When the music fades...

Here's the essence of what I think about when I think "church". Sample from link:

If the electricity went out, and your walls fell down, and your biggest givers died, what would you have left? Would you have a community of people still seeking after the heart of God? Would you still worship even without a band? Would you still be able to learn about God even though you can't show a video or a PowerPoint slide? In other words, what you have when everything else goes away is what your church is really all about.

(With all the recent blackouts, I wonder if electric-dependant mega-churches might also be thinking along these lines! :) )

Time for Silence

I've noticed that most church happenings have a definite schedule of go-go-go. The worship team keeps the tempo up, the planners make sure every minute is filled with something. They're scared that if there's a break, a pause, then the "mood" will be lost, folk would get all awkward, and the entire process will break down.

After a few years off church, the cynical me sees it as one long manipulative, entertainment thing. Which I know is not the motivation behind what happens, but nonetheless. As I said, I'm cynical.

There seems to be little space for silence and contemplation. I want to make space for these at @5. I know it's not going to be easy - it's hard to be comfortable with being quiet, sitting still and being alone with your thoughts. But the Quakers have done it, and others have too. There are elements of worship and beauty that can only come forth in silence.

I remember one such time at the Baptist church when I was on the worship team. We had a new leader, it was her first week up front. Where I'd had to rush to keep up with other leaders, not a moment of quiet in the programme, she let the Spirit dictate what was next - her whole family was a very Spirit-led one (albiet a bit on the scary side at times!). After one particular song, the whole church fell silent in meditative contemplation and worship, like they'd never done in the 3 years I'd been attending. There was a Presence in that time that is hard to pinpoint, but it affected us all.

There was only one other time, now that I think back, where there was a block of silence. And that was the only other time I've felt so close to God that tears streamed unbidden down my face. Causing my pew-mate to ask if I were OK, which completely broke the mood! :)

The memory of those times of stillness, and reading things like this have made me realize once again how big a place silence should have in our worship.

In crafting an entirely-different type of gathering, with no tradition to uphold, no unspoken laws to follow, I hope that we will be encouraged to be still at times. To let the quiet Voice talk. The one we too often drown out in worship noise.

Music

Being first and foremost a musician, this is one area I think about before anything else. As unique as this planned gathering will be, we'll need to match our "sound" to who we are as a community. We're African and international, of all races, from many cultures.

So here's some of the instruments I'm hoping to include: Marimba. Violin. Guitars. Keyboard/piano. African drums. Didgeridoo.

I'm hoping to find someone who plays an Indian instrument too. The more the merrier - and we might just be the first "band" to marry these sounds for church! :)

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