Ep 68: E. Byron Anderson on his book Common Worship

E. Byron Anderson is the Ernest and Bernice Styberg Professor of Worship at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. His most recent book Common Worship: Tradition, Formation, Mission explores the various tensions of the Church's worship: traditional vs. contemporary, habit vs. freedom, canon vs. creativity, unity vs. diversity, and mission focused worship vs. congregationally focused worship. However, instead of pitting these concepts against each other, he puts them in conversations that cause pastors, worship leaders, and all Christ followers to ask tough questions about the intention behind how their liturgies are formed and how they are forming their people. In many ways, Dr. Anderson's book reads like a companion to James K.A. Smith's influential Desiring the Kingdom. Both books contribute to the Church's conversations about what exactly is happening when we gather together and challenges us to consider what should be happening.

Common Worship can be purchased through various channels:
Amazon
Cokesbury
Dr. Anderson is also a longtime contributor to the Liturgical Conference journal:
https://liturgicalconference.org/
You can read more of his bio and teaching approach at his 
Garrett faculty page.



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Article Link: Mission: It Just Takes One Simple Question

I am an Anglican Christian within a group called the ACNA, the Anglican Church of North America. Anglicans divide themselves up (much like Roman Catholic Christians) into geographic regions known as dioceses. A diocese is headed by (or presided over by) a bishop, the elder of the region, the pastor to the pastors, shepherd to the shepherds. My congregation, Epiphany Anglican Mission (where I lead the music and teach from time to time), is part of the Diocese of Quincy, which consists of churches in central Illinois west of the Illinois river going up to the northwest part of the state where the quad cities is. In recent years the structure of Anglicanism has been changing, with some churches joining a diocese through affiliation rather than geography. This means that our diocese also has churches in Colorado, Florida, Texas, Wisconsin, and the Chicago area. Oh, and I should add I'm in the midst discerning my call to ordained ministry; it's a bit of a slow process at the moment.

Recently, my pastor, Rev. Canon Gregg Lynn, asked me and some other pastors and leaders within the diocese to write some articles for the website. I wrote about the local church's call to mission in its community and one simple way we can start being missionally minded as a people. To be honest, I'm not naturally a very missional or evangelistic or charismatic person. I kind of like to keep to myself. But over the years of working together Greg has really built some principles into me and those in our community, so that it just becomes a natural part of the way we think and act.

You can view my article here:
Mission: It Just Takes One Simple Question

And you can view the other articles on ministry, focusing on youth ministry, prayer, and being Kingdom Minded, here:
The Diocese of Quincy: Voices  
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Why I Cringe Every Time I Hear Someone Say "I Hate Christian Music"

Making a Case for Dark Comedy #2: Rev

Rev.'s Adam Smallbone played by Tom Hollander

An ominous presence hangs over season 3 of the BBC 2 comedy Rev. 

Aching For the Promised Land (England, that is)

I teared up today. 

Overwhelmed with emotion I about lost it right there at my mom's house. But don't worry, I reigned things in and got my gushy side under control. I was watching tennis after all, in Britain at that, where it's not prudent to betray too much of one's emotions. But really, I wanted to cry at the beauty and grandeur of it all.