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REVIEW - Reimagining Spiritual Formation
By daniel | June 8, 2005
Reimagining Spiritual Formation: A Week in the Life of an Experimental Church by Doug Pagitt and the Solomon's Porch Community is an excellent book. In a nutshell, it describes a “week” in the life of this local church, as they seek to make their faith practical and real through their practices and weekly lives - through “what they do.”
I found a lot of ideas in there that were very interesting - I found interesting the way they ate together and the way they gathered together to worship and serve, etc. Some practices are so obviously helpful that I've implemented some here and there. Especially in the way our home groups meet.
At the end of the book, he breaks down what we saw from their community in each of the weekdays presented:
- Sunday - Their worship service - There is no central stage, only a big circle of couches. Open discussion and teaching, decentralized teacher(s) and worship leader(s). [Daniel says: FABULOUS]
- Monday - Yoga classes on Monday night, their community prioritizes holistic healing and the physical dimension of worship and life in Jesus. [Daniel says: This was a bit weird, though I do think we separate our bodies from our mind and spirit much more than we ought.]
- Tuesday - Bible discussion groups, shared teaching among small groups. [Daniel says: This is like our cell groups when we have discussions - we all teach each other.]
- Wednesday - Their Wednesday Night Dinner is part of their life together. [Daniel says: Also like our cells. I think eating together when everyone brings something teaches us all that we have something to offer and need to contribute.]
- Thursday - Free-wheel Bible study groups [Daniel says: Hey, we have these on Thursday night, too!]
- Friday - Solomon's Porch community really pushes the creative aspects of life, especially the arts. The event they shared in the book was a maze that they walked through and prayed in interesting ways and were touched by art, music, touch, smell, etc. [Daniel says: Once again, a little weird for me, but you know what, I really would like to do that sort of thing here and there — though I don't know how practical it is]
- Saturday - Service to the community and the world - They reach out to far away places and near places, especially their own community that surrounds their church. [Daniel says: I truly wish I was able/ knew how/ was willing to reach out to my local community like they talk about in the book. True and pure religion in the eyes of the Father is to see after orphans and widows, and be unpolluted by the world, after all!]
Any questions? It was a good read, and there were lots of journal entries all over the place from various members of their community - varying from the disillusioned to the over-spiritual at times. Very relieving. They all weren't weirdos or overtaxed or insane, so one must not need to be for any of these sorts of ministry!
I've added it to my recommended reading list.
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