Creative fuZion- Stations/Planning

We're within in the window for EASTER preparation for 2009. I thought I would post here our plans for our prayer stations (for those who are Googling here for Prayer Stations).

During my planning day last month I began to seek the Lord about this year's stations. I was drawn to the STATIONS OF THE CROSS (all 12 of them) and began to study them in depth. I also had my copy of the Book of Common Prayer with me. I sketched out each of the 12 stations with scripture readings and ideas for interactivity. Some of them were harder than others. I knew we probably would not do all 12 stations. (Last year we only had 5).

I then looked at Pat Callahan's material that he sent me from his prayer stations the last 2 years. It was the STATIONS OF THE CROSS idea and it confirmed to me that's what we should do this year.










We'll take the 3rd floor of our building to convert these rooms into stations on April 5. The whole experience will take place on Maundy Thursday, April 9 from 7:00AM-7:00PM.

This post is part of Creative fuZion over on Dorothy Holland's site.

Prayer Stations (Part 1) (Repost)

This is part 1 of a two part post on Prayer Stations, specifically the prayer stations that we have done the last 2 years for Easter. We'll do that again tomorrow with a whole new set of stations. You can download the pdf of the walking guide here.

Each of the stations are self-guided and self-paced. We set this up in our Library/Media Center which has two entrances. We take them down the hall and enter through the East door. They make their way through the stations in the Media Center and end up in a small room just off the media center for the final station-the cross.

Here are the stations:
Preparation--a time for the pilgrim to breathe out the world, and breathe in Christ.
1. Pieces of Silver--station where the pilgrim considers the cost of betrayal. They pick up the silver coin and bag.
2. His Cross--where the pilgrim faces the cross(es) and considers the cost of the price paid. I know the first year that we did this, we set this room up just in front of the wall that backed up to the last station (see later). When I heard the nails being nailed into the cross in the next room, I was holding the cross in my hands--it sent chills down my spine.
3. Oil and Spices--this station was set up with torn pieces of cloth coming out of a big just and we had heavily doused the material with Frankincense and Myrrh spices. Pilgrims were to pick up the cloth and smell the spices.
4. Our cross--this station is where the pilgrim had to write down a burden that they were carrying (then take this to the last station)
5. The Veil--the pilgrim entered into another area which was represented by pole and drape just parted. This signified the veil. A small stool was set up in front of it for the pilgrim to look at the veil. They then entered into the veil which took them to the last station.
6. Spike and Mallet--this station was where the pilgrim was to bring their card with a burden on it and nail it to the cross. This was the center section of a cross we had built, and it would later be brought into the Maundy Thursday service with all of the burdens on it and affixed to the cross. Quiet a sight to see when all of those cards fill up the beam.
7. The Lord's Supper--we chose to do this together at night-but I think it would be appropriate to have a Lord's supper station here if you were not going to gather together again for worship.

I first experienced this Prayer Station set up at FBC Lewisville (Texas). It was the most moving thing. I went early in the morning to go through the stations and then I spent the day doing some other things--when I came back for worship that night I had saturated myself the whole day in the idea of Christ's death and resurrection. I can only tell you that at worship that night I was profoundly moved.

Feel free to use and adapt as needed. Next week I'll post what we did this year with pictures.

This post is part of Water Cooler Wednesday where creatives meet every week to talk about culture, creativity and the Creator.

Prayer Stations (Part 2) (Repost)

Prayer Stations (Part 2)

This is the second part of my posts on Prayer Stations. We just completed our third year of prayer stations on Maundy Thursday.

We had our most participants this year as I believe this has become kind of new tradition for us at Easter. We got great coverage from the local newspaper (front page the day of and a photo piece on Good Friday). This year's stations conincided with our sermon series on the Miracles of The Crucifixion--The Ninth Hour Sermon Series. You can listen to the sermons here. You can also download the handout that went along with each station here. I'll try to briefly describe each station. I'll be glad to send to anyone the details from each station and any accompanying materials I had for this.

Preparation: We had a little sitting area just before you entered to the stations. This was a time for reflection and settling your heart. I had printed large pictures of Christ on our large scale printer. They looked like painted portraits. Thanks JVO for the info on the light styrofoam insulation from LOWES-worked great.





