change...fearing the enterprise will crumble

A church is exploring the idea of an " alternative " service. The challenge, will alternative be anything more than a change of day and time. Will it be the same template with some slight editing...louder, more hip, maybe contemplative...candles,bells and smells. We like to think that traditionalism is those " liturigical " folk. The question is, sure numbers may be increasing, there is a sense of success...the program is working. But...the fear, we want to do something really alternative...but what happens if it doesn't work???

"Tradition is the living faith of dead people to which we must add our chapter while we have the gift of life. Traditionalism is the dead faith of living people who fear that if anything changes, the whole enterprise will crumble." -- Jaroslav Pelikan

Comments

[don]

RC ... my fears/sentiments, exactly. How and when would we know if a new thing were any different? or different enough? or ( as may be necessary? ) completely different? or different than we can imagine or think? No matter how creative ( small? Solomon's Porch or big? Mars Hill(s ) or how intentional, or newly/newby liturgical, or missional ... I fear the form, the elements, the template, to use your word, is the same. And I fear far too much emphasis is put on a service ... energy, resources, time, place, space, fear, protection ... what if most of this is off base? what if we were to be being deployed, out into the city, playing the blues, building affordable housing, taking in babies whose mothers intended to terminate pregnancies? Atch! I've had too much to think. Looks like you're winding it down for a season? We'll miss your educated/informed rants ... and challenges ... and insights.