Reading a book this morning that I “randomly” found at McKay Books Nashville, I discovered that the early Puritans believed in participatory church. How exciting!

“In the conduct of worship the Separatists (early Puritans) stressed spontaneity. Following the regular sermon, they set aside a time for ‘prophesying,’ that is, little extemporaneous sermons or speeches by members of the congregation.  These in turn were followed by a period for questions from the congregation about any points in which the sermon or prophesying had left them in doubt.  They frowned on all set forms of prayers and liturgies.”  –a quote by Edmund S. Morgan (in the book Visible Saints–The History of a Puritan Idea)

We still allow that kind of ‘prophesying’ at The Salvation Army Berry Street in Nashville, Tennessee — Sundays @ 10:45, 225 Berry St., 37207.