Multi-Dimensional Worship

It was good to be active in planning Evergreen’s Good Friday gathering last week. While going through the planning I had opportunities to bump into people and ideas that helped shape the gathering. Some of these lent (or would have lent more) to the width and deep the to the gathering.

What I am talking about when I say Multi-Dimensional Worship does not really have to do with the content of the gathering, but more with the structure. Here are some ideas that help create a full orbed gathering that touch all (or most) of the ways people perceive and process the informational content of a worship experience or gathering.

*Music certainly adds to weight to a gathering.

*Songs (whether with or without music) are a guided way to express our thoughts and emotions.

*Video provides entrance of information visually. However, this is not limited to video. Icons, banners, for lack of a better word, "decoration" or accoutrements can all be used to transmit information or invoke worship.

*Most of a gathering is based on our abilities to perceive and process information in a auditory fashion. This is still key

*Responsive or antiphonal readings create not only visual (if being read) and auditory processing, but also enhance the reality that people are involved in the gathering.

*The use of our olfactory sense is one that is underutilized in worship. It may take some creative thinking in order to figure out how to incorporate different kinds of smells in to a gathering, but I believe it they are needed.

*The same goes for taste. How do we convey Psalm 34:8 without taste?

*Adding opportunities to include acts of kinesthetic worship build into our muscle memory in a way that use of our other senses does not. Also, physical movement allows for placing our bodies in positions that help mimic our hearts desire to worship, express praise, enact humility and surrender, as well as circulate blood flow to increase attention and awareness.

*Having participation in the worship gathering either through people writing reading, music are prayers, having people involved in preaching or teaching, having people create art or prayer stations, having people plan and create the gathering all aids in building ownership and community. Worship gatherings are not the sole proprietorship of the Elders or paid clergy.

*There is no a right and wrong way to enhance to the space of a gathering, but there are effective and ineffective ways to manipulate a physical space so it becomes a sacred space. Things like lighting, color, temperature, acoustics, time of day and accompanying furniture can all be used to transform a gathering space.

*Freedom. This may seem odd from the sense that we in America have the freedom to gathering and worship in appropriate and consistent ways. But are there within our gathering unwritten rules to worship? Do we allow or create space for freedom of expressive worship, even if the expression would be uncomfortable for us as individuals. Creating a climate or atmosphere where people are able to worship God is a powerful piece of a gathering.

Just some thoughts on worship planning.

A House of Worship

Psalm 84:1-2 How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

After meeting with some friends for a birthday lunch (not mine), I went into a local house of worship.

From the moment you step on the grounds you can tell that this place was meant to be sacred.

What I enjoined about my short visit most was the need to worship that was stirred in me. All around me were vibrant colors, beautiful sites, amazing smells and sounds intended to created a space to meet with the divine. Some parts were cold, others comfortably warm and mostly silent. There was architecture to marvel at, holy books to admire and icons to draw your attention.

As I stood looking around I reflected on my own church tradition, mostly Baptist. Mostly plain, white bread, very non-charismatic, frozen chosen Baptist. Rarely did we have color, other then basic stained glass, brown wood or orange pews. Never any smells, unless it was from the potluck in the fellowship hall across the way. Although, usually there was a cross to look at.

Today in this house of worship, I wanted to worship. Honestly, at this point in my life, today was a day I needed to worship. I needed to worship in a place that calls me to meet with God. A place that is a match maker between God and myself. I longed to meet with God in an environment suited to the occasion and one that facilitated our meeting.

I felt empty leaving, knowing I had not worshiped and could not worship in this place. Regretful I had not met with God. But most of all, I was sad admitting I had no space inviting me to converse with the Almighty.

It was strange to have these feelings today. It was stranger experiencing them in a Buddhist temple.