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For Christmas 2008, LifeChurch.tv’s Tulsa campus wanted to do something special at a low cost. The solution was temporary lights, scaffolding, and trash cans. And it looked like this:

Trash can drumming begins at 3:20.

CREDITS:
Worship Pastor: Derrick Henslee
Lights: Steve Nance & Integrity Lighting (Tulsa, OK)
Video: Bill Aycock

Last week, I used Adobe Photoshop to illustrate how people can be blinded by tech novelty. To recap, tech novelty is a self-coined phrase I use to describe:

Tech Novelty is:
Being blinded by the novelty of an exciting new technology and consequently misusing the technology for novelty’s sake. Misuse of technology may be caused by lack of training and/or from the inability to focus on anything except the novelty.

We are all susceptible to tech novelty. But perhaps the area of the church that is most prone to tech novelty is church worship. With so many innovations in audio, video, lights, music, and other resources, it is easy to become overwhelmed and blinded by the excitement of it all.

WORSHIP ENVIRONMENTS - A CHURCH EXAMPLE

Some describe the responsibility of a worship leader as:

Leading worship is the art of removing distractions.

Today’s worship leaders can choose from a wide variety of tools. And in the tools’ defense, most do offer some type of benefit if used correctly. Often by themselves, the tools are beneficial, but when gluttonously used all at once, they can overstimulate worshippers’ senses and distract them.

You need to understand the pros and cons of the individual tools you use, as well as, what happens when you mix a bunch of tools together. In The Hidden Power of Electronic Culture, Shane Hipps offers this warning:

An extensive use of video clips and short films in worship turns the congregation into an audience expecting to be entertained. When electronic media are taken to extremes, we become spectators of the gospel rather than participants in the kingdom of God.

When used correctly, I think modern worship environments can spark wonder and awe in the beauty of God’s creation much like the architecture of Gothic and Renaissance cathedrals did. Or when used correctly, worship environments can help, often through simplicity, guide worshipers’ attention to what truly matters - God. When used improperly, worship environments distract worshippers from God and even at times focus their “worship” on the worship leader, another church “celebrity,” or even technology itself.

Whether you like it or not, we are biologically wired to be influenced by our environment. What this means is your worship environment is a factor (not the factor) that influences if a person “feels” like worshipping. If you disagree, study color psychology and atmospherics and read Gladwell’s The Tipping Point, Underhill’s Why We Buy, and Rushkoff’s Coercion. The problem is many worship leaders do not realize how each worship element influences their environment.

Unfortunately, sometimes worship leaders become blinded by tech novelty. They use technology for novelty’s sake. Symptoms include stages overwhelmed with elaborate sets, strobe lights, ellipsoidals, subwoofers, high decibels, fog, guitar solos, jumbotrons, and projection screens with lyrics on top of fast paced video loops. I think there are exceptions, but in most cases, using all of these is more than the congregation can handle.

On a personal note…

Speaking personally, my best moments of worship are when I am alone driving. In the simplicity of the car, I find it easy to focus and own the words I am singing. In a church setting, I have also experienced incredible worship in almost every type of worship environment imaginable. But typically, the ideal environments are the ones that remove distractions while subtly using technology to create an intimate, relevant (in alignment with the tone/theme of worship songs), and often beautiful environment.

The key is to keep the worship environment subtle enough that it is not a distraction. Determine the sensory threshold of the congregation within the context of the songs being sung. For example, combining fast lights with fast video could be a dangerous mix.

As with Adobe Photoshop, do not get caught up in the excitement of what technology can do. Instead, focus on what will remove distractions and enhance the experience. Usually, it requires subtle finesse.

FOR DISCUSSION:
- These are my rough and imperfect thoughts. I want to hear what you think about tech novelty and worship.

Last month, Carlos Whittaker of Buckhead Church (Atlanta, GA) blogged the dangerous question:

What is the biggest gripe you have about something a Sunday worship leader does?

The 185+ responses were fascinating, insightful, and offensive to some. To cut through the clutter of all of the opinions, I made a very rough tally of all the pet peeves to determine the top 10 pet peeves about worship leaders. Keep in mind these are subjective opinions.

