09.23.09
Creativity in worship – discuss!
This term we are going to start delving a bit into the question of creative expression in worship, and so to get our brains ticking, has anyone got any thoughts on whether our worship could do with a creative sprucing up?
Perhaps our traditions need rethinking. Maybe music isn’t the only form that we can worship in – but if so how else can we worship in a way which draws everyone in? Who else could we involve in our worship times? And who on earth was Bezalel?
Just some thoughts to get you commenting. Let us know what you think!
Ben Trigg said,
Tuesday, 6 October 2009 at 6:06 pm
Inspired by Roger at this month’s Bible School, talking about worship as outlined in the tabernacle of Moses. It was full of gold and glitter and well-crafted things and beautiful clothes for the priests. Lots of visual imagery to stimulate worship and to speak to the worshipper about God. In fact he was talkin about how all the 5 senses would have been involved in worship.
Let’s bring some of this back I say! Not in an image-worshipping kinda way obviously, but because people respond in different ways to different stimuli, so some people respond to music, but some also to visualisations, and perhaps more physical movement (dancing!), etc. I was reading Psalms 149-150 this morning, all about forms of praise being very real, almost earthyl things, like shouting, singing, dancing, and loads of instruments.
Bring it on!
Also to mention that some churches now in their worship sessions (I think of Bethel church in Redding, CA, especially with their youth ministry Jesus Culture) include artistic space where people can paint if they want. I saw this also at a Fusion conference I went to in 06, it was very effective, some beautiful paintings which helped us all worship.
Let’s also make sure we have space in our halls for dancers! It was slightly funny for me but also a blessing (!) when, during worship at St Dunstan’s two weeks ago (which I was leading) I saw my own mum get up and dance at the back! Well, it was great that the space was there. I’ve seen others do it too, actually