CREATIVE CORNER Issues #1 – #10

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CONTENTS

ISSUE #1 | 3 SMART PHONES IN WORSHIP ISSUE #2 | 6 USING MEDIA TO SPICE UP YOUR WORSHIP ISSUE #3 | 8 WORSHIPPING WITH THE FIVE SENSES ISSUE #4 | 12 BREATHING LIFE INTO THE LORD’S PRAYER ISSUE #5 | 16 CREATIVE CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER ISSUE #6 | 25 CREATIVE RESPONSIVE READINGS ISSUE #7 | 30 VISUAL ART IN WORSHIP ISSUE #8 | 33 CREATIVE TITHING ISSUE #9 | 38 CREATIVE EVANGELISM ISSUE #10 | 43 CREATIVE PREACHING

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ISSUE #1 Smart Phones in Worship

Existing technology - specifically smart phones - can be leveraged creatively in the church to engage the congregation and encourage deeper fellowship with God. More than half of the population in the United States owns/uses smart phones, so naturally, it is a great way to involve people in our congregations and grow our corps. Here are a few neat apps/programs that can be used during worship services and sermons.

1. POLL EVERYWHERE Poll Everywhere is a program that allows you to poll your audience or congregation live using their smart phones. Since the polling is anonymous, you can get real answers to tough questions. This polling service stands out from the rest because the pollers do not have to download the app to take part - instead, they simply text their answers. While it might be too expensive to purchase the program for a single sermon (it costs $200 for one month), it might be a great tool to purchase for a 4-week sermon series. (www.polleverywhere.com)

2. GLISSER Glisser is an app that connects congregations to their preachers. Apart from the real-time polls, social sharing, and slide download features, the thing that gets me really excited about this app is its digital Q&A function. Congregation members can submit questions anonymously throughout the sermon. At the end of the sermon - or possibly during the sermon the following week - the corps officer can answer those questions. (www.glisser.com)

3. Today's Meet Backchanneling refers to the use of networks & social media to maintain an online, real-time conversation alongside spoken remarks. For example, if you attend a presentation at a conference, you’ll often find that some listeners in the audience are using their mobile devices to comment to other audience members about things the speaker is saying, while the speaker is saying them. While Twitter is probably the most popular medium for backchanneling (using #hashtags to create an instant network), corps officers may want a more controllable

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platform than Twitter provides. They can set up a temporary room using webtools, like Today's Meet, to host backchannel discussions. This is a great way to give quiet people a voice and to introduce additional facts and insights during a sermon. (todaysmeet.com)

4. YOUVERSION LIVE YouVersion Live gives congregation members a way to interact with church services and other live events using their mobile devices. They can follow along with message outlines and take notes, read related Bible verses and click through to the expanded passage, tithe, and request prayer. It works with any web-enabled phone, as well as any computer with an internet connection. (www.youversion.com)

5. QR CODES Print a QR code that can be read by mobile phones on the Sunday morning bulletin to link congregation members to sermon notes or additional material that will supplement the sermon. If you are not familiar with QR codes, they look something this:

You can generate your own QR codes free at www.qr-code-generator.com.

6. SELFIE SUNDAYS One part of the human experience that has largely escaped being shared with friends through the selfie is church. Other than the occasional undercover selfie taken by the youth in the back row, church is almost never part of the selfie, and few have the opportunity or encouragement to take a selfie during worship. Of course, when posted on social media, selfies can be pretty popular and get a ton of "likes" - and how cool would it be if these selfies got people excited about Jesus! • Schedule the selfie celebration. Give people advance notice and encourage the

use of props and costumes.

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• Plan for extra time (about five or ten minutes) for people to take pictures during your normal greeting time.

• Provide a few different background options to add color and creativity. Arranging or constructing backgrounds could be a fun activity for a youth group.

• Enlist a few cellphone-savvy volunteers. Most people can take the pictures themselves, but they may need help from a volunteer to post to social media platforms.

• Give everyone a specific hashtag to use, maybe something like

#SalvationArmySelfieSunday, to add to the photos so that you can search for them and show a few of them during the next Sunday service.

7. TEXTING And then, there is just good, old-fashioned texting. The corps officer delivering the message might ask that folks in the congregation text her/him a single sentence or phrase which answers a certain question. Then, she/he might decide to read a few of the responses aloud. It is a fun way to get people involved, and it can be interesting to see what people have to say!

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ISSUE #2 USING MEDIA TO SPICE UP YOUR WORSHIP

Most corps are fitted with projection equipment that can be used to project song lyrics and other announcements. Beyond this, there are so many cool ways that projection can be used within a corps setting, and there is an endless amount of neat media that can be featured at various parts of a Sunday service to add excitement to worship.

1. TIME LAPSE Time lapse footage can be used during different portions of a worship service.

1. DURING A PERSONAL TESTIMONY Project a time lapse of a butterfly emerging from its cocoon while listening to a corps member talk about his or her personal transformation since encountering Christ. Monarch butterfly time lapse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5QH3bGF4uU

2. DURING A SCRIPTURE READING

Project a time lapse of a seed growing into a sunflower while listening to scripture about the importance of growing in Christ. Seed to sunflower time lapse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-iPp6yn0hw

3. DURING A BRASS BAND PIECE

While listening to a band piece (maybe one with various “highs” and “lows”), project a time lapse of a storm which results in a rainbow. Storm to rainbow time lapse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juHaIa9AL6s

Here are a few other time lapse videos that you can use at different times during your worship service. Use your imagination! Aging woman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ew1i2zY9IEA

Sunrise/Sunset: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5xBpjyHhi8 (You can find one on Youtube from your own city as well)

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Baby bird hatching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JCSNvoQl20 Growth and ripening of fruit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_tNMJTvy7I

2. STOP MOTION Stop motion videos – videos made with a series of photographs placed one after another – can also be very powerful. With only a camera and a program like iMovie, these can be pretty simple to make. Here are a few different examples. “Paper Heart”: https://shiftworship.com/product/paper-heart/ Lego Easter Story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-M8Yesnt1V8 Heart of God Church Stop Motion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3HrZ6wkyIA Scrabble Stop Motion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YK5gq4ui68 Learn to make your own stop motion video at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=knLaovT6L0E. You can also use online tools such as Jelly Cam (ticklypictures.com/projects/jellycam/) to bring your series of photographs alive.

3. WHITEBOARD ANIMATION Whiteboard animation can also be lots of fun, and they are wonderful for teaching basic Bible stories or even more complicated theology. Here are some examples of how whiteboard animation can be used to illustrate different books of the Bible: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMA8aUNdgguioPd1CGh5sXKbzFbj9knhF You can use online tools such as VideoScribe (www.videoscribe.co) or GoAnimate (goanimate.com) to create these kinds of fun animations.

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ISSUE #3 WORSHIPPING WITH THE FIVE SENSES

Matthew 22:37 says that we should love the Lord our God with all our heart, and with all our soul, and with all our mind. But what about our noses, our ears, and our hands? Engaging each of the five of the senses can create unique worship experiences, evoking emotions from congregation members that can be otherwise unattainable. One of my favorite book series provides a plethora of ideas on ways to include sensory experiences in worship. These can be purchased on Amazon.com. Wallace, Sue. Multi-Sensory Church. Scripture Union Publishing, 2002. Wallace, Sue. Multi-Sensory Prayer. Scripture Union Publishing, 2000. Wallace, Sue. Multi-Sensory Scripture. Scripture Union Publishing, 2005. Birkinshaw, Ian. Multi-Sensory Together. Scripture Union Publishing, 2005. Borlase, Craig. Multi-Sensory World. Scripture Union Publishing, 2008. Rayner, Wendy. Multi-Sensory Seasons. Scripture Union Publishing, 2005.

