postcards (week 2)

It's early Saturday and I am heading out for another exciting day of setting up staging for week 2 of our new series "Postcards from Eternity". We are continuing to look at the 7 letters to the churches in Revelation through the Word and Creative Arts.


Have to drop by Starbucks and talk to my friend Stephanie about borrowing one of their tables and chairs...


So we are going to set up a courthouse and White Stone Bakery today. Man the things I do...
Details

being...

For me, if I had to stop doing everything "for church" and only focus on one thing...
It would be hanging out at Starbucks. It is my heart's discontent.
I strongly believe that I am being church when I am hugging the Muslim co-worker woman who just had a miscarriage this week.
I am being church when I am listening to the lonely transvestite (waiting for sex change surgery) cry over how much hatred is spewed at her/him.
I am being the church when I hold hands with a gal at work who had an affair; as she and her husband are struggling to put their marriage back together.

Everything I do “at church” is done with the same purpose. Again…
Entice the skeptic, challenge the lukewarm and spark passion in the believer to reach out to His lost children…

It is everything I am for Him…

What cause discontent in your heart?

creative fuZion // 2 //

Welcome to Thursday’s fuZion lab at designing for Philistines...

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.
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, 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.

Spread the Word.
Dorothy (vicar of vibe)
_________________________________________________________

**Creative Elements from Cross Current Minstries**
This isn't an idea we have implemented yet, but something I'd like to try in the near future.
As I walk through life, almost every day my mind captures snapshots and extrapolates every day occurrences into worship designs.
I have absolutely no control over this. In fact I call it "God exploding in my mind". Sometimes it is a full blown worship experience, other times is a mere snippet. In fact that is why I started this blog. I had so many ideas running around in my head that they were crashing into each other. I needed a place to download my thoughts.
November 23rd, my mother took me to see the "Lion King". It was an amazing experience and a shining example of breaking through the fourth wall of stage design.
Just one of the moments that captured my imagination was these birds that had soaring over the audience. Check out this youtube video, you can see the character Zazu entering at 2:17. If you look closely you will also see other bird puppets in the background.



I saw about four - six people, spaced through-out the auditorium flying "something" over the heads of the worshippers.
So, I have spent the last couple of weeks trying to figure out how to implement this into worship. I have finally figured out I need fly fishing pools and fishing line. I have yet to figure out what to attach to the poles. I am thinking "fire". That may have to wait until this element works it's way into a specific message. We will see...

What is your wildest creative idea?

the Deep...

I’m trying to write down my thoughts about our first “Deep” worship experience.
It was basically a very loosely scripted worship design…
We are meeting the first Sunday evening each month in a senior citizen center in the lovely little town of Purcellville, VA. I guess about 30-35 people total.
Acoustic set with lead guitar, to percussions sets and a piano. Seating in the round.
Two hours…of worship (singing), interspersed as people felt lead with praying, sharing scripture, and small gatherings during communion.
We did not have child care (since we are pretty sure they didn’t have child care in the early church). So the children were free to be themselves, which I thought was pretty cool.
I’m not doing it justice, but suffice it to say it was very worshipful and all the attention was focused on God.

Short story to share from our pastor about our first “Deep” worship.
He shared he didn't necessarily "feel" emotional about what was going on during worship (it happens sometimes).
Then afterwards one of the moms came up to Chris and said that during worship her little 3 year old daughter, tugged on her pants and said

"Mommy, I want to pray to Jesus now and tell Him I love Him"...

Needless to say, if that is the ONLY emotional thing that happened at the Deep our first night, nothing else mattered...

Where does your passion lie? Do your actions show it?

I never stop thinking...

My mad friend Bill posted this picture in his creative album on fb.
And asked it we noticed anything strange about it...

My response: Something like that would be a really cool graphic for XC.

Honestly I never stop thinking about designing, what does that say about me?

What do you constantly think about?

vicar of vibe...

