Geraldine Latty - Using Our Senses in Worship
In a day when it is easy to think that worship equals music – I thought that in this article I would live a little dangerously [!] and not look at music at all!!
There has long been non-musical response in corporate worship– Word [scripture readings, poems and the sermon] – Movement [from dance to the processional, flags to drama to communion]– Symbols [candles and incense, the offering and the flower arrangements!] – Icons [banners or stained glass windows] – Silence and tableauSome of us are familiar with the movement towards what has been called the Alternative Service - gatherings that seek to push back the boundaries of how we seek God corporately. But, rather than look at creating an Alternative Service – I would like to explore how we can use some aspects from these services in our everyday corporate gatherings.· Use the spaceReadings from the side or the back of the church, as well as up in the balconies, even from outside, can be most effective. If you have flexibility of space, what about having the gathering ‘in the round’. Use the element of planned surprise/interruption too!
1. Verses from Psalm 24 read from a balcony"who can stand in His holy place..."
2. Psalm 13 ‘…how long O Lord…’ from outside [PA or voice projection allowing!]
3. Use poetry reflecting any aspect required – exalting our God, looking at the needs of the world, humorous or lamenting, perhaps leading to intercession or high praise. [Do encourage any closet poets in your congregation too!]
· Art response
- What about laying rolls of wallpaper out on the floor and making marker pens, felt pens, crayons, even paint available.
Make space for people to respond at any point [including during the sermon or the offering]
If you want to be a little more adventurous, try making clay or plasticine available.
· Tableau
- What about a tableau – using one person/group.
Decide on an aspect of a theme you want to highlight from the service eg: release, poverty, praise, being together or seeking, find a way to illustrate this without using words but using simple motion or tableau [static].
· Prayer labyrinth
The prayer labyrinth has been used quite extensively and amongst people who do not yet know God too!
There are numerous ideas that flow from this tool:
- An ink pad and paper, a place to leave fingerprints and show how remarkable is our Creator
- Mirrors and verses that talk of us being made in the image of our God
- A knotted length of string, to represent our sin with space given to unknot them and leave them with God
- Water for washing hands to represent clean hands and pure heart to come up the mountain of the Lord
- Two stretches of material acting as a curtain for people to go through ‘into God’s presence’ [Hebrews 10]
- A moveable cross available for any response - eg ‘Pritt Pads’ available for people to write their responses to the cross
- Candles symbolizing light and hope
- Clenched fists [holding on to sin] open hands [invitation to let them go] upturned palms [receiving the forgiveness of God]
- Balloons representing ‘joy’ or special situations and people. Releasing them to God – party!
- Your own ideas!!
Be adventurous, stones, feathers, even chocolate [!!] can be powerful aids to response.
Ask God for inspiration too lest they become distractions in our worship together.
· Video/multimedia
If you have a multi media set up, again the possibilities are vast
- Prayers of intercession over news headlines
- Clips of film, documentary, Disney!! [Do make sure you have a PRS licence for this!]
- Images and colour to add background to a superimposed cross, or verses
- A sequence of themed pictures to run alongside a song/instrumental
- Your own ideas
By way of caution – do make sure that the non-musical element has a focus and fits the theme. Try not to leave the people confused or in ‘overload’!!
There is a danger too, that musical AND non-musical responses can become a superficial gimmick, but misuse is not an excuse for non-use.
The context is always – coming before our Holy God. We will clearly need his inspiration in this area.
Where Bezalel and Oholiab and others, made such amazing contributions to the temple in Moses day, it was all to the glory of God. Keep the focus on Him.
Geraldine Latty