Issue 20 - Winter 2008 Price to non-affiliates of Praxis: £2.50 What is Praxis? What is the Christmas story? Praxis was formed in 1990, sponsored by the While studying at St John’s College, Nottingham, Rachel Phillips began to explore the Liturgical Commission, theology people learned from what they sang at Christmas the Group for the Renewal of Worship – and found churchgoers didn’t seem to be thinking much about the content of carols. (GROW) and the Alcuin Now ordained, she describes here the current direction of her research. Club. It exists to provide and support liturgical education in the Church 2007 survey by public theology think tank Bethlehem (interestingly, the same percentage as of England. Theos found – perhaps unsurprisingly – that answered Bethlehem in the Theos survey, in A Christian churchgoers knew the Christmas response to a direct question asking where Jesus story better than atheists and non-churchgoers. was born), 60% referred to a census and 25% used Affiliation Theos interviewed 1015 adults by phone, asking four the exact phrase ‘no room at the inn’; fewer than half The sponsoring questions about the Christmas Story; their findings mentioned angels, whereas 74% mentioned organisations do not are reported online shepherds, and a whopping 82% mentioned wise fund Praxis financially. (http://campaigndirector.moodia.com/Client/Theos/ men, kings or magi. Of features not mentioned in the The work that Praxis Files/Christmas.pdf). Gospels, the most popular was that Jesus was born in a stable (65%). does is supported The Theos survey gives an indication of the mainly by affiliation. If knowledge of all British adults, whether or not they But what do all these versions of the Christmas story you are not an affiliate, ever attend church. But what about people who indicate about their authors? Most strikingly, that why not consider actually attend a carol service at Christmas? Would it there was no correlation between ‘accuracy’ and becoming one? Just get be fair to assume that those in the congregation who Christian affiliation or churchgoing regularity; nor in touch with the are Christians and regular churchgoers know the were there any significant patterns between men and office—details on the Christmas story better than those who attend only at women or between different age groups. Each feature back page. Christmas? of the story (e.g. Bethlehem, stable) was mentioned by men, women, people of different ages, Christians, A questionnaire was offered to members of the non-Christians, regular churchgoers and Christmas- Website congregation at York Minster’s Festival of Nine only attenders in proportion to those groups amongst Lessons and Carols on Christmas Eve 2007. There Have you visited the all the respondents. This applied both to features were two substantive questions: Praxis website? View us mentioned by many people and to those mentioned online at Please tell the Christmas story in about 100 by only a few: popular and less popular features were www.praxisworship.org.uk words, or list its main features. mentioned by people across the board, not just by particular groups. There were just two significant Please say what you think the Christmas story departures from this overall pattern: the Annunciation Inside this issue of means, in about 20 words. was mentioned disproportionately by women, and Praxis News of Worship Of a congregation of about 3,500, 475 people Mary’s virginity was mentioned disproportionately by Conference reports 2 completed the questionnaire, with accounts of the regular churchgoing Christians, and slightly more by Book offer 2 Christmas story ranging from brief lists to full-blown men than by women. Liturgy to launch a 3 stories with illustrations and cartoons. A tentative conclusion might be that it would be quite mission partnership The vast majority told the story as recounted by Luke wrong to assume that Christians and regular Liturgical 3 and Matthew, often adding ‘traditional’ features, such churchgoers have the best knowledge or Commission ‘s day as donkeys and sheep, which do not appear in the understanding of the Christmas story. The Christmas for DLC reps Gospels but feature prominently in nativity plays – story is a major influence in the spirituality of our Musical News 4 & 5 though nobody mentioned Father Christmas, culture; by exploring what people understand ‘the Book review 6 reindeer, Christmas trees or snow. A small minority Christmas story’ to be, we may get a glimpse into Correspondence 6 gave, as their telling of ‘the Christmas story’, the their understanding of God – something on which Lent and Easter 7 meaning of the story, or the whole story of salvation; to build as people gather to sing carols at prayer stations one person simply wrote out the beginning of John Christmas time. ‘Worship 7 chapter 1. Wednesdays’ Question 1 allowed complete freedom as to which The Reverend Rachel Phillips is Assistant Curate at St Teaching Liturgy 7 features of the Christmas story to mention. Stories Lawrence, Eastcote, in the diocese of London, Colin’s