worship

Everyday Liturgy: Worship and Creativity

June 7, 2010 By heather Leave a Comment

I’m guest-posting today at Everyday Liturgy about worship and creativity.

A sneak peek:

When Chris and I joined our church, we attended a smaller service
(at our larger church) with simple, acoustic music in tune with our
everyday lives and with opportunities to use our creativity in the
service—readings, films, and music.

A couple of years later, our church canceled that service. Now we
attend a larger service at the same church. The music (think The New
Main Street Singers from Mighty Wind) makes me want to put my eardrums
through a shredder, and I no longer have the chance to offer my writing
and music in the Sunday morning service.

When Thomas posed the question “how do you use creativity in
worship?”, I jumped at the chance to blog about it. I’d been struggling
with this very thing for over a year.

You can read the rest here.

Filed Under: creativity, transformation, worship

Portrait of a Young Artist

May 6, 2009 By heather 5 Comments

A little boy in the pew in front of me on Sunday studied something behind me. Then he knelt at the pew and drew a couple of seconds. He stood again–he was no higher than the back of the pew–and studied. He studied more than he drew. I couldn’t see his work, but I knew.

This was an artist.

Soon, his mother, probably afraid he was distracting other worshipers, told him to sit down.

"But I need to see that," he whispered. He didn’t whine. This was a matter of fact.

She shushed him and sat him down. I was tempted to tell her that he needed to draw what he saw and that he needed to see what he wanted to draw. I wanted to tell her that this is how he understands God.

I’m not saying that artists are more important than other worshipers. I’m not saying that artists should find an identity in art rather than in God. I’m not arguing for free-reign to do whatever we want because, after all, we’re artists.

But all people need freedom, guided by Scripture, the Holy Spirit, and the universal church, as they approach God.

Psst–If you find this post interesting and think others might as well, would you mind taking a minute to stumble it? It would mean a lot to me.

Filed Under: art, artists, worship

Beauty in the Sanctuary

November 17, 2008 By heather 3 Comments

(November’s Artuality is still open. To participate, click here.)

The other day, I read Exodus 35-40. I wondered, "What does it look like to invite people to create something beautiful in the worship of God?" Here’s what I noticed:

1. The people pursued excellence in the creation of beauty. God chose two men, Bezalel and Oholiab, who were filled with the Holy Spirit and trained craftsmen, to lead up the work. (Interesting also how artistic excellence here results from both spirituality and artistic training.) When Moses called for materials and workers, the text talks about skilled persons dedicating themselves and fine materials that people brought (I’m guessing the jewelry and cloth they took from Egypt). So creating art and beauty for the worship of God demands excellence.

2. All were invited to participate. This seems to balance the above. While all pursued excellence and were guided by skilled persons (there seems to be a hierarchy of Bezalel in charge or the whole and other skilled workers in charge of laborers), Moses invited all of the people to be involved in creating a beautiful tabernacle for the worship of God.

3. The were detailed in their work. Exodus 35:11-19 lists the items they created with beauty. It basically lists everything involved in worship from the tabernacle itself to the utensils to the priestly garments. This went beyond what was pragmatic. Beauty was reflected in everything, or, another way to put it, they sought beauty in everything.

4. The people brought more than what was needed. In fact, Moses had to restrain them. Stop! he said. We have too much! The writing repeats this idea in a couple verses. There was more than enough. And this is just the "temporary" place of worship! When we invite people to participate, we will be overwhelmed with the results.

5. Moses dedicates the last five chapters of Exodus to the creation of the tabernacle and everything in it. When the people completed the work, the Lord filled the tabernacle–he resided with them. This made me realize how often the Lord’s presence is accompanied by creativity and beauty: the creation of the world (Genesis 1-2), the building of the tabernacle (Exodus 35-40), the building of the temple (1 Kings 7), and the re-creation and reconciliation of the world (Revelation 21-22). God’s presence is marked by excellence and beauty.

So those are my raw thoughts. What do you guys think?

Filed Under: aesthetics, art, sanctuary, worship

September's Glimpses (and other zine related events)

August 30, 2008 By heather 4 Comments

Here we are, approaching the beginning of a new month.

(Some of us are still in mourning from the end of the Olympics.)

But we all know what the beginning of a new month means.

Glimpses!

This month, I have an interview with, story of, and art by Makoto Fujimura. I also have a blurb on worshipping creatively in your Church. You can sign up on the sidebar.

Also, ready for the big announcement?

(No, Mom, I’m not pregnant.)

I’m moving from a Religion/Philosophy channel editor at Blog Nosh to a Fiction/Poetry editor. So here’s what I’m looking for (in this order):

1. Posts with short fiction or poetry

2. Posts about the craft of creative writing

When you email me your blog posts for consideration, remember:

1. The posts need to have fallen off your first page.

2. Send me your blog URL, the post URL, and your RSS feed URL.

Email them to me!

Filed Under: art, Blog Nosh, church, ecclesiology, fiction, Glimpses, Makoto Fujimura, worship, worshipping creatively

All the Nations

August 11, 2008 By heather Leave a Comment

What the opening ceremony to the Olympics reminded me of:

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:1-2).

"God exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus, every knee will bow–in heaven and on earth and under the earth–and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11).

"Now I saw no temple in the city, because the Lord God–the All-Powerful–and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because the glory of God lights it up, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light and the kings of the earth will bring their grandeur into it. Its gates will never be closed during the day (and there will be no night there). They will bring the grandeur and the wealth of the nations into it" (Revelation 21:22-26).

Filed Under: Christ, Hebrews, Olympics, opening ceremony, Philippians, resurrection, Revelation, worship