|
Choosing a Theme
Whatever worship "pattern" you follow, the materials may be organized around a central theme or set of themes. You may begin with a theme found in the sermon text, in a Scripture reading for the day, or in related passages.
Themes may be of many sorts. Just a few general examples:
- a central story of Scripture: the creation story, the Exodus, the crossing of the Red Sea, the march through the desert, meeting at Sinai, etc., etc.
- an image/ metaphor for God: Great King, Warrior, Shepherd, Father, etc.
- an attribute of God: holiness, faithfulness, goodness, etc.
Collecting Materials
- Begin collecting a list of "keywords" and ideas related to this theme. Brainstorm on your own or with the help of others, feel free to use a dictionary or thesaurus. Many of the most appropriate ideas, though, will come as you begin to look at a few possible Scripture texts or pieces of music. Jot down your ideas on one sheet of paper, trying to 'flesh them out' as statements.
(So, for Service #1 I started with "God's Call" and added keywords like "seek" and "invite." These become concrete statements such as,
"God calls us by name," "God calls us to __ " "God seeks the wandering [sheep]" "God invites us to drink the free living water.")
- Try to locate one or a few main texts to organize other material around. For instance, if you wish to use the theme of God as Shepherd, you will naturally look at Psalm 23 and John 10, but do not fail to consider less common texts (Rev.7:17, Ezekiel 34).
- Use search tools with your keywords to help you find other appropriate texts.
Beside cross references in your Bible and the concordance on your shelf, check out these online Scripture search tools
- Similarly, use search tools to find music in which the keywords appear. Indexes in hymnbooks and songbooks may also be organized around "parts of the service" from an opening "call to worship" to a closing "benediction". Sketch out where your materials might fit in such an "order of service." Look for gaps to fill. Perhaps you will have six songs of "thanksgiving" but little or nothing for "confession."
[It may be that you decide to emphasize thanksgiving in this particular service.
A strict "balance" within each service is not necessary, but keep watch against patterns of neglect.]
- As you organize these pieces into a service, be flexible! Airtight logical structures
are not the goal. Be willing to give up pieces that may seem "perfect" to the theme but
won't work for practical reasons.
Check out Service #1, organized around the theme of "God's Call." (See also, the related Compass article.)
|
