My parents go to a Uniting Church, and I grew up mostly going along with them until I left for Uni. I have watched them and their faith community walk through some pretty big challenges in their denomination over the years.
I find it interesting to read this article by Jonny Baker, Musings from Australia and is well worth a read. He was invited out to Australia by the Uniting Church.
It’s timely to read this, as earlier this year I met some fellow travellers, who are in leadership with the Uniting church and are on a genuine journey with new wineskins in their community. They were so hungry, teachable and great seekers of truth. They are keen to draw from many sources as they seek the Father’s heart. They echo a little of what I hear from Jonny’s reflections about what he was seeing here during his visit.
Jonny Baker says in a series of posts he’s been doing on the future in worship…”i rehearsed the passage jesus tells about new wine and old wine to suggest that we need both old and new but that if we want new in the future we need to create space for pioneers now. that new will also be uncomfortable because it won’t just be about stylistic change but will include a deeper questioning and re-theologising.”
I pray that in the Vineyard movement, no matter what comes, we will continue to be open to new wine in new wineskins, as well as enjoying the rich vintage wine. It is my hope that we can continue to bless and invest in the pioneers as well as hold value and integrity in what has been such a rich part of our movement.
Beyond stylistic change
17 09 2008My parents go to a Uniting Church, and I grew up mostly going along with them until I left for Uni. I have watched them and their faith community walk through some pretty big challenges in their denomination over the years.
I find it interesting to read this article by Jonny Baker, Musings from Australia and is well worth a read. He was invited out to Australia by the Uniting Church.
It’s timely to read this, as earlier this year I met some fellow travellers, who are in leadership with the Uniting church and are on a genuine journey with new wineskins in their community. They were so hungry, teachable and great seekers of truth. They are keen to draw from many sources as they seek the Father’s heart. They echo a little of what I hear from Jonny’s reflections about what he was seeing here during his visit.
Jonny Baker says in a series of posts he’s been doing on the future in worship…”i rehearsed the passage jesus tells about new wine and old wine to suggest that we need both old and new but that if we want new in the future we need to create space for pioneers now. that new will also be uncomfortable because it won’t just be about stylistic change but will include a deeper questioning and re-theologising.”
I pray that in the Vineyard movement, no matter what comes, we will continue to be open to new wine in new wineskins, as well as enjoying the rich vintage wine. It is my hope that we can continue to bless and invest in the pioneers as well as hold value and integrity in what has been such a rich part of our movement.