My first thoughts were that we didn't applaud during worship when I was a child, but most other churches didn't either. Music, supplied by a massive pipe organ, brass and woodwinds, was traditional and inspirational, but didn't draw people to stand up and cheer. Wisconsin was settled by Swedes, Norwegians, Danes and Germans, all rather private, pious folk who, while devoted to God, are not particularly prone to clapping, hand waving with uplifted arms or shouting words of support to the preacher or the choir. We leave that to our Pentecostal sisters and brothers.

My second thoughts were that something had shifted in this distant community of mine of which I was completely unaware. Having only this announcement to go from, I can guess that there were possibly several things going on that caused its creation and distribution through the newsletter. Were long-time members uncomfortable with too much change or too much noise? Was the influx of new members, not familiar with the old ways, bringing with them joyful delight and worship practices from their other traditions? Were the pastors feeling jostled or unnerved at the flow of worship being interrupted in ways they couldn't immediately control in a public forum? In the midst of the growth so coveted by other churches, had they simply run into some growing pains? Whatever confusion, complaints, or communication lags caused this sharing of words, it is almost guaranteed there will be more discussion as time goes on and the applause continues in more moderated tones.

What this bit of community outreach illustrates is something I recently mentioned about the Biblical Epistles: We only have in front of us what Paul wrote to the churches he served. We only know what he thought in his personal letters to people like Timothy and Titus. We aren't clear on who wrote the letter to the Hebrews, or who comprised the letter's readership, but we do know they left us great reflections and important directives we can apply to living a faithful life. All this is to say what our parents liked to point out to us as children: There are two sides to every story. We only know what has been saved and included in the Bible, but if we read between the lines we can see what might have been going on and why Paul and the other Biblical writers responded the way they did to specific situations in specific congregations. Looking at how they dealt with specific situations teaches us how these early leaders and churches worked together to explore and define their faith. Basic principles of respect, mutuality,love and commitment were at work here, along with normal human frustrations. Give and take, as well as generous portions of grace, helped them shape themselves into an image of hope and faith that we use as our touchstones today.

Church struggles happen. Congregations are full of people working out their own salvation, working together in search of God's kingdom and making it visible here and now. Who knows what is going on in the Moravian Church of Sturgeon Bay? It seems as though the congregation and its leadership does and is dealing with it openly and honestly. Various opinions will continue to be expressed, I am sure, and that is important. Making a joyful noise to God is good, but so is listening to the rhythms of the whole community, whether they show up in print or not.

posted by Cory L. Kemp @ 6:21 PM