What was different Sunday at TTUMC? More than one thing.
First of all, WE HAD LIGHTS.
Over the years as electrical wires wore out and electrical fixtures broke, shadows had deepened in the TTUMC sanctuary, veiling the people on the platform. Sunday, we blew that problem away.
Dazzling new banks of lights lit the worship band. The banner raised for our 50th anniversary sparkled. Smiles shined out at 1000 watts. It was great. But, as I took my seat in a pew near the front, I sensed another change. But I couldn’t identify it.
Was it the platform? The Worship Arts team had done a fantastic job of making it uncluttered and attractive.
That was great, too. But there was something else.
Then I saw it: the little wooden wall that separates the first row of pews from the kneeling rail was GONE!
Even though I was sitting three rows back, I felt uneasy. Without the little thigh-high wall (is that the name for that thing? Thigh-high? “Hey Bob, why were you crying after the service?” “Because I bumped my knee on the dadgummed thigh-high again.”)–anway, without that little wall, everything was so open.
This was a surprisingly big change. Why? Well, it struck me that if you were sitting in the front row, without that little wall, you’d be totally exposed to the experience. Nekkid. Naked to the Holy Spirit. Naked to the music. Naked to the message.
Who could stand that? Who could stand to worship without any protection? Without any barriers?
Who could stand to cast out the shadows and tear down the walls that keep people from coming close to Jesus?
We can, apparently.
I heard random snatches about the amazing lights (something about green on the sides or something) and the absence of the thigh-high… I’ll be excited to see what it’s like on Sunday!
Just random interest… did people sit in the vast nekkidness of the front row? I know some of the youth normally sit in the front row, but I bet they moved back (kids don’t wanna be nekkid in front of their parents, usually).
I bet when the kids are in the service, they’ll be thrilled to sit in the front without a thigh-high.
Guess that should teach us something, right? Teaching moment! The kids have no worries about being up-close and personal. They’ll see it as an opportunity to dance and do bigger motions to during worship time, rather than a point of self-consciousness. Ahhhh, to experience worship with the kids!
We can all learn from them. Guess Jesus knew what He was talking about with the whole “like a child” bit, huh?
Great post!
Comment by Erica Ares — April 4, 2007 @ 2:14 am |
Youth (4 or 5 of the younger Youth) were the ONLY people who braved the no-thigh-high zone last Sunday. But I think the change opens up the experience for everyone who sits within the first 3 or 4 rows.
Comment by Ed Jordan — April 4, 2007 @ 6:01 am |