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Archive for July, 2008

This past weekend, LifeChurch.tv’s Tulsa campus sermon branded their church facilities to promote their annual summer sermon series “At the Movies.” They themed their facilities after the Indiana Jones adventures.

As guests approach the church, a military vehicle with ammo crates appears to have “broken” through a mural spray painted by a local graffiti artist.

LifeChurch.tv Tulsa At the Movies 2008

The church entrance is converted into a cobweb covered cave.

LifeChurch.tv Tulsa At the Movies 2008

Above the cave is a giant rolling boulder like the one featured in Raiders of the Lost Ark.

LifeChurch.tv Tulsa At the Movies 2008

One corner of the lobby has a jungle waterfall.

LifeChurch.tv Tulsa At the Movies 2008

Another corner has the Ark of the Covenant nestled among military crates as seen at the beginning of The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

LifeChurch.tv Tulsa At the Movies 2008

And a third corner has converted a coffee bar into a foreign marketplace.

LifeChurch.tv Tulsa At the Movies 2008

A mine cart with Short Round from The Temple of Doom sits over the other lobby entrance.

LifeChurch.tv Tulsa At the Movies 2008

Between the auditorium doors rests a large “stone” skull that breathes fog.

LifeChurch.tv Tulsa At the Movies 2008

The auditorium did not continue the Indiana Jones theme, but some extra lights were added for the sermon series.

LifeChurch.tv Tulsa At the Movies 2008

LifeChurch.tv Tulsa staff and volunteers spent four days creating the Indiana Jones environment. And churchgoers are encouraged to invite their friends to come enjoy the fun. Each year “At the Movies” proves to be an effective outreach series for LifeChurch.tv.

The Church at South Las Vegas (Henderson, NV) has created some unconventional worship programming.

Sandwich 1 worship experience between 2 preaching experiences.

In other words, instead of adding a full new service, they simply added a half service. Not only does it let the band play one less service, but it also allows The Church at South Las Vegas to maximize the number of services they can have on Sunday mornings.

They do not use this format for every service. They currently have services on Saturday evenings at 6:00 and Sunday mornings at 8:30, 9:00, 11:00, and 1:00. For Sundays at 8:30, they begin with preaching, and then the 8:30 service stays for the worship at the 9:00 service.

After a month, so far the feedback is positive, and about 90% of the 8:30 service stays for the 9:00 worship.

For Discussion:
- What are some other unconventional formats for worship programming?