Is it just me or…
In church, at intercessions.
Let us pray etc…
We pray for our church (followed by a list of events going on that week)
after each event, (from one or two in the congregation): Yes Lord, oh yes Jesus.
Specific prayers for the alpha course and the topic coming up
response: Yes Lord, oh yes Jesus. or similar
Prayers for the bishop, the Anglican cycle prayers for other countries etc
Silence
prayers for peace workers or some other group, I forget now
Silence
Prayers for the community and people in the area
Silence
Prayers for the event at CIA followed by something about touching peoples hearts with the holy spirit
Yes Lord, oh yes Jesus. Thank you Lord etc
Prayers for the sick etc
Silence.
Is it just me or is there a pattern here?
This was only one or perhaps two individuals, but it was clear where they were coming from.
The ecstatic charismatic orgasmic style of prayer response has no place for me in worship, but that I could put up with had it not been for the complete absence of relation to the world outside the church and the Christian community. All too often it seems that it comes down to a choice between lively charismatic worship, self-centred and introverted worrying about the soul of those in the church and the lack of morality without or boring ‘catholic’ worship, but with a church involved in the community and building the kingdom of God on earth.
