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INTERACTIVE READINGS The Unplugged service seeks to invite and involve everyone in the pews on Sundays at 5:30 to participate in the service, no matter where we are on our journey of faith.. One of the distinctive parts of our liturgy is the “Interactive Reading”, which brings audience participation to the gospel. The fertile imagination of Paul Crabtree, Unplugged’s founding musician and early muse, generated the lessons initially. He maintained the essence of the gospel, often updating and editing the language, and requiring the congregation to play the part of Pharisees, Jesus, or whomever the story of the day featured. Roles for men and women, sitters on the left (north or right (south)side of the church, “teachers”, “parents”, “leaders”, followers”, “ lawyers” (there’s always one in the crowd) and others demand involvement. Paul has moved to greener pastures, but the Interactive Reading remains. This year, our priest Lily invited members of the congregation to write the Interactive Reading, an exhilarating experience for the theologically challenged. She provided the author with the gospel and lesson for the day. Then the author has to dig into the readings and figure out what they mean. Depending where you are on that journey of faith, the gospel will take you to a different place. Whatever the location, the author must decide how to convey it in language which makes sense, and can be enjoyed and read by the congregation. Parallel readings from contemporary sources or other religions often deepen the author’s interpretation of the lessons. Unplugged prefers teachings that don’t feature a hierarchical, exclusive or gender specific God. During our interactive readings this spring we have heard Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu and Jewish wisdom, as well as the thoughts of John Steinbeck, James Baldwin, and others, in addition to the gospel and often Old Testament lessons. No Interactive Reading is published without a priest’s review. Lily challenged us if we inadvertently included something, or left something out, that changes the meaning of the readings or is offensive. The results each Sunday reflect a diverse interpretation of the gospel grounded in the faith of the authors. Interactive readings are a unique part of Unplugged. Writing an interactive reading is a profound way to get grounded in the day’s scripture. We’d love it if you’d come as you are, join the fun, and worship and write with us. Bill Orrick May 19, 2005 |