When I hosted a series of synod listening sessions last summer, I chose not to share my own responses to the various discussion prompts. To the first question – What gives you hope in your congregation? – I could have readily answered that the worship life of congregations in this synod gives me hope.
As I worship in congregations across the synod, I see the variety of ways in which people use their talents and resources to faithfully praise God in a local context, week after week. The 100+ participants in those listening sessions responded in a similar way. They noted the hope they found in strong preaching, congregational singing, the return of many to worship after the pandemic years, and the presence of newcomers. Many cited the participation of children in worship as a source of hope.
This month, we are inaugurating an 18-month emphasis on renewing worship in this synod. You might wonder why there would be a call to renew what is already a source of strength and hope. It always makes sense to build on strengths, acknowledging that worship life can be enriched with focus and attention in all 106 congregations of the synod.
There are two aspects to this “Renewing Worship in an Inviting Church” initiative. The first involves you as part of a local congregation. As your bishop, I encourage those who plan and lead worship in your congregation to step back and ask:
- What could we do better in our weekly worship life?
- How are we inviting and warmly welcoming those who are newer to participate fully in our liturgical life?
- How are we teaching the purpose of worship and the gifts of Word and Sacraments in a way that is enlivening the experience and desire to come to worship in this context?
Over the next year and a half, we will highlight examples of those innovations in our synod communications.
The second aspect of this initiative will come through a series of three events. The dates and topics are:
Mark your calendar and save these dates! Details and registration information for the first session will be provided in the coming weeks. Each of these Saturday events will be held 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and include a morning presentation on the theme, workshops to enrich worship life, lunch, and a worship experience led by the host site. The synod has received a strategic initiative grant from the ELCA to help offset the cost of these days so the cost is minimal…$25 per person. Congregations are encouraged to send a worship renewal team to each, which might include pastors and deacons, musicians, tech teams, and others who plan the weekly services. Other interested individuals may also attend for their own enrichment.
Threading through this 18-month renewal emphasis is an encouragement to invite others to join the worship life of your congregation. This means more than welcoming visitors. Inviting is a deliberate process through which Christians speak about their worship life to neighbors and friends in a way that encourages participation and accompanies newcomers as they come to worship services. Many of us have found our way to a particular congregation because someone directly invited us. That was true for me when I moved to St. Paul in 2001 and I want that to be true for many others today.
My hope for God’s Church is high. I look forward to all that we will do together to make “Renewing Worship in an Inviting Church” a hallmark of our common mission in the coming days.
Yours in God’s service,
Bishop Patricia Lull
