Sometimes an idea is simply that, an idea. But, often in creative team, when I say “I have an idea”, what I really mean is I see the ENTIRE creative element piece in my mind.
The SHOUT creative movement piece was one of those full blown ideas.
Well, anyway I have idea for next Christmas. Especially since Christmas actually falls on a Sunday next year.
The idea started at a dinner for the leadership: Campbell asked a question for us to discuss at each table: “which person from the Christmas story do you identify with and why?”
Then he gave a short message was on how important telling "stories" are.
Stories connect us to each other.
Then, the next morning I saw this video from Igniter Media “A Social Network Christmas”
So for next year I was thinking....
Start with the video…
Then creating short vignettes about each person in the story of the birth of Christ. Either live and/or videos.
Work with the pastors as to what each person would be feeling.
Zechariah -
Elizabeth -
Mary - with a photo montage of pictures of a 12 year old girls - when you really think about her being around 12 years old and seeing then seeing 12 year olds - it feels very different. (Thanks to Mark Driscoll for that thought) @20:01-23:51 It is really worth it to see this.
Joseph -
Shepard(s) -
An animal -
Ending with the reading of the STORY of the nativity…
Staging would center around our wonderful stable.
I know it is way early to start talking about next year (or is it?), but I had a thought for next Christmas.
It started with Campbell’s question and comments at the leadership dinner last week. (121210)
The question was, which person from the Christmas story do you identify with and why?
Then his message was on how important telling "stories" are.
Then I received this vid from Igniter Media "A Social Network Christmas" (121610). Check it out.
Perfect intro.
So for next year I was thinking about short vignettes about each person in the story of the birth of Christ. Either live and/or videos.
Who would you be…
STORY of the nativity
Work with the pastors as to what each person would be feeling.
Zechariah -
Mary - with a photo montage of pictures of a 12 year old girl - when you really think about her being about 12 and seeing 12 year olds - it feels very different. (thought came from Mark Driscoll)
Elizabeth -
Joseph -
Shepard(s)
An animal
So, we will see how this plays out for next year...
Yes, another blank stage.
O.k. so we had a few poinsettias.
December 20th, we performed a Willow Creek drama. Lots of busy-ness on the stage.
So, no real stage design.
In the meantime trying to plan the stage design for January literally on a wing and a prayer (o.k. lots of prayer).
Then for Christmas Eve, it was requested that we decorate the interior of the auditorium to somewhat reflect a traditional Christmas decor. In addition to another drama sketch entitled "Stolen Jesus".
Along with praying about January; we are still taking time to reevaluate the contribution and value of the stage designs, particularly when it meets the crush of a Sunday only set-up and tear down.
The stage designing is not going away.
Yet...
Can we continue to implement creativity in so little time?
Are we in the way of the other teams?
Does it really impact people's journey?
Does it entice the skeptic, challenge the lukewarm & ignite passion in the believer (to go into the world)?
This ENHANCE team prays and designs so the stage reflects the message being given, just like the other teams. If it was simply decoration, I wouldn't be doing it. We design experiential elements that hopefully land the truth of what is being shared. We work to engage ALL the senses in the worship experience.
After the holidays, the leadership often will offer to let us take a break from creative elements. That means dramas, videos, dances, etc.
For example, just in the last several weeks; we have done a dance/movement element, 2 drama sketches, 2 videos pieces, 4 take-away or experiential experiences-challenges.
Well, that break doesn't really include the stage. *smiles*.
This is the synopsis that we have to work from for the next couple months:
Unpack the seven or eight identifiable attributes of spiritual maturity that we seek to gain; use the stories from (1 & 2nd Samuel, 1 & 2nd Kings, 1 & 2nd Chronicles) etc. to identify example of those who got maturity right, or those who didn’t as positive / negative reinforcement.
That's it. Now go...what do you think the stage design should be?
I envision it now, fb filled with images of Menorahs to commemorate the festival of lights, pictures of Ashura pilgrimages, the meditative thoughts of Bodhi Day, the time of devout and penitential preparation of the soul for the proper and worthy celebration of the great feast of Christmas for the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, the celebration of family, community and culture of Kwanzaa and, dare I say it?
