Worship is what defines us as a community of faith. Is is that which marks us as distinct from a book club, a social network, a band of artists or activists. Of course we can be all of those things, but a central part of our mission at Church in the Cliff is their integration into our worshiping core. We strive to be a church where you can bring your intellect, your passion for human rights, your creative practices into the worship space. And I am convinced that we are all enriched by each others’ gifts in these areas and that when we bring our authentic selves to worship that God meets us there.
What does it mean to come together, Sunday after Sunday, and to worship? What is really happening in that space that we claim as sacred? During this summer we have taken some creative license in defining spiritual practices that nourish, and will continue to do so (have you seen what is on deck for the rest of August?) But worship as a spiritual practice is undeniably one of the great consensus points in Western Christianity. It matters that we gather together with the understanding that somehow, through the mysterious flow of the Spirit, we are transformed.
Now, I have attended worship services that are less than transformational. A lot of them. Worship services where you check your watch during the sermon, where you look around, see people sleeping, and wonder “what is going on here?” While that is less likely to happen in our services – hard to sleep when you are singing Sly & The Family Stone or making meaning during the Conversation time – we are vulnerable to our own set of obstacles to encountering God in the worship space (every congregation is.) And I hope to open up that topic a bit tonight.
Yet, I love worshiping at Church in the Cliff. I celebrate that our worship space is in a community center overlooking the pond. We don’t have the privilege of retreating to four walls which are all our own. And so we worship, right there in front of other people, in front of those who come in just wanting a drink of water, or to play a pickup basketball game. We sing in front of the geese and the morning mommy walkers. We break bread and drink coffee and sometimes have a shimmering transcendent experience of the Divine. All right there in the Kidd Springs Recreation Center.
For me, the fact that we worship in such a venue foregrounds that our church is more a collective practice than a place. And all are warmly invited to join us even if you are not quite sure that church is your thing. Come this week if you need some uplift or some peace or some good coffee and snacks. Bring your whole selves, questions, doubts and all as we explore worship as a centering practice.
En Paz, In Peace,
Courtney
Comments 4
I love our worship space too. When Carl and I got married, we went against some people’s expectation that we would get hitched in a church. I wanted to be outside, in the midst of God’s creation, to celebrate such a special day in our lives. Though Creation had its own ideas and *celebrated* with a magnificent downpour during our ceremony, I continue to seek worshipful experiences outdoors and feel a sacredness when I’m surrounded by and observing nature. With three walls of windows in our worship space, I feel compelled to connect with the outside world during our community time together. Just as the content of our services spurs me on to act on my beliefs and really live and connect to others in the way Jesus taught, our physical space minimizes the barriers between us and the rest of the world.
I enjoy remembering one of my first (if not the first) service I attended at our church: it was Bob Marley Sunday. Music is another powerful element of worship, and, in the same way that our physical space narrows the gap between theory and practice, the music in our services blurs the conventional lines around “church music.” The talented people who lead us help me appreciate that what is sacred, profound, and holy abounds beyond the hymnal.
I’m so intrigued by your church! So I’m confused though…do you actually meet outside or in a building? Do you have kids/babies that attend and/or services/classes for them or is it just all one gathering? About how many people attend? TU SO MUCH!
Jillian, we are so glad you are interested. We meet inside the Kidd Springs Rec Center at 711 W. Canty, Dallas. We have children that are part of our community and we do have an onsight children’s program that runs concurrant with worship. (both start at 11am or come early for coffee). Folks with babies and toddlers that they prefer to keep with them also worship with the whole group. We are mixed age people on the Way and like to learn from all ages. we would love to have you come and check us out! Courtney Pinkerton, pastor, church in the cliff
Tu Courtney! My little family is coming tomorrow morning to check it out…looking forward to it!