1. SMELL “Let my prayer be set forth as incense before Thee.”

– Psalm 141:2 The following items can be smelled during various portions of a Bible study or Sunday service in conjunction with Bible readings, prayers, musical interludes, or testimonies. • Incense – While incense is often thought of as something tied to eastern religions,

incense and burnt offerings are found throughout the Bible (2 Chronicles 13:11).

• Bitter Herbs – The Passover (Exodus 12:8; Numbers 9:11) • Mint Leaves – (Matthew 23:23; Luke 11:42) • Essential Oils (Frankincense, Myrrh, etc.) – Birth of Jesus (Matthew 2:11) • Perfume – A Woman Pours Perfume on Jesus (Mark 14) • Aloe – Burial of Jesus (John 19:39-40) • Spices (Cinnamon, etc.) – Moses and the Israelites (Exodus 30) • Garlic – (Numbers 11:5) • Mustard – (Matthew 13:31)

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2. TASTE

“Take, eat. This is My Body, which is broken for you, for the forgiveness of sins.” –Matthew 26:26

The following items can be tasted during various portions of a Bible study or Sunday service in conjunction with Bible readings, prayers, musical interludes, or testimonies. (Note: Some items included in the “Smell” section can also be tasted.) • Apple – Adam and Eve (Genesis 3)

• Vinegar – Ruth and Boaz (Ruth 2:14) • Water – Living Water (John 4:14) • Fruit – Fruit of the Spirit (Galations 5:22-23) • Milk and Honey – The Promised Land (Joshua 21:43) • Bread – The Last Supper (Matthew 26:17-30) • Grape Juice – (Numbers 6:3) • Olive Oil – (Ezra 6:9; Deuteronomy 8:8) • Eggs – (Job 6:6; Luke 11:12) • Fish – (Matthew 15:36; John 21:11-13) • Saltwater – Tears; Death of Jesus (Matthew 27:32-56) • Salt – (Ezra 6:9; Job 6:6)

3. TOUCH

“Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see.” –Luke 24:39

The following items could be handed out before or during a Bible study or Sunday service. These can be referred to during the main sermon or during Bible readings, prayers, musical interludes, or testimonies. By physically handling these items, congregation members are able to make better sense of abstract stories or ideas.

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• Hay – Birth of Jesus (Luke 2:1-20)

• Clay – Potter and the Clay (Isaiah 64:8) • Iron Nails – Crucifixion of Jesus (John 19:16-18) • Linen Bandage – Burial of Jesus (Matthew 27:59) • Seeds – Farmer Planting Seeds (Mark 4) • Hair Clipping – Samson and Delilah (Judges 16) • Stones – David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17) • Gold Coins – Parable of the Gold Coins (Luke 19:11-27)

4. SEE & HEAR

“The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.”

– Matthew 6:22

“He who has ears, let him hear.” – Matthew 11:15

This performance piece can be used just before or after a sermon in order to set or maintain a mood of quiet reflection. While each of the four narrators read the Bible verse connected to an element – Water, Wind, Earth, and Fire – the associated sound effect is played. You can access the succession of sound effects here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZ9qcRi73NE&feature=youtu.be. A short pause (5 to 10 seconds) takes place between each narrative in order for the congregation to listen more closely to the element’s sound effect and pause for a moment of reflection. Play around with the location of each of the four narrators. As long as they can be heard, and as long as they know in which order they are to speak, they can be positioned anywhere around the room/chapel. Be creative! Dancers/movers could also be added to the piece in order to represent each of the elements. For example, as the narrators speak, they could use blue ribbons to represent water or they could dance together with large, billowy fabric to represent wind. After the “Water” portion is read, you may choose to offer cups of water to certain

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congregation members. Similarly, after the “Fire” portion is read, you may choose to have people in the congregation light candles. Water (John 7:37 – 39) “Jesus said, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” Holy Spirit, we are parched and thirsty for you. Come and water the dry ground of our hearts. Soak us. Drench us. Refresh and revive us. Come, Holy Spirit! Wind (Acts 2:1-2) Jesus said, “Do not be amazed that I [say] to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Holy Spirit, we are unbending and set in our ways. Come and disturb us. Compel and empower us. Come, Holy Spirit! Earth (Isaiah 48:13) Jesus said, “My own hand laid the foundations of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens; when I summon them, they all stand up together.” Holy Spirit, you are the ultimate creator. We marvel at your works – the birds of the trees, the animals of the forests. They all reflect your beauty, your power, and your boundless love for us. Continue to envision, design, invent, inspire. Come, Holy Spirit! Fire (Isaiah 48:10) And the Lord said, “See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.” Holy Spirit, our love is cold, our lives impure. As precious metal is purified in the fire, come and refine us. Purify and cleanse us. Come, Holy Spirit!

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ISSUE #4 BREATHING LIFE INTO THE LORD’S PRAYER

The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) has been used for centuries in places of worship. Instead of a simply reciting it during your next worship service, breathe life into its meaningful words using one or more of the ideas below.

1. SIGN LANGUAGE As the congregation recites the Lord’s prayer during the worship service, you might choose to have one or more people stand in certain places around the chapel (surrounding the congregation, in the aisles, etc.) to “perform” the prayer in American sign language. You could also have this prayer signed during a band piece or other musical number – instead of having the congregation recite the prayer out loud, put the words of the prayer up on the screen. This will encourage congregation members to silently follow along with the prayer while allowing the musical piece to play uninterrupted. A printable handout of the Lord’s Prayer in ASL can be found here: http://www.victorylutheran.org/home/3508/3508/74471/Middle%20Grades%20May%205%20Additional%20Pages013.pdf. A video of the Lord’s Prayer being performed in ASL can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHSrdrGL1Uc.

2. RECITE IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES Congregations today are more multicultural and more multilingual than ever. Therefore, why not recite this prayer in different languages? Play around with where the speakers stand. Maybe they stand where they are seated in the congregation, or perhaps they stand in the back of the chapel as photographs of needs in the various countries (e.g. Spanish – Guatemala; France – Democratic Republic of the Congo) are projected on the screens. Here is a link to The Lord’s Prayer in almost every language: http://www.krassotkin.ru/sites/prayer.su/other/all-languages.html

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Here is a video to help with pronunciation of the prayers in some of these languages: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbsPF4xvDps.

3. INSERT OTHER PASSAGES FOR DRAMATIC READING

a. EXAMPLE ONE:

Although the Lord’s Prayer generally stands on its own, it is also in conversation with other Biblical passages. Instead of simply reciting it verbatim, you can add in Bible passages that correspond to the prayer’s themes and concepts to make it more of a responsive reading. An example is included below. (Bible verse references are not meant to be recited.) ALL: Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. MEN: Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore. (Psalm 113:2) ALL: Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done On earth as it is in heaven. WOMEN: For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother. (Mark 3:35) ALL: Give us this day our daily bread. MEN: You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. (Psalm 145:16) ALL: And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. CHILDREN: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9) ALL: And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. WOMEN: Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tested. (Hebrews 2:18) MEN: For thine is the kingdom, WOMEN: The power, and the glory, CHILDREN: For ever and ever. ALL: Amen.

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b. EXAMPLE TWO: Instead of scripting it out as a responsive reading, you could also ask certain congregation members to share short prayers between certain sections of the Lord’s Prayer. An example is below. ALL: Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. (Insert a short prayer here that the name of the Lord will be glorified in all the Earth.) ALL: Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done On earth as it is in heaven. (Insert a short prayer here that the Lord’s will be done in the lives of His people.) ALL: Give us this day our daily bread. (Insert a short prayer here that the Lord will provide for His people.) ALL: And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. (Insert a short prayer here that the Lord will forgive His people / help His people to forgive others.) ALL: And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. (Insert a short prayer here at the Lord will help His people overcome temptation.) ALL: For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.