Christmas Nativities to celebrate the birth of Christians long awaited Messiah…
Today my profile pic isn’t a nativity…but more importantly a reminder of the expectancy….
THIS is what excites me in my faith journey about the season. To imagine what it was like back then...patiently waiting for the long awaited and prophesied Messiah.
Can you imagine the years of anticipation that lead up to this moment in time?
By next year, maybe people of the Christian faith will be posting Nativities, those who simply celebrate the Santa man, could post pictures of Santa & elves...
If you choose not to believe any of it…well, then keep your profile picture of whatever…
Start a revolution…
Don’t muzzle or deny others, but humbly share the excitement that fills your life.
Not sure what has finally gotten me all riled up about Christmas today, but I definitely am.
Was it because I was shocked today when the man at the bank actually said "Merry Christmas" to me; I was so surprised. I turned around and said "Why, thank you. Merry Christmas to you."
Was it yet another story on fb about the offensiveness of the Nativity, or no wait, was that a Christmas tree?
Or was it the song about the 12 days of "winter"?
That's it. While I respect the beliefs of others; I have the right to believe what I belive. I'm not telling anyone that they have believe what I do.
I believe in Christ. I believe in celebrating Christmas. You are free to celebrate or not celebrate, whatever you wish.
"But, as for me & my house" we celebrate the birth of Jesus.
Therefore, I am going to post a different pic of the Nativity as my profile picture from ...now-through Christmas. And you know what, no one can stop me!
I already have posted my first one as my profile pic.
I am an INFP, otter, almost completely right brained off the charts creative person. I love designing freaky experiential worship elements.
While I am still doing stage designs for the weekend service, I recently have been on a little side jaunt. For the last three weeks, I have been doing the childcare for my daughter-in-law’s small group Bible study on Ruth & Naomi (by Beth Moore). The ages range from 2 years old – almost 6. Currently our church is doing a year through the Bible. I decided to mirror the teaching on Sundays. Though next week, I seem to be stuck since we are in Leviticus.
The mom’s were saying I should be writing these down or taping the sessions; LOL! Writing it down it is hard to show just how much fun we are having. I was actually tickled this week. I usually let the children play for about 10 minutes, while I unpack and get ready. This week after about 5 minutes, they all asked if we could just do the lesson first. Love these little ones. So here goes…
Most important just make it FUN! Next, I think that the biggest thing is repetition & interaction. Each week we read the actual story for the “Beginners Bible”. I want them to understand that all of this comes from God’s word. Remember children will easily make imaginative jumps. For example adults would probably get stuck on the fact that I used a reindeer lawn ornament, instead of a calf in the Golden Calf story. The children had no problem “getting” that it was a calf.
Each week, we sing (Sung to “The More We Get Together”; along with hand motions that the children invented) The more you know the Bible, the Bible, the Bible The more you know the Bible, The more you know God For His Word is our Word, yes His Word is our Word The more you know the Bible, The more you know God
Week 1: The Parable of the Sower Started with “The More You Know the Bible” Simply read the story from the “Beginners Bible” and acted it out. Had seeds that I cut out to act out the story. Birds: well, I just happened to have to little rubber ducks. Hard Ground: a wooden chair Thorns: we pretended and used “straggling hands” Grow: had a bunch of leaves from fake flowers
Found this song on the internet ‘Sow, Sow, Sow the Word” Had little packs of nut (we called them seeds) for the snack
Week 2: The 10 Plagues Thankfully it is close to Halloween, so I was able to find all the unusual items I needed for this. So we read the story from the “Beginner Bible” Then we played the “Ten Plagues” game. Blood: Party Store (little containers of fake blood), and Swedish Fish candy, (because the fish died) Frogs: $1 Store Gnats: Walmart, craft Pom Poms Flies: $1 store Livestock: Party Store, packs of farm animals Boils: “Dot” candies Hail: ice cubes Locusts: $1 Store, packs of winged insects Darkness: black cloth blindfolds Death of Firstborn: Party Store in the baby shower section The game board was from the Party Store. It was an inexpensive plastic deviled egg holder. I added sticker numbers labeling each section 1-10. Printed out paper, with multiple pieces that had the words; “Let my people go!” “No!” “Go Now!” Everybody got a pile of each of the pieces and some of each of the plagues. We simply rotated around. First person was Moses and would throw down the game piece (In the center) and everybody said “Let my people go!” Second person would be Pharaoh and throw down the game piece and every body said “No!” Then we would figure out which plague and put it in the middle with great flourish. Then the second person became Moses….and so on Until the end when Pharaoh said “Go now!” everybody cheered. The “boils” were the favorite, because we would lick them and stick them on our hands and then eat them and go “eeeewwww”! LOL And they decided we had to play the game four times so everyone got the chance to be Pharaoh and play the “Go Now!” piece.
