heaven & why I do, what I do...

Tylor @ man.of.depravity causes me to write and think...
Thank you Tylor!
While the thought of heaven is great, I can not in any way, imagine my life HERE without Christ. I spent way too long not being with Him here.

My deepest desire is to have others know that peace here on earth. I literally cry when I think about all the wonderful people I have come to know that don't know Him. I name them all in my prayers.

Please don’t misunderstand, while I am thankful I am going to heaven, I don’t care much about it. I try to remain focused just on what He is calling me to do here and now.

I recently made the decision to step down from management at Starbucks. Things had gotten way too stressful and my husband wasn’t happy with how exhausted I was. I started working a lot less hours and have contemplated getting another job for more money. I was even asked to put in my application at our church for an admin position. That would have solved the money issue and the health insurance issue. But, the more I pray about it, I realize that I have to keep working at Starbucks. Because that is where God has called me to work. I knew that when I applied at Starbucks.
Why?
I have met so many wonderful people who are far from God and had real God conversations with them. They drop in to see me, ask if I will take my break and talk with them, ask me to hang out after work. These are mostly young, tattooed, pierced, lost, disenfranchised people who seem drawn to me (lol), a fluffy grandmother.
For me, this is way more important that having God conversations with Christians.

At church, I am called to the creative design team. Very specifically to keep us culturally relevant for our community and I design to entice the skeptic.

I work on other things (like our website design). 1. Because it really stinks and I would never intentionally send any of my skeptic friends there and 2. it is something I like to do. But, I would drop that in a heartbeat, if I felt that it was interfering in what God has called me to do.

And if I had to give it all up except one thing, I’m sure that God would want me to be in the world. Taylor, I hear you when you feel you are called to be a pastor. That is awesome. We need bright men like you. But, what specifically as a pastor, is God calling you to do? Is it leading a church? Preaching? Leading worship? Yes, there is a lot of administrative work involved in being a pastor. But, one of the most important jobs I feel for a pastor, is empowering others to works in their gifts. Take this vacation and really take the time off. Don’t answer phone calls, even stop blogging unless it’s what you really want to do (though I will miss you :^). Take the time to be with God and your family. Btw, I don’t feel that stress and anxiety are sins, I think that they are indicators we are focusing on the wrong things. Darn it, I just smacked myself between the eyes (over a whole different subject entirely)…

faux mirror...

Our stage design team (called pPod) has only been working together for 5 months and we are working on creating a mobile modular system for staging elements and stage sets. We are a totally mobile church whose venue is a junior high school auditorium. Here are a couple pics of making the base for a walk through - faux mirror (total cost $28) for the dance team to use onstage.
For a little more on the construction…

And this is the final result along with the dancers…

I have a goal of using this team to draw in unchurched skeptics. It’s starting to work. One husband and one father (both unchurched skeptics) have helped us on this project. A couple more gals who I work with are interested in coming and helping us out on our next project (stage set).

“God gifts the called…”

Submitted to Creative Chaos, July 31, 2008 Thursdays at Ragamuffin Soul…

from the mad mind of bill....

bill's mind is ridiculous...

I love serving with him on fuZe...
Shadrac, Meshac and Abednigo: The Movie OUT TAKES


The Walls Within...(the poetry is his also)


Barbie's House (fast becoming a cult classic)


for more from the mind of bill...

pPod in action…

shout out to some of the p’s on the pPod team.
We have been working together since February this year (2008)
We’ve done some fun stuff in our short five months together…
imperfect church banner
life sized flannel graph for Easter
10 Commandments prop
paper shredders

Leigh Anne, Dorothy, Genny and Beth 071808

This is a “mystery” element we are working on currently. What I will share at the moment, is we are working to create modular component system that we can utilize for ongoing design elements.

Since we are a totally mobile church we are working on a rolling platform systems and investigating working with expanded polystyrene for set design and it has to fit in our truck. if you have worked with expanded polystyrene in your stage designing, I'd LOVE to hear from you.

Since one of my goals is to invite unchurched and dechurched skeptics into a relationship with God through serving on pPod, I’m always looking for other people to “help” us out.

So, these are the hands of my dechurched husband Brian, helping us out by building the rolling platform.

sshhh! Don't tell him he is working for God. lol. Actually I praise God for my husband. He has the love langauge of service. He helps me pay for, design, build and transport elements. He is amazing!

Sometime soon I'll add a picture of "Mitch" who also helps us soooo much!

