Postmodern Daydreaming

A couple days ago, I sent the following daydreaming to my pastor:

Wouldn’t it be fun to try a cafe-style evening with:

• the lights dimmed
• lights on the art on the walls
• candles
• communion (can be done in a variety of ways)
• Scripture reading (by someone who’s really good at reading)
• poetry reading
• photo essay / video essay
• Psalm-like songs — not necessarily meant for people to sing along with. Like many psalms, a song might start out as a complaint and end in praise.
• short, simple message
• some means for people to interact with God (other than sit and listen) — for example, journaling. Write a letter to God. Or, write a letter from God.
• anything that’s not passive
• artistic visuals throughout

…I’m just dreaming out loud…

But this morning I realized a danger to all this, and that is focusing on what should be “done” in a “service.” You can try to be hip and call it a “gathering,” but that doesn’t change the emphasis on running a large meeting. As Jordon Cooper says, you can end up with “modernity with candles.”

I don’t have anything against large meetings — I think they are valuable. But why do churches expend so much energy on them, when I believe that lasting change happens in small groups and vital relationships? There’s even a danger in focusing on the meeting part of small groups, and missing the relationships!