As I was writing the Call to Confession
for Palm Sunday, the verbal metaphor of being at the gate readying for the parade called a specific place in the sanctuary to my mind – the back of the center aisle where the Palm Sunday procession would happen. Usually I’m not a fan of the Confession placed at the beginning of the service (especially when there is communion), but I felt like we needed to see ourselves hesitating at that gate before we could really let loose with our alleluias. This imagining began to create a shape for the service, a place in the order of worship and a posture for the congregation in saying it. They would have to be oriented toward the “gate,” standing and facing the back. If we couldn’t get everyone back there actually in the narthex waiting to come in (this is the advantage for small churches … perhaps you could do this), at least the leader had to be our representative and stand in that place on behalf of all of us. And when the words “Glory to God! Amen!” were spoken, then we would immediately have much joyous energy bursting forth down the aisle.
This “thinking like a filmmaker” is no less important for the preacher. Even if you don’t plan to literally move from where you stand to preach, the sermon shape itself has movement, has varying dynamics. Steven Spielberg says that when he is editing a film, he knows that unless he changes the dy- namic, the feel, at least every six minutes (no matter how stimulating the dynamic), he will lose his audience. What are the moments of movement in the sermon? For the Palm Sunday service containing our Call to Confes- sion, the image of standing in a particular place is so poignant I would choose to fashion a sermon that moves from one perspective to another – a narrative form that offers the view from not only the gate, but along the proces- sion, at the side of the road, the entrance into the city. I would choose to actually move myself from one space to another, but you don’t have to in order to invite the congregation’s imaginations to go there.
Friends, the verbal arts are rich, especially in their role in the ritual arts. They are not just recited but they can be seen, tasted and felt. “Words, words, words” have an important and substantive place in the woven tapestry of all the arts in worship. See you next time!
WORSHIP ARTS • JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010
In the heights and majesty of the Sierra Mountains, on the shores overlooking the stunning true-blue depths of Lake Tahoe, come and experience a week of heightening and deepening your spiritual journey as a leader in worship with Dr. Marcia McFee as your guide. This week, April 26-30, 2010, will rejuvenate your passion for ministry through 21 contact hours of experiential and informative sessions as well as significant time in the schedule for the play and meditative inspiration that the year- round beauty of Tahoe has to offer. Maximize your experience
and results by bringing members of your worship team! A
few individual focus sessions are also available for those who want personal consultation on their church’s worship or one-
on-one coaching. 2.5 CEU’s available
EleVAtion!
Elevate your theological understanding of worship with “deep soul”... Elevate your theoretical knowledge of planning worship that is “vital”... Elevate your spiritual identity as a worship leader ... Elevate your skills, repertoire and practical tools for worship leadership ... Elevate your love, enthusiasm and energy for the work you do ... Elevate your church’s worship of God!
“Elevation!” is for:
• Clergy and lay persons who provide worship leadership in various forms:
verbal, sacramental, musical, visual, movement, arts coordination, multi-media
• Professionals who want to add to their worship education • Pastor and musician teams who want to elevate their creativity and working relationship
• All who want to learn how to expand their church’s reper- toire of worship expression
$550 registration INCLUDES tuition, housing and meals! $50 discount when you register before February 14, bring multiple attendees from one church or are a Worship Design Studio online member!
Find out more and register at:
www.marciamcfee.com/elevation.htm
Become a member of the Worship Design Studio and get resources on line all year.
Fellowship member MARCIA MCFEE, Ph.D., is a worship professor, consult- ant, designer and leader. She travels extensively in order to teach workshops
that are aimed at equipping the local church with resources to create meaningful and memorable worship.
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