Recently I've been thinking about some of the things that we talked about during the didactic session regarding worship. While putting the service together, I did my best to avoid direct mention of Jesus, and settled largely on God and Father language. For the hymns, Father was the most commonly used word just based on what I had to work with.
This is sort of funny to me due to the fact that for the last few years such a worship service would have set off every major alarm I have been fitted with by Columbia, and the more I think about it, the more i feel it was a weak point of my service, not only for reasons of gender inclusivity, but because Islamic reading have several clear points where they state that Allah does not beget as is not begotten, and Father language not only would have been a tripping point for some women, but nearly every Muslim.
I think the next time I lead worship, rather than trying to put together a service that would be vaguely acceptable to everyone, I think that I will put together a service with some clear points of connection for as many people as I can manage. I think that this would be more spiritually helpful than a service aimed at "to whom it may concern" and that a few stumbling blocks are worth it if everyone has a couple more points of contact.
I am pretty bushed this week, and having just completed my Exegesis Ordination Exam I haven't had as much time to put into reflecting on CPE as I would normally prefer to have. Now its all over, I am looking forward to focusing back on CPE, Pastoral Care, and ways I can link up spiritually with my patients, rather than just hoping not to offend them.
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