A new church has literally “popped up” in Portland, Oregon, offering alternative and movable worship, an Advent vespers here, an Advent Mass celebrated there ”“ followed by pub conversations nearby.
“PopUp Church,” also known as All Souls, debuted Dec. 1 at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Portland with a weekly series of Wednesday evening Advent vespers.
Oh. dear. Lord!!
Dear, dear Lord.
All trappings and no content.
‘Alternative’ is a serious code word for the left. Whenever I see or hear it alarm bells go off in my brain.
That one participant felt the need to say it was “orthodox” was, in a way, fascinating.
Sounds like a great idea to me. We’re a mobile society, what with the invention of the horseless carriage, and all. People are active, and don’t do their recreation near where they live; they drive far away to go to places to recharge the batteries. Church services, at 10 am or so, are only convenient for people who aren’t going anywhere, who lead sedentary lifestyles. For everyone else, one of their two days off is shot to heck. It’s a fantastic idea, to have your church meet you somewhere. Like church meets scavenger hunt, and creating communities that young people have demonstrated that they want to join, via social media. Liturgy is a different issue.
I haven’t read up on the “fresh expressions” movement in general, but I think that as far as this article goes, it sounds like a good idea. I don’t see any harm in the forms or content; although I’ll admit I’d be concerned about the underlying tone and message of *any* Episcopal clergy at this point (yes I know that’s an unfairly broad brush.) The real discipleship isn’t in the forms or locations, it’s in the sermons, studies, and relationships. So to that extent, this seems like a good tool, with the same risks and benefits as our normal worship events. I can go to a straight-laced Rite 1 liturgy at 8:0am on Sunday, with a fine organist and a professional choir and all the right stuff, and STILL be at risk of a Jefferts-Schori-esque teaching. Or I can attend a flash mob vespers ‘wherever’ and with no sermon. If it exposes one person to Jesus, I think that’s a positive thing.
Sigh. More gimmicks, though I do heartily agree with the Rev. Ward that there’s something valueable and anchoring in using the actual, physical BCP.