Mennonite Churches

With its roots in the radical wing of the Protestant Reformation, the Mennonite church has historically emphasized Christian discipleship and has understood worship as continuous with daily living. In recent years, however, as a result of growing awareness of the multifaceted nature of worship, much more attention is being given to the integration of worship with other ministries in the congregation. Worship in North American Mennonite churches has been changing rapidly since 1960. In the past, churchgoers could reasonably expect to find similar patterns of worship in Virginia, Kansas, Oregon, Ontario, or anywhere between. Today Mennonite worship is characterized by creative ferment. Increased participation of many kinds of people, expressions of varied streams of spirituality, changing styles of music and language, greater attention to the Christian year, and hunger for the reality of God's presence have all contributed to renewal in worship. Perhaps one of the most significant de…