Thanks to everyone for giving so much from your heart...

on a visual roll...

I’m constantly surfing the web looking for snippets to extrapolate into worship experiences.


I also search to finds locations that share ideas for experiential worship ideas. I found little pockets of ideas here and there. And then they stopped. I search and search. Maybe I am doomed to surfing the web simply looking for snippets.
Today’s snippet… multi-touch interface… I actually found this a couple months ago. It is a fascinating glimpse into the new future of what we will be able to with computer screens. I love it, particularly since more than a few times I have touched my laptop screen actually expecting it to do something. And this was before I saw the video. Since this technology isn’t available affordable, how about this…
A dancer playing against the big screen, her dance is choreographed to the (video light show) being projected onto the big screen.
Liquid waves of color and sound as she sweeps her arms over the surface.
Shimmering lines as she delicately etches the surface with her fingers.
Floods of waves as she leaps and twirls next to it.
Pulsating warm as she lays her check gently onto screen.
I can see it, hear it, feel it now...
remix:

worshipping with live art…

I find it so amazing when I see a thought I have been envisioning being utilized in worship already…
This entails having an artist paint live during worship (pause it at 2:02)…
btw, nice song…


We are already talking about live graffiti art during worship one Sunday…
I thank God for ideas and for bringing the talent…

fishbowls vs. ocean…

**stepping onto soapbox**

My stated goal is to find the fishies in the ocean without a fishbowl
That is who I AM says i am to be…a fisherwoman
I am called to design new fish food.

This is going to sound harsh.
If you are a fishy from another fishbowl, I don’t care…
See, fishies from other fishbowls come in and say “back at my old fishbowl we”…
When I hear that I just shut down. I try NOT to say with all the love my little heart can muster “Go back to your old fishbowl”. (edited)

I’m not concerned with the type of fish food you like; there are lots of places to get fish food.
So what if the coral was brown I your last fishbowl, if the fishies in the ocean like fuchsia coral, then I’ll be adding a little fuchsia coral…
I don’t even care if I like fuchsia coral…

One of the fishies at my fishbowls felt drawn to our fishbowl because we are real, not afraid to get dirty. We also have rock worship music in our fishbowl. This fishy feels compelled to add lots of tradition hymns, because it is what she likes.
(Disclaimer: there is nothing wrong with hymns, it’s all about the heart.)

There are a lot of fishbowls out there, go find one that is already designed for you. I promise you it is out there…
It’s almost like I want to say IF you want to join us in this fishbowl…recognize it isn’t about you (or me).
Be prepared to fish!

**stepping off soapbox**

The Great Fishing Expedition (Commission) Matthew: 16-20
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.
17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and fish in the ocean and make disciples of all those fishies, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Just to clarify: there are lovely people in our fishbowl that play with the fishies and feed them once they make that leap into the fishbowl.

cheoptics...

When I first saw this concept (not this specific clip) I was amazed. trying to figure it out in my brain and the only thing I could come up with at that point was that it was some form of pepper's ghost. (on wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pepper, this link was giving me problems) It is so tight.


After more research and base on this specific view, I've determined that it is probably cheoptics.



Again, I am trying to envision this as part of worship design.

How about in a message focusing on when Jesus appeared to the crowd after His death...having this type of cheoptic projection with Christ. Or is this is too ghostly and He wasn't. He really was there.

I just know that there is so much potential utilizing elements based on these types of things...These ideas are still gelling in my mind...

(disclamier: I'm not saying that we need to add a cheoptic of Kate Moss into our worship design: when I last posted about holograms I think someone thought I wanted to project the squid like creatures (from the clip I shared) these are just cool ideas to extrapolate from. I think most of you get it. Sometimes some one doesn't)

design process...

Interesting stuff at Creative Chaos this week.
Los and Josh Lazar both shared on their creative team process…
Very similar to our process, but got a lot also. Going to share with our fuZion team.
We plan on a white board.
And are working to decorate our room more. Had to laugh about the lights. Every week someone (ME) whines about the fluorescents and we drag in some torcheres for mood lighting.
We also are trying to get away at least once a quarter to just let our brainstorming to flow…
Josh shared their concept of a filtering grid. Interesting.
Really like the color coding. This is why I do creative chaos. To find people like this.

I wonder if their teams are as insane as we are.

It's like herding cats...

what is pPod?

