Well, tonight we tried our first station-based worship service in the main sanctuary. For those who weren't there, that means instead of taking everyone in the group through a "linear" worship experience in which they all did the same thing at the same time (stand, sing, pray, listen to sermon, watch drama, etc.), we provided seven "stations" to which they could go and engage God and His Word in different ways in whatever order and to whatever depth of spirit they chose. To be totally accurate, only part of the service took this shape, but it was a huge step out of our normal comfort zone, even for a church which has been pleased for months and months now to say that "you never know what to expect" on Sunday nights. This morning's worship service was fairly standard for us, except instead of our usual blend of hymns and choruses we used all choruses. (Last week we used all hymns. We were sortof trying to reinforce between the two services the idea that the form of the worship doesn't matter if it's worship in spirit and in truth.) And instead of a normal scripture-reading by one person we had three people quoting memorized verses in sequence. And instead of a skit (now quite normal for us, though it used to be unheard of in our morning worship) we had a short video, I think from the NAMB. And in the sermon the preacher told people to go to another church if they were singing for their own benefit instead of God's. Other than all that it was fairly standard. The pastor's outline for this morning was that: I God's word commands. II God's word commissions. III God's word informs. Tonight we continued with the theme that God speaks through His word. We began with a welcome and announcements, then a prayer. The associate pastor then sang "Word of God, Speak," and introduced the stations concept. After another prayer, the congregation dispersed for the seven stations: 1. One station showed some of the "God Speaks" billboards, and invited worshippers to take black construction paper and white chalk to design their own billboard. They took these to the associate pastor who made a powerpoint presentation (actually OpenOffice Impress) of them all, which was shown to the congregation at the end of the stations portion of the service. 2. Another station was manned by the pastor, who engaged people in a discussion of why should share God's word with others. The answers were supposed to be supported by Scripture. 3. Another station had a poster with John 3:16 printed in many different languages. Worshippers were encouraged to pray for those sharing God's word around the globe. They also had a map of our area and were instructed to mark on the map where they live, work, go to school, etc., and to pray for God to help them share His word in their part of the world. 4. Another station had a "brick wall" made of cardboard blocks (not exactly this set, but it'll give you the idea). People were invited to write their favorite Bible verse on a card and tape it to the wall. If any of the verses already on the wall were unfamiliar, they were encouraged to jot it down and look it up to read. They could then pray a prayer of thanksgiving for the Word of God. 5. Another station instructed worshippers to share with someone else in the room about a time when Jesus told them through His word to do something and how He empowered them to do it. 6. Another station referenced Hebrews 1:1 In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; 1:2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. and asked worshippers to name ways that God spoke (1) in the OT (2) in the NT (3) and how He speaks to us today. 7. A final station (again, people could visit them in any order and they did not necessarily make it to all of them in the alloted time) was a Bible knowledge quiz, with 12 questions and a grading scale. After the time alloted for the stations, the pastor called the people to share what God had said to them in the service so far. There was not much response to this question. Perhaps people were still processing. Hopefully it was not an indication that the experience had failed to connect the people with God in meaningful worship. The pastor then gave a mini-sermon from Acts 15:12 And all the assembly kept silence; and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. 15:13 After they finished speaking, James replied, "Brethren, listen to me. 15:14 Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. 15:15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, as it is written, 15:16 'After this I will return, and I will rebuild the dwelling of David, which has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up, 15:17 that the rest of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, 15:18 says the Lord, who has made these things known from of old.' 15:19 Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, 15:20 but should write to them to abstain from the pollutions of idols and from unchastity and from what is strangled and from blood. 15:21 For from early generations Moses has had in every city those who preach him, for he is read every sabbath in the synagogues." about how the Scripture was the defining ingredient that validated the opening up of the Gospel to the Gentiles, and how God wants to direct us by His word today as well. We had an invitation (this is when we take up our offering, by the way, on Sunday nights), and then sang some more choruses, continuing the pattern of the morning music. Before we closed the service, the pastor led us in special prayer with laying on of hands for a church leader who is having medical tests this week. We concluded with a final chorus. If you were there tonight, please comment, especially answering two questions: (1) How did you feel, what did you think, and how did it impact your worship experience to use the station-based worship? (2) Which station or stations meant the most/least to you and why? Goodnight, and may God's Spirit be Living Waters overflowing in your life! |
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