The last two days I've been at clergy conference at Alderbrook Resort on Hood Canal. We've been listening to Paul Fromberg and Sara Miles from St. Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church in San Francisco.
St. Gregory of Nyssa is a very unusual church. It was founded about 25 years ago with the explicit purpose to develop new and creative liturgies. They responded with a building in the round, so that when you enter, you see the altar in the middle of the rotunda.
The congregation has developed unusual chants and they sing nearly every word of the service, including the scripture readings. The vestments are colorful flowing garments of wild tie-die colors and other fabrics. The altar, a simple table, is draped in exquisitely rich fabrics.
The congregation dances their way to the table when it comes time for communion. They've developed a three-steps-forward-one-step-back dance where everyone has their hand on the shoulder of the person ahead of them.
Paul and Sara emphasize that the basis of their worship is welcoming the stranger. "We need the stranger because the stranger opens God's presence to us," they say. It's a radical welcome.
Tomorrow is the last day of the conference. Quite an eye-opener.
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