Station 1: DEATH AND DARKNESS
At this station we had them read the scriptures and contemplate the darkness that fell over the land. This was in a small hall way that led to the Library. We darkened all of the windows. The only light (had to be) was the exit sign just over their shoulder--but they got the point.



Station 2: The Torn Veil
Pilgrims sat at a table filled with purple, red and blue fabric (the colors described in scripture) and sat before an open curtain symbolizing our access to God.






Station 3: The Earthquake
This one was difficult. How do you represent an Earthquake? We chose to make large slabs from styrofoam. There were rocks for the pilgrims to take when they left this station






Station 4: The Open Graves
I thought this one was the most effective and the most emotional. I asked the local cemetery if I could borrow a small headstone. They said yes. In fact they told me that I could write on the stone. So we had each pilgrim write something on the stone with a sharpie pen.





Station 5: Salvation

This was my favorite station. We had several crosses on this table and they were all set upon a piece of sheet metal. We had purchased two boxes of Christiam Magnet Poetry (http://www.fatbraintoys.com/) and had each pilgrim make a sentence or phrase as their response to the cross.






Station 6: It Is Finished
This one ended in our Garden Room. We had the fountain going so it was relaxing and cool in here. I had Matt Maher singing "Empty and Beautiful"on the cd player. At the end of this station the pilgrim took a sugar cube and placed it in Red water to symbolize the payment for their sin.


Station 7: Communion
As we had done in years past, we held off on taking communion until the evening when we gathered back for the Maundy Thursday service. This will probably change next year as we'll off the chance for them to take or not take communion. Several said after the experience they were ready to take it.

That's it for this year. We evaluated this yesterday and will make some changes next year.
This post is part of Creative Chaos.

Visual Churches-Holy Week

We are fast approaching the Easter Season. I thought it would be great to feature some of the churches that I know that do Prayer Stations. This is from my friend, Kim Bontrager, who is the Director of Worship at the First Mennonite Church in Wichita, Kansas.

Kim is an amazing leader and creative. She's my hero in organization and leadership of her crew. This prayer station project is the fruit of many hours of labor with her team that helped her put it together.

We Were There: Holy Week Journey 2008 from K Bontrager on Vimeo.

She has graciously posted all of her resources here for the prayer stations... I mean all of it. That is helpful those trying to do this for the first time or for the 4th (like us). I like how she details it and gives you the supply lists and location instructions.

You can see the slideshow of her stations here.

Related Posts: Prayer Stations 1/ Prayer Stations 2

Prayer Stations 2010

Today is Maundy Thursday (a day traditionally observed by the church in remembrance of Jesus' last day of earthly ministry and his last supper with his disciples). We have observed for the last 5 years a day of prayer with different prayer stations (each of them different telling a part of the east story) This year was around the faces of the people at the cross. In previous years it has been around events of Easter, the journey to the cross and even the stations of the cross. All of them are meant to prepare our hearts and minds for this Easter weekend.
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Stations 2008 (Part 1)

Stations 2008 (Part 2)
Stations 2009

Stations Planning

Easter Is Coming

Easter 2008 is officially within the 1 month to go period. And the pace has begun. I found these photos as they were part of a bookmark from last year. This guy is very talented and you can see the rest of his work here
He works by donation and offers these images to be used in the church. We're going to make a donation to help him out and to keep this site up.

For us, the Easter season is a mixed bag--it falls during the School Spring Break this year--so we're not quite sure how that will affect our attendance. We have no activities the week of Easter, except to have a prayer experieces (with stations) during the day on Thursday and then we gather back together for Maundy Thursday night services in our chapel. I'll post a link to the prayer stations pdf when we get it edited. For the last two years, we've done the stations of the cross, and it has been well received.
This year we're making a change for the prayer stations to coincide with the Pastor's new series on the miracles surrounding the crucifixion. We begin this week with Death and Darkness. Sounds cheery doesn't it. But I think it will be effective in getting us mentally ready to experience Easter.

What are you doing this Easter?

