Can they exist together, at one place?

Emily and I have been visiting churches together in Boulder. Emily grew up in the Presbyterian church so we started with the First Pres near my apartment. We have also spent a few Sundays at a very different kind of church. It may be categorized as an “emergent” church…but I don’t really know what the definition of emergent is so I’ll just say that it is a contrast to the semi-liturgical style of First Pres. The feel is more eclectic and artsy. You can get a good feel of the different styles just by looking at the homepage of each. Check it out- First Pres and Origins.

I’ve come to see these two churches as representative of two sides of my faith. I refer to them as the intellectual/contemplative style and the experiential/emotional style. Though not all encompassing, the terms work for my purposes.

What I have seen is the difference of an intellectual process of being guided by the traditions and structure of the service while also free to explore and respond within the structure and a free form expression style, steeped in creative response with no apparent guides. The intellectual, contemplative style provides strong connection to the body of believers. I am engaged in responsorial reading, recitation of ancient creeds etc. I am encouraged and drawn in by the communal presence and participation in a singular goal that is expressed uniformly. I find moments of intentional silence allow a space for God to speak through the words recited or through the text read. This type of worship symbolizes the gravity of that which we engage. It reveals and nourishes the contemplative in me. It reminds me that the life after Christ is of the deepest importance and provides some guidance for moving within this thinking. Yet I find this type of worship alone lacks something I need.

There is, to me, another aspect of my worship that is atrophied by limiting my communal gathering to the contemplative, one which I referred to above to as the “experiential/emotional”. There is a constant longing in my soul to express myself in creativity and to be a part of a community that values the art of creation and can respond in worship with it. I am often moved in these settings through my senses. Seeing beautiful art, photographs, natural creation itself. Hearing music and voices. The freedom of expression afforded in these environments opens me to receive and respond to God in a different way. One that is completely open and draws me into new areas of expression and new metaphors through which to understand God.

I am, perhaps, more versed in the experiential/emotional style and considering my own church roots this is no surprise. I have, however, developed a strong affinity for the traditional pieces I did not experience in childhood. Participating in the Lenten season, attending Ash Wednesday or Maundy Thursday services were not even remotely in my experience yet they now represent a reverence for and a time of intentional thought and contemplation of the real, deep, transforming relationship with God that is offered.

I do not believe there is a qualitative difference between the two styles and I am sure some might argue that the creative can, in fact, thrive through the contemplative. I would not disagree but may simply say that, for me, there is still a difference. I see these two as complementary, working together to engage the whole person. I hope that the un-tethered worship can find some guidance from the wisdom in church traditions (they wouldn’t have lasted this long without some value!) and I hope that the guided contemplative worship can be refreshed and found new from the freedom found in artistic expression in worship.

As Emily and I left church last Sunday I was struck by the hope and vision for a place to worship that held to some of the tradition and style of “high church” while allowing for creative freedom in music and art, and even in the expression of tradition. I long for a community that is thoughtful, connected to the body of believers through sharing in common traditions yet remains alive and does not only practice the tradition for traditions’ sake but also sees and revisits the intent of the act so as to keep it alive and fruitful. I hope for a community that embraces the creative expression of worship through music, art and literature and values it as a fruitful avenue for deeper relationship with God. I long for these things because they are both pieces of my own heart. Pieces that were undoubtedly placed by the Maker Himself.

I am sure that each person values these aspects of Church to different degrees and can find a place that matches their individual desires. I wonder what is your balance? Are you all one or all the other, somewhere in between? How is your church community engaging in both of these areas?

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Contemplating this today...

It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two….

Lk 23:44

goinpeace.