Through the years, Hope Chapel has scheduled times for extended worship as a community, wanting to devote more time than that which is allotted in our weekly gatherings. We offer these tips in anticipation as many of our community have not been in this setting. The tips are in light of Hope Chapel worship experience. We are not saying this is the only way, it is merely how we have grown at Hope Chapel.
Worship night, Friday Nov. 18, 2011. For a few weeks, we have had the sense that we should set some extended time aside and pour ourselves out in worship before God. The discovery that others are hungry for this time with God has brought us to meet for this purpose … to pour out, to lavish our Creator with a great time of thanksgiving and worship. We dedicate 3 hours for this on Friday night. That seems like a long time, perhaps, but, it’s perspective. As I prepare my heart, I am definitely thinking … “How awesome to have 3 hours for God .. with the saints … it’s a small thing, as the song goes.”
It occurs to me, though, that it might be daunting to some who have never spent this much time in worship, so, we offer a few tips:
- Forget the time limit. If you think you have to fill up 3 hours, it’s a drag. This is invitation and opportunity to spend extended time with Him. Let the evening breathe. Come when you can and leave when you are ready; no one says you have to put in 3 hours. Or maybe leave for a bit: walk around outside in the beauty of the evening. God’s creation is awesome. Worship under the stars, or under the clouds, the open Face of God beckons. We are facilitators for the evening, not timekeepers. I love Marva Dawn’s statement about worship “A Royal Waste of Time.” For us, it is extravagant use of our time, the sacrifice of praise.
- There will be ebb and flow during the evening. Take time to enjoy and participate in each wave, we will not be in a hurry. Times of intense worship, times of silence, perhaps times of prayer or prophetic words, or partaking of the communion elements. There will be stations for this and other things to happen in the corners of the auditorium.
- This is not a formal service, so we aren’t concerned with certain protocol and locations. Posture before God is important: stand, sit, kneel, bow, prostrate, all are appropriate. I like to stand , often with my shoes off, so I can honor God with attention and focus. However, you see me in other positions, like prostrate on the floor. But, I like to pace about, also. I urge you, don’t be confined to the pews. Walk around, dance around. Go and stand by some of the lovely art on our walls and incorporate that in your worship time. Dance like no one is looking :0. Movement keeps our feet awake and our minds alert. I’ll let you in on a little secret, the best place to worship is right up at the front, close to or on the stage. Come on up and join us at any time. It’s a wonderful place to be!
- There will be stations for partaking of communion, for receiving prayer, and perhaps other ministry areas. Feel free to go to one of these areas to partake or receive.
- A significant part of the evening will focus on Psalm 96, a lovely Psalm, exhorting all creation to Praise God! Read it and meditate upon it before we gather. Let it be a springboard for what we do in the evening. Sing some of it back to Him. It starts with “Sing to the Lord a new song”. How about making up your own songs during the evening from the text. I plan on doing that.
- Anticipate meeting with God. I can’t emphasize this enough. I expect to hear from God. There will be times of silence, or maybe quieter music, to facilitate this. Bring a bible, a pad to write on (or an iPad if you like). Bring art and setup somewhere to do that. Bring knitting if you want. How do you listen to God and how are you best postured when this happens? There is enough space to make this happen. Again, we encourage you to move within the worship space as the evening flows.
See you there!
