The Great Emergence by Phyllis Tickle

I began reading this new book this morning after a fitful night of sleep. Perhaps it's an occupational hazard, but I often wake with people and problems from church on my mind. At first, I try to pray. This morning that lasted for an hour and then I got up for tea.

I've long been a voice of change in the church. Even in my days working for para-church organization, I was a voice (often unheard, but always met with confused, skeptical looks) that asserted that something was changing in the way that we celebrate and practice our Christian faith.

The church has a movement called "the emergent church." (If you're new to the emerging church concept, click here for an article from Christianity Today.) I like the distinction. Although all I've heard at this point is the ancient practices have become desirous again. I've wanted the church to talk about something new... really new... Reformation new.

I have great hopes for this book by Tickle. She begins with the image of a rummage sale quoting Dyer who says, "every 500 years the church feels compelled to hold a giant rummage sale." She goes onto name the "rummage sales": The Great Reformation, the Great Schism, Gregory the Great and the Monastic movement, and finally the introduction of Jesus of Nazareth and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

I read a book almost a year ago that talked about the Phoenix (and I believe that I'm repeating myself even here on this blog). The mythical bird, the Phoenix is engulfed in flames only to be reborn of its own ashes. It emerges as a hybrid of what it was and what it will be.

Between you and me, I have been praying for fire for a long time for my beloved church.