Everyone went home with baggies of all the plagues. Snack: was Goldfish crackers.
Week 3: The Israelites and the Golden Calf Again, thankfully it is close to the holidays and they already have Christmas decorations for sale in the stores.
Puppets socks: First I got a new pair of white socks for each of the children and used an indelible sharpie marker to draw smiley face on the bottom. These were the Israelite puppets in our story. Later became “God socks” Golden Calf: I wound up using a mechanical reindeer lawn ornament for the calf and 2 packs of gold garland. Gold: Found gold coins (with paper money) Party supply section at Wal-Mart
The “Beginners Bible” only had the story of Moses going up and getting the “Ten Commandments”. So we read up to the part where the Israelites got tired of waiting and did our project. Again we simply acted out the story. We put on our “Israelite sock puppets.” We acted out how the Israelites got so tired or waiting for Moses to come down from the mountain 9when he was talking to God for 40 days!) Aaron got tired of the people complaining and gathered all the gold and jewelry (there is where we had the gold coins), and then they made the golden calf. We then wrapped the gold garland around the reindeer and pretended the Israelites were worshiping the calf, whom they called Yahweh (yes, go read the story) Then we picked up the story in the Bible when Moses came down the mountain with the Ten Commandments. We spent a little time talking about the second commandment (no idols) Talked about how bad it was that they made an idol, especially when we should always be waiting on God. We ended the story with putting on our God socks and I told them every time you wear your God socks, you remember to always look up and wait for God.
Snack: Since calves are cows and cows give milk: we made home made butter. Using heavy whipping cream in a glass container. Then you shake the container until it turns into butter. Oh, yes that was interesting. We actually pulled out a giant stuffed animal to put in the middle ‘just in case “we accidentally” dropped the glass jar. Since it takes about 10- 15 minutes to separate the whipping cream into butter, we played a cd of the “Perfect Ten” song (words here), 3 times.
Amazingly they kept continuing to shake and sing, and pass it to the next person and shake and sing. We put the fresh butter on some McVitties Digestive Biscuits (World Market) for our snack. We also had a piece of Laughing Cow Cheese. I had a container from the Laughing Cow Cheese for each of them.
Everyone went home with their “God socks” and gold coins. I also found a pack of cowboy Silly Bands (at Wal-Mart) that had a cow silly band in it. I gave everyone one, reminding them not to have idols in their lives. That was a hit.
Moments... When I listen to people stressing out about the holidays, my heart goes out to them. When did Christmas become more about shopping, gift wrapping, parties rather than about the little baby Jesus? Have we forgotten what it is about? Last year at XC, we did a visual movement piece entitled "Christmas Crescendo" (you can see it here). Which simply started with Mary singing to baby Jesus. Then slowly the scenes built to a crescendo of Christmas madness. Decorating a tree, shaking presents, shopping and even Santa and elves with children lining up to have their picture taken with Santa...and the baby simply seems to disappear amid the glitz. The madness of what we now consider normal Christmas traditions. Then all the madness stopped. All that remained center stage was Mary and the baby.
Each year I will deligently work towards keeping that same simple message. It's really all about the little baby Jesus.
This year we planned a Christmas drama. Then we got snowed out with almost two feet of snow on Christmas Sunday.
Every Saturday our weekend crew rolls in and converts the junior high school auditorium into our worship space. After set-up and sound checks we gather for devotions. This week we simply focused on that moment in time, just after Christ was born. It was just Mary, Joseph and the baby. The angels hadn't appeared to the shepards yet, the wisemen were still traveling towards the star. Just the family wondering what all this was about. Trusting God's word.
