Movement in Worship

One of the most ancient of human expressions in worship - and one found throughout scripture - is that of human movement, i.e. dance.

Prohibitions against dance are largely a produce of the Victorian era of western civilization and the Wesleyan and Holiness movements of the 19th and 20th centuries.

The Bible tells people to pick their instruments and get on their feet and dance! The exodus from Egypt was accompanied by spontaneous songs, dancing and music as they celebrated their freedom and God's grace.

So often, the modern church has sat rigidly restrained fulfilling an artificial idea of "respect", of "dignified behavior", or  even what "holiness" even meant.

People - if they are passionate about what they are doing - show it! Go to any sporting event or musical concert and see how people respond.  They move, they sing along, they shout agreements or support and they show through facial and body actions they are involved with the event on a deep and personal level.  Now, go to most churches....

The sound of crickets as we fail to engage the passion of the people for worship, for what God is doing in their lives and around them in others.  We maintain our dignity.....we maintain our artificial understanding of what it means to respect the House of God or to live a Christian life.


One of the easiest ways to add movement into a worship service is through ribbons or small banners that are suitable to making sweeping and dramatic movements.  it is unfortunate that most images of dance or movement show women; as  if such a thing were solely something that should be done or of interest to women.  Add movement with any age group, any gender and with any type of music.

Add it to the procession, as an accompanying piece to movements within the worship or as a special featured element.

The rules of successful use of movement are simple: Be willing, Be practiced, and Be excited.

Worship - The Visual Aspect

As a new coming on board worship chair in 2015, I wanted some inspiration for adding more visual and movement elements to worship at my church.  I created a board on Pinterest to provide some ideas and inspiration. It is a large Gothic styled sanctuary and calls for more dramatic - and larger - displays so they are not lost in the vast height of the space.

 

On the journey to find inspiration I discovered how many congregations call this element adding additional visual symbols "stagecraft".  In more liturgical or classical churches this is "worship" based, at the "altar" or the "pulpit" but more contemporary groups 'stage' the front in the manner of theater or a late night television program.

 

For those individuals, there is less emphasis on corporate worship and more on personal "experience."  A different view and there are good things to be said about each and some negatives as well. 

 

The basic purpose of worship, the task of connecting with unchurched people in a modern culture, and a human tendency to improve, impress, and inspire are often in conflict as groups and people come from different vantage points.

 

How respectful is a "stage"?   How intimidating is an "altar"?  Why do our symbols say and how are they really understood?  For churches who cannot have a clean stage on which they may craft visuals to enhance the thematic sermons or liturgical seasons, special innovation and creativity may be required.

 

 

Image of a church using cloth as an element of design

Large elements are often needed for large and tall spaces to bring added visual impact

Avoid the temptation to think of only using a single table or a single area of space

Some random Images