I made a decision years ago…
I am very called to walk with the skeptic, pierced, tattooed and disenfranchised (read: mostly younger) unbelievers of this world.
Everything I do is filtered through this calling.
It is why I fb. It is why I have a cell phone and txt.
It’s why I watch the most popular youtube vid’s, like “Charlie the Unicorn” (very popular with junior high – college age)
I listen to hard rock radio stations. (it’s what all my younger 20 something’s listen to)
I watch reality tv. In fact, I try to watch very new show (on broadcast tv) at least once. I track the most popular shows, like sytycd, Survivor, LOST, C.S.I., etc.
I have connections on deviantart.
I check out simworlds.
I turned down a full time job with my church, because it didn’t fit my giftings and more importantly it would have taken time away from hanging outside of Starbucks where I meet my skeptics.
Then I take all these experiences and try to design worship elements that will connect with these people. As long as it glorifies God, of course.
There are plenty of experiences at many churches that connect with the believer.
I want to reach the lost. Period.
It’s just what I do; it’s what I am called to do….

What are you called to do?

Blaise Pascal...

Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) mathematician, physicist and philosopher.

I became fascinated by a Blaise Pascal after a small mention in a 90’s tv show (which I can’t even recall the name of the show). Maybe you could help. I was about a family that traveled around in an R.V.
The father was teaching at a school one day and he mentioned Pascal’s wager.
Now this was before the internet was widely used, so I actually did research at the library (remember those).

I was reminded again of Pascal last night in our School of Ministry. He wasn’t mentioned directly, but vaguely in reference to how our pastor deals with his very non-believing family.

Basically, the wager breaks down to this…

Obviously there is a lot more to this theory.
Since then there have been much criticism and refutation to Pascal’s wager; including Richard Dawkins.

There is too much going on in my mind at the moment to actually write much more…but I ask…

What do you think of Pascal’s Wager?

the Ramp...

If you haven't seen the Ramp, this is the day you should check them out...

"Precious Lamb of God" The Ramp

postcards from eternity...

Postcards from Eternity (week 1)
Set Lists

Worship Set 1
All Bow Down

Welcome & Greet

Worship Set 2
I Will Bow
Your Love, oh Lord

Drama-Postcards from Eternity: Scene 1
(see details of how it all relates together)

Worship Set 3
Your Unfailing love

Message 1: Postcards from Eternity
Ephesus: (Park w/ tree): representation prop was an apple (the goodness of being able to eat from the tree of life). Ephesus is counseled to find their passion again. So were we.

Drama-Postcards from Eternity: Scene 2
(see details of how it all relates together)

Message 2: Postcards from Eternity
Smyrna: (Firehouse): representation prop is fire. Illusionist’s flash paper and/or fire extinguisher. We are promised we will not be hurt (we will be protected) at all by the second death.

Worship Set 4
Overcome

This will rate as one the very top worship experiences for me. I love it when all the pieces (elements) weave together to create a seamless service. From start to finish everything was branded and just fell into place. The message was astounding!

This is a four week series teaching through the letters to seven churches in Revelation.
Seven mini-sermons, seven mini-dramas, seven stage sets, seven lamp stands.
The mini-dramas revolve around various family members each receiving a postcard from the patriarch, who recently died. He is giving counsel on various issues in each person’s life.
Each scene in the drama corresponds with the message given to each church in Revelation.
Check back Thursday for the details of the set design.

Now I am off to a new worship experience we are starting each first Sunday evening of the month called the Deep. Where we are stepping into a deeper worship experience. Looking forward to this...

Everyone is welcome to come back on Thursday and share whatever creative elements that spark your passion that have been designed for your church at the new blog carnival “creative fuZion” on Thursdays. I started the fuZion because I have really missed being able to share (at Creative Chaos) the other elements that are being created each week at my church. More importantly I have missed what hearing what others are doing. Please join me.

Do you/have you ever shared the other creative elements that are designed by your church?

This is being shared at Fred McKinnon's blog carnival Sunday Set List each Sunday. There is so much to learn from all these wonderful worship leader and participants from across the world.

I cried at 4:29...

I am starting to import posts from my other blogs, soon they will all be in one location again.
Here is one of my fav's from June at CruX-the heart of the matter...

sytycd4 (for the uninitiated it's So You Think You Can Dance)
hip hop has come of age - beyond a shadow of a doubt...
The dance starts at about 3:00. I cried at 4:29...

