Future Church

As I drove to the Stratford Community of Christ last Sunday morning, my mind wandered to the fall of 1962 and my earliest experience with this congregation. In those days, the church met in a smaller, older building, I believe on the corner of Brunswick and Waterloo. Many will no doubt have pictures of the old building, but unfortunately I do not have even one to share with you here.

I do not know when the conversation started about building a new church. My parents would have been there, but they are no longer around for me to ask. We can be certain, however, that there was not universal agreement that building a new church was a good idea. Some would have been in favour, perhaps arguing that the congregation was outgrowing thier facility. There would also have been those who thought the old building was good enough. Equally certain is that there would have been others who thought they should not spend the money for a new building; it would just be too expensive. We can be quite sure of this because the same debate raged in various cities and towns during the expansive years of the ‘60s and ‘70s. In some cases the “build a new church” folks prevailed, and in others the “stay put” folks won out. It is interesting now, some forty plus years later, to compare the vitality of the congregations that chose those two different paths.

In any event, Stratford congregation chose the future and built a lovely new church on what was then almost the edge of town. It was a good decision. As I sat in the congregation last Sunday morning, I thought about how forward thinking and visionary that decision had proven to be. The congregation meets in an attractive, comfortable and accessible facility that is well positioned for years to come.

I had several reasons for being in Stratford last Sunday morning, but the dedication of the new piano was not one of them; in fact, I didn’t even know there was a new piano. I soon learned, however, that when my cousin Keith Williamson passed away about a year ago, he left the congregation a bequest, and they had decided to use the money for a lovely new grand piano.

As the service progressed, at least 13 people took their turn playing this fine new instrument; children, youth and adults. I was astounded by the number of musicians who were there!Experience levels varied from those who were early in their learning all the way to accomplished, professional musicians, but I cannot tell you which was the more enjoyable. All played well.

It happens that I enjoy listening to music much more than I enjoy singing, so this was my kind of service. The worship was full of music played on lovely instruments; the piano teamed with flute, saxophone and voice. There was even a humorous skit that involved the piano. Oh, there were hymns to sing, but more often we were afforded the opportunity just to listen and reflect.

Perhaps it was during that reflection that the thought came to me that Stratford congregation was once again positioning itself well for the future. They have acquired a lovely piano that young and old musicians will enjoy playing for years to come. In this they have proven themselves to be just as visionary as the generations that preceded them. Good job, Stratford. You are indeed a church with a future.

Posted by Carman

Favourites

Last Saturday evening on facebook, I posed the question as to whether or not the CEM president was allowed to have a favourite congregation. I received some generous responses, at least one of which offered me the grace of forgiveness, which truly made me smile. (And yes, Susan, you are correct, I do have room in my heart for all of them.)

When I think about it, I probably have different favourites at different times, and for different reasons, in fact they are probably all my favourites when I am there. But today and probably everyday, the Montreal congregation is my favourite for several reasons.

1. They have a wonderful variety of music, including three or four different choirs, a terrific 5-piece praise band including a guitarist who seems to be able to pick up almost any piece of music by the second verse and play it, and a young base player who is just about as fast.
2. They have lots of beautiful children, and a worship service that can hold their attention, especially the lively music.
3. When this church prays, they pray with a serious intensity that has nothing to do with elegance or eloquence.
4. They have a wonderful pastor who really loves his people, and doesn’t mind riding the bus for 1 ½ hours each way to be with them for a Monday evening small group.
5. And last but certainly not least, there is a certain kind of joy in the worship of this congregation that I have not experienced anywhere else in the mission centre. Clearly this is a people who understand that God loves them, and just as clearly, they truly love God right back!

Now, I know that enthusiastic worship is not for everyone. Some people value the peace and tranquility of a more sedate style. But there is no denying that when you have been to church in Montreal, you know you have been there. This is not the type of worship experience that you can’t remember by Tuesday; in fact this service can make me smile from one year to the next!

