Deliberate Worship: Creating Safe Spaces to Encounter the Numinous and Divine Through Rituals of Music and Lyrics

Abstract

Acknowledging that numinous encounters with, and worship of divine alterity occurs through music, across religious traditions and multiple cultures, this paper looks specifically at the intention of the North American Episcopal Church to create safe spaces of inclusion where supplicants can engage with the 'mysterium tremendum et fascinans'. Both ethnographic observation/interviews of informants, as well as participant observer, reflexive auto-ethnography was conducted. Observation and research was centered at a small town, New York State Episcopal church, including staff informants as well as volunteer choir informants. Research also included an informant from the Cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese Cathedral of New York - Cathdral of Saint John the Divine, New York, New York, as well as the female Cantor of a nearby Jewish Temple. The field site dynamics changed abruptly, more than 3/4 of the way through the project, and this paper has stayed true to capturing the impact of such changes to the overall intent and purpose of Episcopal liturgy and musical lyrics used to create safe, inclusive worship experiences.