What is a "worshipful experience"?

[tedanderson]

When it comes to tech, I would have to say that a "worshipful experience" is one in which the equipment helps deliver the word, the music, and corporate prayers in a way that is soothing and comfortable.

For instance, most churches are climate controlled. If the building was freezing cold in the winter and unbearably hot in the summer, it would affect the whole worship experience. So the same principle would apply with the sound, video and lighting. If it sounds terrible and looks terrible, it's going to affect someone's worship experience.

And so when it comes to ranking what is important and what you can do without, it's really a matter of what the people came to do. First and foremost, they came to HEAR and SEE. So if they can hear it enjoyably and they can see what they are hearing very well, then that's what makes the worshipful experience possible.

IMAG projection is nice in large venues but its not necessary everywhere. I think that you raise a very good question here because many churches use "formulas" and "techniques" to improve the worship experience but it's not a one-size-fits-all type of deal.

[dmot]

in a way that is soothing and comfortable.

I won't argue with you, Ted, but it got me thinking. I love watching thunder storms although here in the midwest I am usually pre-occupied with whether we are going to lose power or if it is going to cause damage. But I grew up in Africa and remember the storms at the beginning and end of the rainy season. Big lightening strikes, loud thunder, heavy rain, and strong wind. I loved watching them and thinking how powerful they were and inevitably my thoughts would turn to God. Then the storms would pass and everything would be calm, crisp, clear, and fresh. In the stillness you couldn't help but think you just had a close encounter with God.

So what does that mean for worship? I guess I am just suggesting that the soothing and comfortable idea is more tradition than anything else.

[tdangelo]

Originally Posted by dmot

I grew up in Africa and remember the storms at the beginning and end of the rainy season. Big lightening strikes, loud thunder, heavy rain, and strong wind. I loved watching them and thinking how powerful they were and inevitably my thoughts would turn to God.

Very interesting comments in this thread…

In the book of Exodus we find the Israelites and Moses in the wilderness, God himself descends onto Mount Sinai in a thick cloud. The Bibles says there was thunder and lightning and that when God Himself descended on the mountain it was in a great fire accompanied by earthquakes. God’s presence on the mountain was so awesome, so powerful that the Israelites couldn’t even touch the mountain without dying. They had to stand back.

Moses goes up the mountain to talk to God and the first thing God says is, “You have seen what I did to the Egyptians!” What an opening line! Not “Hello Moses.” Not, “how was your trip through the wilderness?” Not, “how are the accommodations in the camp?” God starts off with, “You have seen what I did to the Egyptians!” I believe God was saying, “lest the thunder, lightning, fire and earthquakes did not get your attention, lest there be any doubt who I Am, How Holy I am, Lest there be any doubt about my Power or My willingness to fulfill the promises I have made and will make with you, remember what I did to those guys.”

And then God goes on and offers Moses and the Israelites a promise if they would only obey His voice. God gives Moses the 10 Commandments, and God gave Moses laws, instructions and the tablets of stone. God tells Moses to take up an offering and He gives Moses instructions and commands him to have a Tabernacle made.

Then in the midst of thunder, lightning, fire and earthquakes going on, the second to last thing God says to Moses is “you know all that art, statuary, tapestry, utensils, garments, stonework, etc. I just told you to make for the Tabernacle? I am calling out Bezalel and Aholiab to handle it all for you.” God didn’t tell Moses, “hey listen, you better start taking some art classes.” And He also doesn’t say, “don’t worry too much about how good all this art is.” Or, “don’t worry about it, I just got warmed up on the tablets of stone I’ll make all the art for the Tabernacle next Myself.” No, the second to last thing God tells Moses on the mountain, (only to be surpassed by “Keep My Sabbath for it is a sign between Me and your generations,”) is I am giving you Bezalel and Aholiab as your head tech guys.

In Exodus 31 God says of Bezalel, “… I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of workmanship.” Even of the other artisan craftsman under Bezalel and Aholiab God said, “… I have put wisdom in the hearts of all the gifted artisans.” The artisans and craftsman who would construct the works of art for the Tabernacle were so important to God that he calls out these two Head artists by name. He anoints them with special skill, ability and knowledge.

Was this a “worshipful experience?”

[DTV-Engineer]

Perhaps what you are looking for is more along the lines of what makes a worshipful environment. From a technical perspective, I would say that invisibility is a big part of it: that is, the congregation should be entirely aware of the content (preaching, music, etcetera) and entirely unaware of the mechanics. On a positive note, this means that the facilities and operating practices are sufficient to present the content well and reliably; or to put it negatively, the facility doesn't become a distraction.

The form this takes depends on what you are trying to accomplish, and won't be the same for different churches... and sometimes won't even be the same from one occasion to another in the same church.

One other thing to bear in mind is that any change is initially distracting, so you need some discernment to know when people are merely reacting to things not being the same, versus reacting to truly unnecessary distraction. By way of example, our current sound board -- a rather large Europa -- turned heads when it was first installed, and we got a handful of people clearly nervous that a big console would equate to louder sound levels. But after a few weeks, it just became a normal part of the room and hardly anybody pays it any mind. On the other hand, one of our occasional operators has more enthusiasm than judgment, and tends to go overboard with effects that make one more aware of the quality of the audio than of what is being sung.

It's really hard to quantify, but hopefully this will give you another way to look at it...

-- Jeff

[SwordmanJr]

Worshipful? I never knew worship could be turned on like a light switch in a service. I always thought there had to be just the right mood music, soothing words, dimmed lights, and other elements to get people in the mood.