Widening interest is reported as the date nears for an alternative-worship laboratory event in Oklahoma, according to Nathan Mattox, who chairs the Young Adult Ministry Council for Oklahoma Conference.

On Nov. 6-8, "Worship in a Postmodern Accent" will be held in Oklahoma City. Leaders will be Jonny Baker of England and Ed Phillips of Atlanta.

A series of hands-on workshops will be held at Crowne Plaza Hotel, on Northwest Expressway, and culminate in a worship service, open to the public, at a site in Bricktown.

Scholarships are available; contact your district superintendent for more information about funding assistance. They are being provided by the Discipleship Ministry Team.

The expert credentials of the two leaders are creating excitement for the event, Rev. Mattox said. Baker, an Anglican, is a leader in the alternative worship movement worldwide. Rev. Dr. Phillips recently co-authored "In Spirit and in Truth: United Methodist Worship for the Emerging Church."

Mattox, pastor at Morris UMC, noted the two men may not be familiar to Oklahomans, so he provided introductions about them.

"I have admired the work and creativity of Jonny Baker for about five years," Mattox said. "Jonny is a photographer and author of a popular weblog on postmodern worship, art, and culture in the United Kingdom.

For years, Baker has collected ideas for enhancing worship with technology and experiential components. He’s been active in emerging churches for more than 15 years."

Baker is the author of "Alternative Worship: Resources from and for the Emerging Church" and "The Labyrinth: A transforming ritual." The UM General Board of Discipleship includes Baker’s "worship tricks" (his terminology) as a resource link on its Web site (within the "Worship Helps" category).

Phillips "has the bedrock, the historical information about worship," Mattox said. The professor’s focus "is on how churches historically conducted worship, initiated Christians, and organized ministries." In his presentations, Phillips will help participants understand the development of Christian theology, plus look at practical and pastoral aspects of worship.

Phillips, a UM clergyman, recently chaired a three-year Church study of Communion. He is a faculty member at Candler School of Theology and a former professor of worship at Duke University. Among his students at Duke was Oklahoma pastor Jeff Jaynes, also a member of the Young Adult council.

The November event opens Thursday morning and concludes with noontime a worship on Saturday. Presentations by Baker and Phillips, prayer labyrinths, worship practicum, open-space conversations, and "next steps" for faith communities are among the activities.

The event is open to all people, not only United Methodists, who are interested in the emerging church movement, Mattox noted.

You can register online at www.postmodernaccent.info  or contact Ann Browning, 800-231-4166, ext. 2199.