Worship Unplugged # 35

Inspired by a National Youth Workers Inservice 'Sacred Space' we included a worship station in the 2005 UCA NSW Synod Opening Worship that looked like a well enjoyed meal at a table that everyone had just gotten up from. The food and half filled glasses remained, one Tim Tam sat temptingly and a museum like board on a easil explained what the group had been talking about.
They were remembering a plan to buy a pub and open it as a space for 'community' and a missional endeavour [still serving alcohol responsibly, but no pokies] and they were talking again about what might have been possible and wondering if its not too late...
The scene looked and played out great!!

Just recently I visited the Bradman Museum in Bowral NSW and wandered into the section which is set up like a cricket dressing room from the 1940s. There are lockers in use, a mannequin with head in hands and a sensor activated pep talk from the skipper before you take the field again after the tea break. It also happens to have old phones where if you listen and push a button you can hear some players from different eras talking about the Sydney Cricket Ground, their own experiences etc...

It all reminds me that for worship to be 'real' in this age [and maybe any age] it needs to be an experience of God... enter the creative art of making spaces... spaces that smell, look and feel like the scene they are creating. You can use these kinds of 'walk ins' to tell an old story, set out a modern scene that relates, create a space for responding or to use voices and stories to expand peoples view of the topic at hand. As always this takes work and will only mirror the time and effort expended... a naff poorly propped drama is still naff, even if you can walk onto the stage!!

Imagine...
The disciples have just fled the room at the last supper
World Leaders have just been meeting to discuss world debt
four young people have just been in the room talking about their future hopes....

You could add questions for reflection or discussion, biblical links, prayer points etc