4. MUSICAL VERSIONS Musical versions of The Lord’s Prayer can be used for dance routines, choreodramas, the lighting of candles, etc. You could also choose to have the prayer performed in sign language while playing one of these songs. There is a Spanish version, Korean version, and a hula (ukulele) version included below. Marvin Gaye (acapella) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1v-Rz-wurBg Michael W. Smith - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7LJEUcmtw8

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GhostRyder (Rap/Hip Hop) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfEh9jesew0 The Lord’s Prayer in Swahili - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsINANZ6Riw Coro Cantare (Spanish version) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3fADJhIhVs Ukulele version (Hula) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdSNKyoRMiQ Bada (Korean version) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYI5RGx8pVw

5. LORD’S PRAYER DRAMA Below is a simple drama sketch that can be performed by one or more corps members to bring attention to The Lord’s Prayer. Feel free to alter or shorten it in order to suit your congregation, space, or participation. This particular drama can be performed by a person of any age or gender – there is great flexibility. Lord’s Prayer Drama: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLVzV9n69UY

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ISSUE #5 CREATIVE CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER

Most worship services include a time of prayer, whether it be at the beginning of a worship meeting to prepare hearts to hear God’s Word, or at the conclusion to encourage a time of commitment. There are many creative ways to spice up these moments of prayer and encourage deeper communication with God.

1. PHYSICAL PRAYER

“And all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!”

Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.”

Nehemiah 8:6B

While using one’s body during a time of prayer may be a foreign concept to some, it is certainly Biblical. The Bible urges us to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God (Romans 12:1). It may take time for congregational members to warm up to the idea. You may choose to begin warming up your congregation by introducing very simple physical prayer elements. This might include asking congregation members to look up to heaven as they pray, holding hands throughout the sanctuary during a prayer about community, or kneeling at their seat during a prayer about spiritual surrender. Once folks are on board, this can be an extremely meaningful form of corporate prayer. Below is one example of a physical prayer that you can use during your Sunday services: The prayer below can be used as a preparation prayer before a worship session. It can be done sitting, standing, or kneeling.

First, put your hands in front of you, one on top of another, forming a cup (as if you were holding a butterfly inside). Think about something that is getting in the way of your worship. Perhaps a worry or a thought that is clouding your mind.

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Hold your cupped hands further away from your body as you are handing it over to God.

Next, open your hands with the palms facing downwards and imagine that thing falling away from you to the floor.

Finally, turn the palms of your hands upwards and ask the Holy Spirit to draw near and help you to worship.

These actions can be repeated more than once. For example, the first time that you carry out this prayer, you might want to imagine a worry in your hands, and ask the Holy Spirit to give you peace. The second time, you might want to imagine a distraction in your hands, and ask God to give you a sense of joy and expectation in meeting with Him. The third time, you might want to imagine something more general (anything in the environment that might get in the way of worship, etc.), and ask God to give you the freedom to express yourself freely in worship. Also, check out “Praying with Our Bodies”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uchIXkocfJo

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2. ALL AT ONCE

“When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. ‘Sovereign Lord,’ they said, ‘you made the heavens and the earth and the sea,

and everything in them.” Acts 4:24

This is a well-known prayer method in which everyone in a congregation prays out loud simultaneously. Congregation members can pray about anything they’d like, as loudly as they’d like. The idea is that the sounds of the different voices cover one another. Be sure to give some sort of signal for when the time of prayer is to begin and finish (maybe a bell or musical sound). You can suggest a particular prayer theme if you’d like as well. In smaller corps, a problem that you may come across is that there are not enough voices to disguise an individual voice. Because of this, people might feel bashful and not want to pray out loud. Another common problem that you might come across is that someone has to start and end the prayer, and it can be embarrassing to discover that you are the only one talking. One way to address these problems might be to play an audio track of many people talking/praying at once. You can use a simple recording app on a smart phone, as the audio track does not need to be high quality. A track like this can be made by getting a group of people together, scripting a few prayers and recording all of the voices talking at once. Some voices might alternatively choose to read Bible passages. The most important part is not the actual words used, but the amount of voices and the tones of those voices. Make sure that are some high-pitched voices and some low-pitched voices on the recording. Then, play this track during the “All at once” time of prayer at your corps.

3. MEDATATIVE PRAYER

“I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.” Psalm 119:15

Due to the fact that it is used heavily in many spiritual/Eastern religions, meditation has earned a bad rap in the Christian church. However, meditation is very Biblical. In fact, even Jesus meditated a number of times. By taking time to sit in silence, develop an awareness of yourself and others, and focus in on the Lord, individuals (and congregations) are able to engage with the Lord in ways they might not otherwise. Meditative prayer can be entirely personal – providing a space for complete silence and one-on-one time with God – or it can be corporate using a few Biblical “image

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creations” in which the facilitator walks the congregation through a story which the congregation members can visualize in their minds. God can speak to us is through our imaginations. Imaginations are often neglected in the church, yet, like our other gifts and talents, it can be used by God. You can take any Bible passage and encourage congregation members to place themselves in the position of one of the characters in the story, An example from Sue Wallace’s “Multi-Sensory Prayer” is below:

This is an imaginative mediation based on scripture.

Find a position in your chair in which you can rest and let your imagination wander. Close your eyes.

It’s four o’clock on a Saturday afternoon. You’re sitting alone at home relaxing. The room is warm and peaceful – not much noise from the outside, just the gentle tapping of rain on the window. Suddenly though, you hear a loud knock on the door. It’s not an angry knock, but it is gently insistent all the same. You walk to the door and open it.

To your surprise, a man is standing there. You’ve never seen him before. At least you think it is a man – Somehow, it’s a little unclear. He is casually dressed, in jeans and a sweatshirt. He has a ponytail and is smiling at you. “Hello.” He greets you by your first name as if you are an old friend. You are puzzled and a little suspicious at first. Then he says, in a gentle voice, “Can I come in? I’ve been sent by God, and I have a message for you.”

You look closely at the figure on the doorstep. Somehow what he says doesn’t seem so strange. He looks just like an ordinary person – no wings, no robe, no sword – but there is something about his eyes that convinces you that he is an angel from the Lord. There’s a certain glow, like the light of inspiration: like those eyes might have seen things a human never has – eyes full of love.

For some reason, and you’re not really sure why, your heart starts beating faster, as if something really important is going to happen.

You show the strange man inside. You sit in a chair, and he sits opposite. He begins to speak. “You have a gift, although sometimes you ignore this gift. I hear you saying, ‘I’m not very good really,’ or ‘It’s only a little thing. Nothing of importance.’ But at least one person has mentioned this gift, haven’t they? Tell me about it. And be straight. No false modesty. No false pride. Tell me as it is. As it seems to you now.”

You now tell the angel about your gift.

(Speaker pauses)

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When you’ve finished telling the angel about your gift, you realize something. You suddenly remember the Jewish teenager who also had an angel visit her. She had a talent for being a good mother – a talent she needed, as her task was to care for a very important child. You wonder if she knew she had this talent when the angel came. Or did it come as a complete surprise?

Then the angel looks at you once more and says, “You are thought of highly by God. He loves you.” And then the angel calls you by name – the name you call yourself in your head, and then he says that you are indeed talented.

A thrill runs down your spine. A shiver of anticipation and fear. The angel says, “Don’t be afraid, gifted one. God is pleased with you. He has a task he wishes you to do with the talent that you have.”

And you listen as the angel tells you of the task to be done.

(Speaker allows for long pause)

After the angel has finished, you think of Mary once more. You remember how scared she must have been when the angel told her the task that she had to do: to give birth to the Son of God. You remember then the reply she gave the angel: “I am the Lord’s servant. May it happen to me just as you have said.”

And if you are ready – truly ready – give your reply to the angel.