This is the raw passion that we need to share with others who do not know...
danced by Mark and Chelsea...
choreographed by Tabitha and Napoleon

creative fuZion//1//Christmas...

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.

Spread the Word.
Dorothy (vicar of vibe)

________________________________________________________________

This week let's start by sharing Christmas ideas. Or whatever your heart desires...

**This week at Cross Current Ministries**

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

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.

XC set-up and pre-service...

A couple people commented and asked about what we call our pre-service; so I thought I'd share a little more about how our weekends run. Starting with set-up, our pre-service and then break down.
Particularly since we are a mobile church, we have to roll in and completely set up on Saturday and break down on Sunday.

So a typical weekend for us:


Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

On Saturday morning, the weekend experience teams usually arrive about 8:00 a.m.
This time is used for set up and rehearsals.

The truck arrives and everyone helps unload the truck. Another truck is out dropping off the free standing directional signs.
Then everyone chips in and hauls in the various equipment from our rolling storage units (read "our cars").

Band: Sets up their equipment, instruments (including the drum kit), etc. They work with the tech team and set up the amps, monitors, mics, etc.

Tech Team: Set up all the monitors, mics. Set up and prep the light board, sound board, projection system and computer. Set up the t.v. monitors in the lobby.

Flip't Ministries: Haul out all the (huge) rolling cabinets and equipment and set up in their rooms. I think they have five different age groups/rooms.

Stage set crew (pPod): Amongst all this madness, the stage set team, gets out the 15 foots ladder and starts hanging cloth or whatever the design is for the weekend.

Then we start rehearsals: tech and otherwise. pPod is often still working around the band.

Also add into the mix that we often have either a dramatic element or dance element. They are included in the Saturday morning call and subsequent practicing on stage. We have to leave promptly at 11:45.


Sunday morning anywhere between 6:30-7:30'ish:

Everybody arrives, we do any last minute touch ups and start rehearsals again.
The connections team is setting up in the lobby while we are rehearsing.
Flip't ministries is setting up the last minute touches and sign in tables.


Sunday: 9:15 Pre-service

Everyone stops and goes to pre-service. Pre-service is for the leadership and teams (children's ministry, connections and food team, etc.) working that particular weekend. It's a time of worship (15 mins.), the pastor gives a very short recap (10 mins.) of what his message is going to be) and we pray (15-20 mins.).
Granted the worship team and pastor still have to "work", but it's a lot more relaxed atmosphere. Each week it varies who we pray for, this week it was for the people worshipping with us today (particularly the skeptics), the children's ministries (who were starting a new series on sin), the tech team and our pastor.
Even if I am not serving that weekend, I'll often join in. It always great, leaders are seemingly always ready to step into worship and prayer. The pray is the most amazing part. If we have communion that Sunday, we also partake then.

Then we re-set if needed, work out any kinks.


Hang-time: 10:00 -10:25

Each Sunday our Connections team, set up a breakfast bar. It opens at 10:00. So when people arrive at 10:00 they are able to sign -in their children, grab a bit to eat and some Starbucks coffee (of course) and hang out a little bit.

Connections team members greet at the outside doors, help guests get settled in.

Often the teams serving on the weekend worship experience are lucky enough to get out for "hang-time".


Go time 10:20:

The doors open at 10:20, everyone is in their places, the count-down starts and then it's go time....
Also as people enter the auditorium, we have Connection team member located in each quadrant of the auditorium. They look for new faces, greet them, help them get situated, answer any questions. This works really well.


We usually end the service around 12:00, and after a little hang time; we break it all down again, stuff it in our little corner (see pictures) and load up our cars and the truck.


So there you have it. This is how we operate almost every single week of the year. But we are grateful that we have the building on Saturdays. When Cross Current first started, they only had the school building on Sunday mornings and often had to be there as early as 4:30 - 5:00 a.m.


What are the nuts and bolts of your set-ups and rehearsals?

being His hands...

Simple, very simple service today.

Worship Set 1
Unchanging is the Lord

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.

Feliz Navidad...

warehouse and fuZion thoughts...

I always find it interesting how God works.
I have been playing around with a couple of concepts over the last 6 months.


