Our church has a "connect" service every first and third Sunday nights of each month, including just yesterday. Connect is one of five faith communities based from our church, Discovery Christian Centre, for 18ish-30ish yr old type people and our services are cafe-styled kinda things with an interactive message that often include discussion questions for around the tables and a big old break to grab another coffee and or cake.
So that's the context, the community. As I stated in a recent post I was organising Worship for Connect this week and was looking into various ideas of Alternative Worship. I did it and it went really well, so I thought it would be beneficial to feed back (and record!) what, exactly, I did.
The gathering began with an extended "social" cafe time (fellowship) chatting with one another round the tables. Then we went into discussion about what Connect could actually, actively do around the place (follow on from last connect gathering)
Then came worship. The main lights were turned off, leaving nice mood lighting from lamps directed up the walls and candles on different tables around the walls. A Karanga was heard as part of a song by Jazz/fusion NZ Christian band Chris Mason Batley Group using the unique Maori welcome cry in a Christian context as a cry of welcome to the Holy Spirit with woman's voice and haunting saxophone crying in counterpoint to one another. As the music played, text on the screen welcomed viewers/congregation to bring all that they are to worship, listing such things as "joys and fears," "faith and doubts" "Culture and Sensuality" amongst others. "God is here and all are welcome" it stated and invited people to express themselves to God. As the song ended participants were invited to visit any or all the stations set up around the room, or to "sit, read, write or pray" alone at their table if they wanted.
There were 6 stations against the walls. They each had a printed A4 of "instructions" on the wall with some candles on the table beneath for light.
1. David wrote Psalms to God as a way of being authentic to God and expressing himself… Take time to write your own psalm, or use pieces of psalms from the bible to create one appropriate for where you are
2. Write a letter…to God, to someone from whom you seek forgiveness, to yourself as a reminder of God’s work in your life
3.We often use songs as part of our worship. Think of words from worship songs
that resonate with you and piece together your own unique song to God.
4. Use colours and shapes to express yourself to God
5. Look at the cross. Read the stories. Think of what happened that day.
Stop. Reflect. Respond.
His body broken for you
His blood poured out for you
(this station included print outs of appropriate Bible verses, from The Message translation. There was a cross leaning against the wall for people to consider, a bowl of chunks of a selection of specialty breads and a bowl of coke with a ladle and glasses for people to pour themselves and drink and partake in communion in their own time.)
6. Take your single candle. Using the flame from the big candle, light your own. Offer prayers and thanks as you place your candle in Cross. You are part of something
bigger than yourself
(there was a small table with a pile of unlit small round "tea light" candles. Participants took a candle and took it to the front of the church and lit it from a big candle on a deflowered flower pedestal. From there they walked up the 3 steps to the raised 'stage' thing at the front of the church where I had stacked some hollow-stone blocks into the shape of a cross. People took their lit candles and placed them inside one of the free compartments of a hollow-stone block. I'll try to post a photo)
After ten minutes music started to play again and the screen read "Enjoy the music. We will join in prayer at the end of the song". The song was "Karakia" also by Chris Mason Batley Group, also fusing elements of New Zealand culture with Christian meaning, this time it was the Lord's Prayer spoken over chilled jazz, first in Maori, then Mandarin, Samoan and English - as from the Message Translation The cues on the screen prompted participants to stand and join in prayer, following the words on the screen for the English version of the Lords' Prayer. As the music died away people kept on with the things (writing, drawing etc) they had started and the vibe was very chilled and easy. When people finished they left the room to chat. It went really well.
If anyone would like a digital version of any of the resources I created you are most welcome to email
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