Retreat & SU Workshop Ideas

After the 7/08 all church retreat discussion on worship, I wanted to combine some reflections from the retreat and the Seattle U.(SU) 7/08 congregational singing and 7/07 art and architecture workshops.

Balance comes to mind. Should our nave have artwork like orthodox churches or be totally blank and neutral colors? Should our liturgy have abundant symbolism or the least liturgical activity and metaphor allowable?

Wes had a quip that could help. When people worship with us, one of the comments might be, “We're not in Kansas anymore!” Again balance should apply. If it's too strange, newcomers won't return. On the other hand, we might not want duplication of popular secular styles, such as loud praise music.

At last year's SU workshop we visited several interfaith congregations to get ideas on nave design and artwork. Several people at the retreat thought such visits would be helpful to them, too, in thinking about design at WPPC. The SU visits included St. James Cathedral, St. Mark's Cathedral, Church of the Assumption Orthodox, and Temple de Hirsch Sinai. Wes and I could also suggest several PC(USA) churches we visited at various Presbytery meetings.

The first service at this year's SU workshop included a renewal of baptismal vows. Everyone was asked to form four groups representing the major points of the compass. Each group had a pourer of water into a fount. We could add that as a congregational act, like the prayer candles. One person commented that some may miss the sermon due to the water sounds prompting restroom visits.

Another liturgical feature, we could use, was analogous to our Pentecost practice. Each worshipper was given a white ribbon to remind them of their baptism and/or baptismal robes. I suggested to one wedding planner to save her white ribbon for recycling at WPPC.

This year's workshop had ideas that will help in our Greening Congregation efforts. One around baptism would be to use those existing liturgies as a starting point to describe our responsibilities as stewards of water.