An Outstanding Resource

In searching for how others handle prayer stations, I came across this site. This church lists out it's 18 station resources with an excellent list for set up. If you are putting together a "Stations" experience for Easter, this would be a great place to check out. You can find it here

We will have our third Prayer experience on March 20th. This year we are centering around the miracles of the crucifixion. We will have 6 stations total (5 for the miracles and one for "IT IS FINISHED"-the final station before they leave. This is always a solemn day around our place as we keep all of the overhead lights off and light the hallways only with lamps and candles. Our stations move through our library area which is separated from the main traffic area. It ends in the Garden room (indoors) where worshipers can pause and reflect before they leave.
People have told us this is really the start to their Easter weekend activities and prepares them for Sunday. We close Thursday night with a service in our chapel (seats 200) and this year we're using the resource from Willow "The Portraits of The Crucifixion" which is a multi-media experience with slides, audio and such. I think it's going to be powerful.

Prayer Stations (Resources for Visual Churches)

Churches are constantly looking for resources for visuals and interactives in their worship services.  

I have found this site to be most helpful in setting up our own visuals for prayer stations (Easter 2006-2008) and we'll be doing it again this year.  I'll post that information as soon as it's planned.

Where do you find resources for interactives?

Experiential Worship

My mind is on Easter week ( as it should be since it's EASTER). Mostly it's on the Experiential Worship that will take place on Thursday in our Prayer Stations (7Am-6Pm) just prior to our Maundy Thursday services.   This will be the third year for us to do this.  The last two have been traditional stations of the cross, but this year we've chosen to merge the stations with our teaching series on THE NINTH HOUR, the miracles around the cross.  We'll install everything on Wednesday.

I came across this site that is a companion to the Experiential Worship book seen here.  I've read this book.  It was one of my recommended readings for the Recreate Conference in February.

Look at this site to gain a wealth of knowledge about Experiential Worship.  There are all kinds of forms and expressions of it.  From simple to elaborate, it all focuses on  the wonder of God expressed through the senses.  So many times it worship all we engage is the mind, to the exclusion of the sight, smell, taste, touch of our faculties.    We used a video today in worship that was the visual expression of Isaiah 53 (For by his wounds we are healed).  The video shows scrolling words of sin being projected on to a "Crucifix" of Christ.   Wow! what a visual expression of a scripture and it gave us the opportunity to express that in song later in the service. 

This week we'll try to engage those senses.  I have some Frankincense and Myrrh candles that are potent--you won't be able to miss these. We'll have them touch, smell, taste, hear and see at most of these stations.  I'm excited about it and will post some pictures later.

What's your path to worship?  Is it intellectual?  That's ok.  Is it nature?  That's ok too?  Is it through the senses?  Go for it.  Whatever it is that connects you--do it with all of your might and enjoy the journey of worship.

Fun With Words

We ordered two of these MAGNETIC POETRY kits for our Maundy Thursday prayer stations. You can order one here.They arrived today and I opened it up to see what they are like. I immediately began to challenge my brain to come up with some coherent phrase or saying. It took me a moment to clear my head, but once I was into it, things began to flow.

This will be part of one of our stations where people are asked to respond to what they see in the station. I've been working on this for weeks and it's almost done. Next Tuesday I'll post the entire set up and the pdf for the stations.

If you're looking for a great gift, this one would do nicely. Challenge them to be creative, even come up with a new song, psalm or praise.

Creative fuZion- Stations

We've just finished our 4th year of prayer stations. We began @ 7 AM this morning and concluded just before our Maundy Thursday service.

Our notes are posted here. There were many comments from people that made it all worth the effort. Some people had a hard time signing the death warrant; some had a hard time pounding the nails; some had a hard time writing an expression on the wall after the experience. It was amazing.

I'll be processing this day more in the coming days. I wanted to get these pics up for Dorothy's Creative Fuzion.

See more here at Designing For Phillistines.

Worship Confessional, April 12, 2009

This post is part of Sunday Set List over on Fred Mc Kinnon's blog

Well, Easter 2009 is done and in the books! It all began on Thursday with our prayer stations ( you can read about that here) and then our Maundy Thursday service. That service was very powerful (just scripture, song and communion). Sometimes the most powerful things are the simplest.