One is the "warehouse" idea.

I have played around with sort of a clearing house idea where people could share their ideas of creative elements and possible lend or give props, designs, etc. away to other churches. Particularly there are so many churches that are working with a very small budget. I haven't been able to figure out the details yet.

So, more recently these two creative pieces have bumped into my life.


The first (first two pictures) is a handmade "Lion of Judah" banner created by Courney Mann a wonderful visual artist at our church.


Second was a set of 5' letters that spell out "life", that was utilized at our mother church for a recent series. They have been offered to us if we need them.


Neither of these creative pieces are openly availible now; but it really got me thinking again about the warehouse concept. I am open to ideas, suggestions, prayer on how to possibly implement this idea.











The second idea is "creative fuZion".

I was a huge fan of Creative Chaos, Thursday on Carlos Whittaker's blog. A blog carnival where people shared all sorts of creative elements that they or their church had utilized. Well sadly, he has stop posting the Creative Chaos. So, I am seriously contemplating starting my own version called "creative fuZion".

I've been trying to figure out Mr. Linky and my wordpress account and just can't seem to get it working all together.
I do plan on launching "creative fuZion" at the beginning of the year. So keep your eyes open.

Any thoughts or ideas?

worship in the gaze...

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.

rest in peace Puffin

Puffin Holland
Well, the beginning of my day was absolutely wonderful.

The end of my day tragic. I had to go to a meeting at Starbucks this evening. When I came home, I found my sweet, sweet 18 yr, 10 month old dog Puffin dead on the living room floor when I came in.

Obviously, it has been expected.

I love my husband, he has worried about me so much when this time would come. He was there to hold me and comfort me as long as I needed. He gets the prize as the very best husband ever.

I am hurting, but I know it was the right thing. I have been praying that God handle the situation. I wanted to be able to make the correct choice. Yet, she wasn’t really in pain. But, because of the prayer…I know it was the right rime.

I trust in Him.

Isn’t he amazing to care enough for me and my little bundle of joy.

But for now, I sit simply holding her. She brought so much joy. She is going to be missed greatly.

Christmas Crescendo implementation...

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 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!

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.

tough call...

Posted on our church website, we will be having worship this morning.
Some of our people's cars (from the south) are covered in ice.
People to the west have already had the bulk of the storm pass.
It's starting to sleet at my house.
Praying that all who come in arrive safely.
Well, got to head out now...

checking off #61 on my list of things to do…

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?

crescendo (two) the process

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.

Trans Siberian in Service from Pace Hartfield on Vimeo

imago...

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 List at Fred McKinnon's blog. Always fresh, always interesting. Check it out.

circle of life...

As I walk through life, almost every day my mind captures snapshots and extrapolates every day occurrences into worship designs.
I have absolutely no control over this. In fact I call it "God exploding in my mind". Sometimes it is a full blown worship experience, other times is a mere snippet. In fact that is why I started this blog. I had so many ideas running around in my head that they were crashing into each other. I needed a place to download my thoughts.
November 23rd, my mother took me to see the "Lion King". It was an amazing experience and a shining example of breaking through the fourth wall of stage design.
Just one of the moments that captured my imagination was these birds that had soaring over the audience. Check out this youtube video, you can see the character Zazu entering at 2:40 mark. If you look closely you will also see other bird puppets in the background.



I saw about four people, spaced through-out the auditorium flying "something" over the heads of the worshipers.
So, I have spent the last couple of weeks trying to figure out how to implement this into worship. I have finally figured out I need fly fishing pools and fishing line. I have yet to figure out what to attach to the poles. That may have to wait until this element works it's way into a specific message. We will see...
What is your wildest idea for worship design?

why did the chicken...

From space to breathe * room to grow…

"...one day I noticed that my chickens and my congregation both react to change in much the same way.

Each day, we move our floorless pasture pens forward eight feet, providing access to fresh grass.

The birds learn they must walk as the pen is pulled forward. Even so, several factors determine their willingness to cooperate.

One factor is my own anxiety level. If I am anxious for the chickens to hurry, they sense it and do the opposite. If I jerk or kick the pen or yell, they stand still or crowd into a corner, making movement impossible. But if I remain patient and calm, they walk together rather well.

