Starting a New Service

Diocese of TorontoOctober 27, 2012

Reason 1

Jesus called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life?” Mark 8:34-36

Reason 1

Jesus called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life?” Mark 8:34-36

Reason 1: the Gospel

Jesus called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life?” Mark 8:34-36

Reason 1: the Gospel

A new service is one way to declare the Gospel to people who might not otherwise hear it, and to help people experience the goodness of the Gospel in new and refreshing ways.

Reason 2

Lamin Sanneh, Translating the Message (1992)“It is as if Jesus Christ walked in our villages.”

Reason 2: Enculturation

The two goals of mission are “the incarnation of the logos of God into the language and customs of another country, and the growth of an indigenous church which will sanctify and endorse the people’s personality.” Archbishop Anastasios Yannopulatos

Reason 2: Enculturation

Article XXIV. Of speaking in the Congregation in such a tongue as the people understandeth. It is a thing plainly repugnant to the Word of God, and the custom of the Primitive Church, to have publick Prayer in the Church, or to minister the Sacraments in a tongue not understanded of the people.

Pat Patten’s story

Reason 2: Enculturation

Starting a new service is a form of enculturation—translating the Gospel into a new culture, rather than expecting people to adopt our culture as a precondition of their hearing the Gospel.

Reason 3

Starting a new service is a way of establishing new priorities which it would be harder to introduce to an existing congregation . . . .But those priorities can spill over into the existing congregation.

Reason 3: Discipleship

Starting a new service is a way of establishing new priorities which it would be harder to introduce to an existing congregation . . . .But those priorities can spill over into the existing congregation.

Main objection: consumerism

If people pass another church on their way to yours, they have already made a consumer choice

If we provide more than one Eucharist during the week, we are already offering a consumer choice (Bp Stephen Cottrell)

Main objection: consumerism

Does a new service lead to complacency or to discipleship?

Does it confirm how we already think and live, or open us to be challenged with the radical message of Jesus?

Four main areas of enculturation

MusicLanguageFormalityMedia

16

What happens to unity?

• Remains an important expression of faith–Social events, retreats–Joint services–Mission opportunities

A new service can be a means of extending grace to more and more people, so that it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

Based on 2 Cor. 4:15