Top 10 Pet Peeves About Worship Leaders (with examples)

1. Asking the Congregation to do Something (21 responses)
   >> Makes us shake hands with the people around us.
   >> When a worship leader tells you to lift up your hands, it takes a meaningful personal action and turns it into a obligatory command.
   >> Talks like they’re at a high school pep rally, “Let me hear ya!”
   >> Asks how everyone is doing. We’re not at a concert, so we’re not going to scream.
   >> Tells you what to do and how to worship… to the point where it makes you feel guilty if you don’t conform yourself to her/his understanding of what worship is.
   >> I hate it when worship leaders script the worship too much by telling people what to do. I’ve had worship leaders completely distract me from God when they start telling me what to do.
2. Mini-Sermons & Talking (20 responses)
   >> Talks between every song.
   >> I am distracted when worship leaders start talking about anything that is not directions on what we are about to do.
   >> When they repeat the same catch-phrases every week.
   >> Breathy speaking between songs.
   >> Sermonettes are annoying if too long or common
   >> You can tell a mile away when a worship leader is “sharing” because he feels obligated to. It’s always a cheesy or over emotional blurb. When God’s really laid something on a worship leader’s heart, it’s cool. But even then, say it in less than 45 seconds! Don’t meander on for 3 minutes.
3. Not Focusing on God (17 responses)
   >> Forget that the audience of worship is God and start making it a performance for those sitting in front of them.
   >> When they perform rather than worship themselves.
   >> Showing zero emotion, standing still, focusing too much on perfection.
   >> Worship leaders who seem really wrapped up in being “cool.”
   >> Sometimes you can tell they’re being fake and/or showy.
   >> I hate it when the music guy/gal asks the crowd to praise God but soaks it up like they are Bono and the crowd is really praising them.
   >> I hate it when worship leaders don’t lead people.
4. Unprofessional (14 responses)
   >> Starts service late.
   >> Typos on the screen.
   >> Talks to the praise band while leading worship instead of using hand signals to tell them what to do.
   >> When the leader changes the key of the song and does not tell the rest of the team.
   >> Goes out of order or adds another song in the middle of the set
   >> When the leader and/or band member turns away from the people to mess with their gear.
   >> When the production team on stage are laughing, joking, and gesturing behind the worship leader to the soundboard guys in the transition between worship and the message.
5. Singing (11 responses)
   >> Can’t sing very well.
   >> Doesn’t know the lyrics.
   >> When worship leaders run words together.
   >> When they put their own little spin on simple, common words.
   >> Repeating the same line in a song 3.6 million times. There’s the Spirit’s leading and then there’s just plain losing people.
   >> Our old church’s leader would sing so high that no one could sing along. She provided no harmony for us to pick up. It was to showcase her own voice.
6. Appearance (9 responses)
   >> Sing with their eyes closed.
   >> When singers act like they are really bored up there.
   >> Wears crotch hugging jeans.
   >> Looks or sounds seductive.
   >> One of our young worship leaders had a really big hicky on his neck a couple of weeks ago.
7. Prayer (8 responses)
   >> Inauthentic prayer – too scripted or so random that it doesn’t make sense, or rushed/dragged out to make the prayer fit the interlude.
   >> Prays the words of the songs.
   >> When they can’t talk or pray appropriately between songs.
8. Bad Transitions (5 responses)
   >> Transitions between songs take long time.
   >> Allows uncomfortable dead time between songs.
   >> When they pray essentially the same prayer at a transition moment.
   >> Using the song name as an introduction/transition - “You know I was thinking about how much God has done for me…it really is ‘Amazing Grace’ isn’t it?”
9. Lifestyle (4 responses)
   >> When he’s obviously ungodly during practice and throughout life, but turns into a saint on Sunday morning.
   >> I hate to see a person who is suppose to be leading worship acting like a jerk before service and then getting up on stage acting like nothing ever happened.
   >> As a Pastor, I hate it when the music guy/gal is lazy apart from their 30 minute set on Sundays.
10. Catering to the Congregation (4 responses)
    >> When they hold back because they are obviously conscious of what the congregation and/or pastor will think.
    >> I hate it when worship leaders/pastors play to people who think the worship somehow revolves around what they like and what makes them feel good when it has absolutely nothing to do with our preferences or likes.
    >> Has to risk being a cheerleader because the people that claim to love God exhibit no sense of joy when singing about Him.

