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The
worship of God is an eminent part of religion, and prayer
is a chief part of religious worship. --Tillotson.
Milton described worship as, “The act
of paying divine honors to the Supreme Being; religious reverence
and homage; adoration, or acts of reverence, paid to God.”
We celebrate this honor in many different
ways including music, prayer, dance and artistic expression.
By having an active role in worship, we experience a more
personal and fulfilling relationship with God, being drawn
closer to him. We encourage you to open your heart to God
and to experience the presence of the Holy Spirit through
worship with us, the Church Family of Jordan United Church
of Christ.
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This ministry
began in 1979 when Jordan selected the Lenten theme “Christ
Reflected Through the Arts”
It is becoming more and more evident, both
here in the United States and around the world, that liturgical
dance can help us rediscover the profound human expression
that communes with and draws us closer to the power of the
Spirit of the Divine. Dance is particularly timely and suitable
to worship today as more and more people begin to reaffirm
the human body, recovering the body-spirit connections. This
is not an abstract theory, as participants can attest who
see and feel the power, the majesty, and the prayerfulness
of dance in the context of liturgy. Dance can express a deep
sense of reverence, a profound participation in worship, arousing
joy and union.
It is believed that sacred dance is a catalyst
for spiritual growth and change through the integration of
mind, body, and spirit. Through the Guild's workshops and
other events, dancers and nondancers alike share the opportunity
to experience movement as worship, prayer, healing, and meditation;
as an agent of change; and as a message of peace. The movements
in these sacred dances are not geared to any specific dance
style or particular body techniques. Instead, they grow out
of the dancer's inner motivation, which allows the revelation
of the spirit through the body.
The goal of sacred dance is the integration
of worship-whether as part of an established or traditional
religious practice. It is tuning in to that "still quiet
voice," flowing with the laws of harmony and beauty,
honoring the body's wisdom, uniting the physical and the spiritual,
the spirit and the mind. The dance may give fresh expression
to prayer and worship when it is experienced through the aid
of the arts, following the long tradition of worshippers we
now know about whom have gone before.
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Jordan’s
Christian Clowning group “Fools for Christ” has
been leading worship since the late 1970’s. Using scripture
and Bible stories, the clowns develop skits to share God’s
word.
Jordan’s clowns have been invited to
lead worship in many local churches as well as special services
at Jordan. If you are interested in this unique worship opportunity,
please see Bob Schantz.
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Jordan recognizes
and celebrates "Daffodil Sunday" with the American
Cancer Society in the spring. Cancer survivors are recognized
and presented with a daffodil. Bunches of Daffodils are sold
to our members and a special bulletin is prepared recognizing
and honoring our cancer survivors and remembering those who
did not win the battle.
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Our Pastor
is known to offer monologue sermons from time-to-time, often
creating a non-biblical character to interpret a Biblical
text. With little costuming, he uses dramatic innovation to
tell the old, old story in a refreshing and powerful presentation.
He has been a shepherd at the birth of Jesus; a witness to
Jesus' healing of a blind man; one who watched as the Risen
Christ ate breakfast on the beach with the disciples; among
many others. He wanders the aisles, and often speaks directly
to members of the congregation, who become participants in
the story.
These presentations have gained the reputation
of being called "Barefoot Sermons," a reference
to his earlier ministry in Clearwater, Florida, when he literally
was without any foot covering for this portion of worship.
This all was changed one Sunday morning. After walking the
floor of the nave of the church without shoes, and kneeling
as part of the drama with his feet toward the congregation,
one front row member spoke in an audible whisper, "Those
are the dirtiest feet I've ever seen!" Dr. Smith now
owns and uses sandals.
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