(Speaker pauses)

After you have said your reply, you get up from your chair. Suddenly, you see the room is empty. The stranger has gone, but what he has said has changed you forever.

(Speaker ends with a prayer)

4. PRAYING FOR THE WORLD Invite congregation members to physically face the area of the world about which you are praying. If you are praying for a city/state/country to the East, have the congregation turn to the East, hold out their hands, and pray either simultaneously (“All At Once”) or have a leader pray out loud on behalf of the group.

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You might choose to pray for the North, South, East, and West, with one congregation member praying for each. For each prayer, the congregation would turn to the appropriate direction. This might be a great addition to a Self-Denial service. An example is given below: NORTH: Lord, we pray for our environment here on Earth. Global warming is already showing its effects - The polar ice caps are quickly melting, which is beginning to severely affect life here on our planet. We ask that you show us a way to remedy this problem, and we ask for a greater resolve in each of our lives to take appropriate action – we want to do our part. Help us, oh Lord. EAST: Lord, we pray for our brothers and sisters in the war zones in the Middle East. We know that this conflict has been present for a long time now, and it has claimed many lives. We ask for a Holy peace that only You can introduce and sustain. Help them, oh Lord. SOUTH: Lord, we pray for a quick and effective cure for the Zika virus, which is plaguing the people of South America. We know that this disease is having a real effect on pregnant women and their babies – the next generation of your Kingdom. We ask that you will perform miracles – heal the infected, protect the healthy, and show us a way forward. Help them, oh Lord. WEST: Lord, we pray for the ministry of The Salvation Army in the Western Territory. We pray that your people in this part of the world will be active, bringing more and more people to the foot of Your throne. We praise you for what you have already done, and we rejoice in what you will continue to do. Help us, oh Lord.

5. PRAYING THROUGH A LIST You might choose to break up a list into sections/parts that you can assign to individual members/couples/families within the congregation.

a. THE BEATITUDES You might try to pray through the Beatitudes. As a leader reads through each, different congregation members are asked to pray a sentence or two for each one. Below is an example:

LEADER: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

(Prayer)

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LEADER: Blessed are they who mourn,

for they shall be comforted.

(Prayer)

LEADER: Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

(Prayer)

LEADER: Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they shall be satisfied.

(Prayer)

LEADER: Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

(Prayer)

LEADER: Blessed are the pure of heart,

for they shall see God.

(Prayer)

LEADER: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.

(Prayer)

LEADER: Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

(Prayer)

b. THE PROMISES OF GOD

You might choose to pray through some of the promises of God. Below is an example: LEADER: You promise us forgiveness if we repent. (Congregation member prays) LEADER: You promise us protection from evil.

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(Congregation member prays) LEADER: You promise to give us guidance and wisdom when we are not sure where to turn. (Congregation member prays) LEADER: You promise us peace that surpasses human understanding. (Congregation member prays) LEADER: You promise us eternal life. (Congregation member prays)

c. THE NAMES OF GOD

You might try to pray through some of the names of God. You might choose to have one person read the names of God, and have different people pray a sentence or two after each one. Below is an example:

LEADER: JEHOVA BORE – “The Lord Creator”

PRAYER: Lord, you created the heavens and the Earth. May all living things give

You glory.

LEADER: JEHOVA-HOSEENU – “The Lord our maker”

PRAYER: Lord, you knitted me in my mother’s womb. You made me to fit perfectly within your Kingdom. You make no mistakes.

LEADER: JEHOVA-SHAMMAH – “The Lord who is Present”

PRAYER: Lord, be present with us today here in this place.

LEADER: JEHOVAH-ORI – “The Lord my light”

PRAYER: Lord, in these dark days, be the light to my path.

LEADER: JEHOVAH-MEPHALTI – “The Lord my deliverer”

PRAYER: Lord, deliver me from the evil of this world

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6. PUNCTUATED PRAYER You can punctuate a time of prayer with a number of creative elements to breathe life into what is being prayed for. You can plan the “theme” of each prayer in advance so that these punctuations can be rehearsed beforehand. You can include dance (group numbers or solos), a recitation of scripture or poetry, a short musical/percussion piece, etc. Keep these punctuated sections brief (no more than one minute each) so as to maintain the flow of the prayer time. Here are some examples: Following a prayer about physical healing, you might have someone read a series of scriptures:

“Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; Save me, and I shall be saved, for You are my praise.” Jeremiah 17:14

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3

Following a prayer about increasing faith, you might have someone read an excerpt of poetry. Following a prayer about the salvation of a loved one, you might have someone perform a simple dance piece. Following a prayer about someone who is seeking God’s will in his/her life, you might have someone sing an acappella version of “All That I Am”: “All that I am All I can be All that I have All that is me Accept and use, Lord As You would choose, Lord Right now today. Take every passion Every skill Take all my dreams And mend them to Your will. My all I give, Lord For You I live, Lord, Come what may.”

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ISSUE #6 CREATIVE RESPONSIVE READINGS

Some corps continue to include responsive readings within their worship services. However, since they often tend to be liturgical and stuffy, some churches avoid them like the plague. I believe that if more corps knew of the different ways that responsive readings could be structured and integrated, far more corps would choose to employ them. Here are a few ideas.

1. DELIVERING A RESPONSIVE READING LIKE A PIECE OF MUSIC

Just like a piece of music, a responsive reading is interpreted by those speaking – and the congregation might not even be aware of their interpretation! A responsive reading script can sound very different when used with one congregation as opposed to another. In order to breathe life into an old responsive reading that your corps has recited numerous times, add “expressive marks” into the script. These markings might indicate:

1. Speed/Tempo (slow when talking about Jesus’ death; lively when referring to the resurrection)

a. Use indicator words like “Lentando” (slowing) or “incalzando” (getting quicker)

b. Add notes along the way like “Speed up at this line” or “slow down after that word”

2. Volume/Dynamics (soft - Jesus as a shepherd; loud - God’s mighty power)

a. Set the scene of the reading by including volume markings such as “pianissimo,” “piano,” “mezzo,” “forte,” “fortissimo”

b. Use crescendo and diminuendo markings

3. Articulation/Accents (“For God so loved the world that He gave his only son . . .”)

a. Underline and/or bold words/phrases within the reading that should be emphasized.

4. Style/Mood (“Read with energy,” “Read in mourning,” “Read with passion,” “Read with rhythm,” etc.)

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a. Indicate what the style or mood of the reading should be.

5. Pitch (“Read the voice of God with a low, booming voice”; “Read the voice of the angel with a light, airy voice”)

a. Indicate the pitch/quality of various portions of the reading. Be sure to know your congregation. If the people within your congregation have a lot of musical knowledge, they may pick up on musical terminology and markings. If they are not, these markings might make them feel alienated. Don’t be afraid to err on the side of caution and use well-known words and markings. TRY THIS! Write in certain expressive markings on a responsive reading and use it on a Sunday morning. Then, go back and change those expressive markings and have your congregation recite it again the following month. You will be surprised at how the new inflection/interpretation brings new meaning to the reading.

