Because of the Cross
a multi-sensory worship gathering

 

Here is the worship outline. It is still a little rough, but this is
basically what we did. 

The set up:

Two TV screens flanking the stage

A reading station off to one side

A wooden cross was set up on the other side

We covered the communion table in fabric and placed candles on it.

We also placed candles around the sanctuary

As people walked in we had music playing, and a PowerPoint about being silent (coming soon to this site). 

Greeters at the door asked participants to enter "silently and reverently"

Opening Music / PowerPoint Intro

Reading ONE: Colossians 2:13-15

Prayer-At Reading Station

How Beautiful (our students did sign language to this Twila Paris song)

Here I am to Worship-iworship DVD

Worship Leader Song: Amazing Love

What Does Love Sound Like-Visual Reality

Reading TWO: Isaiah 53:3-6

Transitional Statement-Jesus died for us, and because of the cross there are
new truths in our lives. Because of the cross we have access to the father.

Reading THREE: Luke 23:45-47

Pass Out Veils (the veils are pieces of black cloth with a cut in the top so
that they will be easy to tear)

Veil Meditation: This small verse tucked in among the powerful verses of the
crucifixion, but it opened the way for us. (A short history of the holy of
holies).

Have you ever felt left out. Sometimes we feel separated from God either
because we don't feel good enough, or smart enough, or pretty enough. But
because of the cross we have access to God.

Spend few minutes thinking about what it feels like to be left out in the
cold. You make feel like you are separated from God. If that is the case
pray about why you feel that way.

Then as you pray, tear your veil into. Then thank God for opening the way
for you to be with Him.

(This was done in silence. I enjoyed the sporadic sound of tearing, but I
may have been the only one.)

Transition Statement: Because of the cross you have been granted access to
God. Let's praise him together.

Worship Leader Set Two: (This was a bell curve set. slow building to fast and then back to slow)

Transitional Statement-Because of the cross we have access to God, because of the cross we can make our requests known to him

Reading FOUR: Romans 8:15-17

Reading FIVE: Matthew 7:7-11

Call for Prayer Needs-In just a moment I am going to play a song. At a
certain point in the song, I am going to ask those who have prayer needs to
stand. It may be because you are grieving, or because of sickness, you may
just have a hard place in your heart that you want people to pray about.
Once people stand, the other people will go to them and place their hands on
them and pray out loud for them. You don't need to know what the request is.
Just pray.

"Somebody's praying you through" Video (E-ssentials from NAMB) 

(At the instrument break I asked the people with needs to stand and people to pray around them.)
Reading SIX: Revelations 21:1-4; 1Corinthians 13:12

One day we won't have prayer anymore because of the cross we will be with
God in heaven. One day there will be no more pain, no more loss. Because of
the cross we will stand before God. I can only imagine.

I Can Only Imagine-iworship DVD

Invitation-As a sign of commitment to continue to thank God for the cross we
will have these nails here, and I ask you to come and take one. Some of you
may need to come to the alter to pray. Some of you may need to talk to me or
someone else. This is your time to respond to the movement of God.
Two people held boxes of nails at the front of the stage. I stood to council with people. 

Worship Leaders played quiet music

Close with Heart of Worship

Prayer

We left "silently and reverently"

 

Here is how things went:

In the morning service I asked them to come tonight reverently and expecting God to do something. Then I put greeters at the
doors asking people to enter reverently and quietly. The opening PowerPoint
was a welcome greeting and instructions on what to pray about and some
scripture. We also had music playing.
Meredith had decorated the sanctuary in candles and a couple of crosses. We
had two TV's with stands on the stage, and draped those in fabric to
hide the wires. The smells from the candles was wonderful, but it wasn't
even close to dark at 6:30
The service went well enough even without that video, but I would have liked
to have it in there. It was almost too much show and not enough do at the
beginning. Maybe add a worship song or two there.
I also thought about passing out thank you cards as people walked in, and
after the Isaiah verse having people write a prayer of thank you to God.
Then closing that time with the song Once again (Once again I look upon the
cross where you died, I something, something, something, and I'm broken
inside. Once again I thank you, once again I pour out my life)
The transitional statements were better than I wrote here, but I can't really
remember what all I said. I had the "veils" in the offering plates and we
passed them out like communion while I was talking about the curtain being
torn in two.
After all that silence it took them a moment to get back into the songs in
the next set, but it worked out.
The high point of the evening was the prayer part. The church really
responded well.

All in all, for a meeting that I decided to do on Thursday, it was really
great. I am still amazed at how God can show up and move in people's hearts.
Maybe I will never preach again, just do hour long worship gatherings and
let the teaching come in the Sunday school. Then again, I don't think I can
keep my mouth shut that long.