What is pPod?

p: p(erceiver) is a personality indicator from the ‘Meyers Brigg’s Personality Indicator’ test. We tend to be VERY creative and ‘fly by the seat of your pants’ type of individual. But you don’t have to be.
Pod: where p’s gather (of course)

pPod ‘s gather together to express a common desire to create 5S (5 senses) experiential worship design. To incorporate all the senses into the worship experience. Visual, sound, touch, smell, emotions, movement, interactive. Everything is designed to glorify God and heighten the worship experience. We also just have flat out fun!

We welcome people that may be interested in helping with any type of experiential worship design. From creative design, execution and logistical set up. Can you laugh, sew, draw, do animae (yes, animae), woodwork, paint, do graphic design, hammer, operate a safety pin, stand there and cheer for others...there is always a need more p's for the Pod.

Quotes heard at pPod gatherings:

Holy flashing light, Batman.

Wait, I’ll go get Jesus, He’ll know which side is fluffy.

You need a ‘stabler’ to put the flannel on the panel.

Don’t run with the scissors, or I’ll throw a fish at you.

We usually meet about 6:30p.m. on Friday evenings. We also work some on Saturday and Sunday mornings. But, not every week. I promise…

I must note that while we work at adding people to the team from our church community, to offer people a place to share their gifts and talents. I actually work harder at being organic and inviting skeptics and dechurched to join us. Kind of like a “gateway” group. *grins* And where do I meet these people? At Starbucks of course…

singing to You…

It’s so simple…

change the words…

Him to You…

us to me…

I know the thought process behind corporate worship paradigms. But, also I just want to flat sing to You…

lasers...

Actually the sickest thought I've found in weeks.
So glad I checked back into Creative Chaos this evening.

Jason Smithers on Worst Blogger...
Check this out...
The making of "House of Cards" video by Radiohead

I'm an extrapolator, my first thought was how could this be used in worship...This laser concept connects into several thoughts I've had but, haven't been able to gel exactly yet on using holograms, cheoptics etc in designing worship elements...The thoughts are still percolating in my brain...

Here's the end product...

she is ashlee...

A Genesis Life:
Some link love for...
a new blogger, new church start, new to Creative Choas!

I love Ash's voice, simplicity and she thinks like me. That may be a compliment. lol.

Seriously, being creative on a low budget is creative in itself. Been there, done that, oh, wait I am there...
Blog on ashlee...

Ed's facebook page...

Ed's facebook page. Click on it to make it bigger.

forgiv3n3ss video...

Superb video...

The message was based on Matthew 18:21 - 35 The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant.

Execution by David Spicer and relevant scripture supplied by Martha Springfield...

Forgiv3n3ss Screen shot and outline of the design for the service

Other elements:

Our guest speaker brought a large accounting ledger as a prop.

The Bulletin: Had a piece of graphed paper to represent a ledger. After the message the people were guided in a time of reflection to list people that they needed to forgive, the name, what was done...

The video was played during the time of reflection.

Then had three interactive stations with paper shredders through out the auditorium for people to shred their paper. The worship team played for a couple extra songs after the service, so that people could continue their time of reflection and forgiveness. There were multiply pockets of people remaining.

I am super excited, because this was the first intentionally branded service we've had since I have been on the team.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Confessional (evaluation):

Message:Wow, my first time hearing Chris Campbell. Have to say I was very impressed with his message. And God certainly was impacting people lives today (myself included). I had some guests that are going through some really difficult times and I know they were really impacted.

Music: Really glad to see switching the o.o.s. up some.I think today’s o.o.s. (1 song, Meet & greet, 3 songs) is a really good move to try and will open up the space during the worship set to allow people to release the world and step more into the worship. Hopefully we could do this more often and see how it works. Liked it a lot today.

Multi-media team: David, superb job on the Forigv3n3ss video. This is the first thing I’ve known you to create and it was beyond all my wildest expectations. You are very gifted and I look forward to seeing more of your work. You and Martha did a great job with relevant scriptures, timed so well. I don’t even know what to call this last part, but the way those key words from the scripture lingered was absolutely stunning.

Branding: It was terrific to see the over all branding of the worship elements. I don’t know if you used to do more of this, I haven’t noticed it too often. Bit, to be fair I have been attending less that a year. The branding was interwoven throughout the various elements, including the message.

this is this week's element for Creative Chaos at RagamuffinSoul...

priming the pump...