2. CREATIVE WAYS TO SEPARATE SPEAKING PARTS Traditional responsive readings often make use of a “leader” who stands on stage and leads the reading. He or she reads a line or two, and the congregation reads the next line in unison. Depending on how contemporary the responsive reading might be, it might include speaking sections for “Men” and/or “Women.” In order to make the reading more interesting, you might choose to break down the reading further into additional sections and indicate different groups to speak. These might include one or more of the following:

• junior soldiers/children • senior soldiers/teens • Salvation Army officers • mothers • fathers • grandparents • married • unmarried • bandsmen/bandswomen • songsters • ARC beneficiaries • corps adherents

This is most compelling when the particular sections being read relate to a certain group of people. For instance, have children read portions about approaching the Kingdom of Heaven like a child (Matthew 18:3). Have the unmarried read portions

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about Christ being the bridegroom (Isaiah 54:5). Have the songsters read portions about singing for joy to the Lord (Psalm 33:1-3). At a divisional gathering, a commissioning, or a congress, you might choose to craft a responsive reading that includes different speaking parts for people with different Salvation Army ranks (Lieutenants, Captains, Majors, Lt. Colonels, Commissioners, etc.). Finally, you might choose to create a “building” effect by designating certain lines to be spoken by a certain number of people. However, the leader would not pre-designate the voices – the congregation would feel this out as they speak. It is difficult to believe that this actually works, but somehow, most groups are able to figure this out on the fly.

a. EXAMPLE LEADER: I am the Alpha and the Omega 10 VOICES: Who is, ADD 10 VOICES: And who was, ADD 10 VOICES: And who is to come, ALL: the Almighty!

3. USING THE CONGREGATION IN STORYTELLING

a. THE CONGREGATION AS A CROWD The Bible includes so many stories that include a crowd. Here are just a few:

• The feeding of the five thousand (Matthew 14:13-21)

• Zacchaeus climbed the tree above the crowd to see Jesus (Luke 19)

• Pilate sentences Jesus to death (Luke 23:13-25)

• The crowd of Israelites escape the authority the Egyptians by walking through the parted Red Sea (Exodus 14)

For a responsive reading, you might choose to use the congregation as the “crowd,” and designate one or more people to read the lines of the characters. This does not have to be a full-blown play. The characters do not even have to necessarily have

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their lines memorized. Instead, it can stand as a dramatic reading of a particular Bible story or moment. An example is included below:

“A HOPELESS BEGGAR”

CHARACTERS

• Congregation (Divided into four groups – A, B, C, and D – to shout as specified in the script) • Narrator (Leader) • Bartimaeus • Jesus

NARRATOR: As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd . . . CONGREGATION: Jesus is coming! Jesus is coming! Jesus is coming! NARRATOR: . . . a blind beggar named Bartimaeus was sitting by the road. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout . . . BARTIMAEUS: (shouting) Jesus! Son of David! Have mercy on me! CONGREGATION: (repeat the following phrases three times simultaneously) A: Be quiet! B: Ssssshhhhh! C: Silence! D: Hold your tongue! BARTIMAEUS: (shouting more loudly than before) Son of David! Have mercy on me! JESUS: (with authority) Call him. CONGREGATION: (repeat the following phrases three times simultaneously) A: Cheer up! B: Get up! C: He’s calling you! D: It’s all right! NARRATOR: He threw off his cloak, jumped up, and came to see Jesus. JESUS: What do you want me to do for you?

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Bartimaeus: (with longing) Teacher, I want to see again. JESUS: Go! Your faith has made you well. NARRATOR: At once he was able to see. CONGREGATION: (repeat the following phrases three times simultaneously)

A: He can see! B: What a miracle! C: I can’t believe it! D: His eyes have been opened! NARRATOR: Bartimaeus got up and followed Jesus down the road. CONGREGATION: (joyfully) Praise the Lord!

B. THE CONGREGATION AS AMBIENT NOISE The congregation can also be used in responsive readings as a source of ambient noise. This ambient noise can help to round out a dramatic reading of a Bible story. For example, if you have created a dramatic reading of Noah and the flood, the audience could rub their hands together, snap their fingers, or create other sounds that might represent the falling of rain. Or, if you have a created a dramatic reading of Daniel in the Lion’s Den, the audience might growl at certain points as if they themselves are the lions – this is particularly fun for kids! There are so many possibilities. Simply choose a story and use the congregation as a storytelling tool!

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ISSUE #7 VISUAL ART IN WORSHIP

While some corps find ways to incorporate certain performing arts into their Sunday morning worship services, many find it difficult to incorporate visual art. However, the visual arts are just as important – if not more important – to include in worship. Images speak louder than words, especially in our media-savvy culture where we are surrounded by computer screens, HDTV, movies, and advertising. Images have the power to influence us, because our brains are wired to process our experiences as images first, and secondly, as words. Images are our primary way of processing our lives. They shape us and transform us. Below are ways in which you can involve visual artists in the ministry of your corps.

1. COMBINING VISUAL ART AND MUSICAL WORSHIP The most common use of visual art in the church is having an artist create visual art live during a time of praise and worship. Here is an example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxTSrDY9F6Q. You can see in this YouTube clip that the artists are set up on stage left. The artist will generally begin with a large, blank canvas at the beginning of a service and paint throughout the worship time and sometimes through the sermon. The painter (or other visual artist) is considered a worship leader, and he or she often stands alongside the other members of the worship team. The content of the art piece is often related to the theme of the worship or message, and it is characterized by some sense of spontaneity, experimentation, discovery, and artistic virtuosity. However, this kind of art does not only have to take place during a time of praise and worship. Here are a few ideas:

• Have a visual artist at your corps create a piece of art during a 4 to 5 minute brass band piece.

• Is there is a particular woman in your corps who often likes to sing solos? Have

her 7-year-old paint something on stage as she sings.

• Use the combination of visual art and music as your altar call and/or benediction.

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TIPS:

• Make sure that audience members can easily view the piece of art being created. This generally means positioning the canvas on the art easel in such a way that audience members are able to see the fill picture.

• Make sure that the canvas is not too small or too big. If it is too small, audience

members will have to strain their eyes to see the art piece. If it is too big, the artist will not be able to fill the full space in the allotted time, and there will be a great deal of white space left over.

• Try not to use paints or paint thinner that will create dangerous fumes or an

unpleasant scent. There are many brands of paint and paint thinners that are odorless – Opt for these whenever possible.

• Although you want to give the artist a full array of mediums with which to work

(oil paints, oil pastels, watercolors, colored pencils, etc.), you don’t want to include so many that the artist’s work space looks like a mess from the audience. Be selective with the mediums, and try switching them up every few weeks. This will result in different kinds of art being created, which can be exciting for a congregation to witness.

• Switch up the location of the painter every now and then. They do not need to

be confined to the stage. Try placing them by the piano, in the balcony, in a side aisleway, etc.

• Challenge your artists! Try switching out artists during the course of a worship

time. See if one artist can transform what another artist created into something entirely different but still meaningful to them.

2. INTERACTIVE ART You might choose to include your congregation in the art-making in some way. Here are a few ideas:

• Prepare a few pieces of thick paper and a few oil pastels for each congregation member. During the sermon, challenge both adults and children to create pieces of art which correspond to that which they hear and experience during the message. Before the altar call, invite a few volunteers to share what they created.

• Place artwork created by congregation members in your corps’ prayer room. Encourage an “art exchange” in which the person praying in the room can take a piece of art from the room if he or she replaces it with a piece of art that he or she creates during prayer.

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• During a time of prayer, introduce the concept of “Praying in Color”

(http://prayingincolor.com/) and encourage congregation members to turn their prayers into colorful pieces of art.

• Encourage the fine artists at your corps to create seasonal art to be positioned

behind the altar. This art might be reflections of personal struggles that they are experiencing in that season of their lives. By placing these art pieces at the altar, they are encouraged to give those struggles to God.

