What is Convergence worship?
08-05-2008, 05:07 PM
Possibly "the" basic tenet of the Charismatic Episcopal Church is the vision of reuniting the three primary branches or focuses or styles of the three major subsets of Christian parish or congregational life. Ours is one of only a very few movements (for lack of a better word) that is committed to being Sacramental, Evangelical, and Charismatic. Many individual congregations openly express interest in being perhaps two of these three, but rarely are all three found in a parish. Unless it happens to be a CEC parish whose rector is committed to keeping all three streams moving together.
Sacramental: where the Sunday service is a liturgy with the main focal point being Communion, from the Table. Call it "The Lord's Supper", Eucharist, or Mass, it is a well-defined service with regular and occasional or seasonal components to it. There are several accepted liturgies and several variations on those. For most parishes in the CEC, it would almost seem to be a dominant stream, while for others, the Eucharistic liturgy is the framework on which our worship is pinned. I like to use the analogy of stud walls for a house. The basic frame is set, but it's flexible enough so that the celebrant can respond instantly to the Spirit's leading and then come back to the framework to continue the service; different colored walls & windows & siding, even different wall placements, but still the same basic superstructure. Helena likes the analogy of a loom with the basic threads in place. The Master Weaver is the Holy Spirit Who can then blend in different colors and textures to create a brand new, ever different tapestry of worship to our God.
Evangelical: where the Sunday service is usually heavily centered on teaching and equipping. There is often still a form of liturgy in these services, but Communion takes a different focus, often monthly, quarterly, or even annually. It is not the central focus of these congregations. That focus is about being hearers and doers of the Word. And as this label implies, many evangelical parishes are also very focused on making converts and/or disciples. Decisions for Christ, as renowned evangelist Billy Graham has come to call them. Interface with the world, expose them to the Gospel, to the Jesus that lives in you, pray that they see the need in their lives, answer their questions, pray that sinner's prayer, get them into the Word and the Word into them, then help them become life-long disciples, equipping them to help THEM find others in need.
Charismatic: where the Sunday service is somewhat like the Evangelical service above, but there is a bit more of a focus on the person and the deeds of the Holy Spirit, especially in the exercise of the Gifts of the Spirit in the typical Sunday service. There is often still a heavy emphasis on teaching and preaching, but ministry through signs and wonders and the encouragement to "walk in the Spirit" in our daily lives, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us in things large and small, to use His gifts through us to affect our world, even as tools for evangelism.
Enter the ICCEC, where born-again believers come together on a regular basis to share in the mysterious/mystical, real presence of Christ in the Sacramental Supper, to hear the Word, to be equipped, to operate in the Gifts of the Spirit and to receive ministry in those same gifts. It's an amazing thing, this ICCEC and convergence worship.
Sacramental: where the Sunday service is a liturgy with the main focal point being Communion, from the Table. Call it "The Lord's Supper", Eucharist, or Mass, it is a well-defined service with regular and occasional or seasonal components to it. There are several accepted liturgies and several variations on those. For most parishes in the CEC, it would almost seem to be a dominant stream, while for others, the Eucharistic liturgy is the framework on which our worship is pinned. I like to use the analogy of stud walls for a house. The basic frame is set, but it's flexible enough so that the celebrant can respond instantly to the Spirit's leading and then come back to the framework to continue the service; different colored walls & windows & siding, even different wall placements, but still the same basic superstructure. Helena likes the analogy of a loom with the basic threads in place. The Master Weaver is the Holy Spirit Who can then blend in different colors and textures to create a brand new, ever different tapestry of worship to our God.
Evangelical: where the Sunday service is usually heavily centered on teaching and equipping. There is often still a form of liturgy in these services, but Communion takes a different focus, often monthly, quarterly, or even annually. It is not the central focus of these congregations. That focus is about being hearers and doers of the Word. And as this label implies, many evangelical parishes are also very focused on making converts and/or disciples. Decisions for Christ, as renowned evangelist Billy Graham has come to call them. Interface with the world, expose them to the Gospel, to the Jesus that lives in you, pray that they see the need in their lives, answer their questions, pray that sinner's prayer, get them into the Word and the Word into them, then help them become life-long disciples, equipping them to help THEM find others in need.
Charismatic: where the Sunday service is somewhat like the Evangelical service above, but there is a bit more of a focus on the person and the deeds of the Holy Spirit, especially in the exercise of the Gifts of the Spirit in the typical Sunday service. There is often still a heavy emphasis on teaching and preaching, but ministry through signs and wonders and the encouragement to "walk in the Spirit" in our daily lives, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us in things large and small, to use His gifts through us to affect our world, even as tools for evangelism.
Enter the ICCEC, where born-again believers come together on a regular basis to share in the mysterious/mystical, real presence of Christ in the Sacramental Supper, to hear the Word, to be equipped, to operate in the Gifts of the Spirit and to receive ministry in those same gifts. It's an amazing thing, this ICCEC and convergence worship.
Blessings!
Dean
DeanZF
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