We are about to start a 58 week series on Jesus...
Maybe we should start it off with a pre-series and/or stand alone training on why people don't like Christ followers...
I mean if we want to invite "skeptics" to this awesome series...it might help to have some understanding how to be relevant...

They like Jesus, but not the church…

God Almighty's facebook page...

Yup! God Almighty has a facebook page...

click on the image to be able to read. Please note: this is the first draft.

This piece was created by a couple of our amazing multi-media team people David Spicer and Bill Hombach.

Must admit that we got a litte goofy, when we we talking about "poking God". Of course then it had to be worked into the script.

This is a video piece still in the works for 08/03/08 Revelation Pt. 2 “God Beyond Time”.

This "still" is going to be interacted with on the video. Clicking, scrolling down etc.

"God Almighty's facebook" script by Greg Genter

note: we also discussed doing MySpace, but felt that facebook is more culturally relevant in the younger age demographics.

This has been submitted to this weeks Creative Chaos at Ragamuffin Soul...

never liked jazz music...

Los at Ragamuffin does it again with His “Dear Worship Dude”…

This “person” is exactly who is in my head and heart when creating worship elements. I keep trying to get others on our team to “see” this person.

It’s all I think about, all I talk about…

When I ask “what about the “skeptic” I get the same old response. But, what “I hear” in that response is “if we design for things we like (cause we are 80’s cool and hip) then God’s mighty power will transcend and touch the hearts of those skeptics that happen to be there…”

It so reminds me of the mentality of “we want new young people to come to our church, BUT we are not willing to change. They should learn to worship our way.”

I’m going to be really blunt here, When I hear someone say “at my old church”, I cringe. I know that whatever comes out next will be something antiquated like “we did James Taylor’s “Shower the People You Love”-esque…

I agree God is that great; but I contend that it’s doesn’t hurt to design elements that give Him and the Holy Spirit a fighting chance.

And I have to say (because someone always brings it up), it’s not about doing Christianity lite…Please, I am a Christ follower just like you. It’s still about worshipping and glorifying God, telling the greatest story ever told and preaching the Word.

It is such a fine line…

I say, as long as our first goal is to design everything to worship and glorify God; why not design for the skeptic and dechurched frame of mind.

For God’s power is mighty and He is able to transcend into the heart of the “lukewarm believer”.

If we design something that is cutting edge, culturally relevant it gives “that person” something that is familiar to connect to. Do that and then genuine hearts of worship will touch “that person”.

One of my very favorite quotes “I never liked jazz music, because jazz music doesn't resolve. But sometimes you have to watch somebody love something before you can love it yourself...I used to not like God, because God didn't resolve. But that was before any of this happened."-Donald Miller (Blue Like Jazz)

So, as always I go back to: entice the skeptic, challenge the lukewarm, and thrill the believer to new levels of passion…

bloggie, bloggie...

Shower the bloggers you love with link love...

This weeks lineup: found these guys through Creative Chaos, both share honestly about a multitude of topics.

without wax (Pete) - creating firestorms by being transparent and honest ...
man.of.depravity (Tyler) - not afraid to discuss the hard issues...

taglines and tricks...

This is a second post which all has been sparked in the comments thread @ man.of.depravity, breaking down barriers… 'how does your church break down the barriers between the stage and congregation'?
This will send you over to taglines and tricks... at smashing paradigms blog, where I focus on smashing church marketing paradigms boxes with a two ton sledge hammer...

starbucks evangelism update...

btw..."triple grande breve latte" is coming to visit at Cross Current tomorrow with her husband.
I may need to start yet ANOTHER blog for my Starbucks worship design and Starbucks evangelism thoughts...

paper shredders...

Heading out to XC for our set-up, to strategically place the paper shredders stations through out the auditorium.
This is the interactive piece for our "Forgiv3ne3ss" stand alone tomorrow.

More later...

starbucks evangelism...

Why I do what I do… I work at Starbucks.

Believe it or not, I feel that God called me to this job. I love working with my partners, I love most of my customers. Just don’t ask me about “grande, 2 raw sugars cappuccino”. Ugh!

I have found that I have had far more conversations about faith (God, JC the whole thing and everything else in between) than I have ever had anywhere else. Including church.

I love talking about peoples faith journeys. People are so hungry for spiritual discussions. As long as they are not feeling judged. I am just really curious and sincerely want to know why people are where they are in life.

Let’s see there is "venti, 7 pump melon, passion tea lemonade": who grew up LDS and is really trying to find what is real and not real.