• During a time of personal testimony, invite a fine artist in your corps to paint the

story of the individual. Encourage the artist to make use of metaphors and symbolism.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Dillenberger, J. A Theology of Artistic Sensibilities: The Visual Arts and the Church. Wipf & Stock Publisher, 2004. Dyrness, William A. Visual Faith: Art, Theology, and Worship in Dialogue (Engaging Culture). Baker Academic, 2001. MacBeth, Sybil. Praying in Color: Drawing a New Path to God. Paraclete Press, 2007. Christians in the Visual Arts - http://civa.org/ Invisible Visible Visual Art Ministry - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nUt1H2YqPs Why The Church Needs Art Part One: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMpNP2wcAz4 Part Two: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AACiOjliLU Part Three: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2QxYZqilok Part Four: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hT91RDmQKDk The Relevance of Art in the Church - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnW61yDHsMg

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ISSUE #8 CREATIVE TITHING

Throughout Scripture, we are encouraged to give the first part of our resources to God as an expression of honor and gratitude: “Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase: so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine” (Proverbs 3:9–10). However, because this act of love is carried out each and every week, we begin to overlook its significance. Here are a few creative ways that you can remind your congregation of its importance.

1. CREATIVE TITHING METHODS

A. VOCALIZE PRAISE When each person places their tithe in the offering plate, you might ask that they verbalize something that they are grateful for. This helps to cement the idea that we give our tithes and offerings in joy because of all that God has already given us. Congregation members might choose to say these things loudly so that others can hear or murmur them under their breath so that it is between themselves and the Lord. Either way, it serves as a prayer of thanks.

B. CREATIVE CONTAINER Most corps use a particular receptacle to collect tithes and offerings each week. However, it can be fun to change up the container every now and again! For instance, you might choose to change the container you use in order to reflect the sermon topic or scripture. If you are preaching on Psalm 100 – making a joyful noise unto the Lord – you might choose to use a timbrel or small drum to collect the congregation’s offerings. If you are preaching on Exodus 2: 1-10 – the scripture which talks about Moses being placed in a basket and sent down the Nile River – you might choose to collect the offering with baskets. Here are a few other container options that you might consider:

• Buckets • Wooden treasure box • Satchel/purse • Clay pot/bowl • Jars

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• Shoebox/cardboard box For the children’s offering, why not collect their coins with a miniature wishing well bank? These things are so much fun, cost very little ($24.95 plus shipping), and children will be excited to give their coins each week - guaranteed! http://www.spiralwishingwells.com/toy/

C. GIVING FROM MOBILE DEVICES

There is no doubt that your corps needs a mobile giving strategy.

The statistics about smartphone usage is astounding:

• 58% of adults are smartphone owners (83% of adults aged 18-29). • 42% own a mobile tablet. • 63% of adults use their phones to access the Internet. • 34% of adults say their phone is the primary way they access the Internet. • 81% of adults use their phones to send and receive text messages.

Not many people tend to carry cash these days, and that can become an excuse to forgo giving. Since many congregation members are already using their phones to take notes or access a Bible app during the Sunday service, why not provide them with an opportunity to tithe online using the same device?

Here are a few great apps that you can use to establish an online giving platform. Most of these apps allow congregation members to tithe via mobile, web, and text message:

EasyTithe - https://www.easytithe.com/

Pushpay - http://echurch.com/product-overview/mobile-giving/#pushpay-app

Tithe.ly - http://get.tithe.ly/

The Giving App - http://www.thegivingapp.com/

D. PROVIDE GIVING OPTIONS Are there a number of different projects in your church that need funding? Maybe there is a need for musical instruments, a specific program that needs a boost, or a room that needs to be renovated. If this is the case, you might consider giving folks in the congregation options of different projects to which they can tithe on that particular week.

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In order to do this, place three or four offering containers on the holiness table. Label each with the cause or project. Ask that members of the congregation come forward to give their tithe to a project of their choice. By doing this, you are giving church members a better sense of where their money will be spent. Members will also be excited to see their money being used in a particular way. When the room is painted, congregation members will know that it was possible because of their giving. Similarly, when they see their children playing a new musical instrument purchased by the church, they will have satisfaction knowing that they helped to make it possible. DON’T FORGET! If you choose to use this method, make sure that you are giving regular financial updates to your congregation. Churches that regularly communicate with their congregations about budgets and ministry expenses raise more money than those that do not. Is there something hindering the completion of a project? Be transparent with your church members. When a project is completed, celebrate! Announce the completion to your congregation, and try to include videos and/or pictures to show the “before” and “after” effect.

2. TITHING: VIDEOS There are so many fun ways to teach the importance of tithing to your congregation. Below are a few fun skits and videos which aim to focus attention on the act of tithing. Of course, you can show these videos as they are, or you turn any of these videos into live skits that can be performed by members of your church.

A. ENTERTAINING/FUNNY “Tithing Stewardship” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoRyRiaO90g “Sports Sunday – The Ushers” https://www.bluefishtv.com/Products/Downloadable_Video_Illustrations/2537/Sports_Sunday_-_The_Ushers “Mr. Makes Change in the Offering Plate Guy” https://www.bluefishtv.com/Products/Downloadable_Video_Illustrations/2004/Mr__Makes_Change_in_the_Offering_Plate_Guy

B. SERIOUS/CONTEMPLATIVE “Skittles Illustration”

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1wZesalaU4 “Donuts” (Video quality isn’t great, but this would work well as a short sketch!) https://www.bluefishtv.com/Products/Downloadable_Video_Illustrations/2540/Tithe_Donuts_

3. READER’S THEATRE SCRIPT This original script is inspired by “The Offering Plate” by Bluefish TV. It is written for a cast of five people, but the lines can be divided among however many are available to take part.

“THE OFFERING PLATE” Performers stand in different locations throughout the chapel space. If performed in traditional reader’s theatre fashion, each performer holds a black binder with the script. No special costumes or stage scenery is required. If the piece is memorized, one or more of the performers may choose to hold offering plates that are typically used at the church on a Sunday. They might choose to interact with them in different ways (hold them, inspect them, etc.) 1: Do I tithe? Well, sure, I give my ten percent. 2: Should I tithe from my net or my gross paycheck? 3: God, if I tithe 15 percent this week, will you help me find a wife?? 4: Gee, I wonder how much the church is wasting on these little envelopes. 5: I made cookies for everyone in Songsters this week. God’s not going to miss my money this time around. 3: You can have my money, Lord, but I want you to know that I’m NOT happy about it. 2: Who really cares if I tithe from my bonus? 1: I’m sure my husband gave some last week. 2: Once my taxes are all paid . . . 3: After my credit cards . . .

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4: Once my car is paid off . . . 5: Once my loans are paid off, then I’ll tithe. 1: THEN I’ll start giving again. 4: THEN I can tithe. 2: THEN I’ll tithe. 5: I have SO little to give anyway.

(Lines begin to overlap. Each line starts where the * is indicated in the previous line.) 4: It’s football season, God. Don’t you know that I really need the special cable package * with all of the sports channels? 1: I need a new dress for my sister’s wedding. I’m sure that God would want me to look nice * for such a special occasion. 5: I am always giving my time and energy to the programs here at the corps. That is the way that I tithe * to the Lord. 3: Shoot, I forgot to split this twenty-dollar bill. Well, that’s okay, I’ll just try to give * more next week. 2: I’ll just put my tithe for this month into my savings. After all, God blesses those who take care of themselves!

(PAUSE)

1: I love you * God. 3: Thank you * Lord. 4: I love you * God. 1: Thank you * Jesus. 2: Thank you * Lord. 5: I love you.

(PAUSE)

ALL: Honor God with everything you own. Give him the first and the best. 1: Amen.

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ISSUE #9 CREATIVE EVANGELISM

Are there still a few empty seats in your chapel? Looking for creative ways to bring in new people? Here are five ideas to spread the word about your ministry in your community and equip your congregation to invite their friends.

1. “WHO ARE YOU INVITING?” WALL

Establish an “invite culture” in your corps with a “Who Are You Inviting?” wall. NewSpring Church asked their congregation to write the names of the people they would invite to the next Sunday service on a chalkboard wall. After writing the friend’s name on the board, encourage the congregation member to text a picture of their scribble to their friend, letting them know that they were remembered. This encourages both parties to follow through the following week.

