"Anyone who drinks from this well will never be thirsty again." (John 4)

A lazy Sunday it has been. I truly believe that if I didn't do what I do, then I'd give serious thought to becoming a Saturday or Sunday evening worshipper. Today I was the latter. In a few weeks I will be both again.

One of my goals for the remaining days of sabbatical is to engage in various emergent congregational worship experiences. It is helpful to read about these communities. It is entirely another matter to join them...to sit in their midst and try to determine what makes them tick. I am in the process of plotting trips to some of the more notable examples of such communities around the country. For today it seemed sensible to explore the most prototypically emergent congregation in our own community, i.e. "Jacob's Well" on 42nd St. just off the Plazas.

Worship began at 5:30 pm this evening. I was 1o minutes late, but you'd never have suspected it. No usher had to quietly open the door for me, whisper "Good evening," and slip a bulletin into my hands. Those who in a few moments would become worshippers were at 5:40 milling around the pews and fellowshipping. It was somewhat akin to what takes place around our Sunday morning cafe when it is "working," except there were no pastries and it happened in the worship space.

The order of events were predictably "emergent". Music was offered by a band consisting of several vocalists, two guitarists, keyboardist and violinist... with lyrics cast on two large screens up front. It was a pleasant cross between what my generation might call folk and country and...something I couldn't quite place. I'll call it "folkrymergent".

Then a lay representative publicized upcoming congregational events, including a headliner for next Sunday that included visiting pastor, Doug Pagitt (who I had planned to visit next weekend in Minneapolis. Guess a new itinerary is in order.) More music followed.

Then the pastor pulled a music stand and notes to the front of the center aisle of this remarkably traditional worship space (save the band and screens and excessive number of candles) and proceeded to teach, for 38 minutes on the "Lost Parables" of Luke 5. There was a simple communion (wonderful to see) and a musical benediction where all worshippers were invited to join hands and sing together.

I would estimate the average age of worshipper was 24ish. All present seemed engaged and many even took sermon notes (and weren't required to for confirmation!). It was an enriching experience.

Visit Jacob's Well. If you are an Atonemenite, do it guilt free, as we currently don't have a service scheduled for this time. Let me know what you appreciated about the emergent church experience and what they could do more effectively. They seem to be currently establishing a Christian connection with the 24ish culture more effectively than any other movement. Surely there is something for the rest of the church to learn from them.