‘Indecent and Out of Order’

A Pentecost Devotional marks the 10^th anniversary of the 1001 New Worshiping Communities movement

by Paul Seebeck | Presbyterian News Service

LOUISVILLE — As a way of thanking the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) for its support of 1001 New Worshiping Communities, leaders in the movement from across the country have put together a digital Pentecost Devotional, “Indecent and Out of Order.”

“We’re doing this to mark our 10th anniversary,” said the Rev. Nikki Collins, New Worshiping Communities national coordinator. “It’s a gift of inspiration and hope in what the Spirit is doing across in these communities in our church.”

Nearly half of the 706 new worshiping communities supported by the PC(USA) are communities of color and immigrants. God is worshiped in at least 13 languages in these newest gatherings. It reminds Collins of the story of Acts where the Spirit takes people on a journey to try new things without them knowing what will happen.

“Without the faithfulness and courage of the early church leaders, we wouldn’t be here now,” she said. “In the same way there are people now who wouldn’t know about the grace of Jesus Christ without the faithful and courageous leadership of our new worshiping communities.”

The Rev. Crawford Brubaker — whose wife Layne started two new worshiping communities, Okra Abbey in New Orleans and Hagar’s Community Church at the largest prison center for women in Washington state, helped curate submissions for the Pentecost Devotional, “Indecent and Out of Order.”

“You’ll get something new in your inbox daily in June,” he said. “Selections include a new song for Pentecost. There’s poetry, art and breathing mediations, and even a writing from someone in prison with a new take on what it means to have the cells in prison shaken.”

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