The following
interactive
worship event is based on a worship experience that was put together by
myself and about 20 students in third year at Wesley Institute for Ministry
& the Arts in Sydney. We were seeking to create a worship
experience
that was similar to web site searching but without the computers. That
is where people felt they were in control of were they were going.
The venue
was a large
basketball sized hall with around 150 students and Bible College
facility.
The centre of the hall was empty and around the edge of the hall were
circles
( or square) of chairs acting like "Web sites'
When
people arrived they
were invited to go to an ‘address'.
The aim of
the students
was to create experiential -based learning events at each location that
would last for ten minutes. The whole worship experience went for 60
minutes.
The
following ‘addresses'
are based on this day and some similar worship experiences that the
students
had undertaken to do in 1997.
The death
of Christ. The
group on arriving were given a copy of Isaiah 53 and a piece of lemon
to
suck on. After reading the passage they were to say how Jesus' death
was
like sucking the lemon.
Oil Burner
with a sweet
smelling oil. Romans 12:1-12 "Therefore, I urge you,
brothers,
in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy
and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not
conform
any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the
renewing
of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will
is - his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Discuss how
we are to be
"living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God."
Coffin A
coffin was
in the centre of the group and people took it in turns to be in the
coffin.
The lid was put over the coffin for 5 seconds, then the person was told
as they were taken out of the coffin. "You have died with Christ, now
rise
and live for Him."
Music
A quiet reflective
CD was playing in this group and people were asked to reflect on the
nature
of God, whilst the leader slowly said characteristics of God.
Candle.
People closed
their eyes for a few minutes and opened them to the words "Jesus came
as
a light of the world". The people then took it in turn to light their
own
personal candle and reflect on what does it mean for us to be a light
of
the world and united to Christ.
Salt Each
person was
given a sachet of salt to put on their tongue and to say what does it
mean
for us to the salt of the world.
Blindfold People
were
blindfolded and had to walk unaided around a circle. During this
experience
they were to reflect of how sin blinds us.
Letter
writing In
this group people were asked to write to a missionary. And at the end
the
letters were sent.
Common
Song To finish
the session, the whole group sang with no musical support. "When I
survey the wondrous Cross" whilst this was being sung three students
started
to paint black slashes onto a large canvas. As the song progressed the
people gathered could see that it was the crown of thorns. In the final
two verses, Cans of Red spray paint were sprayed on from a very close
distance
till they streamed down like blood.
Some
people went to some
sessions twice, others chose to miss a turn and to stay in the centre
to
watch, whilst some others chose to relive an experience.