And what about "venti coffee with hazelnut syrup": grew up Catholic but is feeling very far away from all things God. Drinking, drugging, lots of meaningless sex.

Then there is "double tall vanilla latte": grew up without any faith journey at home at all. She has been investigating pagan (ism?).

Oh and "triple grande breve latte": married, lapsed Lutheran, who needs to talk about having an affair with her co-worker.

Well then, I also have to mention "doppio espresso": who states proudly that they don’t believe in God, but in pirates. Seriously.

The stories go on and on… It’s not my place to judge, but to just honestly love people where they are at. And that is why I do what I do.

starbucks & the third place...

As you know, I work on developing interactive/experiential worship elements and I work at Starbucks. I didn’t event think about it until someone asked the question 'how does your church break down the barriers between the stage and congregation'?

I work to design worship experiences that connect people (to God). Therefore I focus on 5S (five senses) experiential (let them get involved) elements. What I design and how I work at Starbucks are interconnected.

Breaking through the barrier is sort of like working at Starbucks. When Howard Shultz started Starbucks, one of the things they couldn’t quite understand in the beginning is why people felt so connected when they went to Starbucks.

Think about it, even people who don’t drink coffee will usually find something they like (and there is plenty of other drinks there), so they can meet and hang out with their friends at Starbucks.

Here are a couple ways that we could apply Starbucks techniques to church:

Chatter: We chatter with each other a lot (calling drinks out is an intentional tool). The chattering creates an atmosphere of inclusiveness. Before and after worship…chatter (from stage), let people hear your chatter, call out to people (before and after worship). Reach out and meet a new friend each week. Invite people to join you on stage.

Get To Know Their Stories: At Starbucks we really work at getting to know people. Not only their drinks, but as we have time, really connecting with our customers. I could tell you story after story after story about the guests at my Starbucks. We strive to create legendary customer service “one cup at a time”.

For church try to create a connection “one Sunday at a time”. At church I try to meet at least one new person each week, and really take time to get to know them. Even if it is only 5 minutes. And I make it all about them, I only chime in when there is something we “connect” over, like living in New Mexico, love Brazilian food, love Starbucks…

Third Place: We work very hard at creating what we call “the third place” environment. The basic theory behind it is that people need to connect in three places in their lives. Decades ago, those three places were home, work and church. When people started leaving church in droves, they looked for a “third place” to connect. People try bars, clubs, the internet…

I have always been intentional about designing worship elements to “include” the people off stage. I have just never written it all down before. I’m going to have to think more about this, this is a really great train of thought to explore. I need to write a book called “Starbucks Evangelism”.

Books to read: Howard Schulz’s book, “Pour Your Heart Into It” and subsequently “The Great Good Place” and “Celebrating the Third Place (inspiring communities)” by Ray Oldenburg.

forgiv3n3ss…

07/13/08 FORGIV3N3SS
(submitted to Creative Chaos @ Ragmuffin Soul 07/10/08)

(Screenshot from video created by David Spicer)

Our parameters:
We have a guest speaker whose message is on forgiveness. He is going to bring a larger accounting ledger as a stage prop. He wanted to do a reflections piece at the end of his message, where he guides people to write down who they need to forgive.

Melding the accounting ledger (numbers) thought and the topic of forgiveness; We decided to use the tv show Numb3rs as the concept theme.

Elements:
Logo: Forgiv3n3ss Screenshot from the video created to brand across service elements.

Video: (Multi-media team)- Scripture on Forgiveness reflection time combined with Numb3rs (Martha gets the bible verses/ Bill and David work on the video montage

Bulletin:- Have it formatted to be like a ledger (printed already)- Who do I need to forgive- Who do I need to seek forgiveness from

Interactive: (pPod) - Shredder stations for people to shred ledgers
A milestone for us:
While I have only been attending Cross Current for a about a year, this is the first “branded” service since I have been on the team. I have only been on our creative design team for 8 months. While they may have branded services before, I haven’t seen any.
This is the first piece of this weeks coming element.

More later: Including a created “forgiv3n3ss video with related scriptures”.

hynotoad...

Just a few of our freaky worship designers watching "Everybody Loves Hypnotoad"...

Must stay culturally relevant...

allowing God…

Had one of those mountain top experiences Sunday evening in group. It was one of those rare worship times with like minded individuals...so freeing.

