From the DOD:
One day a couple of years ago, when Mary and Lydia were 4 years old, I picked them up from pre-school and headed to the store to get our shopping done. As we were riding along Lydia told me that she needed some new crayons for Ms. Debbie’s class. She said that hers had worn down and she had to borrow some from the teacher. I told her we would pick some up at the store while we were there. I asked Mary if she also needed some. She said she did. I commented that hers must have worn down as well. She said that they had not worn down yet. I asked her why she felt that she needed new crayons too. Without hesitation she replied “Because mine won’t color in the lines.” I laughed and told her that I knew how she felt. At the Consultants Training Event I heard some information that confirmed something I had already suspected. The church is no longer “staying within the lines”. Phyllis Tickle, an authority on religion in America shared with our group some fascinating information about what is happening to the Church in this generation. It is emerging. Before you “yack “on any preconceived notions you may have about Emergent Churches, take a look at these adjectives that describe emerging worship: Authentic, Communal, Dynamic, Faithful, Multicultural, Expressive, and Ecumenical. As I was listening to and attempting to process the huge amounts of information presented last week, I realized something. I believe that our church has been emerging all along. Before the word “emergent” was a buzz word, we were already trying to live as authentic, dynamic, faithful Christians in the Scottsboro CP Church. And as Roy noted Sunday, we are very ecumenical. If that’s the case, then I’m not afraid of this Emergent Movement. Now, granted, since a little knowledge is dangerous, I’ll hush about all of this for a while. But I’ll be praying a lot about it… “For my part, I am going to boast about nothing but the Cross of our Master, Jesus Christ. Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate. Can't you see the central issue in all this? It is not what you and I do—submit to circumcision, reject circumcision. It is what God is doing, and he is creating something totally new, a free life! All who walk by this standard are the true Israel of God—his chosen people. Peace and mercy on them!” (Galatians 6:14-16 –The Message) Peace of Christ, Rachel