Today began cool and wet (from the rains overnight). We had two services as usual. Our early service was down (some of our regulars were travelers this year. Second service was full and we kept it really accessible this year (not a lot of new songs--in fact NO NEW SONGS) and mostly arrangements of familiar Easter music. Although I was jealous of so many others doing the new Tomlin songs, I think it was the right thing for us this year. Just a simple service with not a lot of fanfare. I'm afraid that too many times on these special events we try to knock it out of the park for the sake of effect and when people return the next week they find it to be a very different place. It was just a good day of worship.

Set List

Countdown

Alive Forever Amen (Cottrell)--this one rocked with a great track by David Trevey. "Worthy is the lamb, worthy of our praise,worthy is the one who has overcome the grave"

Christ The Lord Is Risen (G3 Worship) new arrangement-really fresh with a great new bridge.

Turn /Greet

"The Journey of A Shoe"--the video led into our promotion about Shoes For Orphan Souls (We wiped out the local Walmart this week). We're collecting 600 pair of shoes.

Welcome/Prayer

Are You Washed/Lamb of God (Cottrell arr from LION OF JUDAH-CALVARY'S LAMB)

Scripture Reading (1 Cor. 15)

Glorious Day (Bleeker)--we did this during December and brought it back for Easter Sunday

Morning Message--Taking Off/ Putting On--our continuing series in Ephesians

Jesus Paid It All (Stanfill)--great closer!

How was your Easter day?

Prayer and Planning

I'm away for a couple of days praying and planning for: Easter 2009, including our prayer stations and Maundy Thursday services; planning for the rest of the ROOTS series (or at least getting a little further down the road).

You'll see some sporadic updates here later on Friday--but if it seems I'm missing, I'm meeting with my best friend, JC.

Worship Confessional, April 1, 2010--Maundy Thursday

We've just finished our 5th Maundy Thursday service. We do this in our chapel and it's a great setting (intimate and close and very beautiful at sunset on a Thursday evening). It's a somber service and very reflective.

I'm often reminded that we need all types of services (celebrative and reflective) This service ended our 12 hour day of prayer stations and each year I receive comment after comment of people saying how much it meant to them. That is certainly true today.

We closed the service in silence and then our bell tower began to toll the bells (seemed like forever but it was only about 8 minutes) Really set the mood for the evening.

Set List

Come Thou Fount of Ev'ry Blessing

Scripture Reading

Video--The Last Supper



Scripture Reading

Remembrance (Hughes)

Reflections

Communion

Were You There (Traditional)

Departing in Silence

Artist In Your Church

This painting is at the entrance to our Prayer Stations today. It was painted back in 1994 by Amy Patton, a dear saint in our church who just passed away last month at the age of 94. This means that she would have painted this picture in her 80th year of life. She was an artist until 3 months before her passing (she had moved to China painting then)

Tonight, we'll also feature a painting by one of our church members in the Maundy Thursday service. It is an abstract picture of Golgotha and will tie in with our PORTRAITS of THE PASSION theme.

There are artist in every church. I've been blessed everywhere that I've served to have someone with an artistic eye, touch and canvas close by. Young and old they've all been a blessing to my ministry and to the churches they've served. I've come to cherish not only their works, but their artist hearts.

Who in your church is an artist? Have you asked them to share their gift with the body?

Worship Confessional, April 5, 2009

This post is part of Sunday Set List over on Fred Mc Kinnon's blog

Today was a good day. It began on my way to church as I heard my friend, Jeff Berry, on the radio singing HIS BANNER OVER ME. It took me back to some great times I shared with Jeff when he was in Abilene. He and I shared some Twitter banter about it this morning.

Palm Sunday--not much to do with the actual Palm Sunday literature--but it was a good to day to celebrate as we kick off the Easter week.

Set

Prepare The Way (Naizum)--we did this song through Christmas and brought it back for the Easter season--great tie in to scripture as we prepare our hearts for his coming.

All The Earth Will Sing Your Praises (Baloche)--we did the Travis Cottrell arrangement.

Video--Shoes For Orphan Souls

Untitled from Jim Drake on Vimeo.