Even then, there's a wide range of response to this daily change. A few birds rush to the front of the pen as soon as the pulling chain is attached anticipating the new clover and bugs to come. A larger group hangs back to watch the early birds, and moves only when the pen moves. About a third of them delay a bit longer, until the movement is well underway; another third delays until there seems no choice but move ahead or get run over.

Inevitably, a group remains along the rear wall of the pen, staring backwards."

~ Jeff Hawkins "Tending or Processing?"

So true.

Which chicken are you?

graphics…

A few simple tips today…

Along with technology the changes in worship graphics are growing exponentially. I still remember the days of black words on a white over head projector screen. Yet, if you are in a ministry that tends to focus on the technologically savvy it’s still important to remember basic design concepts along with implementation of new technologies.

1. One thing dominates the screen. When you look at a well-designed page, there is usually one dominant feature that your eye will gravitate towards.

What is the first thing your eye is drawn to in this example?
All I see is the face. Eyes particularly are drawn to faces.

2. Minimize typeface variety. Don't mix and match multiple fonts just because you are able. Stay away from weird type styles - you don't want your worship to resemble a used car commercial.Choose one or two nice, readable fonts and stick with them throughout your service. Times Roman is bland - start with Arial, Verdana or Helvetica.
Notice the difference in readability in the following samples. Particularly note the difference between serifs (the details on the end of the letters) and sans serif.

Generally a font that is crisp and clean and well spaced out is easier to read. My personal belief is that serifs tend to get in the way.
Whenever you use a new font, try it out on the screen before worship. What looks good on your computer monitor might not look so hot enlarged in 40 point font.

3. Easy to read text. Tiny text is hard to read on screen. Centering lyrics is the trend, but you learn Art 101 college class that this tires the eye - lyrics should be "flush left" - like a newspaper column. See how hard it is to read the following. The eye has to search for the beginning of each line: 4. Use caution with bells and whistles. It’s always fun to find a new technique. But, don’t overdo it. Not every song, not every week. Currently this is motion graphics.

5. Pay attention to details. My favorite story is there is a motion graphic on a popular worship media program that has a deer peacefully drinking at the edge of a calm body of water. In the far background there is a lion stalking the deer.

As always prayerful consideration in all you do. That is a given.

What are your design guidelines (pet peeves) about worship graphics?

my mother the pole dancer...

My mother is a kick. She will be 70 this month and is a consummate storyteller. I won’t do this story justice I’m sure, but I just have to relate it.

Her most recent job was gathering research data on people living in the inner city.

One of the people she needed to contact lived in an apartment above an establishment called “Sassy Kat’s”. An almost neon pink building on a corner in the “hood”.
She found the office around the back of the building and spoke to the manager who offered to give her a tour.
When they walked in off the street, there was a large portioning wall. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the dimly lit room.
Round tables and chairs crowded the room. And along one wall there was a large square table, with chairs and a pole rising up in the middle.

This is the conversation that ensued...

“Oh, so you have dancers?”
“Well, yes…”
“Girls and boys?”
“No, only girls…”
“Are they all young?”“No, we actually have someone in here in her sixties…”
“Hmmm…”

Well, mom just loves to tell this story, teasing that this is probably going to be her next “job”.

She had also decided she wanted me to take pictures of her at her various hang outs. She wanted to send pictures to her brother that chronicled her job.
We spent a fun filled day, driving around the inner city in her “hood” and taking pictures.
As she primped for her picture at “Sassy Kat’s”, here is what I saw in the viewfinder of my camera.

That's right. Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday. Amateur Tryouts 8-10 p.m.


If you look closely, you are able to see we added "Happy New Year" to the photo and this is the cover of her New Year's card this year.



Doncha' wish your mother was cool like mine?

this is going to hurt like....

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.

kaleidoscope ...

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?

Advent conspiracy...

it's time to join the advent conspiracy...

this fits in with exactly how I have been feeling for several years now...
Thanks Tyler at man.of.depravity for turning me on to this vid.

I must say, I can't stand it when...

...blogspot gets stuck in a loop and won't let me edit things to my liking.
UGH!

my menagerie...

