Pretty sure I went to church the other night.
I finally got to see Bruce Springsteen live on Thursday, April 9, at the Forum in Inglewood, California. It was an amazing concert (a bucket list item for me), but in many ways it felt like so much more.
The liturgy of Bruce
Bruce stepped out to center stage and opened the night “with a prayer for our men and women in service overseas.” Then came a call naming what the night would be about–“choosing hope over fear,… truth over lies, unity over division, and peace over war” (you can see it here).
Nearly three hours later, we were sent forth with a benediction. We were invited to go out and get into “good trouble” — to do something, say something, or “hell, sing something.” And most importantly to never lose the hope we find in one another, especially in settings like that one.
In between there were expressions of grief, prophetic words that spoke truth to power, and full-throated participation from the “congregation”—singing, chanting, responding. It was, in a sense, liturgy–the work of the people.
As I continue to struggle with much of the church in the US and it’s reluctance to speak clearly about what’s happening around us, I am so grateful to Bruce and E Street Nation for stepping into that space and rallying the people.
Invitation
Springsteen is a master showman. Every moment feels like an invitation:
To sing the fist verse of Hungry Heart
To chant during The Streets of Minneapolis
To add background vocals with the Ohs on Badlands
Or simply to share the joy of making music with the legendary E Street Band.
Every moment is an invitation to participate.
As a proud citizen of “The United Free Republic on E Street Nation”–I have my membership jacket–I want to take that invitation seriously. To “rise up” (“My City of Ruins) and be counted among those who believe that following Jesus is more than just praying a prayer, believing a belief, or reciting a creed.
Instead, we are to bear witness to hope, truth, unity, and peace. As we saw that night at the Church on E Street.
So let’s say something.
Let’s do something.
Hell—let’s sing something.
May it be so.