No disrespect intended, but many mainline churches in the greater Boston area that are worried about declining membership and waning spirituality in their congregations have yet to face an inescapable fact of life in this modern age: church as many people remember it, from the 1940’s through the 1990’s, is no longer relevant or meaningful for today’s generations. Congregations that really want to survive in this new age need to stop slamming the door on innovation and be more open to the ideas and possibilities introduced by progressive trailblazers and modern-day reformers of religious tradition.

A quick glance around northeastern Massachusetts reveals a number of pioneering, experimental, spirit-filled, and exciting opportunities for re-discovering the Christian faith through new forms, new media, new church start-ups, and new worship environments that are anything but “old hat.”

For example, check out this YouTube video on Boston’s “pub church” – part of a national movement towards bringing church to the people, even in unlikely places like pubs and taverns:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrJ6LMr6LoA

The Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ has been spreading the word about its “OpenSpirit” new worship opportunity in Framingham, led by four pastors and a musician. There’s also the jazz worship at Boston’s Old South Church, which has been offered since 2005.

In the northwestern suburbs, Maynard’s Union Congregational Church has been doing a casual, less formal “Family Faith Time” once a month (last Sunday of the month at 10 am, downstairs in its Fellowship Hall), while Maynard’s United Methodist Church is offering a regular healing service on a weekly basis, Sundays at 6 pm.

In the United Church of Christ, there are reports of new church starts in Mashpee, South Shore, and Provincetown.

And, for church leaders exploring new directions in worship and parish ministry, there are resources like those listed on the United Methodist website for “New Wine and Fresh Bread: A Taste of Post-Modern Worship,” and “Nurturing Passionate Spirituality”. One can also read an enlightening commentary by Tiffany Vail exposing myths about “contemporary” worship on the Massachusetts UCC Conference website.

There are countless other examples out there – perhaps a collaborative effort aimed at sharing news and calendar information about “new” worship opportunities can be started, even through regular news columns like this one on Examiner.com, to help people find where to go to nurture their hunger for new spiritual approaches designed for today’s changing culture.

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