So this week, the Sunday after Christmas. this is what our stage looked like. The stage was bare with only a simple wooden stable with a star. During the prayer before service an idea surfaced. During that last song, "Silent Night", all the lights would fade out and one simple spot would illuminate the star over the stable. We scrambled around to get a ladder, move the stage lights around, re-set lighting cues...
Then during worship, the last verse was sung acapella, the worship leaders stepped backed and all eyes were focused on the star.
Silent night, holy night Son of God, love's pure light Radiant beams from Thy holy face With the dawn of redeeming grace Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
This comes for a conversation with someone who is designing a "Blue Christmas" service to honor and give voice to grief during the holiday. Just my initial thoughts... I definitely like the votive candle idea. Linking the remembrance of the loved one-then linking it to the true Light (message of Christmas). We tend to get wrapped up in all the busy-ness of the season and forget what it is really all about. I envision someone sitting and starting to tearfully unwrap all the Christmas ornaments, and being unable to deal with the Santa's, elves and shiny stuff for the tree. Then opening the box with the Nativity crèche and a single candle, while reflecting on the meaning of Christmas and talking about how (grandpa) loved the story of the birth of Christ and all it's true meaning, as they set up the crèche on a small table. As they talk through their emotions, they link the remembrance of their loved one to the candle and to the meaning of Christmas. They light the candle saying something like..."this is all I really need this year. Happy birthday, Jesus. Merry Christmas grandpa."
Then close one of the other boxes and walk off stage
Then have people come and light a votive candle and leave taking the (takeaway gift).
For the remaining Sundays until Christmas, simply have a single lit votive candle on the alter or stage, along with whatever else you are decorating with. Those people will know.
Welcome to "creative fuZion lab" at designing for Philistines (on Thursdays)... Once upon a time there was a blog kingdom where freaky creatives could share the chaos created in their minds for THE Kingdom. Sadly, it went away. Yet the creative minds keep blogging.Now there is a place to share all those creative elements again at the creative fuZion lab on Thursdays. So here’s what you do… 1. Each Thursday YOU post on your blog on whatever creative church element sparks your passion. 2. In your blog, link back to this weeks specific creative fuZion lab. 3. Then post the link to your particular post at the NEW Mr. Linky below. 4. Then come back and comment. If you don’t blog yet, still feel free to share your idea in the comments. 5. Then off you go. Go visit other people’s ideas, comment and share. 6. Ready to begin? Here we go. Let the creative fuZion begin. Spread the Word. Dorothy (vicar of vibe)
Being such a young church, this is the first year XC has done any ancient/modern services. We did both an interactive Passover Seder and a Tenebrae service. The word ‘tenebrae’ is Latin for shadows. The purpose of the Tenebrae service is to recreate the emotional aspects of the passion story. It is not supposed to be a joyful service, because this moment in time was not triumphant. The purpose of the service is to recreate the betrayal, abandonment, and agony of the events and it is left unfinished, because the story isn’t over until the Resurrection on Easter. Prepare your heart. Come; experience the darkness before the light. He has not yet risen.
How it all played out: Cello bags were handed out as people entered the auditorium. They contained a black strip of cloth and a nail. (We asked that people wear the black cloth around their neck and hold the nail in their hand during worship)
Instrumental Opener (Instruments: acoustic guitar, keyboard, cello and percussion) Worship Set 1: Sing to the King
Welcome & Greet
Worship Set 2: Here I am to Worship
Scene 1: Words of Institution - Chris E. Scene 2: Communion (partake together)
Worship Set 2: Carried to the Table (Leeland) (sung during communion)
Scene 3: Reader 1: Father forgive them… Reader: Covers first candle. Creative element: Reader walks up to Cross with mallet and large nails, hammers nails into cross.
Scene 4: Reader 2: I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise. Reader: Covers second candle Creative element: Experiential movement of congregation hanging the black cloths on the Cross. Several mournful cello solo’s were played during this portion.
Scene 5: Reader 3: Dear woman, here is your son, and to the disciple, Here is your mother. Reader: Covers third candle. Creative element: Start with the image created of Mary and baby from the Christmas Crescendo. Melissa Genter singing “Mary Did You Know?”.
