[Worship] Re: Communion

["Brian Wood" <brianw@pathcom.com>]

Ok, first post (other than that survey thingie..)

As a home-churcher and therefore coming for the most part from a completely
different perspective than most here, I found these comments Robert Blomberg
made about "communion" quite refreshing and encouraging.

> We do all that you've mentioned and in addition,
> we allow the congregation to drive the worhip
> time by picking songs, sharing testimonies,
> praying, reading verses etc...
> This allows the worship team a week off
> from preparing for the following Sunday.
> We use this time to learn new material.
> This also allows the congregation to
> share what is going on in their lives.
> This helps foster a sense of community.
> We do this on communion Sunday
> because we call it "Round the Table"
> That entire Sunday is almost completely
> unscripted.  We may have 2 or 3 songs
> that we'll sing during prelude but after that,
> we allow God to move through the members
> of the church.

This is probably as succinct a statement as any for the reason I "gave up"
on organized church a few years ago. The gathering together of God's people
is to be marked by mutual participation and encouragement. This was _not_
something which was given much thought to in most congregations in which
I've been involved. "When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word
of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All these
things must be done for the strengthening of the church."  (1Cor 14:26).  It
appears that, according to Paul, this is to be the norm and not the
exception.

Is this an aspect of corporate worship in which others here have seen any
movement?

Brian Wood
Toronto, Ont.
Canada



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