1. Having the ability to create an act of adoration
CREATIVITY IN WORSHIP
Having the ability to create an act of adoration

2. WORSHIP
God’s people come together as the body of Christ to offer praise and thanks to God who has been revealed and reconciled to us through Jesus
God-centred
An encounter between God and us
The prime reason for a church’s existence
God-focussed, but celebrating our own value and worth to God

3. LITURGY
The set form of public worship used in churches (Greek: leitos [public] and ergon [work]) i.e. The work of the people
It is not a restrictive set of ancient words
It is not irrelevant to the local life of the church
It is a framework for freedom bringing structure and opportunity into the worshipping life of the community of faith

4. Changes to Liturgy Over the past 60 years
Greater vocal participation by congregations
Growth of lay leadership
Greater emphasis upon shared responsibility between clergy and laity for the leading of worship
More place for spontaneity and freedom

5. What do we wish to achieve today?
To present a set of structures and resources which will enable acts of worship relating to local content

6. What enables a fulfilling worship experience?
Planning
God honours our preparation and our preparation honours God
Prayerfully consider what, who, where, how
Rehearsal is essential
Ensure the flow of worship is seamless

7. What enables a fulfilling worship experience?
Leadership
No one voice should predominate
Consider leading from various places in the congregation

9. What enables a fulfilling worship experience?
Environment
Where we worship can influence how we worship
Prepare the worship space (sight, lighting, focal point, smell, comfort, external and internal sounds, movement)
Seating (a sense of the Body of Christ)
Circular or semi-circular round a table

10. What enables a fulfilling worship experience?
Music
What liberates the human voice?
What will speak to the hearts and minds?
New music can spark new life

11. What enables a fulfilling worship experience?
Readings
Communicate convincingly
Visual Aids
80% of what we take in / respond to is through our eyes
Symbolic action
Not everyone is fulfilled by words alone

12. CREATIVITY Brings innovation and dynamism
Explore renewal (refresh) but do not create unease
Skilled musicians can respond spontaneously to create a ‘sound canvas’ for worship
Imaginative liturgy
Identify talents and gifts

13. Ways to stimulate the heart, mind and senses
Music
Songs to minister (live or recorded) –choir/soloist/instrumental team
Highlight a theme or lead to a point of response
Combine spoken words with music
Background music to prayer, meditations, communion, visual elements, dance or mime
Visual elements: Computer-generated images, Art, Video clips, symbols, displays, banners, flags, stained-glass windows, icons, candles etc

14. Ways to stimulate the heart, mind and senses
Drama
Sketches
Mime
Musicals
Monologues
Dramatised Bible readings

15. Ways to stimulate the heart, mind and senses
Meditation
Looking at inspiring images, symbols or icons
Imagination journeys or stories
Written reflections

16. Ways to stimulate the heart, mind and senses
Movement
Dance
Signing (for the deaf but also brings expression to worship)
Small groups may move to various places in the worship space

17. Ways to stimulate the heart, mind and senses
Creative Prayer
Using images to inspire prayer
Using video material to spark prayer
Using newspaper cuttings to lead prayer
Incorporating silence for personal prayer
Incorporating space for prayers offered

18. Ways to stimulate the heart, mind and senses
Setting
Seating
Layout

19. Ways to stimulate the heart, mind and senses
Taste, touch and smell
Incense
Fragrant oils
Meaningful objects to hold (eg scented petals, palm crosses, nails)
Bread and wine
Bitter herbs (from a Passover meal)

20. BEDFORDVIEW METHODIST CHURCH 22 MARCH 2015 THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT
GATHERING TOGETHER
 WELCOME
 Choir Introit
ENTERING GOD’S PRESENCE (Praise, thanksgiving, adoration)
 Opening Music
 Prayers
 Choir Anthem
 OFFERTORY
HEARING GOD SPEAK(Sermon, scripture)
SCRIPTURE READINGS AND SERMON
WE RESPOND (confession, ministry)
 SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
WE ARE ENCOURAGED TO LOVE AND SERVE (prepare to go into our society, community, loving and serving God)
Closing Hymn
BENEDICTION

21. Gathering Together Informal singing of world church gathering songs
Video of people gathering, people travelling, live video-cam of people entering building, projected pictures of Christians around the world gathering, pictures of creation, dawn of a new day accompanied by an organ (or music group) prelude
Announcement / Notices on power-point
Welcome – different styles of greeting – liturgical gathering prayer