Scene 6: Reader 4: Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? Reader: Covers fourth candle. Creative element: Eloi- Special Song - April Eads
Scene 7: Reader 5: I thirst. Reader: Covers fifth candle. (Short spoken piece Narrator, directions) Creative element: [Experiential/Interactive: go to tables to partake vinegar water.] This is executed in silence.
Scene 8: Reader 6: Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. Reader: Covers sixth candle.
Scene 9: Transition: “Why” sung live by April Dramatic movement piece interpreting the song “Why”
Scene 10: Reader 7: It is finished. Reader: Covers seventh candle.
Scene 11: [All lights are extinguished at this point; we sit in complete and total darkness, THUNDER (percussion) 30 seconds-pause 30 seconds.}
Scene 12: Teaching moment about the sufficiency of the Cross. Bridge (with alter call) - Chris Eads
Scene 13: Celebration Worship Set 4 In Christ Alone Wonderful Cross Blessed Be Your Name
NOTES: Several elements weren’t completed. I learned it doesn’t matter what position the person holds, they still needed to followed up with to insure that they are on task. Some elements were dropped out and rearranged at the last moment. This created back to back elements of “just sit and listen to people sing” moments.
We are already planning on doing a Tenebrae service again next year.
Welcome to "fuZion lab" at designing for Philistines (on Thursdays)... Once upon a time there was a blog kingdom where freaky creative’s could share the chaos created in their minds for THE Kingdom. Sadly, it went away. Yet the creative minds keep blogging. Now there is a place to share all those creative elements again at the fuZion lab on Thursdays. So here’s what you do… 1. Each Thursday YOU post on your blog on whatever creative church element sparks your passion. 2. In your blog, link back to this weeks specific creative fuZion lab. 3. Then post the link to your particular post at the Mr. Linky below. (It will pop up in a separate window) 4. Then come back and comment. If you don’t blog yet, still feel free to share your idea in the comments. 5. Then off you go. Go back to the pop up window 'Mr. Linky" and visit other people’s ideas, comment and share. 6. Ready to begin? Here we go. Let the creative fuZion begin. Spread the Word. Dorothy (vicar of vibe) ________________________________________________________
XC Christmas Crescendo Element.
Finally the video of our Christmas Crescendo...
(Or you may link to a smaller version @ our new XC website: Christmas Crescendo.) Here are the pictures of the stage design elements:
Welcome to "fuZion lab" at designing for Philistines (on Thursdays)...
Once upon a time there was a blog kingdom where freaky creative’s could share the chaos created in their minds for THE Kingdom. Sadly, it went away. Yet the creative minds keep blogging. Now there is a place to share all those creative elements again at the fuZion lab on Thursdays. So here’s what you do…
1. Each Thursday YOU post a blog on whatever creative church element sparks your passion.
2. In your blog, link back to this weeks specific creative fuZion lab.
3. Then link your particular post in the comments here.
4. Share your name, a brief description of the element and most importantly the link to your blog. If you don’t blog yet, still feel free to share your idea in the comments.
5. Go visit other peoples ideas, comment and share.
6. Ready to begin? Here we go. Let the creative fuzion begin.
Designed to show how often the true of meaning of Christmas is lost in the hustle and bustle of what Christmas has become to society.
Curtain opens to a blue spot on Mary and baby Jesus. She is quietly singing to baby:
O, Come, O Come Emmanuel (one verse)
She remains center stage as: Start: Electronic wav file of Carol of the Bells, entire band joined in layers on top of the track. The song gets louder and more hectic as the following scenes unfold: Lights: Leg of curtains, lights up on each side of stage.
Stage left: Husband and wife bring in Christmas tree, set it up and decorate (plug in lights), they also bring in gifts. Their young children enter (in p.j.’s), shake packages and play around tree. Read book.
Stage right: shoppers enter with rolling rack of clothes.
Stage right: Santa comes in, seated on a rolling platform with elves. Photographer enters and sets up his lighting and camera on a tripod. Families with children line up to get their picture taken with Santa.
More Lights: Icicle lights on back curtain light up.
