Christopher J. Ellis, Approaching God: A Guide for Worship Leaders and Worshippers (Canterbury Press, 2009), 200pp (with thanks to Canterbury Press for a review copy)
In the current climate of worship and leading worship this is a much needed book. Where worship within gathered services is for many equated with the singing of songs and moments of extemporary prayer, this book offers an important corrective. In 21 chapters it covers an enormous amount of material: a theology of worship and how to lead people on a journey in worship through the main ingredients - prayers (thanksgiving, confession, intercession, etc), the place of singing, scripture and sermon and the Lord's supper. It offers reflections on planning worship in terms of its place in the Christian year; connecting world and worship, worship as pastoral care, mission and as formation. Where too much worship lacks shape and depth, Chris Ellis helpfully encourages those who plan and lead worship to recognise that leading worship is not just a matter of choosing some songs, a few scriptures and some slots for prayer. Planning and leading worship is an exercise in theology, it requires shape and content, it requires been taken on a journey.
The book is a companion piece to Ellis' theology of free church worship, Gathering and to the book of prayers and patterns for communion, baptism and other services he edited with Myra Blyth, Gathering for Worship. As those part of the Baptist family, we can be grateful that for all that Chris Ellis has given and will I'm sure continue give, us in the area of worship, its theology and its practice.
In worship as the title suggests we are approaching God, but the title can also be read as a description of the God who approaches us: we approach God with songs and prayers, with silence and with movement; God approaches us through his Word and through bread and wine.
This is a positive book, Ellis is not out to critcise - he is not anti-hymns or songs, he is not anti-free prayer - but to enable and encourage better worship. At a time when many of our churches claim that worship needs to be free to be led by the Spirit, this should not be an excuse for a lack of planning - inspired by the Spirit. Planning worship is not something that can be done at the last minute but requires as much thought that is given to a sermon.
I encourage those who involved in leading worship to buy copies for themselves and for their churches. I encourage those training ministers or others to lead worship to buy copies for librarise and make it a core text. The book contains practical exercises (written by Regent Park College's Anthony Clarke), which enable readers (individuals or groups) to reflect on each chapter and on the worship they are planning. I can't think of another book that contains such a wide-range of material and is accesible and relevant to the needs of today's church.
See an interview with Chris Ellis here.
How can one approach God?
If God is the Real, then God IS the Truth, Source, Substance and Condition of the always present moment.
To try to approach, seek or search for God, is to confess that God is neither the Truth of the present moment, nor the Real altogether.
Nor to understand that God never will be Real while the search or approach continues.
Posted by: Sue | May 18, 2009 at 03:45 AM