NOTE: Make sure that the chalkboard wall is in a location where it will be seen throughout the week when congregation members return for mid-week programs. This will keep people accountable!

2. THE “EMPTY CHAIR” CHALLENGE

During a Sunday meeting, NewSong Church asked congregation members to pray for the empty seat next to them. They encouraged members to consider who they might invite to fill that seat. Each member then filled out a “This Seat Belongs To” card, which then doubled as a personal invite card.

You might decide to set a monthly goal to lessen the number of empty chairs in the sanctuary. This would be a great way to get your congregation on board!

3. THE CONNECTED CONGREGATION

Many congregations choose to integrate two to three minutes of meet-and-greet time into the time of worship. Mix things up a bit this week! Suggest that, during this meet-and-greet period, congregation members instead pull out their smartphones to send a brief text, Facebook message, or Snapchat message to someone that they know who does not go to church.

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Young folks might choose to take a goofy selfie with one of the corps officers or share a meaningful Bible verse via social media. Older folks might send a text to a loved one who is struggling or take 60 seconds to call someone they care about who is convalescing in the hospital.

DON’T FORGET! For any messages posted on social media, make sure that congregation members make use of a predetermined hashtag that will link the post to the corps’ page or website. This is crucial – Those who are tagged in the posts can then follow that hashtag to learn more about the corps, the Sunday service hours, weekly program schedules, etc.

4. EVANGELISM SCAVENGER HUNT

Is your corps located on a busy avenue? Is your building across the street from a big shopping center or mall? Instead of a traditional sermon next week, why not invite your congregation members to go on an “evangelism scavenger hunt”?

Here’s how it works. Invite the congregation to break into teams of 4 to 5 people. This is big enough for there to be meaningful interaction between the team members without people getting lost in the mix. Set a time for the groups to meet back in the sanctuary – this should be more or less equivalent to the time that would have been spent on the sermon (15-20 minutes).

Each group is given a paper detailing the various activities in which they are asked to engage. Encourage people to step out of their comfort zones. Let them know that what they put into the experience is what they will get out of it.

Here are a few examples:

• Pray with a stranger. • Ask people you meet for prayer requests and write them down to share with the

corps. • Sing “Amazing Grace” and see how many people around you join in. • Give out corps information cards.

If you’d like, you can make each activity or goal worth points. This way, it becomes a contest. Which team can pray with the most people? Who can get the most people to sing “Amazing Grace”?

Let them know that their team gets a BONUS if they are able to bring someone that they meet back to the corps with them!

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5. CORPS FLASHMOBS

Okay, I know what you’re thinking: Flashmobs are super fun, but putting one together can be a HUGE amount of work. Yes, certain kinds of flashmobs are more challenging to put together and require more planning that others.

For instance, check out this epic flashmob put on by Second Baptist Church in Houston: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KX2-J6uS-o

However, there are certain types of flashmobs that you can put together that are far more manageable. Here are a few ideas:

a. OPEN-AIR MEETINGS

Open-Air meetings are basically the flashmobs of the 19th century! Enough said.

b. NINJA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0t71cexWzvM)

This could be a lot of fun for the youth at your corps. Here is how it works: One person dressed as a ninja stands on the sidewalk with an extra sword and a sign at his/her feet that reads “Fight Me.” When the passerby picks up the extra sword to do just that, a huge group of additional ninjas appear to “fight” him/her.

After everyone enjoys the prank, one of the participants can hand the passerby a corps information card. This might read: “Think you’re having a bad day? Things can always get worse. But with Jesus on your side, no one can be against you! Find out more this Sunday at the San Diego Citadel.” The contact information for the corps should be listed, as well as the meeting time.

It might even be fun to have a “Ninja Sunday” when all of the folks who were pranked are invited to the corps to see what all the hubbub was about.

c. FREEZE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwMj3PJDxuo)

There are many ways that this type of classic flashmob can be used to draw people into the corps. Here is one example:

After everyone freezes, you might have someone with a megaphone step forward as Jesus. He might say something like “I came to give you life, and give

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it to the full.” Then, all who are frozen could sing a verse of a hymn or chorus. Participants then unfreeze and continue to mill around the area. Each person could have a small stack of corps information cards which they would then hand out to those who are present in the area.

d. BLIND FLASHMOB

All participants are blindfolded. They then walk through a crowded place. Since they are unable to see where they are going, they might create some confusion in the crowd.

Then, someone with a megaphone steps forward as Jesus and says “Follow Me.” All participants freeze in place and sing the first verse of “Amazing Grace.” Participants then unfreeze and continue to mill around the area. Each person could have a small stack of corps information cards which they would then hand out to those who are present in the area.

e. MP3 FLASHMOB

This flashmob can be very simple or more compex, depending on how much time the group has to prepare.

All participants download a song onto their smartphones. Possible choices could be:

a. “I’m a Soldier in the Army of the Lord” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfD-Jini4ok)

b. “Are you Ready for a Miracle” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nYMwxtwiDs)

Once the group is in a crowded area, all participants press play on their smartphones simultaneously. The more people participating, the better – the sound quality and volume will be greater when played on more smartphones.

Keeping it Simple: Participants can wave their smartphones above their heads and dance freestyle. They could even create a “dance circle” and have individual members of the group perform a few solo moves. People in the surrounding area will be interested to see what is going on – and you might even be able to encourage them to participate!

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More Complex: The song could be choreographed or include some kind of dramatic enactment. This could even include props and costumes. Let your imagination run wild!

f. SURPRISE CATWALK (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eS2phXqb-BE)

This one is tons of fun! Mark out a particular entrance/exit, and line it with chairs on either side. Fill the chairs with enthusiastic people, and add a photographer at the end of the “catwalk.” As people walk through the entrance/exit, have the people in the chairs applaud wildly, as if they are watching a high society fashion show. You’ll be amazed at how people respond!

This could be very fun to do at your local Salvation Army thrift store. Since many who shop at thrift stores are not churchgoers, this would be a fun way to not only draw attention to the thrift store, but to also tell them about the corps or other corps programs. Be sure to have corps information cards or flyers on hand!

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ISSUE #10 CREATIVE PREACHING

Are you stuck in a rut? Are you looking for new ways to enliven your sermons? Here are a few ideas to get your wheels turning!

1. BETTER SERMONS THROUGH IMPROVISATION

Mike Weaver, author of Better Preaching through Improvisation, shares some great ideas on how to use theatrical techniques to both create and present a sermon. Check him out on both Youtube and Facebook by searching “Better Preaching Through Improvisation.”

2. MONOLOGUE SERMONS (NARRATIVE SERMONS) A monologue casts the preacher in the role of a character from scripture, literature, or history. The preacher remains in character for the entire sermon, which takes the form of a speech delivered by that character to the audience. This might be a speech by David based on Psalm 51, a special message from the apostle Peter, or a training session from the apostle Paul for leaders of the church today. The preacher might choose to appear in costume or use appropriate props. DRAMATIC READING: If you’d rather not create an entire monologue sermon, why not make the Bible reading for that week into a simple dramatic reading? The preacher might choose to read a piece of scripture, adding dramatic emphases through voice, movement and gestures.

3. OPEN LETTER SERMONS An open letter is addressed to one person or group but is meant to be “overheard” by everyone. Open letters sometimes appear as sections in a newspaper, addressed to a prominent leader or celebrity. Martin Luther King Jr. also used this form for his “Letter to American Christians,” an open letter fictitiously attributed to the apostle Paul. Using an open letter as a sermon is a good way to address controversial topics.