Another rolling rack with clothes enters into the auditorium with another shopper and retail sales person.
ALL ACTION STOPS: Music ends abruptly, actors freeze in place, all lights black out except the blue spot again on Mary & Jesus
She sings (short intro of) O Come, O Come Emmanuel, which transitioned into:
Mary’s Child (amazing song written by April Eads, who also played Mary)
Worship Set 2 (done completely with an acoustic guitar only)
What Child is This? (Actors exited stage during intro.
Mary and Jesus exited after the first verse)
O Holy Night
Message: The Real Meaning of Christmas (and giving a gift of ourselves to Him)
Worship set 3 (the full band was back: w/communion and interactive family element)
There were several gifts boxes on each row. Everyone was asked to write or draw on a piece of paper, a gift they wanted to give to baby Jesus. (Families were asked to work with their children, which was really cool to see). Then place the note in a small gift bag and tie a ribbon around it. Then go as a family or with friends to the communion stations. And give the gift to Jesus (a manger was set up at each station).
Glory in the Highest
We Three Kings
O, Come, O Come Emmanuel (the percussionist used a really nifty Samba beat to this, totally cool!)
It was one of those amazing moments in time, where everything combined to share the true meaning with Christmas with all those who entered in today.
Interesting notes today:
My husband (not a Christian) came today.
He only comes to church once every couple of years. My son and his family visited again (four weeks now). It is so cool to be able to worship together. I particularly love how my three year old grandson loves to stand in the aisle to worship. He sways back and forth, claps his hands. My two year grand daughter also joined us.
Someone (a friend I have made at Starbucks, currently dechurched) I had invited, came and texted me afterwards that he thought the worship was awesome!
And two people came up afterwards. One person wants to join the pPod team (that implements the interactive experiential worship elements) and another wants to join the lighting team.
What an amazing day!
Tell me all about your design for Christmas, or whatever.
Welcome & Greet Special Song Stars (w/ our worship leader shared a short moment about an encounter with a skeptic on the airplane this Christmas)
Worship Set 2 Grace Like Rain This is Our God
Message:
Worship Set 3 Mighty to Save
I am so thankful we have a pre-service for leaders. Today it allowed me to be free to minister to someone during worship. I went looking because during worship, there was someone who was obviously overwhelmed with emotion during the second worship set. Sadly, she wound up leaving, but she is a regular, so we will be able to follow up with her. But, while out in the lobby I found a young pregnant mother in tears. Her husband is military, so they are only stationed here for a year, they are having a baby soon, far away from their families and she is very shy and is trying to connect with mothers here, particularly to help out when the baby is born (they already have two very young boys). And she just found out she is having another boy, when she desperately wants to have a little girl. We sat, talked, and prayed together.
A lot of you also used to do Creative Chaos on Thursday at Carlos Whitacker's blog Ragamuffin Soul. Sadly, it stopped a couple months ago. I wrote Los and have been praying and have decided to start hosting a blog carnival on Thursday called "creative fuZion".
Thank you all for being His hands as your serve...
This is part of the Sunday Set List blog carnival on Fred McKinnon's blog. It a wonderful group of people that share and care about the worship experience. Make sure you visit today.
One of the things that like to do is notice trends… And it is nice to see more and more people recognizing the need to think though what is truly important about Christmas. Eliminating the fluff and focusing on the miracle of Christ’s birth. In my life, I have been going through this very process over the last few years.
Our creative team at church was actually very excited about our Christmas set. Called “Christmas Crescendo”. A visual juxtaposition of the simplicity of Jesus’ birth vs. what it has become in our society. The implementation of this thought was wonderful. The highlight of it all was “Mary’s Child” The chorus said: Angels and shepherds are singing your praise But I want to worship right here in your gaze Tomorrow a savior ,but today just a babe Tomorrow on a cross, but today in a manger you lay.
This Christmas may all who love Him take time to simply worship in the gaze of the babe of Bethlehem.
Christmas Crescendo Here are some pics., taken during set up Friday evening and Saturday morning.
