Since first talking to you the bulletin issue i've wrestled with how to transform it. Since we are doing kind of a different thing we have no official service book (though i'd love one someday!) i also realized for me and my visual designer mind creating the bulletin provides a visual way for me to plan the weekend (our bulletin includes each weekends 3 services). So it's a helpful guide for me to solidify my ideas and plans. But i continue to consider new ways to transform and challenge the church.
I wonder if it's different for you with a new community.
In my own experience with bulletins in Episcopal congregations, we're usually stuck with a bulletin what was last formatted in 1992 (and people get very upset if we try to re-format). And even though we have a Book of Common Prayer - with all the words in it! in the pews! - people think the bulletin makes things easier 'for visitors' , but then refers to page numbers and uses abbreviations that you couldn't possibly understand unless you were already familiar with our worship!
All this to say - it's not the worship guide that is at issue.
It's how we understand it
- Who do we think this is for?
(eg is it a 'program', like for a performance? are we presuming an audience? or is it a worship formation guide for participants?)
- How are we using the technology available to us to share it most efficiently and easily?
- How is it helping to form us as people of worship and prayer?
What I observe in 'stuck' churches is a piece of paper (actually several) that causes a ton of stress to produce (because it's all about getting the details right, not guiding us in our relationship with God), takes an enormous, outsized amount of energy for clergy/admins/parishioners to produce, distribute, collect, and dispose of - all for something we use once and throw away!
Yes!! Also lately i've been wondering how a bulletin (or book) keeps us from the work of memorizing the words (even tho we probably have if we challenge ourselves) and letting those words become an actual part of the fiber of our being. When i memorized the words of institution and that whole portion it became more alive and also i could shift it to the needs that week or make those kind of heart adjustments as moved by the Holy Spirit. Memorizing is a very underrated spiritual formation tool!
I feel similarly about letting ourselves *hear* the word of God, and not just read it.
when I'm proclaiming the Gospel and look out and everyone has their head buried in the bulletin, I wonder if it's hindering our devotion to God in the moment.
I know some people have a harder time hearing, etc., but I really love encouraging people to just put everything down and *listen* to scripture being read.
Since first talking to you the bulletin issue i've wrestled with how to transform it. Since we are doing kind of a different thing we have no official service book (though i'd love one someday!) i also realized for me and my visual designer mind creating the bulletin provides a visual way for me to plan the weekend (our bulletin includes each weekends 3 services). So it's a helpful guide for me to solidify my ideas and plans. But i continue to consider new ways to transform and challenge the church.
I wonder if it's different for you with a new community.
In my own experience with bulletins in Episcopal congregations, we're usually stuck with a bulletin what was last formatted in 1992 (and people get very upset if we try to re-format). And even though we have a Book of Common Prayer - with all the words in it! in the pews! - people think the bulletin makes things easier 'for visitors' , but then refers to page numbers and uses abbreviations that you couldn't possibly understand unless you were already familiar with our worship!
All this to say - it's not the worship guide that is at issue.
It's how we understand it
- Who do we think this is for?
(eg is it a 'program', like for a performance? are we presuming an audience? or is it a worship formation guide for participants?)
- How are we using the technology available to us to share it most efficiently and easily?
- How is it helping to form us as people of worship and prayer?
What I observe in 'stuck' churches is a piece of paper (actually several) that causes a ton of stress to produce (because it's all about getting the details right, not guiding us in our relationship with God), takes an enormous, outsized amount of energy for clergy/admins/parishioners to produce, distribute, collect, and dispose of - all for something we use once and throw away!
It's the system - it's always the system :)
Yes!! Also lately i've been wondering how a bulletin (or book) keeps us from the work of memorizing the words (even tho we probably have if we challenge ourselves) and letting those words become an actual part of the fiber of our being. When i memorized the words of institution and that whole portion it became more alive and also i could shift it to the needs that week or make those kind of heart adjustments as moved by the Holy Spirit. Memorizing is a very underrated spiritual formation tool!
agreed!!
I feel similarly about letting ourselves *hear* the word of God, and not just read it.
when I'm proclaiming the Gospel and look out and everyone has their head buried in the bulletin, I wonder if it's hindering our devotion to God in the moment.
I know some people have a harder time hearing, etc., but I really love encouraging people to just put everything down and *listen* to scripture being read.