The Worship Mall begins by setting the scene of the postmodern world. Spinks discusses that consumerism is one of the main characteristics of this era and briefly analyzes the “Mall” culture’s effect on society, in particular, characteristics of Generation Y. It seems one conclusion is that Generation Y should be more open to religion, but do not always have the background to go deeper or ask the hard questions (p. xxii). The end of the introduction lays out two claims:

1). Religion is in competition with all the leisure and entertainment industries and consumerism is both leisure and entertainment.

2). The very fact that there are different trends in contemporary worship suggests that worship styles too represent a mall, offered by different churches to suit your personal taste or spirituality, all enticing in different ways, and in competition with one another (p. xxiii).

From this brief, but engaging introduction, Spinks then leads us on a journey of exploration through various postmodern worship trends. In each chapter, Spinks provides some concrete examples of various models. He presents a brief history of the movement and then outlines their worship service. This survey is eye opening and intriguing. I think this survey provides a thorough introduction to these various trends. Spinks’ analysis is only a beginning and invites the reader (or a future doctoral student!) to take the next step. What long-term effects will current trends have on religion and religious experience?

As you can see, he covers quite far-flung topics:

1. Blended, fusion or synthesis worship (The U2 Eucharist, Duke Ellington Mass, Hip-Hop Eucharist)
2. Consciously postmodern: alt., emerging and liquid worship (Nine O’Clock service)
3. Entertaining worship or worship as entertainment? Megachurch, seeker services and multi-sensory worship (Robert Schuller, Joel Osteen, Willow Creek, Saddleback)
4. Praise and Worship songs and worship in the charismatic churches (music and personality worship, Hillsong and Darlene Zschech)
5. On the margins of corporate global postmodern culture (African Independent Churches, Korean Minjung Eucharists and Kuk-Ak Worship, Appalachian Mountain Religion and Taking Up Serpents)
6. Contemporary “Celtic worship” (Iona Community; Celtic Eucharists)
7. A variety of  post-Vatican II liturgies (from the reclaiming of the 1962 rite to various pick-and-mix liturgies)

Spinks’ project is descriptive rather than evaluative, but as I read each chapter, questions abounded which deserve further treatment and conversation:  In a society that is focused on individual success and gratification, how is our worship affected? Are the adaptations to existing models helpful? Do the new models reinforce consumerist and entertainment attitudes? How is ritual affected? The Worship Mall doesn’t necessarily provide clear answers to these questions, but Spinks does provide some insightful and provoking observations on how these worship trends engage and influence the “shopper.”

A line from the last paragraph of the book has stuck with me, “ Liturgy should entice and enchant us not only to desire, but also fall in love with God the Trinity, and thereby love our neighbours” (p. 216). Although his project is primarily descriptive, this idea can serve as a tool for evaluation for those planning liturgy and seeking a place of worship.

TAJ

My daughter returned last night from World Youth Day and, though we have not had much time to catch up on her adventures, I did ask her what it was like going to Mass with 1.5 million people. She said that, of course, they could not really see anything except what was projected onto giant screens. She also mentioned that as far as she could see there was no attempt made to give communion to most of the people there, which she found disappointing.

I suspect that some attempt was made to give communion to some of the young people, and she was simply unlucky enough to not be in that group. Still, this raises the question in my mind of whether the Mass is really the most appropriate form of worship for such gatherings. The word on the street for some time is that the Pope is not crazy about such mega-Masses with thousands of concelebrants, though he seems to be tolerating them for the time being. But one might ask: if you cannot offer communion to those who are properly disposed to receive it, is this an indication that perhaps you should not be celebrating Mass at all?

I take it as given that it is a good thing to gather young people from around the world to pray with each other and with the Supreme Pontiff. My question is whether it is possible to celebrate the Eucharist in a worthy manner at such an event. And if so, how would one go about doing this?

So far, the podcast has made featured discussions with high school students and college students, an interview with Archbishop Dennis Schnurr of Cincinnati, and more.

The series is available at this link:

http://feeds.feedburner.com/beyondthewordsromanmissal

and subscribable/downloadable through iTunes:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-words/id422671854

(or search “Beyond the Words” under podcasts).

For all of them, at least for a few minutes, it is dialogue with a concerned adult who seems to understand and empathize. For this alone, the time, the energy, the prayer, and the occasional heartache involved on the part of the minister in sharing their pain, confusion, and fears is what the sacramentality is all about.

It seems to me that not only Catholic teens but also Catholic adults often struggle in the ways described in this article. What is your experience in ministry?

Among their theses are calls for more democracy in the Church, more women in leadership positions including ordained ministry, examination of the structures of power in the Church, and respect rather than judgment for those who remarry, live together before marriage, or are in a same-sex relationship. The youth hope for an angst-free discussion with arguments from all sides and, in the best sense of the word, a fight about the future of the Church.

The German bishops have already expressed strong criticism of the BDKJ’s nailing of theses. This is “anything but a dialogue. A catalogue listing ever more new demands are no help to us in the current situation of the Church,” stated spokesperson Matthias Kopp. “Some of the contents of these nailed theses are incompatible with the teaching of the Church. The action of the BDKJ is unhelpful and leads nowhere.”

The BDKJ is the umbrella organization for 17 Catholic youth associations and organizations in Germany and represents the interests of approximately 660,000 youth and young people.

Liturgies

Mass: Sunday, June 19 10:30 am
Saint John’s Abbey Church, Saint John’s University, Collegeville

Mass: Sunday, June 26 10:00 am
Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 111 4th Street NW, Waseca, MN

Concerts

Tuesday, June 21 7:00 pm
Saint Stephen Catholic Church, 1401 Clark Street, Stevens Point, WI

Wednesday, June 22 7:00 pm
Visitation Catholic Church, 779 South York Road, Elmhurst, IL

Thursday, June 23 7:00 pm
Saint Clement Catholic Church, 642 West Deming Place, Chicago, IL

Friday, June 24 7:30 pm
Saint Bruno Catholic Church, 226 West Ottowa Avenue, Dousman, WI

Saturday, June 25 7:00 pm
Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 111 4th Street NW, Waseca, MN

Sunday, June 26 7:30 pm
Saint Joseph Catholic Church, 8701 36th Avenue N., New Hope, MN

Tuesday, June 28 10:30 am
Great Hall, Saint John’s University, Collegeville, MN