Column 8 were ‘scored’ according to which features they undertaking research into the Christmas story: Notice board 8 actually mentioned: for example, 73% mentioned [email protected] Praxis - enriching worship today ISSN 1748-2348 Conference Reports Evangelical Worship Consultation - worshipping the God of the Gospel n Monday 15 September 2008, the freedom – looking again at our liturgical A number of creative suggestions were Liturgical Commission hosted the heritage and looking for ways of made as to how things might be taken O Evangelical Worship Consultation creatively using traditional ideas within forward. These can effectively be grouped at Ridley Hall, Cambridge. The event contemporary contexts. under the following three headings: brought together worship leaders, Worship during the day was led by Graham Action by songwriters songwriters, Fresh Expressions reps, Kendrick (‘Psalm-surfing’, improvised There is a genuine desire to set key evangelical Anglican clergy, diocesan singing of the Psalms) and by Pete James, liturgical texts in an authentic musical style. music advisers, RSCM reps, lecturers, Becca Staniforth and Helen Bent (St The possibility of the Commission meeting Church House Staff and members of the Thomas’ Crookes / Diocese of Sheffield). with the Songwriters’ Consultation (about Liturgical Commission in order to discuss 70, though not all are Anglicans) was also There were two keynote addresses: the shape and content of Evangelical mooted. Worship. ‘Worshipping the God of the Gospel: A Training needs This exciting project (part of the dream for evangelical worship’ given by Theological training needed for songwriters Transforming Worship initiative) provided the Bishop of Coventry – which provided and (musician) worship leaders in local the opportunity to affirm the many positive the theme for the event. churches. aspects of contemporary worship and to explore areas in need of improvement. The ‘Contemporary song-writing: resounding Future meetings / communications day was led and facilitated by Tim Lomax, truth?’ given by the Revd Prof Jeremy There was a suggestion that another who introduced the work of the Liturgical Begbie. meeting be called for 2010, to focus on creative thinking around evangelical Commission and three key issues: There was a presentation on ‘Framework worship - the possibility of involving a range The need for a developing vision for within a Freedom’, exploring the shape of worship, healthy frameworks for freedom in of artists (poets, storytellers, actors, film evangelical worship – what can and makers, photographers and musicians), as ought it become into the future? worship, and the creative formats provided in Common Worship that facilitate journeys well as representatives from the ‘emerging church’ movement. The role that songs play – the need for of transformation for the church (given by them to provide breadth (exploring more myself). Tim Lomax themes), depth (providing rich and Assistant Curate in the parish of Penn Peter Moger (National Worship trustworthy biblical content), and height Fields, Wolverhampton, and a member of Development Officer) chaired a final (lifting us beyond ourselves to fill our the Liturgical Commission session in which strands from the vision with the attributes and actions of consultation were gathered with The texts of Chris Cocksworth’s God). suggestions about what might follow from presentation can be found on the Fulcrum this event. The overall shape of our worship – website (www.fulcrum-anglican.org.uk). exploring healthy frameworks for our Book offer ‘Deep calls to deep’ for Praxis members ondon School of Theology’s recent soil of your own culture’ and thus appeal to Using Common Worship: Times and Worship Symposium (11-13 a self-publishing society that increasingly Seasons (2): Lent to Embertide by David L September) was an event of values participation. Kennedy with Jeremy Haselock has been significance, acknowledging at its outset an John Bell’s plenary session at the start of released by Church House Publishing. intention to raise timely questions rather day two picked up on many similar themes The book features practical tips, than supply easy answers. as he declared that the style wars were illuminating case studies, background The three-day conference began with a over and that the new issue was content. information for each part of the season and survey of the current contemporary worship The music had to be for everybody, not just clear explanations for all the liturgical scene by four well-known contributors. celebrity performers. material in Times and Seasons. In the Graham Kendrick’s opening remarks upon A wide range of workshops followed which introduction, Roger Greenacre explores what has become an event-driven praise addressed numerous pressing issues and the meaning of Passover and its and worship ‘industry’ set the tone for a LST is to be commended for airing many implications for Christian understandings stimulating panel discussion. Mark Earey current concerns. of Lent and Easter.