Jon Green

**grins**

Sorry, Jon—but I disagree.

The whole purpose of the worship time is not only to worship Christ, but to do so in a manner that allows the believer to be edified as well. It may be possible to have a non-linear service, but with all that would transpire, it would be like organized chaos.

Using your example, one cannot have truly quiet prayer if there’s music blaring from the overhead speakers, people are moving to partake of communion, and a Scripture meditation is going on. That’s a lot of noise (for lack of a better word) for quiet prayer to take place in! Some of us do enjoy quiet communions as well.

The idea is interesting, however--but it seems to me we’d need to have several smaller rooms for some of these things to happen. A room for communion and quiet prayer, and a room for Scripture meditation and/or sermons (Sorry, Pastor Steve!), along with worship music in the main sanctuary, might be doable.

Our church in Ptown operates in this way, and I personally LOVE it. We have a communion area on either side in the sanctuary that is always there, so whenever you are feeling lead, you go and take it. I love the idea of a prayer area (even with a few people there to pray with people??). Bottom line, I like the idea of less christian cheese and more Holy Spirit-lead Sundays. Not that we are operating on all cheese:), but I don't think we have much room in our service right now for the Holy Spirit to move in ways that would veer from the scheduled order.

Since Paul's instruction in 1 Corinthians was geared toward a divided church, the notion of a "linear" service was probably meant to bring order to a chaotic situation. It was an admonition to a certain group, not a theological mandate. Modern service's can be ordered and linear to the point of banality. If we are also created to be creative, then we should creatively dismiss banality from church.

I would assume your description of non-linear service would be something akin to the Good Friday Services we've had in the past. Those are great and provide for meaningful worship and prayer time. Do it;-)

I think that would be a really cool idea. It would be even better if we could pull something like that off. I would be all for it, but I think you might be hardpressed to get the same reaction from most people.

Hi Jon,
Wanted to complement you on your music selections after first service today, but could not locate you as I got to talking to several people after sevices, hope you get the keyboard involved with more of your music, it is so nice to hear the keyboard music mixed into your service music and thought the music was really good this morning.

Bob Fisher