My name is Puffin. I am the absolute queen of the house. I am almost 19 years old. Deaf, blind, have dementia, vertigo and only four teeth.

Hey girls, my name is Rocket J. Squirrel. I am the man of the house. I'm very chubby..I mean fluffy.

I am Koko Moe. I am a rescue and I will bite the back of your leg, if you give me a chance. My sister's name is Tipsy.

My name is Tipsy. I am Koko's siter. I was rescued from a rescue. My life used to be tough, but now I am as happy as can be.

If you give me a half of a chance, I will curl up on our lap.

actually up, out and in...

An explanation of my cryptic blog title of up, out, on and in...
It should really be up, out and in...
It's a key phrase I keep in my mind to remind me when I am designing an element I am always looking to expand designs further up and out. Something that reaches beyond the stage. To utilize all the air in the worship space, not just what is visually in front of our faces on the stage.
And to design something that really reaches in(to) people. A new way to experience God.
That's all folks...

retooning the nativity...

Retooning the Nativity video from Igniter Media (will open in a new window)

Really interesting video. We need reminders sometimes...

Where the heck did I put my Christmas tree last year?

I seriously made that comment the other day.

I was talking with one of our bass players at church about how difficult it is to set up a Christmas tree with animals. You know, large dogs wagging their big ol’ tails and knocking the tree over or dashing ornaments to the floor. Cats climbing in the branches. Mine particularly liked to try and eat the tinsel. That was the last year for tinsel. Dogs lapping up the water, etc.

I seriously couldn’t remember what I had done last year.

Then it dawned on me. I hadn’t set up ANY Christmas decorations last year (duh!). Or the year before for that matter.

It has been a gradual process…and it all goes back to many years ago.

I was driving to yet another meeting. I felt super stressed as I was planning all the things I needed to do. I worked in children’s retail, so I had absolutely NO time. Christmas in retail is ridiculously insane.

I was listening to the radio and it ending with someone saying…

“What if it was your birthday and no one remembered?”

That stopped me literally in my tracks. I had to pull of the road and I cried for awhile. Realizing that I had really forgotten over the years with all the hoopla-to focus on Christ at all. It really changed the way I thought about things.

Slowly, I started dropping things that I used to “do” for Christmas and worked more on “being” with Jesus.

Then our children stopped spending Christmas day with us several years ago. That was a really bad year. I had no motivation at all. I think I may have put up the tree and added one strand of lights to it. I like lights. That was the last year for the tree.

So what do I do now on Christmas Day? I simply light a candle and think about Jesus’ birth. I read the Christmas story in the Bible.

Then we order Chinese food and get a video to watch.

I think that is why I am so excited about our Christmas message this year at church. We are doing a visual movement piece where we are starting with Mary and baby Jesus alone on the stage and then adding all the Christmas hoopla until Mary and the baby Jesus are barely visible in all off the Christmas madness. Hopefully it will make people think…

So, I ask you today…

What if it was your birthday and no one remembered?

How will you remember His birthday celebration this year?

turkey street (alternate ending)

This video is one of the creative elements for this past Sunday...

It is a running video gag that we have done for the last couple of years...just goofy fun.

Disclaimer: This was a family Sunday, so when this was shown in worship they edited out the shotgun blast at the end. But when they were filming and editing...well boys will be boys. lol.

from the Mad Mind of Bill (and friends)

up, out, on and in...

When you are planning a worship service/element that God probably planted that seed of an idea in your heart and thoughts for a reason.
Particularly if it is an interactive experiential element. Those moments really do impact people and helps them grow closer to God.
See, so many worship experiences are simply participatory. That’s not a bad thing.
But, one small issue that I have observed in American society, it that people have created a huge self-imposed bubble of personal space. That not only impacts their relationships with other people, but it also impacts their relationship with God.
But, when we create something that bursts that self-imposed bubble of space and allows people to step closely into God; that’s when they are able to truly encounter God.
May main “job” (calling) from God at church is to create those moments of experiential elements.
We try to involve all five senses in the worship experience like:
-putting on a band-aid with someone’s name written on it that you are praying for…
-the scent of bread wafting through out the auditorium to remind people of the Bread of Life…
-a call to action, such as bringing in items that are needed at the local homeless shelter…
-pulling the experience out into the entire worship space, like visual projections on the ceiling…

As long as the main goal is glorifying to God, it will impact people’s lives.

