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Worship Services

What kind of worship services are held at BSM?

Expect Well, that is a tough question. We are trying to reflect the best of what 2,000 years of what the Spirit has taught the church—and casting out some of the stuffier elements as well as some that are just plain hurtful. We also want to be open to the new proddings of the Spirit—staying open to new forms, new expressions of music and motion—but being open to newness for us also means shying away from novelty and gimmics. We are trying to be authentic...that's all...check us out EVERY Sunday at 6pm.

There are 3 main kinds of services—although each service is only representative of that Sunday. So, the upside is a certain amount of creative chaos. The downside—if there is one—is that you never know quite what to expect.

What are the Elements of a BSM Communion and Choir Service?

Underpinnings

Music Its content straddles the reverent and irreverent, the casual and the formal, as well as the impulse to praise and cry out. The service strikes a delicate balance between observing time-honored practice and honoring spontaneous expression. The presence of the choir together with the convening ministers buttressed by the administration of the sacraments and the community meal—is how we began our worship expression at BSM and it will continue to serve as a jumping off point for future expressions of worship.

Music

But how does it "Feel?"

Leans toward the celebratory in musical tone featuring choir singing and community participation in song and liturgy
Prophetic/challenging in delivery of the word—making room for community questioning and engagement with the text
Hospitality extended toward those who are new to (or newly returning to) an organized faith community. This is emphasized within the liturgy and reinforced by common meal following

Music

What are some consistent elements in the service?

Celebration of Communion
Pastoral Meditation and teaching
congregational and choir singing
Passing of the peace
Offering
Prayers of the community

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What is the concept for the BSM "VERTICAL" Service?

Start with this we like quote: "...We are as desperate for a glimpse of the eternal as the next person, but we have neither the time, temperament, nor talent for meditation. We need revelations on the run. We need an angel who wears high-top sneakers, someone who can keep up with us on the treadmill or doesn't mind chatting from the passenger seat as we're stalled in rush hour traffic, someone who can pick up where she or he left off after calls come through on the cell phone, someone who isn't squeamish about talking to mothers while they nurse their babies." - Renita Weems, Listening for God

Underpinnings

Our society is preoccupied. Worries nag, anxieties loom, distractions persist, priorities slide, connections dwindle. The VERTICAL service format will attempt to foster deeper spiritual connections between members of the community and the God we know and serve-or are at least seeking after. The service will attempt to heighten awareness of the Holy Other, awaken the senses, foster attentiveness to mystery, embrace ritual, anticipate healing and quell fears and anxieties. Chords that will be struck include-yearning, quieting, lamenting, centering, and deepening.

But how does it "Feel?"

Meditative musical offerings that may include chants, instrumental selections, and sung meditations by soloists or ensembles
Time for silence, intercessory prayer, 'mentored' prayer (one-on-one), guided meditation
Opportunities for 'spiritual enactment' exercises which may include journaling, anointing, and other forms of centering spiritual practice

What are some consistent elements in the service?

Time allotted for silence and guided meditation
Readings of psalms, poetry, and other sacred texts
Physical liturgical elements that are interactive within the context of prayer with an emphasis on healing and wholeness, re-prioritizing, centering, grounding, dwelling in the mystery of God

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What is the concept for the BSM "Telling the Truth" Service?

Jesus came into the world to invite us into an alternative way of moving through life. This way he offers runs counter to much of what is cherished by the culture and any community that struggles to be faithful to Jesus' initial invitation mustin addition to being given space to express gratitude and praisemust also be given room for candid expression of frustration, confusion, and disappointment with the status quo.

Lest this be confused with an attempt to consecrate a 'liturgical bitch session,' it should be said this service is intended to serve as a point of focus whereby clearer perspective can be gained on where we are on our journey as followers/'questers'as individuals, as a new faith community, as citizens of a city, a troubled nation and world. Hope, we believe, is not fueled by nave optimism but through a thoroughgoing and relentless clarification of where we are in relationship to where we aim to go. This service will attempt to assemble the raw ingredients we will require before we can engage in the Biblical practice of "turning toward God" through repentance.

But how does it "Feel?"

Music will be 'borrowed' from the global communities of struggle, 'secular' culture (whatever that is), local original spoken-word compositions, and traditional hymnody to give expression of longings, desires, confusion, impatience, disillusionment–giving an honest account of where we currently stand on things that matter most
A premium will be placed on 'dialogue' in responsive reading, petitionary prayer, and testimony from participants about the truth of their experience
Services will conclude with invitation to furthering and deepening discipleship through concrete action.

What are some consistent elements in the service?

Invitation to deeper discipleship/commitment
Truth-telling about faith/doubt, ambivalence/apathy, hypocrisy and deceit, exploitation/transactional practices
Dialogue, conversation, interaction, testimony and resolution

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