Curtains Closed
Worship Set 1 (sung in front of the curtain w/ only acoustic guitar) Joy to the World
Welcome & Greet
Creative Element: “Christmas Crescendo” Designed to show how often the true of meaning of Christmas is lost in the hustle and bustle of what Christmas has become to society.
Curtain opens to a blue spot on Mary and baby Jesus. She is quietly singing to baby: O, Come, O Come Emmanuel (one verse)
She remains center stage as: Start: Electronic wav file of Carol of the Bells, entire band joined in layers on top of the track. The song gets louder and more hectic as the following scenes unfold: Lights: Leg of curtains, lights up on each side of stage. Stage left: Husband and wife bring in Christmas tree, set it up and decorate (plug in lights), they also bring in gifts. Their young children enter (in p.j.’s), shake packages and play around tree. Read book. Stage right: shoppers enter with rolling rack of clothes. Stage right: Santa comes in, seated on a rolling platform with elves. Photographer enters and sets up his lighting and camera on a tripod. Families with children line up to get their picture taken with Santa. More Lights: Icicle lights on back curtain light up. Another rolling rack with clothes enters into the auditorium with another shopper and retail sales person.
ALL ACTION STOPS: Music ends abruptly, actors freeze in place, all lights black out except the blue spot again on Mary & Jesus (short intro of) O, Come, O Come Emmanuel, which transitioned into: Mary’s Child(amazing song written by April Eads, who also played Mary)
Worship Set 2 (done completely with an acousticguitar only) What Child is This? (Actors exited stage during intro. Mary and Jesus exited after the first verse) O Holy Night
Message: The Real Meaning of Christmas (and giving a gift of ourselves to Him)
Worship set 3 (the full band was back: w/communion and interactive family element) There were several gifts boxes on each row. Everyone was asked to write or draw on a piece of paper, a gift they wanted to give to baby Jesus. (Families were asked to work with their children, which was really cool to see). Then place the note in a small gift bag and tie a ribbon around it. Then go as a family or with friends to the communion stations. And give the gift to Jesus (a manger was set up at each station). Glory in the Highest We Three Kings O, Come, O Come Emmanuel (the percussionist used a really nifty Samba beat to this, totally cool!)
It was one of those amazing moments in time, where everything combined to share the true meaning with Christmas with all those who entered in today. Interesting notes today:My husband (not a Christian) came today. He only comes to church once every couple of years. My son and his family visited again (four weeks now). It is so cool to be able to worship together. I particularly love how my three year old grandson loves to stand in the aisle to worship. He sways back and forth, claps his hands. My two year grand daughter also joined us. Someone (a friend I have made at Starbucks, currently dechurched) I had invited, came and texted me afterwards that he thought the worship was awesome! And two people came up afterwards. One person wants to join the pPod team (that implements the interactive experiential worship elements) and another wants to join the lighting team. What an amazing day!
How was your Sunday today?
This is being submitted to Sunday Set list blog carnival at Fred McKinnon's blog. Be sure to check how other churches are glorifying God through worship each Sunday.
Today is a big day. This evening is the stage set-up for our “Christmas Crescendo” production.
Shortly I will leave for Starbucks to work.
My ancient Thunderbird is already packed to the gills with multiple bolts of material, a box of Christmas ornaments, a huge box of white trees, two huge pink stuffed dogs, box of chiffon, Christmas lights, a newly purchased clothes rack and other various and assorted stage props.
I have a bag packed with a change of clothes, since I will have to head directly from Starbucks and head to Eagle Ridge Middle School to coordinate the efforts of about 10-12 people. We will have 3 hours to go from zero to full stage set.
Next, I need to add my camera and computer, work bag. I have print-outs of details how to do each piece of the set, so each team will know what to do when we start. Oh yes, and my pPod bag.
The weather man is calling for snow Saturday evening and Sunday morning. Life as stage designer for a mobile church is interesting to say the least.
And now it is time to pause and pray again…
I really need a bigger car for my rolling storage closet.
What are your preparations for this Sunday’s service?
My mind tends to find snippets of ideas and develop full blown creative elements productions. I actually found this tremendous Christmas production 2007 (Pace Hartfield) at Fellowship Church in Grapevine, TX early this year.
We have been working towards incorporating our youth in the weekend experience about once every 8 weeks or so. It is always a tremendous event.
