Posted on 10/13/2007 11:16:10 AM PDT by sionnsar
This Saturday, some Episcopalians will be interfaithing all over downtown Seattle:
Join us on October 13 for a day of learning and experiencing the ways in which movement becomes a form of worship. There will be opportunities to whirl with the Sufis, dance with liturgical dancer Betsey Beckman, to walk the labyrinth.
While in Beantown, they'll be doing this all weekend:
All are welcome at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Boston, Massachusetts on October 13 at 5:30 p.m. for the HipHopEMass ’Big Bean’ Celebration with the newest Hip Hop Bishop, ’Great Momma’ Gayle Harris.
On October 14, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., the Cathedral will then host HipHopEMass Schoolhouse where the elements of Hip Hop, theology of Hip Hop, Hip Hop liturgy and evangelization will be introduced.
"Theology of Hip Hop...Hip Hop liturgy." Word, dawg. Here's Celebrated Mother if you need her.
Sigh. I'm staying far away from St. Mark's Cathedral, Seattle, today...
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. “Sigh. I’m staying far away from St. Mark’s Cathedral, Seattle, today...”
Think I should head for Boston tomorrow?
"Liturgical dancer" is an actual -- what? profession? calling? occupation? Like a doctor or a software engineer or a trash collector?
Probably not. Sad to see a church like that...
“Liturgical dancer” — I don’t know. I’ve seen them in videos from wacky Episcopal services. Not sure but what a scene from the consecration of a new RC church (in LA?) showed something similar, looking like six or so barefoot nuns around an altar.
Next thing the liturgical dancers will be joining a union along with exotic dancers.
I think they had a set of them cavorting at the Presiding Bishopess’s installation shindig, after the Native American Medicine Man smudgers. They dress like Vestal Virgins, although I doubt if the comparison goes any further than the manner of dress.
I believe it was around Christmas and Easter celebrations and they seemed to enrich the joyfulness of the occasion. They definitely did not take away from the worship of the people - unless it was some fuddy-duddy who can always find fault.
They were in every case dressed in white, flowing dresses - not tights or leotards. It seems that they were reminders of angels in our midst - t’was a passing thought.
OK. Put me down as a fuddy-duddy. I have never seen liturgical dancing and its attempted use in a supposedly Christian worship service strikes me as blasphemous.
All I really need to know is that those who promote it are highly heretical in their beliefs.
Maybe it is beautiful - I can appreciate good ballet, but it does not belong in a church. The whole thing just screams, "Look at me!" Worship should be about directing oneself to God, not empty vain-glory.
Sigh. “He gave them over to their own devices” indeed.
blasphemy is defined as any contemptuous or profane act or utterance concerning God.
The liturgical dance I have seen is definitely not blasphemous. It is part of the mosaic of beautiful, well-done worship. It was not even the centerpiece, but rather integrated into the musical offering along with instrument and voice.
Martin, you know we all come to worship the Almighty God in our own way. We bring him our offering in whatever gifts we have to offer - be it the widow’s mite or fat check from the rich man. We also bring other gifts. The choir brings their God-given voice, the piano/organist or other instrumentalists their talents, others expertise in a wide range of gifts, and most of all we all bring our presence, the best gift of all. All these things we give to the glory of God.
Would you deny those young girls the opportunity of giving of their gift of dance?
Methodists after all, are a a faith based upon the ideas of John Wesley, a strong Church of England reformer. He brought the church back to it's roots and then when his people went to America they created the Methodist faith. They left what had been to create what was new for them. If a young girl wants to believe in dancing in church - join one that loves the dance.
In the Hebrew tradition, dance functioned as a medium of prayer and praise, as an expression of joy and reverence, and as a mediator between God and humanity (Taylor 1976:81). This understanding of dance permeated the faith of the early Christian church. During the Middle Ages despite increasing proscriptions against the use of dance, it continued to be utilised as a medium of prayer and praise. However, by the time of the Reformation the church, both Catholic and Protestant, had eliminated dance from worship.”
Many churches have gone back to the customs and practices of the early church seeking to capture some the spirit and exuberance which caused people to come and hear the Gospel as it grew and spread throughout the known world.. Liturgical dance has been in vogue now for quite a few years and you will find it in many Methodist Churches and numerous denominations.
But, we are indeed each unique, one to another, which is part of the beauty of Creation. So I acknowledge that what I find meaningful and spiritually enhancing, someone else in good faith, might find blasphemous
My point to which you have no comment is that if you want to be a Jew or a Unitarian that is your right - it is not necessary for every chruch to include something from every religion in order to be an effective religion. As a matter of fact and of principle it is proper for a religion to exclude some things as a part of their religion. That is the point of a faith. It is not only a belief in God or Jesus, but also a belief in what are the practices of the faith.
as I said, we are all made unique one to another. Certainly some feel inclined to a sacramental approach to worship as I do, but others are uncomfortable in such a setting and prefer the preacher centered worship. That’s the beauty of God’s creation. And it follows that if an Anglican, Methodist, Baptist or any other denomination thinks liturgical dance adds to the quality and essence of worship, that’s OK too. They own their own piety as long as it honors and lifts up the Lord, and does not in any way do the opposite.
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