SENSORY WORSHIP

Here are some thoughts I recently sent to our pastors concerning worship.

We have been beginning to re-envision ways to enrich our worship experiences, and the aspect that grabbed my imagination, considers the use of our five senses. I have given a lot of thought over the years regarding worship, and the ways we can draw our whole self/ all ourselves into glorifying God and making ourselves aware of His presence. For what other reason did God give us senses than for the purpose of communication, relationship (with Him, others, and Nature), and discovery?

Over the past many years, some of my worship experiences have been in other congregations. One deeply meaningful relationship I had thirty years ago was with a Franciscan community/monastery in Salzburg, Austria. Aesthetically, the place of worship had a profound impact on me. Actually, much of Europe with its Gothic Cathedrals, and Baroque churches affect me positively. One of the things I noticed was the way light was used, meaning the natural sunlight streaming through windows: whether stained glass or plain glass. Even the colors used: primarily reds and blues, could affect one a certain way, and elicit a sense of the transcendence of God. I was disappointed in the absence of high windows that could let in sunlight when our sanctuary was built. Since we rely 100% on electricity and man-made lighting arrangements, it does something to our worship…almost as if we have too much control. It doesn’t leave the opportunity open for God to suddenly roll back a bank of clouds and have rays of light suddenly illuminate a sanctuary, where before all was cast in shade and muted light. I’m sure that few people (if anyone) had thought of that when the sanctuary/worship hall was designed, but I think about things that way…a bit odd, perhaps. All of this is to point out that the use of LIGHT, not just colors, or visual effects, can be very important. Light sources are also important, not just images or pictures that are visible because they reflect light. Candles, Sunlight, Lamps, etc…

When we gathered a week or so ago for pizza and visioning/dreaming, I wrote a few notes. These are some rough notes that can be fleshed out as time goes on:

Worship engages us with the Arts that engage our senses:
Visual Arts (sight)== includes color (such as banners that reflect the various seasons in the church calendar), imagery: banners, 3D (depth as well as form); LIGHT—such as lamps, muted lighting, and even darkness (as in tenebrae service), as well as candles, direct sunlight, etc…
Musical/Audio Arts (hearing)== includes a variety of music and singing: also various instruments (like violin, trumpet, flute, piano, guitars, I wish we had an oboe!!!) Audio can also involve choral readings like last week with the scripture. Possibly (if the Reformers among us can stomach it) chant or responsive readings, choral responses to psalms. Our hymnal has quite a collection at the back. Let’s use the hymnal more. Praise songs address the affective/emotional domain, but less the cognitive/intellectual domain which hymns address more profoundly. Worship should not only help us to feel well—feel closer to God, but also think well—think more profoundly, theologically about God.
Kinesthetic Arts (touch, movement)== Raising hand, bending our knees, learning perhaps a song with hand motions—let the woman who knows sign language teach us all one song totally in sign language as we sing it (something simple). Do we ever bow our heads or kneel? It’s scriptural, but also Roman Catholic, so Protestants have veered away. Even making the sign of the cross. Popish, perhaps, in some peoples eyes, but a lllloooonnnnnggggg standing tradition of the Church Universal: making the sign of the cross. I wonder how much we can dare without turning some people off? Does raising our hands in worship and praise scare some people away? Perhaps, those who fear Pentecostals. Would crossing oneself shock someone else??? Questions to explore as we continue to look into the depth of worship.
Another kinesthetic practice could be in dance (liturgical dance and otherwise) as well as drama, plays, skits, processions up the aisle.
Aromatic Arts (smell)== This is where I remember the incense within an Episcopal Church I attended our first year of marriage. AH! Frankincense and myrrh. Think about the pungent worship Israel had as they offered those smoky burnt offerings to the LORD. And think of the psalmist who wrote of offering incense and prayers…. I wonder what we could do here. I think I would be reticent for the practice seems so Catholic, but it is quite powerful, and I have heard that the sense of smell actually deeply affects and strengthens memory of events. Once you can associate a smell with an event, person, or place, and you can smell that again, the memory of it comes flooding back. One has to just be careful of allergies, or of being too over powering. Perhaps scented candles?? Fragrant potlucks? More flowers? Rose scented air freshener?
Epicurean Arts (taste)== Obviously in worship the thing that comes first to mind is Communion/Lord’s Supper/Eucharist. Bread and Juice. Question: is Wine forbidden by the Covenant, or just not used? Wine is a far more powerful and authentic element than juice: both in taste, in symbolism, in tradition.
How else could taste be employed? The ancient church had love feasts: we have potlucks upon occasion, or other dinners. I think it would be helpful to our community to gather together to eat far more often. Make potlucks, dinners, seders, etc worshipful.

Okay there you have it. A few notes that explore Sensory Worship (not worship of the senses, but worship by and through the senses).

Yours, PETE