Podcast:

This Episode, Fr. Ben and Fr. Chris welcome The Rev. Alan B. Cowart, Rector of Grace Memorial Episcopal Church in Lynchburg, VA! We discuss what contemporary worship is, how our liturgies change over time and what things stay the same, and what contemporary worship looks like in other parts of the Episcopal Church!

Worship:

If you’re listening before December 21, 2022, join us at 6:30p in Magill Hall to be a part of our Contemporary service. If you’re listening afterwards, we hope this will be edifying as you consider your own spiritual practices during the Advent season and beyond as we consider this season how we do worship in The Episcopal Church.

Show Notes:

Our Opening Prayer is from Enriching our Worship 1, p. 52— authored by St. Gertrude!

What is a contemporary service? First of all, the Book of Common Prayer is meant to be contemporary. It is something that has changed and is meant to evolve with the communities that use it for worship.

Part of the conversation about contemporary worship involves technology— just as the printing press changes how people could access the Bible and their prayers, now Zoom and video possibilities affect how we share the Bible and our prayers!

St. John’s has used a “contemporary” prayers of the people written by Fr. Ben.

We also talked about the Concert for the Human Family, which happened after recording. Great news; they are coming back to Roanoke the last weekend in January for Diocesan Convention!

Another part of the conversation is about music— there is a vast diversity of musical styles that are used in worship in our denomination. How might those who are familiar with different musical styles be welcomed into our tradition? How does music of all styles help us transcend the moment that we are in as we worship God, who is timeless?

Music is also a great comfort, especially traditional music that has been part of the hymnal(s) for centuries. A given song (Amazing Grace) can be played “traditionally” or in contemporary style, and that might appeal to different people, and it might surprise those who prefer it one way and hear it in a different way! We talked about repetition vs. change with music, and with the prayers we use and what the advantage and disadvantage of each are.

How will our worship connect with those who are here… and those who are not here yet? We can always ask who is not in the room, and that drives our conversation on how our liturgy reflects the world around us.

When we try new things in our Liturgies, we give it our all; and so join us as we try new things in worship this coming week!

Read more about our Advent program here.