Welcome/Offertory

Blessed Be Your Name (Redman)--always a favorite and David's trax just put it over the top

Your Name (Baloche)-ditto

Please Forgive Me (Travis Cottrell)-- a great trio song about forgiveness and how we take what the Lord has done for granted.

Morning Sermon

Creative Element--We used Lego's to illustrate the different gifts that God has given the church (he gave some to Apostle, Prophets, Evangelist and Pastor/Teachers). Not everyone has been given the same gift. We filled to clear vases with Legos and asked people to come and get one at the commitment time of the service.

Here I Am To Worship (Tim Hughes)

We had a good day and spent about 3 hours today setting up our Prayer Stations-We're about 90% done on that which is a big help. We usually put this up the day before, but since we're taking over the third floor of our building, we can do it early! Yea!

How was your day?

NATIONAL WORSHIP LEADER CONFERENCE--The Tabernacle Experience

One of the things that I was looking forward to the most of the trip to NWLC was the Tabernacle Experience.  Carlton Dillard had already told me that this was part of the conference and I couldn't wait.  

It took until last night to get in.  They only allow a certain number of people to go through and experience it at a time.  I snagged the last ticket of the evening and thought I had missed it because of a sudden shower storm.  But I didn't.

What I experienced was incredible!  I already knew about Prayer stations and such, but this one was so invigorating for me.  To actually walk through the steps of the tabernacle and the things that the priest would do when he would enter into the most holy place were very moving for me.

Some highlights: 

    1. Offering  a burnt offering (a piece of wood) into the fire of the Burnt Offering--wow!

    2. Washing my hands in the laver in front of the temple

    3. Lighting the lampstand (which reminded me of the scripture in Rev. where it says that heaven needs no light--because Jesus is the light!)

    4. Taking communion at the Table of Bread 

    5. The Altar of incense---I once thought this was an irritating smell--not so anymore.

    6. The Holy of Holies---to actually see the smoke and the incense surrounding the throne was very moving.

Then I headed into worship and Don Moen led us in a sweet time of worship where we sand " I Just Want to Be Where You Are" and "Thank You" and "I Offer My Life To You" (as a pleasing sacrifice.   You know that I was undone at that point--tears were really flowing but my mind was still going through the experience of the tabernacle.   So much more to think about--but I thought I'd share this experience with you today.

You can learn more about the Tabernacle Experience here.

This post is part of Creative Chaos on RagamuffinSoul.

Worship Confessional, November 8, 2009

This post is part of Sunday Set List over on Fred McKinnon's blog

We tried something different today. Instead of tacking the Lord's Supper on the end, or in the middle or somewhere else, we made it the whole service today. It was very different.

I think people get used to the order of service--two fast songs, announce--offering, song, message--etc. We didn't do it that way this week

Welcome/Announcements--started it off with instructions about the day. Only down side was there was no Official greeting-but maybe we can go a week without that.

Set up Lord's supper service---instructions/teaching about the background of the Lord's supper.

Psalm 100--Congregation Reading--good reading by the congregation--this Psalm would come back later in the sermon about the "psalm they sang" after the supper.

Today Is The Day (Brewster)--good energy here!

Pass It On (Walker)--just a reaffirmation of the Lord's faithfulness to all generations as Psalm 100 said!

Set up The Bread

Worship Choir--Breathe (small but passionate group this morning singing--we had some out with sickness) It was the perfect song to sing after the teaching about the bread.

Jesus Saves (Cottrell)--one of my faves and quickly becoming a fave among the team. David has done such a passionate backing track to this one.

When I Think About The Lord- this is where it really came alive--people singing, and shouting Halleujah! Thank You Jesus!. We haven't done this one in a while.

Set Up The Cup--we had 5 stations around the sanctuary where people came to get the bread and cup.

Remembrance (Maher/Redman)--this is on Matt Maher's new cd and the first time I heard it I knew that I wanted to use it for Communion. Used it in both services...such a powerful message that remembrance leads to worship and worship to communion!

You Have Been So Good (Baloche)--taught this one last week. It was a good response after the commuion!

Closing

Offering

What Can I Do (Baloche)--another good closer

Elder-Closing Prayer

How was your Sunday?