Some of the pet peeves also have supporters. For instance, many people find it important to ask the congregation to raise their hands or shake hands with others. Ultimately, what matters most is that the worship leader is a Christlike example that can lead people’s focus into intimate worship with God. I like the quote that one commenter referenced:

Leading worship is the art of removing distractions.

For Discussion:
- What tips do you have for creating an effective worship experience?
- Do you have any worship leader pet peeves?

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?

Back in January, I highlighted a short video of the 2007 Christmas service at Fellowship Church (Grapevine, TX). Today, Pace Hartfield uploaded even better videos of the Christmas service as well as a glimpse of how Fellowship Church designed the creative elements.

The Christmas Service

The Creative Video

How They Made the Creative Video

For more details about Fellowship Church’s production process, read Pace’s full explanation on his blog.

Pace Hartfield, the worship and creative pastor at Fellowship Church (Grapevine, TX), posted a video of their Easter 2008 service. The projection screens display some great usage of motion graphics.

Be sure to regularly check out Pace Hartfield’s blog for the latest on Fellowship Church’s worship.

Rick Warren of Saddleback Church (Lake Forest, CA) wrote a two part article on Saddleback Church’s 12 convictions about worship (part 1 & part 2). Here is the list:

1. Only believers can truly worship God.
2. You don’t need a building to worship God.
3. There is no correct style of worship.
   The truth is God loves all kinds of worship styles – as long as we worship him in spirit, in truth, and in an orderly fashion.
   
4. While unbelievers can’t worship, they can watch believers worship.
   Non-Christians can’t worship, but they can see the kind of joy worship brings us.
   
5. Worship is a powerful witness to unbelievers if God’s presence is felt and the message is understandable.
   
6. God expects us to be sensitive to the fears, hang-ups, and the needs of unbelievers when they are present in our worship services.
   Whenever you hear people talk about being sensitive to unbelievers, that is not watering down the gospel. It’s called love. You’re just being nice to them.
   
7. Worship services do not have to be shallow to be evangelistic, and the message does not have to be compromised. It just has to be understandable.
   Remove the unnecessary barriers, so people can hear the often-uncomfortable gospel.
   
8. The needs of believers and unbelievers often overlap.
   For instance, both believers and unbelievers need to know what God is really like.
9. It’s best to specialize your services according to purpose.
   It’s best to design one service to edify believers and another to evangelize non-believers. Most churches try to do both at the same time. But if we send mixed signals, we’re going to get mixed results. You can’t aim at two targets at the same time.
   
10. A service geared toward non-believers is meant to supplement personal evangelism, not replace it.
11. There is no standard way to design an evangelistic worship service.
12. It takes unselfish mature believers to offer an evangelistic worship service. This is the most important of all.
    Paul says it like this: “We would put up with anything in order not to hinder the Good News of Christ in any way” (1 Cor. 9:12b GW).
    

For more thoughts on each of the twelve be sure to read the original article (part 1 & part 2).

Some churches like to go all out on their Christmas services. Usually, the goal is to create a “Wow!” experience for the people who rarely come to church as well as those who have never been. And hopefully, this “Wow!” experience will get them to come back and start attending more regularly. Here are four churches that put on quite a show for Christmas 2007.

#1 - Willow Creek Community Church (South Barrington, IL) - “Imagine Christmas”

#2 - Fellowship Church (Grapevine, TX)

>#3 - Granger Community Church (Granger, IN) - “Let It Be Christmas”
Photos courtesy of Tim Stevens
Watch the service.

#4 - Church on the Move (Tulsa, OK) - “This Christmas”

Wow!