So, thank you God, for the Montreal Community of Christ. They are certainly one of my favourites, and I have to wonder if they might not be one of Your favourites too!

Posted by Carman

Accretion

ac·cre·tion [uh-kree-shuh n]
an added part; addition: The last part of the legend is a later accretion.

Accretion is a new word for me, however I find its meaning very helpful. I came across this word in the book In God’s Presence by N Graham Standish. In an early chapter, the author explains the difference between tradition and accretion, and how we often confuse the two.

Tradition has to do with the handing down of statements, beliefs, legends, customs, information, etc., from generation to generation, usually by word of mouth or by practice. In other words, tradition represents a long established practice. Accretion, on the other hand, has to do with elements that are added to our practice that are not actually part of the original. Given enough time, however, we often come to see the more recent material as also being part of our original traditions; hence the confusion.

As an interesting example, singing psalms or hymns in worship is an ancient practice that goes back to King David and beyond, and can rightly be said to be part of both Jewish and Christian tradition. (Both Mark’s and Matthew’s gospels refer to Jesus and his disciples singing a hymn together at the end of the Passover meal we call the Last Supper. See Mark 14:26 or Matt 26:30. ) On the other hand, the songs or hymns we currently sing are all accretions.

Another example is the playing of musical instruments in church, which is a relatively recent accretion. In the early 19th century, with the exception of cathedrals or very large structures, churches generally did not use instruments, and almost all church singing was performed a cappella, i.e. without instruments or “chapel style”. Presumably this is the reason that, when the Kirtland Temple was built in Ohio in the 1830s, no musical instrument was installed. Within 50 years, however, a new and controversial idea was sweeping churches: pipe organs! Consequently, when the Auditorium was built in the 1930s and after, a magnificent pipe organ was included in the structure.

Initially, the use of organs in worship was very controversial with some people wanting them while others disdained the new additions. Some churches even split over the issue. While pipe organs had been around for centuries, they were simply not widely accepted for church use. By the beginning of the 20th century, however, the instrument was becoming popular and was even proclaimed by some to be “the instrument of the church.”

In our day, some see the pipe organ (or the more recent electric organ) as being part of church tradition. It is not. It is, in fact, a recent accretion, having been in general use by churches for a mere 150 years. Singing songs in worship is traditional. The songs we use and the instruments that accompany them are merely a matter of popular choice.

Posted by Carman

Musicians

Last Sunday afternoon I spent a couple of wonderful hours with my youngest son, Dan, listening to an incredible collection of guitarists and other musicians playing a 2007 benefit concert for the Crossroads Centre in Antigua. Crossroads is a premier centre for the treatment of alcoholism and drug addiction established by the legendary Eric Clapton following his own struggles with those elements.

Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Buddy Guy, John Mayer, Robbie Robertson, Doyle Bramhall II, Susan Tedeschi, Jeff Beck, Cheryl Crow, Johnny Winter B.B. King, Willie Nelson...the list goes on and on. These are the best of the best. It was as close to musical heaven as a non-musician like me is ever likely to get.

Beyond the incredible music, what impressed me is the fact that all of these people came together for a benefit concert. It was the willingness of this group to give their music away for the benefit of others that I find positively inspiring. Each one has spent years and years practicing and practicing to become great at what they do, and then they give it away for free for the benefit of a bunch of drug addicts and alcoholics! In that incredible gift, I find evidence of divinity.

Namaste.

Posted by Carman

Bird

I heard a song Sunday morning on CBC FreshAir by artist Jaylene Johnson, from Winnipeg. You can look her up. A review in Winnipeg Sun calls her a "sweet, sincere, optimistic person." She's nominated for International Aboriginal Singer award.

The line that caught my ear was this:

"The bird doesn't wonder if it's heard; it just starts to sing."

It's from her song Just Be and the album is called Happiness.

All this seemed to qualify this for a good word of the day.