Amos Disasa – Tuesday Closing Worship (Charlotte 2013)

Amos Disasa preaching at the closing worship service on Tuesday afternoon [Part of the 2013 NEXT Church National Gathering in Charlotte, NC.]

Ashley Goff – Liturgy as Improv

Ashley Goff on Liturgy as Improv [Part of the 2013 NEXT Church National Gathering in Charlotte, NC.]

Patrick Daymond – Relational Meetings (Charlotte 2013)

Patrick Daymond on One to One Meetings

[Part of the 2013 NEXT Church National Gathering in Charlotte, NC.]

Theresa Cho – Tuesday morning worship (Charlotte 2013)

Theresa Cho preaching in worship Tuesday morning

[Part of the 2013 NEXT Church National Gathering in Charlotte, NC.]

Steve Eason – Monday evening worship (Charlotte 2013)

Steve Eason preaching in worship Monday evening

[Part of the 2013 NEXT Church National Gathering in Charlotte, NC.]

Bill Golderer and Aisha Brooks Lytle – Incubating Faith Communities (Charlotte 2013)

Bill Golderer and Aisha Brooks Lytle on Incubating Faith Communities

[Part of the 2013 NEXT Church National Gathering in Charlotte, NC.]

Paul Roberts – Called to Create What’s NEXT (Charlotte 2013)

Paul Roberts thought piece: Called to Create What’s NEXT

[Part of the 2013 NEXT Church National Gathering in Charlotte, NC.]

Jessica Tate and Casey Fitzgerald – Opening Worship (Charlotte 2013)

Jessica Tate (preacher) and Casey Fitzgerald (biblical storyteller) in the opening worship on Monday. [Part of the 2013 NEXT Church National Gathering in Charlotte, NC.]

Tom Are and Shannon Kershner – Introduction to NEXT (Charlotte 2013)

Tom Are and Shannon Kershner give a brief introduction to NEXT Church at “A Taste of NEXT Church” at Myers Park Presbyterian Church.

[Part of the 2013 National Gathering in Charlotte, NC]

The "Ritual of the Ribbons" at 2013 National Gathering

By Theresa Cho

NEXT Worship Overall Thematic Flow & Ritual:

Colors of fabric and ribbon were purple, red, blue, white, and yellow. The colors of a Korean fabric called Saekdong. Saekdong is usually used for children’s clothing and “protects the evoking of dreams of children.”

Advent Worship:

Sheets of fabric were torn into strips during the confession. Each participant was given a 5 ft. ribbon before worship. As a way to prepare for new birth, conferees were invited to place the ribbon in the manger, letting go of what prevents them from being open to whatever will birth in them during the conference. manger

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Baptism Worship:

The ripped fabric was woven together, connecting the baptismal font and the manger together. The ribbon in the manger was returned to the conferees as a way of remembering our baptismal identity as a child of God. In preparation for the next worship, participants were asked to follow instructions on the bulletin insert and bring the ribbon to the next worship. NEXT Words font

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Lent Worship:

The ripped fabric was displayed on the chancel and communion table in the pattern of Saekdong. After reflection on Luke 4.14-21, conferees were asked to pair up and share their call saying “My call is to (verb) (verb) (verb) (noun)” Share a quick reaction to their call. Then, their partner will say “Your call is to . . . “ and then “stole” their partner. Afterwards, each conferee placed their ribbon in the offering basket as their offering of their call. theresa

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Pentecost Worship:

The ribbons were woven on the communion table, representing how our calls are woven together. As conferees came up for communion, they were asked to take a stole of someone else, take it home and pray for them.

table