My personal worship is great; but I feel constrained by worship in the corporate environment.
I feel that God is ready to explode in our church, we are right at the precipice, we are holding ourselves back. Been involved in a lot of intercessory prayer during worship for this reason.

One of the things that really concerns me is the level of dissatisfaction with our worship event. We recentl participated in the Reveal Survey (Willow Creek) and our dissatisfaction with worship percentage was 53%. That’s right 53% were dissatisfied with our worship experience at Cross Current. That is scary to me…

It's tells me that people are hungry, but something is inhibiting them from breaking free in worship…
Now don't get me wrong, this isn’t about God being able to move through mountains- He is mighty... He can do all things. God is able to move through anything…but, darn it we are really making things tough for Him.

I feel it is imperative to cast off all the earthly inhibitions that we are able to. And this isn't a problem just at our church, I'm reading about this problem across the blogshere. There is a spiritual tsunami moving across the nation and the world...

Prime example in a recent blog @ Ragamuffin Soul…, asked people if they could drop one things at church what would it be...

1) was bulletins (who reads white paper bulletins anymore, at least in a contemporary designed worship).
2) was, drop the confining order of worship

For example our OOS (order of service)

2 songs

meet and greet

2 songs

(insert drama or video)

message

2 songs

We should take more time to really focus in on designing the worship flow and space. Something that is more conducive for people to break free like…
Give more time (in a clump of worship songs sets) for people break away from the world outside. Time to transition into being with God.
Design stations where people could go to dance, kneel, lay down…

God is moving! Worship is breaking out all over, just not in church…

tearing the veil...

For several years now, I have been fascinated with the concept of the veil tearing in the tabernacle when Christ died, allowing us all free access to God in the Holiest of Holies through Christ’s ultimate sacrifice...

It's a mind blower for me.

I actually designed a very simple “tearing of the veil” element for junior high camp one year. Trying to explain how important this one moment in time was…

Now it just exploded in my brain!

See why, here…

With Jim Drake at the National Worship Leader Conference

What I experienced was incredible! I already knew about Prayer stations and such, but this one was so invigorating for me. To actually walk through the steps of the tabernacle and the things that the priest would do when he would enter into the most holy place were very moving for me.

Some highlights:

1. Offering a burnt offering (a piece of wood) into the fire of the Burnt Offering--wow!

2. Washing my hands in the laver in front of the temple

3. Lighting the lamp stand (which reminded me of the scripture in Rev. where it says that heaven needs no light--because Jesus is the light!)

4. Taking communion at the Table of Bread

5. The Altar of incense---I once thought this was an irritating smell--not so anymore.

6. The Holy of Holies---to actually see the smoke and the incense surrounding the throne was very moving.

Then I headed into worship and Don Moen led us in a sweet time of worship where we sand " I Just Want to Be Where You Are" and "Thank You" and "I Offer My Life To You" (as a pleasing sacrifice. You know that I was undone at that point--tears were really flowing but my mind was still going through the experience of the tabernacle. So much more to think about--but I thought I'd share this experience with you today.

Learn more about The Tabernacle Experience…

The marketplace

Going to work with it…

Basic thoughts currently: recreate this experience, but follow through all the way to the tearing of the veil concept…

Let people experience the tabernacle…

And then experience rip the veil…

It will be awhile before this extrapolation comes to fruition.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to Jim Drake….for being my eyes and ears at the conference…

bulletin bored…

Thought you might be interested and read this poll at Ragamuffin Soul (I believe his readership is about 4,000, worldwide and cross denominational) and maybe share with others…

We need to study current trends and listen…
These are voices that need to be heard. They mirror what I hear at our church.

Short question: If there is one program/event that your organization could kill in order to place those resources to better use…What would it be?

Very revealing answers… Ragamuffin Soul…

The two top answers were:
1) kill the paper bulletin and
2) drop the confining order of worship

So kill the white paper bulletin! Hardly anyone reads it past the first time anyway…
save trees…
save time…
save office personnel hours…
save money…

All those resources could then be used for better things…

This is what I do with my bulletin....















Here's a great idea how to transition out of paper bulletins:
AFTER; we have our new website site up and running...



From Los at Ragamuffin Soul



We are trying something new.For this new series that we are in called “Identity” we decided to create a “secret website” which is nothing more than our current blog with a forwarded domain name and a new template.Instead of handing out a bulletin with lots of information, we handed out secret identity cards with a web address on it.Our people had to go to that website and we now are catering the information we want to give them online.