“Imago” has an incredible ministry, which includes their own monthly worship services, out reach neighborhood groups and they have almost two entire worship bands.
So today was one of our Sundays when the youth lead worship.
Worship Set 1 We Three Kings Blessed be Your Name
Welcome and Greet
Worship Set 2 Fire Here I am to Worship
Creative Element: Dramatization to: The Reason (Hoobastank)
Message: Christmas is about the Incarnation. What it looks like to walk in the human steps of Jesus-God in the flesh, Emmanuel, God with us!
Worship Set 3 Glory in the Highest Angels We Have Heard on High
This is part of the Sunday Set Listat Fred McKinnon's blog. Always fresh, always interesting. Check it out.
Every now and again we use a specially chosen secular song to highlight a thought or message. We strongly feel it is a connecting piece for skeptics.
This week we had a dramatic action piece of Lazarus on his death bed. We used the song Hold On Sarah MacLachlan. We did edit the lyrics a bit at the beginning and the end, dropping hell from the following line.
Hold on Hold on to yourself For this is gonna hurt… (like hell)
It was amazingly poignant and powerful.
I appreciate being part of a creative team and worship team that puts very careful thought to the words of each and every song that is used for worship and in service. We also struggle with which Christmas songs to use during worship. But with prayer and careful thought, God leads us to just the correct songs to use. We ended with "O Come All Ye Faithful". It was so joyful and really kicked it with the message. We have to go through the death to experience ressurection.
Instrumental Opener
Worship Set 1 Oh, Praise Him (David Crowder)
Welcome and Greet Worship Set 2 Glory in the Highest (Chris Tomlin) Amazed (Lincoln Brewster)
Drama: Lazarus With special music Hold On Sarah MacLachlan Message: When God Weeps (series Band Aids for Bullet Holes)
Worship Set 3 O Come All Ye Faithful (in house version)
Do you use secular music in your service?
This is part of Fred McKinnon’s Sunday Set List #20 Carnival where worship leaders and simply worshippers share what they are singing to praise God each week.
The reality is I am going through a kaleidoscope of emotions this Christmas season.
Work is tough. With the economic times, corporate is cutting back on our staffing hours; which means less hours (pay) for us the front line workers. Just as the holiday increase in sales and traffic are ramping up. It’s harder and harder each day to accomplish all the tasks we must perform as well as provide that “legendary customer service” we so believe in.
But, I have a decent job…
The oldest dog in my menagerie, Puffin is failing fast. I tearfully watch her stumble around. Her little feeble legs just fail to hold her up and she flops to the floor. Her seizures are increasing. She has totally forgotten how to do much of anything. Including asking to eat, go out…
I know her time is quickly coming.
But, I reflect back on the 18 plus years of joy, love and friendship she given me…
The house is a disaster. Everything is in total chaos. We try to keep up. Remember my little aged dog, who forgets to ask to go out…well…you figure it out.
But, I am thankful we still have a home…
Also the one year anniversary of my dad’s death is approaching. This one is tough of course. Anyone who has experienced the death of a close loved one will understand the roll coaster of emotions that are occurring in my heart. It’s really hard to write just what I am feeling.
But, I am thankful knowing he is finally at peace…
I literally have no money in my bank account. I took three weeks off to go care for my brother and his family while he recently had heart surgery.
But, someday soon, I will get another check…
Yet I am very excited about Christmas, even without participating in all the shopping, wrapping, decorating, cards and such. Not even planning Christmas dinner. Each day I wake up with a song of praise in my heart. I actually feel child like as I joyfully await the celebration of the birth of my Savior.
With all these emotions turning in my mind, I’m still approaching this season with awe...
What is the reality of your Christmas season this year?
Some random things you may want to know about me...
Passionate follower of Jesus...
Sharing my journey of becoming debt free & creating a self sufficient lifestyle.
Self-appointed 'vicar of vibe'...
I love designing freaky experiential worship elements...
I like smashing paradigms "boxes" with a two ton sledge hammer...
and I am a wife, have two sons, 6 grandbabies and 3 insane dogs...
-my life mission statement is...
love God, love others, it's simple...
oh, and I blog...