22. Entering God’s Presence (Praise, thanksgiving, adoration)
Entrance song or hymn / Choir or Music Group “introit” (preparing the hearts and focussing the minds). Can be accompanied by banners, dance and video. (An expression of joy and optimism)
A sense of God’s presence / transcendence – stillness, use of incense and candles, readings from scripture
Songs and hymns of praise (which flow)(various accompaniments or a capella)
Ancient acts of praise (eg setting of Gloria in excelsis Deo or Jubilate)
Prayers (Followed or interspersed with singing or music)
Individual words of praise

23. Entering God’s Presence (Praise, thanksgiving, adoration)
Praise and thanksgiving scripture verses on Power Point accompanied by joyful music
Telling the story of our faith – dramatized, dance, video, readings from various places in the church (fused together with singing / music)
Congregation bringing objects to the service that remind them of some event of God’s goodness in their life as an act of thanksgiving (accompanied by a chant eg Taizé)
Candles lit around the building (Blaze of Glory /Jesus, the Light of the World)
Choir anthem of Praise (with text on overhead screen) (can be with dance)

24. Entering God’s Presence (Praise, thanksgiving, adoration)
Solo song of praise (singer walks through congregation)
Projected slides of religious themed art (basis for thanksgiving)
A rap version of a thanksgiving psalm
A praise psalm said in responsorial style
Congregation asked to paint/draw their own praise and worship images on paper/sheets pinned up
Creed recited (Accompanied by music or sung)
Intimate songs / hymns of adoration (in a medley)

25. Hearing God Speak (Scripture, Sermon, Prophecy)
Scripture readings
Dramatized
Read with music accompaniment
Video versions
Standing for the gospel to be read (from within the congregation)
Read through storytelling

26. Hearing God Speak (Scripture, Sermon, Prophecy)
Song/hymn/music/prayer before the Sermon
Sermon
Spoken
In seminar style with interviews and video clips
Dramatized

27. We respond (Confession, Ministry, Intercession, Communion)
Response to sermon
Intimate worship
Discussion groups
Led Prayers
Practical sensory responses to sermon
Ministry

28. We respond (Confession, Ministry, Intercession, Communion)
Written prayer / confessions (can be collected and burned or nailed to a wooden cross)
Informal prayer
Silent meditation
Prayer based on scripture passage
Video of particular issue
Prayer fused with Kyrie Eleison (Lord have Mercy)
Songs / hymns reflecting the assurance of God’s mercy (can be spoken)

29. We respond (Confession, Ministry, Intercession, Communion)
Opportunities for ministry of the Spirit
Reflective songs/hymns/music
Stillness
Prayers (led or informal)
Use of anointing oil

30. We respond (Confession, Ministry, Intercession, Communion)
Led liturgy fused with singing/music
Prayer stations in various parts of the building
Video images with music (eg solo flute)
Responsive prayers
Use of visual images as an aid
Lighting candles for a particular issue and bringing the candles forward
Praying in groups
Written intercessory prayers brought to a central point

31. We respond (Confession, Ministry, Intercession, Communion)
Liturgical framework with set / spontaneous prayers
Mix of ancient and contemporary prayers
Appropriate music played as words are read
A version of the Sanctus (Holy, holy, holy)
Songs of praise and thanksgiving expressing the joy of the resurrection
Choir sing reflective motets, anthems, hymns or songs. Congregation can be included.
Dancers interpret thanksgiving to instrumental music
Congregation enacts in drama, together with actors, the story of the cross as recorded in the Gospels
Classical instrumental music / Recorded music under distribution of the elements
Lord’s Prayer said, sung, danced, acted (in different languages)
Use of video on eg suffering, bread and wine, the cross, the resurrection.

32. We are encouraged to love and serve (Prepare to go into society, our communities, loving and serving God)
Hymns and songs encouraging us to serve our world
Benediction prayer
Sung blessing by choir /music group or congregation
Video clips of community
Testimonies of congregation members
Prayers in groups for each other
Scripture blessing prayers
Use of visual or objects (eg each given a stone, place in a pool and observe the ripples move out, symbolising the impact of Jesus in our lives extending to those in our community)
Informal prayer
Clap offering to the Lord
Processional hymn / song to end with banners and dancers