I am so stealing this idea...

fuZe wordle...

my first blog round up…

Since designing for Philistines…was specifically started to allow my brain to download worship design elements that explode in my brain and share ideas when they are implemented…I will limit my blog roll and round-ups on this site to people who do the same.
And this week I have made some new friends who sort of think like I do (that may or may not be a compliment) LOL.
Take a chance and read their stuff…very interesting. These are people who are actually doing things and writing about them regularly…
Jim Drake – who introduced me to wordle…
Chris Harrison at prophets and popstars…
And since this is my first blog round up…I’ll include Creative Chaos (on Thursdays) at Ragamuffin Soul by Los Whittaker
I am thankful for meeting you guys out here in the blogsphere. I don’t feel so alone anymore…
Since I blog x4, I am only linking blogs here that relate to worship design elements. And trust me they are few and far between…

It hard to believe that I have only been blogging since March (2008). I never would have guessed that five months later I would have diversified into four blogs. This one for designing experiential worship elements, smashing paradigms… for church marketing thoughts and nuggets and CruX-the heart of the matter… just about my ramblings, the last one is simply working of our website redesign.
My dream from the beginning has been to find other like minded bloggers out there. I'll keep searching..

implementing scent into worship design...

I strive to incorporate more 5S (5 senses) into experiential worship design…

Background:
For me, it started with a simple idea of being able to infuse the worship venue with scent. I had been looking for an opportunity to include scent as a design element in worship. The opportunity arose when the creative design team agreed to letting us create an ocean ambiance set.

This is a short synopsis of about 40 hours or research conducted over a two week period.
(A lot of the material presented here is from one commercial website. But it simply provides a cross section of realistic information what was confirmed by our study of multiple sites)

Scent research:
Shows that one of the most powerful senses that we have is the sense of smell.
Scent is the strongest sense tied to memory…
It sparks emotions...
It enhances experiences…

Proustian Effect:
Basically it is what happens in your brain when a smell unleashes a flood of memories, taking you back to a particular time and place…

Scent sensitivity:
Going into this design element I was very aware of the issue of scent sensitivity. Since I am highly sensitive to smells. I can’t walk down the laundry soap aisle in a store without my throat starting to close up, my eyes watering and itching and my skin starts to itch.
Also consider the fact that scent marketing is currently being used in many commercial applications from the Indianapolis Children’s Museums to major retail establishments (Nordstrom, Saks) and high end hotels and entertainment venues (Disney). This wouldn’t be utilized so widely if extensive research hadn’t been conducted.
There is also a lot of difference in pure essential vs. chemically enhanced scents and the impact on sensitive individuals.

Scent dissipation:
(and half-life of scent removal from the air in the venue)
Since our venue is a junior high school auditorium we also spent about a week testing the time it took to disperse the scent, the average area of coverage and timing how long it took to have the scent completely eliminated from the space…

Frustrations:
Our first attempt to introduce scent as a worship element was arbitrarily shot down. After finally talking to the “power rep.” I feel like it was shot down because the powers that be assumed we didn’t understand the scent sensitivity issue and dissipation factors.
I feel the rejection of this element is indicative of communication issues. We live in a bureaucratic world, even in church. I suppose I have to create a proposal, which outlines all the research we did and prove that we can be trusted to research an element thoroughly.

Baby steps:
The next proposal of implementing scent in the worship (bread being baked in bread machines inside the venue). I got specific permission from the “power rep” on June 28 (I have learned from the business world to always document).
Edit: Found out we had to get yet a second approval, from the same person.

Smell sample here…

"handlebar" lyrics...