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4. MULTI-PERSON SERMONS DIALOGIC SERMON: In a dialogic sermon, the audience of the message is the other person involved in the dialogue. The congregation is “listening in” to the conversation. It can be done dramatically, with each speaker in character, or naturally, with the speakers as themselves. A dialogic sermon can be a great way to explore a controversial or hard-to-understand subject, as each speaker can present a different point of view and question the other speaker. TAG TEAM SERMON: In a tag team sermon, the speakers take turns presenting elements of the message. People with different areas of expertise can make an effective tag team. For example, this might include conversations between a Biblical scholar and a pastoral counselor, a local pastor and a missionary, or a man and a woman. PANEL SERMON/DISCUSSION: You can add even more people to the conversation and create a panel discussion/sermon. This is a great way to include even more perspectives on an issue/topic.

5. SKYPE/GOOGLE+ These are fabulous tools to use for your sermons, and they can be used in a number of different ways:

a. GUEST SPEAKERS Instead of preaching yourself each week, allow other prominent voices to be heard. Many Christian authors, speakers, journalists, and podcasters are often willing to do this for free or cheap. If your corps or division sponsors an overseas ministry or corps, you might even be able to schedule a Skype session with them. By setting up your microphone system correctly, members of the congregation can even ask the guest speaker questions! Here is an example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BHhDMoFzQk

b. MULTI-PERSON SERMONS Use the conference calling function on Google+ to invite a number of speakers from near and far to call in and be a part of a larger discussion on a certain topic.

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6. “CHOOSE YOUR ADVENTURE” SERMON

Do you remember the books which would allow you to “Choose Your Own Adventure?” These stories allow the reader to control how the story progressed by which page he/she decided to turn to. You can use this same idea to give your congregation control over what you talk about on a given Sunday.

In the first issue of Creative Corner, we included information about the program Poll Everywhere. This is a program that allows you to poll your audience or congregation live using their smart phones. The polling is anonymous and the results are immediate. This polling service stands out from the rest because the pollers do not have to download the app to take part. Instead, they simply text their answers. (www.polleverywhere.com)

Your sermon would include a number of different points of divergence. At each,

you would pose a question, and the answer to that question would set your sermon on a new path.

Here is an example: http://tamedcynic.org/choose-your-own-adventure-

sermon/. However, this preacher only uses one point of divergence, which is at the very beginning of his sermon. Think of ways that you might incorporate more avenues of exploration for your congregation. This can include yes/no answers or points of divergence in stories that serve as illustrations of your point (“Text A if Bill decides to go down to the altar, or text B if Bill stays in the pew”) In the below example, the red text boxes and arrows show the decisions that the audience made. Blue arrows and text boxes represent the options that the audience did NOT take.

WouldyouliketohearastoryaboutBilltheplumberorToddthelawyer?

Billhasnotbeendoingsowell,sohisfriendAmyencourageshimtogotochurchwithher.

Heacceptsherinvitation.Herejectsherinvitation.

Whenhegoestochurch,heistouchedbythesermon.

ToddwasaChristian,butwasstrugglingwithhisfaith.

Billgoesdowntothealtar.

Billstaysinthepew.

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7. INVOLVE THE ARTIST COMMUNITY

a. FINE ARTISTS Invite a potter to create pottery on stage during your sermon on Jeremiah 18. To add a fun element, you might ask the potter to walk you through the process of making a piece of pottery from scratch – and you could make one on stage! Invite a visual artist to paint during your sermon. This painting could be planned or something that the artist creates spontaneously. Or, if you are feeling particularly creative, you might choose to paint as you preach! Here is an example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dX8NZzIbPw

b. DANCERS/MUSICIANS Invite a dancer and/or musician to punctuate different sections of your sermon with periods of dancing/music. These creative “interludes” might be themed to correspond to different sections of the sermon: some might be light and happy in tone, while others might be somber or thought-provoking. Here is an example:

SERMON ON THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF CHRIST (FIVE PARTS)

• PART ONE: Jesus walks through the Garden (Interlude: Quiet, Reflective)

• PART TWO: Last Supper

(Interlude: Thoughtful, Foreboding)

• PART THREE: Peter Denies Jesus / Judas Betrays Jesus (Interlude: Fast-paced, Shock)

• PART FOUR: Crucifixion

(Interlude: Dark, Mourning)

• PART FIVE: Jesus is Raised from the Dead (Interlude: Celebratory)

8. MULTI-SENSORY PREACHING

Refer back to Issue #3 of Creative Corner (“WORSHIPPING WITH THE FIVE SENSES”). By drawing upon all of the senses during your sermon, you will create a powerful, immersive experience for the congregation. Here are a few ideas:

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a. SEE

• Use props for an object lesson

o BALANCE BEAM ILLUSTRATION: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y46YoVzX0VM

o PANCAKE ILLUSTRATION: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KW4Z65xl8I

o ROPE ILLUSTRATION: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86dsfBbZfWs

• Projection of media/images • Does your corps have a balcony? Make good use of it! Try

beginning your sermon from the balcony. • Install a few colored stage lights which can be used at various

points in the sermon to draw the congregation’s eyes to certain portions of the stage

• Change up the configuration of the stage every now and again. For example, move the pulpit to the other side of the stage.

b. HEAR

• Mix in different instruments into the band/worship team every so often (violin, harp, saxophone, etc.) These can add a great deal to the altar call following your sermon.

• Punctuate your sermon with times of prayer, beginning and ending each prayer segment with the sounding of a bell

• Encourage a cappella singing, and suggest that singers position themselves around the sanctuary to create a fuller sound for the congregation.

o EXAMPLE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTd9lW-RWRU (Watch 3:10 to 11:22)

• Change the location from which the sound is emanating. Immerse the congregation in the worship experience by having some of the sounds/music come from behind them and from the sides of the sanctuary (“Surround Sound Worship”). This is as simple as changing the location and direction of the speakers!

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c. TOUCH

• When congregation members enter the sanctuary, give them an item with which they can interact during the sermon (a piece of clay which they can mold into something, a brick that they will leave at the altar, a nail which they will hammer into a cross, etc.)

• Use props during your sermon – especially items with texture – with which the audience can interact. For example, during a sermon on Matthew 9:20 (a bleeding woman is healed by touching Jesus’ robe), have congregation members come forward to the holiness table to touch a similar piece of robe fabric.

9. POP-CULTURE TIE-INS

a. BOOKS/LITERATURE Choose a few classic or current literary bestsellers and draw inspiration from their pages to enliven your teaching. To mix it up a bit, have someone else from the congregation – maybe someone with a unique voice – read the particular section of interest out loud. You might also choose to focus on a poem, news report, blog post, or spoken word piece that has really stood out to you and tie it in to the sermon theme.

b. TV/MOVIE CLIPS Choose a few classic or current blockbusters and draw inspiration from their scenes/storylines to enliven your teaching. Why not play them on the screen during the sermon? You might also choose to focus on a particularly humorous or heartwarming advertisement that you’ve seen on television.

c. SONGS/AUDIO CLIPS Choose a few classic or current top hits and draw inspiration from their lyrics/melodies to enliven your teaching. Why not play them over the speakers during the sermon? You might also make use of a few fun sound effects to bring life and a little comedy to your sermon (“HONK HONK,” “TA-DA!,” etc.)

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10. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

a. AUDIENCE FLASH MOB

In the last issue of Creative Corner, we included a few links to flash mobs that you might choose to do in your community to bring people into the corps. However, why not include a flash mob in the middle of your sermon!

Here is a fun example of how the Westside Christian Church did it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrB9orYPa04

b. AUDIENCE INTERJECTION Include planned audience interjections. During your sermon, congregation members might stand up and ask pre-planned questions. From there, you can proceed to answer the question in your sermon. This is a fun way to involve the audience and work through topics that are controversial. If you’d rather answer unprompted questions, have congregation members text questions about things that you are saying during your sermon to your cell phone, and before the altar call, you can answer a few that you feel are relevant and interesting.