The Episcopal New Yorker |

An EMERGE service in progress

Church offerings have varied over the years. People must no longer choose between one or two church services each Sunday. There are evening services for people who do not want to rise up early on a Sunday. Within the next few pages, you can read about services that range from ones set to hip-hop music or the music of U2 and more. There are services dedicated to the older parishioner and there are also healing services for people who want to have either a physical or spiritual wound receive a healing boost.

By The Rev.Richard Spencer

“I don’t go to church on Sunday morning because my son has a soccer game.” “I don’t go to church on Sunday morning because it’s my one day to sleep in.” “I don’t go to church on Sunday morning because I just don’t find it meaningful anymore.”

Most Episcopal churches have their principal services on Sunday morning. And yet for a variety of reasons a lot of people just don’t make it into the pews. So, more and more parishes are thinking about-and doing- alternative services. There are a variety of reasons. Some services were started to reach those who are spiritually seeking, but just can’t attend Sunday mornings. Other people want to find new ways of making God more meaningful in their lives. And still others are not quite sure what they are looking for.
One very successful alternative service is held at St. Bartholomew’s , Manhattan. It’s called EMERGE and takes place Sunday evenings at 7 o’clock. This is how the service is described: “EMERGE is a new alternative worship service at St. Bartholomew’s that blends ancient Christian liturgy with modern urban expression. The iconic imagery, ambient music and sacred prayer of EMERGE will create an experience to awaken your senses and meet you in your daily celebrations and struggles.” The Rev. Elizabeth Garnsey, Assistant at St. Bartholomew’s, says EMERGE began last April. She describes it as a contemplative service. “As we experience God, God emerges from us,” she says. “And as the people of God, we emerge out of the darkness and into the light.”

The EMERGE service I attended one Sunday evening in Advent brought some 200 people out of the cold, dark night to worship together. “I love it,” says one woman. “I love the music, the candles and the time for silent meditation. It all helps me to connect with God.”

As of February 18, St. Bartholomew’s will temporarily suspend its EMERGE service. St. Bart’s rector, The Rev. William McD. Tully, has not yet set a date for the service to resume.

The Rev. William Cruse is hoping to set up an alternative service at Trinity Church in Ossining. “I don’t look at this as just a way to fill the pews,” he says. “But rather to help all people, both the churched and the unchurched, to experience and get closer with God.” Many of these alternative services are a lot less formal and more intimate than the customary Sunday service.

The readings, other than the Gospel, do not necessarily follow the regular Lectionary cycle. Many times people sit in a circle with the clergy among them. At some services there are no kneelers and there’s not a prayer book in sight. There is, however, a bulletin to help people through the service. Some personalize the liturgy composing their own Prayers of the People, Confession, and so on. The night I attended EMERGE at St. Bartholomew’s, Manhattan, this was the Affirmation of Faith: “We believe in God the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. We believe in God the Son, who lives in our hearts through faith, and fills us with his love. We believe in God the Holy Spirit, who strengthens us with power from on high. We believe in one God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.”

For the more adventurous, some churches are even going further than that. Perhaps you’ve heard of the Hip Hop Mass which many urban parishes are trying out. There was also the popular U2 Eucharist held at All Saints’ Church in Briarcliff Manor, which is a traditional Episcopal liturgy that uses, as hymns, the songs of the Irish band, U2.

The Episcopal Church is constantly trying to find new and meaningful ways to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Writing in this month’s Episcopal Life, Presiding Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori says, “If we are going to be effective in reaching out to those beyond our walls, we are going to have to learn new language and ways of telling our story.”

This is not your father’s Episcopal church, anymore.

Next: The U2charist .

THE EPISCOPAL NEW YORKER
Alternative Services	January/February 2007
Alternative Services: New Looks at Old Services Byline

An EMERGE service in progress Church offerings have varied over the years. People must no longer choose between one or two church services each Sunday. There are evening services for people who do not want to rise up early on a Sunday. Within the next few pages, you can read about services that range from ones set to hip-hop music or the music of U2 and more. There are services dedicated to the older parishioner and there are also healing services for people who want to have either a physical or spiritual wound receive a healing boost. By The Rev.Richard Spencer “I don’t go to church on Sunday morning because my son has a soccer game.” “I don’t go to church on Sunday morning because it’s my one day to sleep in.” “I don’t go to church on Sunday morning because I just don’t find it meaningful anymore.” Most Episcopal churches have their principal services on Sunday morning. And yet for a variety of reasons a lot of people just don’t make it into the pews. So, more and more parishes are thinking about-and doing- alternative services. There are a variety of reasons. Some services were started to reach those who are spiritually seeking, but just can’t attend Sunday mornings. Other people want to find new ways of making God more meaningful in their lives. And still others are not quite sure what they are looking for. One very successful alternative service is held at St. Bartholomew’s , Manhattan. It’s called EMERGE and takes place Sunday evenings at 7 o’clock. This is how the service is described: “EMERGE is a new alternative worship service at St. Bartholomew’s that blends ancient Christian liturgy with modern urban expression. The iconic imagery, ambient music and sacred prayer of EMERGE will create an experience to awaken your senses and meet you in your daily celebrations and struggles.” The Rev. Elizabeth Garnsey, Assistant at St. Bartholomew’s, says EMERGE began last April. She describes it as a contemplative service. “As we experience God, God emerges from us,” she says. “And as the people of God, we emerge out of the darkness and into the light.” The EMERGE service I attended one Sunday evening in Advent brought some 200 people out of the cold, dark night to worship together. “I love it,” says one woman. “I love the music, the candles and the time for silent meditation. It all helps me to connect with God.” As of February 18, St. Bartholomew’s will temporarily suspend its EMERGE service. St. Bart’s rector, The Rev. William McD. Tully, has not yet set a date for the service to resume. The Rev. William Cruse is hoping to set up an alternative service at Trinity Church in Ossining. “I don’t look at this as just a way to fill the pews,” he says. “But rather to help all people, both the churched and the unchurched, to experience and get closer with God.” Many of these alternative services are a lot less formal and more intimate than the customary Sunday service. The readings, other than the Gospel, do not necessarily follow the regular Lectionary cycle. Many times people sit in a circle with the clergy among them. At some services there are no kneelers and there’s not a prayer book in sight. There is, however, a bulletin to help people through the service. Some personalize the liturgy composing their own Prayers of the People, Confession, and so on. The night I attended EMERGE at St. Bartholomew’s, Manhattan, this was the Affirmation of Faith: “We believe in God the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. We believe in God the Son, who lives in our hearts through faith, and fills us with his love. We believe in God the Holy Spirit, who strengthens us with power from on high. We believe in one God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.” For the more adventurous, some churches are even going further than that. Perhaps you’ve heard of the Hip Hop Mass which many urban parishes are trying out. There was also the popular U2 Eucharist held at All Saints’ Church in Briarcliff Manor, which is a traditional Episcopal liturgy that uses, as hymns, the songs of the Irish band, U2. The Episcopal Church is constantly trying to find new and meaningful ways to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Writing in this month’s Episcopal Life, Presiding Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori says, “If we are going to be effective in reaching out to those beyond our walls, we are going to have to learn new language and ways of telling our story.” This is not your father’s Episcopal church, anymore. Next: The U2charist .

Alternative Services: New Looks at Old Services