S1 Episode 02

'Hi, I'm Aaron. I'm a liturgist, writer, and pastor currently living in NYC. After leading worship at Mars Hill Church (Grand Rapids, MI) and Willow Creek Church (Barrington, IL), I created A New Liturgy- a collection of modern liturgical worship recordings. Shortly after, I started a discipleship-focused, formational, ecumenical, practice-based community at Willow Creek called The Practice. In 2018, I released a book about a practice-based faith called The Eternal Current: How a Practice-Based Faith Can Save Us from Drowning, and I'm continuing to create resources to help us all flesh it out. But that’s just job stuff. The best part of my life is my wife Shauna, and my boys, Henry and Mac.'

Aaron Niequist joins host Helen Cottee to talk about the changing face of Christianity. In a deep dive in participation and practice as a way of experiencing faith, they discuss what's changing, what's dying, and what is wanting to be resurrected in the Christian faith.

Quotes from the episode:

'Liturgy is simply the rhythms and practices that we choose to do, that form us in a particular way.'

'What are the things that are dying that needed to die. And what are the things that are dying that need to be rescued'.

'The invitation is participation in what God is already doing'.

The Sermon on the Mount (and the Beatitudes):

The sermon on the mount in found in the bible, in the book of Matthew Chapters 5-7.

This section is known as the Beatitudes:

³

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

⁴

Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

⁵

Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the earth.

⁶

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled.

⁷

Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

⁸

Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they will see God.

⁹

Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called children of God.

¹⁰

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Links from the episode:

Aaron's Liturgies: https://www.anewliturgy.com/

Aaron's website: https://www.aaronniequist.com/

The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard.

Richard Rohr: https://cac.org/richard-rohr/richard-rohr-ofm/

Holy Longing by Ronald Rolheiser

The challenge from this episode:

'If we don't find a constructive, healthy, honest, brave way to engage our heartbreak, fear and sorrow - especially in a season of pandemic - we are going to destroy each other' What do you need to lament and what practices help you to do so?