tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4680282344162469445.post5305069165318691971..comments2023-09-30T06:31:56.558-07:00Comments on Living Stones Community: Wine Instead of Syrupliving stoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07444266250380793763noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4680282344162469445.post-51324345838283259732009-09-29T14:10:42.969-07:002009-09-29T14:10:42.969-07:00Paul, thanks for your post. I think we are all loo...Paul, thanks for your post. I think we are all looking for communities of people who are loving, but also challenging "syrup" as you call it. My prayer is that we would all find our role in this process in whatever communities we are already in and ones we are soon to join. <br />MattMatthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03735064690071322461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4680282344162469445.post-48420556034346947422009-09-27T13:01:26.429-07:002009-09-27T13:01:26.429-07:00Paul, You've certainly raised concerns we all ...Paul, You've certainly raised concerns we all share. May you have extra grace for finding the right church. And maybe the right church is the imperfect place where you can contribute time and energy to plant seeds of change. Certainly God is saying that to some of us. Blessings--Annaliving stoneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07444266250380793763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4680282344162469445.post-39417574427183136592009-09-26T13:51:30.605-07:002009-09-26T13:51:30.605-07:00Paul, I think your list is thoughtful and insightf...Paul, I think your list is thoughtful and insightful. I've been in my share of "syrup" churches, particularly when I was in college. I do, think, though that sometimes we don't find our perfect church because a perfect church would not be perfect for us. Being in a community so often means learning to love particularly when we're irritated or do not agree with our fellow community members. We grow because we are stretched into being a part of a body that is not always what we think it should be. My prayers are with you as you search for a place of worship and a community to grow into -- and may many items on your list be fulfilled...but perhaps not all.Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09601572469394706378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4680282344162469445.post-27032828091455850042009-09-26T06:04:46.954-07:002009-09-26T06:04:46.954-07:00Paul, as hard as it might be, it may be time to re...Paul, as hard as it might be, it may be time to really say "goodbye" to Evangelicalism...fugitivesoulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09279524132884774198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4680282344162469445.post-8996729427328619342009-09-26T05:17:30.045-07:002009-09-26T05:17:30.045-07:00Paul, thank you for sharing your insights, concern...Paul, thank you for sharing your insights, concerns, and suggestions. I think ours is a time of renewal, experimentation, and reconfiguration in many churches. May you, yours, and all of us find many meaningful and satisfying ways to be part of this process!<br />--RickeyRChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06953614290688725077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4680282344162469445.post-81691714689308456882009-09-22T18:38:55.280-07:002009-09-22T18:38:55.280-07:00Daniel, thank you for your comment, which I find v...Daniel, thank you for your comment, which I find very insightful. The willingness and openness you speak of are difficult: but key.<br /><br />We have to live in paradox (in compromise, sometimes). And, as fun as paradox is to talk about, it isn't always fun to live in. But if we don't hold the tension, one side or the other takes over. In my case, I could either "give in" to the system of symptoms, which is not going to happen, or I could bail, which is not what I am called to do. I need to not give in and not bail, to remain a part of things in the places where I am called, even if I don't fit perfectly.<br /><br />It will take a church also willing to engage some paradox (to have me), so I also thank for your prayer for a church "willing to engage my contributions."<br /><br />I've been saying "I" here to not assume that I'm speaking for others. But I think that, nonetheless, even with the church you've found, many of us are in similar "binds." Let us all pray to be able to live out the qualities that you've just asked of us.Paul T. Corriganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01763011561669230915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4680282344162469445.post-30172512710912602792009-09-21T17:01:20.494-07:002009-09-21T17:01:20.494-07:00Paul, I think many of us are asking the question: ...Paul, I think many of us are asking the question: syrup or wine? Thank you for offering some practical suggestions. I hope we are able to maintain some of the healthy tension from this recent cultural shift: a willingness to sample, embrace, or let go of a variety of corporate expressions of worship with a goal of emphasizing Spirit and community over programs and agendas. And though I also have strong complaints about lengthy monologues, tangents, and non-engaging activities, I'm hoping this 'open' attitude can be manifested in a variety of settings and traditions (for example, I've found a surprising amount of flexibility and warmth in the liturgy of our neighborhood Episcopal congregation).<br /><br />I pray you and your family are able to find a service that is (mostly) free of the syrupy symptoms you've mentioned. But in case you don't find a congregation that matches these ideals, may you (and all of us, really) find a church community that is 'organic' or 'dynamic' and willing to engage your contributions.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05709676159876141686noreply@blogger.com