Alternative Worship - The Plan!

download the Alternative Worship flyer here

• The Design: To provide a venue to bring one's spirit alive through expressive worship to the glory of God, thereby producing a bit of God's Kingdom in this broken world of ours. Planning meeting for Alternative Worship is every 1st Wednesday, 7pm. All are welcome.

• Who: First Christian Church facilitates. All are welcome.

• What: Alternative Worship, a free expression of worship, showing our love to God and others.

• When: To start, once a month, Saturday, 5pm. Participants will ultimately choose the time, day and frequency.

• Where: Fellowship hall, Sunday school room(s), outside, wherever it fits.

• Why: To offer a participatory worship for some of us that have the need to express ourselves a bit more freely. Also, to offer a service that may attract those that aren't Sunday-morning-get-up-and-go people, but still have the desire to worship because we are created to worship. God has ingrained this into us.

• How:
  • We are Christians, Disciples of Christ, and will offer Communion and Baptism.
  • Team planning -
  • Music - All kinds, from Celtic to Pop, live to CD's.
  • Prayer - Everywhere prayer fits. People may write their own. Might not do Lord's Prayer every service. Periodically have prayer stations. Sacred space- This would be a central focus point that keeps Jesus in the middle of it all. This could be a mountain of candles, a pile of crosses, a group of chalices, a communion table…something to focus on and help in meditation of the Lord.
  • Art - God's beautiful expressions! Art may be shared by an explanation by the artist. We may have a project that all worshippers participate in creating. Maybe an art station to express a theme. Art may be digital as well.
  • Dance, Drama, Video.
  • Scripture - Always! Responsive readings. Lectio Devino. Contemplate scripture. Poetry. What is God saying to YOU? Opportunities to write scripture in your own words.
  • Teaching - Not always a sermon. May be a testimony, drama, station visits, or a Bible study. The teaching team would determine the theme for the evening. May follow the lectionary.
  • Little ones - A carpet/pad area for them in worship. They may express their worship by color, art, sculpture or play.
  • Offering IS an act of worship.
  • Registration Books may be used. We will also have a separate card to ask for contact information to relay any changes in time and day. We will ask for talents and help those interested to get involved and make this gathering their own.

• Possibilities: Feet Washing, Seder Meal, Liturgical Dance, Bread Baking (Jesus is the Bread of Life), Service Project during the gathering, Painting or making a collage together, Worship outside at a Station of the Cross or Apostles' Garden.

• Other Stuff:
  • We will not be secretive. All are invited to planning meetings and worship gatherings.
  • This is to be a positive extension to FCC.
  • We will not get out of the box theologically, but may get out of the box to worship.
  • It is imperative to obtain and nurture a community spirit, so I hope we will practice the hospitality Jesus asks for. Guests should be treated like members and hopefully participate immediately.
  • It is okay to be a spectator…no pressure.
  • This will be a place we can learn to use our unique gifts for the glory of God.
  • Alternative Worship is NOT a performance, but we will encourage one another.