Christmas Crescendo...

We’re 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 service will start with the lights dimming to black (light strips along the isles).

Then a single spot will light on Mary holding baby Jesus. Mary is silent for a few moments, a new mother with her newborn son. She then begins to sing him a song (idea: O come Emmanuel). Quiet at first, then just audible enough to hear (maybe not even with a mic). But she is singing to her baby, not the congregation.

Then the keys begin to underscore and audible overtake her vocals (she’s still singing, eventually probably mouthing it, or turn down the mic).

Then suddenly an electric guitar joins as the screen begins to show an lively and up-beat artistic video. Then the rest of the band starts to join. The stage is progressively getting lit as the band enters the song.

Then a couple (guy and girl) enter the stage and the guy is dragging a Christmas tree from the left to the right side of stage (passes in front of Mary). The girl is carrying a box with tinsel and decorations and maybe the stand to hold the tree. Once the tree is up the guy goes to the right side of the stage and brings on presents to put under the tree. Just as a couple of kids run in from the left and begin to shake and open some of the presents (they all continue to interact silently).

At the same time some other people enter from both sides of the stage holding shopping bags (as stage hands, in black, drag in racks with clothes on them). These people look through the clothes and interact. Some leave, some stay, new people join, etc.

Meanwhile the song builds with a couple vocals picking up the chorus still mouthed by Mary.

Then from the left side of the stage, stage hands roll out the old drum platform (covered in red cloth) with a fancy “throne” where a Santa Claus is sitting on it. Then kids and parents join the crowded stage from the right side of the stage and form a line for pictures as a photographer begins to take pictures (flash and all).

Almost simultaneous with this, hundreds of Christmas lights begin to come on all round the stage dangling from the curtains (and on the tree that was brought in; the actors around the tree have been setting up the trees lights and plugging them in).

Getting a big “Merry Christmas” light for the back center of the stage, that would be the final part to this building crescendo. All of this would be, of course, timed to the song.

Suddenly the music ends as all the lights go out, save the one spot on Mary who is now the lone voice singing to Jesus.

Then as her song ends someone enters the stage to provide a monologue about how we need to focus this Christmas on Jesus, not all the lights and noise.


Then we go into calm and simple worship set with just a singer and guitar.

What are your plans for Christmas service this year?

simple band aid box...

The series is "Band-Aids for Bullet Holes".
The box was so simple to make. We took a high resolution picture of a bandaid box and had it printed onto a large piece of foam core (it is VERY expensive to do this). It is partially cut along the edge and then propped up. It is free standing. It is only the image of these two sides showing, just placed strategically on stage.

I had to sort of laugh. I was out of town when our team did this. I personally would have opted for the far less expensive option of just printing out the picture and then using tacky glue and glue it onto a piece of cardboard. Say $20 vs. $200 bucks (I'm guess-timating here).
Oh, well...live and learn.

NUGGET: One thing I have learned...when you are gluing with paper, tacky glue and cardboard you will initially be concerned about it the lines showing through. Don't worry about it. The little ridges you see up close won't show at all when they are dry and when viewed from a distance.
Just use lots of little lines of glue, paying special attention to the edges.


The tie in: This is a multi-week mini-series. As you are able to see here; we also had a large band-aid printed on foam core (front and center in front of the stage).

Last week, during the worship service we had people come forward and write the names of people they would like the church to pray for, sometimes with a brief explanation of the situation.

What was really cool. The kids ministry also did the same thing. If you look to the far right of the stage, you will see they created their own small version of the bandaid with names written on it.

We also had a take-away bandaid for everyone on the first Sunday. People were to write the name of someone their are praying for on the band aid and wear it as a visual reminder.

The follow-up was this week. What was super cool-was our pastor shared some of the answers to specific prayers. One was a job for someone who had been out of work for a couple months, another was a break through in a very troubled marriage. That was so powerful to share the answer prayers and to be able to praise God for those answers.