Experimentation

We've been experimenting with our service lately. What else can you do when you're a small group of people meeting in a large Sunday school room with only florescent lights, and a single on-off switch that controlls every last one of those lights so it is only possible to either have them all on, or all off.

Florescence isn't the kind of mood you really want to have for a church of pretty much any kind.

So, I went to Target (yep, I gave in and went there) and found out they had these little bitty cute lamps on sale for less than $8. I bought 14 of them. They all have a bit of a Gothic feel to them, especially with the shades (which was included in the $8).

It may be a little too dark when the sun goes down, but that won't be a problem for more than another month. Soon the sun will be up until 9:00 PM.

So, I put together this multi-media presentation in the only computer program I know how to use for such things. Yep. Emergent isn't about powerpoint, but until I find a 16 year old to help out who's really into multi-media stuff, we're stuck with me.

I haven't preached a message for a few weeks. Although I sure have put in a lot of prep time getting these presentations together.

Each one lasts about 35-45 minutes. Someone in the group reads the 6-25 slides of one-sentence slides as they go by. I included secular videos and songs of off cd's. For one of the gatherings we had a dramatic reading. And we typically have discussion afterward and some prayer. For one gathering I played a movie preview. I think I'll be doing more of those. It seemed to set the kind of mood we're looking for at our Sunday evening gatherings.

The entire prestation is what "preached." It was pretty kewl. I didn't work with our music person very closely. I wanted to give God a chance to work through us separetly to do HIS magic, the way only He can.

There have certainly been some stumbles and falls, but generally, this format is working.

I can't wait to expand it with more live music for the metal-influenced ear.

http://www.TheH.org/