The world we live in shapes who we are. Our world is absorbed in entertainment. In subtle and significant ways, our people arrive at church in a world that has trained them for novelty, change, quick cuts, and the regular expectation of dopamine. So how do we combat this reality, while also maintaining an intentional and focused philosophy of worship as we plan our Sunday gatherings?
Maybe even for you as a worship leader, or person planning and executing weekly services things feel stale or tired. It can be easy to play the same number of songs, in the same order, pray the same prayers, and say the same words, thoughtlessly, mindlessly, and endlessly.
First, recognize that there is a difference between things feeling familiar and things feeling stale. At some level, you want a level of consistency in your gathering, so that people know and understand the general shape of your gathering. Especially if you are trying to tell the whole gospel story in the shape of your gathering. C.S. Lewis said:
“Every service is a structure of acts and words through which we receive a sacrament, or repent, or supplicate, or adore. And it enables us to do these things best – if you like it, it “works” best – when, through long familiarity, we don’t have to think about it. As long as you notice, and have to count, the steps, you are not yet dancing but only learning to dance. A good shoe is a shoe you don’t notice. Good reading becomes possible when you need not consciously think about eyes, or light, or print, or spelling. The perfect church service would be the one we were almost unaware of; our attention would have been on God.” [C.S. Lewis, The Joyful Christian]
What are some simple ways that you can freshen your weekly service rhythms?
Change the structure of a song. I like to think of each element of the song (Verse, Chorus, Bridge, etc) as building blocks. These are the raw materials I can assemble, and move around to create and build something unique to a service. Start with a chorus, create a medley, repeat a certain line for emphasis, etc.
Change the dynamics of a song. Let the voices carry a chorus, drive the verses. Build and drop in different places than normal. How can you use the music to shape the way a song speaks?
Allow others to lead musically, or verbally. A new voice always offers a fresh perspective - whether that is literally in the tone and texture of a song or the way that someone besides yourself can articulate the what and why of the gathering. Allowing others to speak will require training and development from you. It will also force you to be able to verbalize things that too often live exclusively in our minds as leaders. It will also help loosen your grip on something we can easily be possessive, rather than open-handed about.
Shepherd people through different aspects of worship. When I feel like my leading, or liturgy has become tired, I spend time teaching or speaking about different aspects of our gathering - why do we sing? Why do we gather? Why do we raise our hands? How can you use extra space and time to help build meaning and understanding for those you lead?
Ultimately, your liturgy in all its familiarity and repetition should not be confining, but instead, it should be freeing. And if you are going to make changes, it is important to communicate those thoughtfully and use a rubric that will serve your people.
“O Beauty, ever ancient, ever new…” - Augustine