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Yoga Classes, Dancing At Churches After Dark
SFChronicle ^ | May 30, 2010 | Meredith May

Posted on 05/30/2010 9:37:25 PM PDT by Steelfish

Yoga Classes, Dancing At Churches After Dark

Meredith May May 30, 2010

Moonlight leads the way to Grace Cathedral's 1-ton bronze Doors of Paradise, and behind them dancers are swaying on the labyrinth as a reverend spins ephemeral techno music.

A black-and-white art film flickers on the church wall. Couples quietly stroll the aisles in private conversation, while others play high-tech hide and seek, texting and sending photos from pew to pew.

It's not your grandmother's church - it's Episco Disco, a monthly nondenominational gathering of people in their 20s and 30s designed to take the fear factor out of church and to embrace young people's religious fluidity.

From synagogues with Super Bowl parties to churches with Charlie Chaplin film festivals, houses of worship are recasting themselves as places to socialize at night in response to Generation 2.0, which is increasingly turning away from their parents and grandparents' strict adherence to one faith and describing themselves as "spiritual," said Paul Giurlanda, professor of religion and modern life at St. Mary's College in Moraga.

This sampling or blending of multiple faiths is a cultural shift recently documented by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, and brought on by a blurring of ethnic and class lines, combined with instant Google access to information about every possible religion.

"The new spiritual communities will be very different from the old ones: less permanent, less restrictive, less directive," Giurlanda said. "And when people get what they want out of them, they will simply move on."

The majority of Episco Disco-ers were not church members of Grace Cathedral, or any church.

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Current Events; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: popchristianity; yoga; yogaclasses

1 posted on 05/30/2010 9:37:25 PM PDT by Steelfish
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To: Steelfish

Very sad!!!


2 posted on 05/30/2010 9:40:38 PM PDT by rawhide
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To: Steelfish

Yeah, this really glorifies The Creator.


3 posted on 05/30/2010 9:44:49 PM PDT by Army Air Corps (Four fried chickens and a coke)
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To: Steelfish

No “Laser Tag?” How lame!

/SARC


4 posted on 05/30/2010 9:47:15 PM PDT by Grizzled Bear (Does not play well with others.)
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To: Steelfish

Episco Disco would be an improvement.


5 posted on 05/30/2010 9:51:50 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (I am in America but not of America (per bible: am in the world but not of it))
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To: Steelfish

I recall an old picture of me from 1972 with large plaid patterned pants. Now, I just shake my head at it. Yeah, that’s how I think this is gonna turn out for the party-goers. Embarrased all to heck about it. It sounds tacky.


6 posted on 05/30/2010 9:54:07 PM PDT by healy61
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To: healy61

Then I go and misspell embarrassed. I guess I better go find those old pants and wear them.


7 posted on 05/30/2010 9:55:58 PM PDT by healy61
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To: healy61

Even mockery is no longer recognized but masquerades as spirituality in the Anglo-Lutheran-Episcopalian Churches


8 posted on 05/30/2010 9:58:16 PM PDT by Steelfish (ui)
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To: HiTech RedNeck

Others possible venues:
First AME Church in Los Angeles or better yet wherever Rev. Wright has set up shop.


9 posted on 05/30/2010 10:10:33 PM PDT by Steelfish (ui)
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To: Steelfish
The new spiritual communities will be very different from the old ones: less permanent, less restrictive, less directive," Giurlanda said. "And when people get what they want out of them, they will simply move on."

Not a clue about being a chosen living stone part of God's constantly growing, living eternal heavenly Temple. Their goal, instead is to get what they want, then move on, I guess to wherever one can get more of "whatever".

"Give me somemore of that, cause too much is not enough" from "Numb" by U2

Sad
10 posted on 05/30/2010 10:23:12 PM PDT by mstar
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To: Steelfish

All right, children. Can you spell, APOSTATE? Yes, I knew you could.


11 posted on 05/30/2010 10:24:40 PM PDT by miele man
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To: Steelfish

As long as Christ Crucified is taught, then these types of “attractions” can be a useful means to re-introduce poeple to Christ. The article does not mention Christ being taught, but then I would not expect the SF Chronicle to go beneath the surface and learn who Christ is.


12 posted on 05/30/2010 10:24:55 PM PDT by mlocher (USA is a sovereign nation)
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To: mstar

This is what happens when sheep have no shephard
____________________________________________________________________________

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He then said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” (Jesus) said to him, “Feed my sheep.


13 posted on 05/30/2010 10:35:47 PM PDT by Steelfish (ui)
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To: mlocher
I would not expect the SF Chronicle to go beneath the surface and learn who Christ is

Who He is and what He gave. It would seem the elders of this "church" are blind, deaf, and with harden hearts leading their sheep into rough waters unprepared.
14 posted on 05/30/2010 10:41:24 PM PDT by mstar
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To: mstar

How would you propose taking the Good News of Christ to those who have fallen away?


15 posted on 05/30/2010 10:43:28 PM PDT by mlocher (USA is a sovereign nation)
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To: Steelfish
“Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” (Jesus) said to him, “Feed my sheep.

