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Thursday, May 15, 2008
Reclaiming Ritual
 I have a computer program that locates the cheapest gas within five miles of my home. It used to help me feel like a savvy consumer, but lately it just depresses me. Seeking some relief at the pump, I've started paying attention to economic news. Most experts refer to the gas crisis of the 1970s. Oil companies, they say, learned a lot back then, and they'll guide their future in light of the past.
Thankfully, that's a principle that Exxon Mobil doesn't have a monopoly on. Christians have a treasured history that we can look to for guidance. In recent years, many vibrant churches have tapped into their rich traditions, relying on ancient practices to guide contemporary worship. Two thousand years of Christian worship have produced a rich tapestry of belief and practice. One church that we highlight in this week's featured download comes out of the Christian & Missionary Alliance—not exactly a hotbed of liturgy. But Life on the Vine draws from worship practices that date back to the Reformation, and even to the early church, in order to fashion their gatherings. In the words of one attender: the "liturgy teaches me how to worship." Amen. Worship Essentials: Returning to Ritual is not about embracing tradition for tradition's sake. It's about drawing from the great cloud of witnesses of Christ followers—affirming our faith through the words of their creeds, using their prayers for the moments when we don't have words of our own, and connecting a society of disconnected people to a communion of saints. This is a Worship Essentials not to miss. Also this week:
 Chris Blumhofer Associate Editor BuildingChurchLeaders.com advertisement
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Returning to Ritual
Special-Needs Ministry
Support Your Staff
Administrative Assistant
Service Interruptions
A Leader's Private Prayers
True Traits of Leadership
Missional Construction?
Spiritual Disciplines—
Train Leaders