Perhaps the most edifying conversation over the weekend focused on the organization of worship. I was raised Seventh-Day-Adventist. Liturgy and the structure of
worship were not a focus for me growing up. I did, however, attend a Lutheran College in Washington State with a wonderful music program and directed a children's
choir at a Lutheran church before Ben and I got married. I was familiar with the order of the service, but not the meaning behind it. It was not until, as a family,
we began attending Ebenezer that the blessing of the makeup of worship really came home. I appreciated Tom’s analysis of worship and liturgy - beginning with the story
in the Gospel of Luke of the road to Emmaus and ending in Chicago, circa. now – and it reinforced for me that the beauty of worship comes from the power and meaning of
its structure. The Gathering, Word, Meal and Sending of the liturgy are events I look forward to at every service. It is a weekly happening that both strengthens and
focuses me as a Christian.
Hilary Eldridge
One of the big gaps between church professionals (clergy, musicians) and lay people involves the critical importance of the liturgy, and the music which clothes it.
The professionals think about and live these realities every Sunday, but lay folks are often baffled by the variations, and by the unfolding of the church calendar.
On these snowy days in February, Tom Witt and Mary Preus helped to bridge that chasm for lots of Ebenezer folks. Music and liturgy came alive for lots of us non-pro's.
We learned and remembered that the core of our liturgy dates at least to 150 AD-it always involves four critical elements: gathering(from many places); the word (both
ancient and new); the meal (shared equally); and the sending (back to do justice in the world). We learned-in fact, experienced-the power of quiet, contemplative,
candlelit prayer around the cross. We learned and sang wonderful hymns from six continents, and shared reasons for valuing these global experiences. We relearned and
affirmed once again what a wonderful worship experience we share at Ebenezer, and what terrific fellow pilgrims join us on the journey. Thanks be to the education committee,
to Pastors Paul and Carla, to John and the congregation leaders-and to God-for bringing the faith alive for all of us.
Jody Kreztmann
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I had heard good things about previous Ebenezer retreats, so I arrived definitely intrigued. I found Techny a perfect retreat setting, beautiful and far removed from my day
to day life. For me, the worship service Friday evening set the tone for the retreat, incorporating music, reflection, Scripture, and prayer in meaningful and intentional ways.
The mixer afterward and the meals the next day provided opportunities for me to get better acquainted with people I hadn't had the chance to spend time with. I really appreciated
the talents and style of the retreat leaders, who facilitated our discussions of liturgy and music--as well as a lot of singing. I left the retreat with new insights and much gratitude
for having been a part of it.
Linda Wimmer
Among the wonders that the retreat brought us are musical ones – wonders of the voice. Voice is many things: accent, region, timing, rhythm, words, experience, nationality, affiliation,
family, identity, history, tradition, tone, emphasis, ritual, the space between words…and much more. An experience like this can’t be bottled and can’t be told, as to bottle or tell it
is to change it. Voice has to be experienced as listening and as forming new words on old lips and old words on new lips. The retreat was such an experience. To the voicing, add the
surprise of meeting travelers at a place that has all the markings of a crossroads – Divine Word/Techny is an intersection of African and Western articulation in sculpture, artifact and
architecture – each with a story to tell and a voice to tell it. You could feel the world growing.
Chris Sweet
Many thanks are due to people who helped make this retreat a success. Thanks to Michel Lathop for designing the striking flyer and program, to Ingrid Christiansen and Jody Kretzmann for recommending
the retreat leaders, to Dan Clark for printing the programs at his work, to John Elmquist, Pr. Paul Koch and Pr. Carla Thompson Powell for their support, to Peter Eckart for the ice breaker, to John
Kopp for his artistic photos, to Hannah and Leah Otto for helping with child care, and of course to our leaders, Tom Witt and Mary Preus whose knowledge and inspiration in music and teaching was a
blessing to us all. And lastly thanks to those who gave scholarship money including money to off set retreat expenses: George and Elise Packard, Pam and Dennis Sall, Judy Bianchi, Darlene Erickson,
Kris May, Ann Hamilton Hicks, Deb Samyn, Janet Lundblad, Chris Thangaraj, Jim Smith, and Chris Warmanen.
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