Servant leadership as modeled by our Lord, and very rare.
16 posted on 05/30/2010 10:48:47 PM PDT by mstar
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To: mlocher
How would you propose taking the Good News of Christ to those who have fallen away?

By listening and waiting for His leading as to where and to whom He desires to invite into His Kingdom. If He is not leading then it is for nothing, He has to build the house or it falls.
17 posted on 05/30/2010 10:54:51 PM PDT by mstar
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To: Steelfish

Calvary Chapel began in Costa Mesa, with Rev. Chuck Smith, and the novel approach of Rock Music to bring young people into the the “Jesus Movement.”

Some may be familoiar with the big church in a tent along the 405 freeway, in the early 70s.

http://www.calvarychapelcostamesa.com/about/history

Associated with this church came the Maranatha Music movement.

http://maranathamusic.com/about

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maranatha!_Music

http://www.associatepublisher.com/e/m/ma/maranatha!_music.htm

Tried to do some real estate business with Buddy King a few years ago. He was the first to offer his studio to budding Jesus Music people back in the early years.


18 posted on 05/30/2010 11:09:23 PM PDT by truth_seeker
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To: mlocher

Quotes from the most recent edition of Grace magazine:

“After creating definitive profiles for the cathedral and the position, the DSC evaluated 43 initial applicants specifically recruited from a wide variety of sources to assure diversity.” ...diversity

“Couples married or partnered for 50 years or more will be honored on Sun., June 13 at Evensong, with reception to follow.” ...partnered

“Interweaving dance, live music, poetry, and sacred text, Miriam’s Well tells the stories of three visionary women, Mary, Maryam, and Miriam, gathering communal waters from the universal well. Their stories, from the Christian, Muslim, and Jewish traditions, illumine the commonality and interconnectedness of these three traditions....”


19 posted on 05/30/2010 11:34:59 PM PDT by CitizenUSA
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To: Steelfish

**it’s Episco Disco**

Stopped reading right there. These people need tons of prayers.


20 posted on 05/31/2010 8:09:56 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: CitizenUSA
The information you have dug up from Grace magazine certainly makes it sound like Christ Crucified is not taught at this church. It does not appear to be a Christian Church.

Paul travelled to the Greeks to preach the Gospel. We have no way of knowing his feelings about the Greeks and their culture, and miraculous events on his trip down the road to Damascus may have strengthened him against his prejudices. We do know, however, from both the Bible and other historical documents, that many Greek traditions were repugnant to the Jews. Yet, Paul overlooked cultural differences and taught Christ Crucified, even to the Greeks. That same attitude is just as necessary today as it was 2000 years ago.

21 posted on 05/31/2010 8:11:34 PM PDT by mlocher (USA is a sovereign nation)
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To: mstar
By listening and waiting for His leading as to where and to whom He desires to invite into His Kingdom. If He is not leading then it is for nothing, He has to build the house or it falls.

I agree with you that the Holy Spirit is the guide. In fact, the Bible describes accounts where the Spirit guided Paul. It is also clear from the Bible that God desires all to be part of his kingdom, but some choose not to enter. It is our task as Christians to share the Good News to all.

Paul travelled to the Greeks to preach the Gospel. We have no way of knowing his feelings about the Greeks and their culture, and miraculous events on his trip down the road to Damascus may have strengthened him against his prejudices. We do know, however, from both the Bible and other historical documents, that many Greek traditions were repugnant to the Jews. Yet, Paul overlooked cultural differences and taught Christ Crucified, even to the Greeks. In fact, Paul went out of his way to teach Christ in a way that would be culturally acceptable by the Greeks, without watering down the message. That same attitude is just as necessary today as it was 2000 years ago.

22 posted on 05/31/2010 8:17:11 PM PDT by mlocher (USA is a sovereign nation)
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To: mlocher
Paul overlooked cultural differences and taught Christ Crucified, even to the Greeks. In fact, Paul went out of his way to teach Christ in a way that would be culturally acceptable by the Greeks, without watering down the message. That same attitude is just as necessary today as it was 2000 years ago.

I think you are reading a motive into my statement I did not intend. It's the Internet, it happens. :) Looking back, I could have explained better.

The reason to ask, then wait, is not from a reluctance to minister to THOSE KIND of people (Jonah anyone?), but whether their hearts are such as to receive God's word. Has the Lord been working in this person's life, if so, has He completed the needed preparatory work.

An example of this is in Acts 16, when the Holy Spirit instructed Paul and Silas where to minister next.

Acts 16:6 “Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,”

Acts 16:7 “After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.”

Acts 16:9 “And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.”

Acts 16:10 “And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia…”

The season was for Macedonia with fruitful divine appointments.
23 posted on 06/01/2010 12:13:08 AM PDT by mstar
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To: mstar
I think you are reading a motive into my statement I did not intend.

I did. Thanks for the clarification and setting me straignt.

24 posted on 06/01/2010 5:26:32 AM PDT by mlocher (USA is a sovereign nation)
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