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Creating an Ecumenical Worship
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Contents
- Notes on creating an ecumenical worship
- Key Questions for Ecumenical Worship Planners
- Specific Ideas for Ecumenical Worship Planners
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Notes on creating an ecumenical worship |
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An ecumenical worship service is designed, hosted, and celebrated
by Christians from various denominations.
Share the planning. Choose the structure and content of the service
(eg. welcoming, confession, repentance, proclamation of scripture
or other readings, sermons or meditations, confessions of faith,
prayers, music, closings) to reflect all of the participating traditions.
Offer many images of God and use language that is welcoming of the
participation of both women and men. Begin with a greeting of peace
or of hope. State the focus and intent of the time. Acknowledge
that Christian unity does not equal sameness – unity as Christians
rests in the unity of God’s will rather than the uniformity
of ideas or practices.
An inter-faith service is designed and celebrated by Christians
and people from other faith traditions.
Allow these ceremonies to reflect, respect and grow out of the traditions
involved. Emphasize what the faiths of those groups participating
in the liturgy have in common. Avoid deliberate ambiguity, blurred
meanings and theological inconsistency. Strive for a sense of fidelity
to each religion. Encourage participating leaders to pray in their
own tradition and to read from their sacred texts. Pray individually
and collectively for the good and well-being of the gathered community.
Avoid implying any criticism or incompleteness in another religion.
Foster a respectful, affirming atmosphere.
In planning a service, remember:
- Work with many images and names for God, recognising that each church will approach diverse images differently.
- Get copyright permission ahead of time for any music that is reprinted.
- Designate time for some song learning at the opening of the worship service.
- Arrange for presiders, readers, greeters and other leadership roles to be shared among denominations and performed jointly whenever possible.
- Consider the significance of the visual signs and symbols chosen (eg. a cross or crucifix, icons, candles, water) as well as any gestures or postures in the service and their potential impact on participants.
- Allergies to incense or flowers may exclude the participation of some.
- Involve everyone present, not just ministers (whether clergy or laity) – seek a good balance of “proclamation” (from the front) and “response” (from the pews).
- Prepare a bulletin to assist participants in following the order of the service.
- Consider color, lighting, movement, seating, logistics and prepare the worship space with care.
Mark beginnings and endings
Find ways to launch new projects, recognize special community anniversaries
or milestones, and observe the cycles of the seasons and/or Christian
calendar. Pay equal attention to the need for closure and to acknowledge
ritually the end of projects and relationships. Compose prayers,
songs, and stories to enrich the experience of being a KAIROS community.
Lift up “the saints among us”
Designate times to honour the work of those who give tirelessly
to your community. Name an award or scholarship after those who
truly exemplify your work. Express gratitude at every occasion and
in ways that are meaningful to the recipient. Identify a symbol
that represents your ideals as a community and offer it as a token
of thanks to those who are living them out.
Keep a record for posterity
Designate someone to collect newspaper clippings, posters, buttons,
and other memorabilia associated with your work. Create archival
files to guide and inspire future generations of activists. Locate
a photographer whose contribution to your work is their ability
to create a visual record.
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Key Questions for Ecumenical Worship Planners |
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| 1 | How many denominations are involved? |
| 2 | Who will participate in the service and what are their backgrounds, experiences, theological views and expectations? |
| 3 | What do the churches involved have in common? |
| 4 | What is the occasion to be celebrated and how will this be reflected in worship? |
| 5 | Where will the service take place? Will the furnishings, imagery, artwork or arrangement of the place be problematic for any of the participants? |
| 6 | How will this service foster Christian unity or respectful inter-faith relations? |
| 7 | Are there any customs or courtesies to observe? |
| 8 | Will more than one language be used? How can this be done hospitably? |
| 9 | How do the churches and clergy involved want to be named or addressed? |
| 10 | How do the churches and clergy involved want to be named or addressed? |
| 11 | Is there anything that might be particularly offensive to any person, group, or church, and should thus be avoided? |
| 12 | How will the worshippers participate in the service? |
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Specific Ideas for Ecumenical Worship Planners |
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Laying on of hands: hands on the globe for earth’s mending; hands on the shoulders of those on either side of you, that the yoke of our justice task be lightly borne; hands extended in blessing and empowerment over a basket of personal covenant statements at the center of the circle; hands held around a silent circle, signaling our intention toward linking, going beyond our own boundaries, taking risks in community
Procession with offertory gifts: goals from a seminar or closing conclusions/ covenants, a fragment of local nature, a lightweight inflatable globe
Bells: strike slowly a number of times at the opening and closing of the service, to mark a sacred time, and/or light candles to burn throughout the worship
Unusual candles: ask participants to bring a favorite of theirs, use light and darkness imagery that avoids the stereotype of light equals good, dark equals bad (eg. darkness can illustrate mystery, depth, intimacy, the germinating seed, the cooling shade, the waiting dawn, expectation, the learning of loss, the unknown etc.)
Christ Candle: tapers can be lit from the central pillar, as commitments are made, newness is celebrated, life is shared, empowerment is sought
Forgiveness: invite participants to write on a piece of paper something needing to be reconciled within them, fold, collect in a beautiful, yet fire-worthy container. At a particular moment of worship, the fragments are burned, blessed (by all), and used as a sign (cross on forehead or palm) of forgiveness and healing
—from Tales of the Heart: Affective Approaches
to Global Education.
Tom Hampson and Loretta Whalen (Friendship Press, 1991)
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