This morning I worshipped at the nearest Baptist church to where I am staying - built/founded 1875 and could have been lifted out of any UK city, a typical Victorian preaching barn where, evidently Spurgeon's son was the first minister. It was also typical in the the pulipt has been removed, the organ replaced by a worship band and a perspex screen shielding the drummer has supplanted the communion table as line of sight (no liturgical senstivity it seems).
The choice of music was utterly stereotypical - 'Ten Thousand Reasons', 'How Great Thou Art' and 'Be Thou my Vision'.
The sermon failed to impress - based on abuot three verses from Jame 1, it was exploring 'double-mindedness' by resort to simplistic proof texts.... examples suggested included 'single young man (looking for a wife)'... 'and I hope you are' said the preacher, which humanly speaking you might want beautiful, intelligent, welkahty not too bossy... but proof text says.... A shame as it was a good premise - being torn between 'worldly' and 'Christian' wisdom and working out which way to jump. Alas a reference to God allowing illness to teach us stuff annoyed me: yeah, thanks for that!!
More positive was the invitation in the intercessions to the call 'Lord in your mercy' to respond 'hear our prayer' in people's first languages. I've often done that with the Lord's Prayer but I like the idea of using it for other responses. It was also encouraging to hear them pray for the UK and US affected by such awful weather.
Good use was made of inclusive language Bible translation, even if it didn't quite spill over into other aspects of the service.
These were friendly, good-hearted people living out their faith in their context, welcoming people from many nations and trying to serve their community (e.g. a food bank).
I now that both RC and Anglican liturgies are intended to ensure that wherever you go in the world, you can join in with what's happening, even in a foreign language - maybe by defualt Baptist worship is headed the same way?!
So Dibley and Gathering Place people does this building look scarily familiar?!