I can ride my bike with no handlebars

No handlebars
No handlebars
Look at me, look at me
hands in the air like it's good to be
ALIVE
and I'm a famous rapper
even when the paths're all crookedyI
can show you how to do-si-do
I can show you how to scratch a record
I can take apart the remote control
And I can almost put it back together
I can tie a knot in a cherry stem
I can tell you about Leif Ericson
I know all the words to "De Colores"
And "I'm Proud to be an American"
Me and my friend saw a platypus
Me and my friend made a comic book
And guess how long it took
I can do anything that I want cuz, look:
I can keep rhythm with no metronome
No metronome
No metronome
I can see your face on the telephone
On the telephone
On the telephone
Look at me
Look at me
Just called to say
that it's good to be
ALIVE
In such a small world
All curled up with a book to read
I can make money open up a thrift store
I can make a living off a magazine
I can design an engine sixty four
Miles to a gallon of gasoline
I can make new antibiotics
I can make computers
survive aquatic conditions
I know how to run a business
And I can make you wanna buy a product
Movers shakers and producers
Me and my friends understand the future
I see the strings that control the systems
I can do anything with no assistance
I can lead a nation with a microphone
With a microphone
With a microphone
I can split the atoms of a molecule
Of a molecule
Of a molecule
Look at me
Look at me
Driving and I won't stop
And it feels so good to be
Alive and on top
My reach is global
My tower secure
My cause is noble
My power is pure
I can hand out a million vaccinations
Or let'em all die in exasperation
Have'em all grilled leavin lacerations
Have'em all killed by assassination
I can make anybody go to prison
Just because I don't like'em and
I can do anything with no permission
I have it all under my command
I can guide a missile by satellite
By satellite
By satellite
and I can hit a target through a telescope
Through a telescope
Through a telescope
and I can end the planet in a holocaust
In a holocaust
In a holocaust
In a holocaust
In a holocaust
In a holocaust
I can ride my bike with no handlebars
No handle bars
No handlebars
I can ride my bike with no handlebars
No handlebars
No handlebars
 Handlebars Lyrics on http://www.lyricsmania.com/ ]

handlebars..

Sometimes worship elements just appear in my brain full-blown. That is what happened with this.
I saw the entire thing in my head (hadn't seen the video until today). Except for the last past w/Jesus, which I am editing in at 12:52 in the morning...

Abstract dramatic/choreographed interpretation of “handlebars” by Flobots…

(sorry widget not availible) For a series on “How are you Impacting the World for Christ” What I see is the video playing on the big screen…

1. Christ figure wandering around watching all this action..

2. (Child) riding bike back & forth cross the stage

(Cue music)

..........................................................................................

then individual people enter with (appropriate props) enter as per music and dramatically moving and interacting with their prop...

3. Hands in the air, twirling

4. Cherry (large interpretation)

5. American flag

6. Metronome

7. Cell phone - ipod

8. Book

9. Laptop

10. Ads (full color blown up)

11. Microphone

12. Trumpet (or sax)

13 & 14.Two fighters (at war)

15. Video camera

16. Satellite (prop)

Everyone file off…

leaving the bike rider...

Maybe Jesus will them reach over and help the bike rider for the last portion (like a dad teaching a child to ride a bike) so the rider is able to ride around completely with his/her hands in the air...

verstubes on vimeo...

check these out...

Versatubes from Carlos Whittaker on Vimeo.
Buckhead in Atlanta...

cre8tIVe chaos...

My submission for this week's creative chaos over at ragamuffin's soul... go to --> not your parent's flannel graph from Easter at XC...
that's it...

wordle...

just discovered this web 2.0 application called wordle and I'd loved it the moment I saw it...

You imput a bunch words and then "wordle it". This is my first wordle :^)
It is the words to "Fire Fall Down" one of my fav worship songs...
My mind is going a thousand miles a second right now, trying to noodle how to use wordle in worship...

huge shout out to Jim Drake's blog via his CreatIVe Chaos submission this week at Los's Ragamuffin Soul for this new tool.

Los and Jim, I have searched for a long time to find a gathering of designers of mad insane worship elements! I thank God I have found you...

fuZed ignited, needs you now...

Adding people to the logistics team...
Idea...time to add to the team NOW, before we get slammed...
Need to start recruiting, training now.
My thoughts: I am willing to coordinate the roll out, if all the other teams (impacted by this element) are on board...
-----
Logistics…Promo Video: Setting the stage on Saturday morning. I know that we already have some footage that David taped a couple months back…
Hope this makes some sense, as I try to explain it with out my hands…
VIDEO
Fast forward through set up…
STOP/Frame photo at end of set-up
(mouse) Click on Each team
Add tag box, i.e. sound tech, movers and shakers
mouse over to show name
then…mouse click and eliminate that element.
drama, graphics, Stage set, Sound, band, pPod
going though until it is an empty stage, last click (tagged box lighting).
Black screen, logo information (say something like “fuZed ignited”- needs you now)

Run this two weeks in a row…

Have a cool take away in the bulletin (at least the same two weeks) with short blubs about teams and contact info.

Brand it across the XC website (including the video after it is released)

Cross brand/market this into an interest meeting two weeks out (from release date)…

This isn’t everything, just a brief outline at the moment…

Thoughts?