It was a beautiful space. Upon entering the building, one immediately began to recognize the careful attention to detail and abundant hospitality put into the design of the facility. Not only was this an accessible building that allowed for everyone to participate, it was liturgically beautiful - inviting people and drawing them in. 

On Tuesday, May 21, the wonderful staff at Monroe Community Church in downtown Grand Rapids welcomed 25 worship leaders and pastors from the greater community to a listening session about non-word-based worship practices. When we incorporate elements of worship that do not rely on words, we increase access. This event was hosted by Thrive, and funded by a grant from the Disability Ministry Network. They are part of a larger grants program that received funding from our partners at the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. In small groups the attendees discussed how their own congregations had incorporated visual examples, physical movement, participatory activities, space, art, music, dance, sign language, and other spiritual practices to draw people to God.

Below you will find some of the broader themes and ideas that were discussed around tables that evening. Our hope is that this document sparks new and creative ideas while also challenging you to think about your own worship practices in your context. If you have any questions or want more information, reach out to Thrive’s staff. They will be happy to talk with you!

What are some of the barriers to non-word-based worship practices in your church?

  • “We love words”: Many of our worship services are extremely word-heavy. This is what people have grown accustomed to and any deviation from this would seem radical. Some voiced that their congregations are uncomfortable with silence.
  • Uncomfortable with change: Many expressed that their church might find some of these practices uncomfortable and possibly unnecessary. Why make these changes if nobody is asking for them? Why can’t we keep things the way they are? 
  • Volunteers/People to pull it off: Volunteer burnout is a real challenge across the board in churches right now. Doing something like this will require more volunteers. We can’t justify it. 
  • Time: There simply is not enough of it to invest in this, even if we like it. 
  • Lack of creativity: We love these ideas, but I personally (or my team) is not creative enough to pull this off from week to week. This is not one of my gifts.
  • Financial barriers: Some of these ideas require financial investment (significant or not). Our church doesn’t have/doesn’t want to give up the funds to make this possible. 
  • Lack of knowledge/understanding: What are the theological reasons for making some of these changes? Are they Biblical? Aren’t these things just for kids?
  • Building accessibility: Many worship in buildings that are far from accessible. To take this work seriously, we would need to make significant capital improvements in our space to be accessible. 

What are some ways we can work to overcome these barriers?

  • Seek to create a beautiful and more welcoming space: Take small steps to improve what you already have.
    • Consider an “artist in residence” to help you create beauty in your space.
  • Breed empathy: Make as many personal connections as possible to show the reality and the need for changes. 
    • Give testimonies about how meaningful these new practices have been to members of your congregation.
    • Storytelling goes a long way.
  • Find your people
    • Form a creative team
    • Ask people to help with a “project” or a “season” not a committee without an offramp. 
    • Consult experts
  • Model new things first
    • Introduce at a special service before trying to engage the congregation
    • Do things more than once
    • Careful explanation about what you’re doing it and why
  • Build trust
  • Get feedback from the congregation
    • Put a timeframe/trial in place. Solicit feedback when it’s over
  • Plan low-stimulation services for a season

New Ideas to Try

  • Movement
    • Dance
    • Ribbons on sticks or scarves to wave
    • Motions during songs
    • Motions during Scripture (particularly familiar passages)
    • Hands open during prayers and blessings
    • Prayer postures
    • Prayer stations/places to kneel
    • Create a “walking/pacing” space in the back of your sanctuary
    • Basket of fidgets at the entrance of the sanctuary
    • Pray in small groups/circles instead of as a large group
    • During benediction, turn people around to face the doors. God is sending you out to serve. 
  • Participatory
    • Light a Christ candle: get multiple ages to participate in lighting and short prayer
    • Create art/installation for the sanctuary
      • Create a mosaic out of broken tiles, pieces of glass or stone. A safer option is to do a mosaic with cardstock paper. 
      • Create a quilt with fabric squares from everyone. People can write on them or bring them from home. 
      • Flowering cross
      • Loom: weave paper with prayer requests, laments, etc. 
    • Touch and feel
      • Touch the waters in the baptismal bowl. Take a stone from the bottom
      • Dip fingers in the ashes for Lent/Ash Wednesday. Smudge paper or make a cross on paper and use it as an art installation. 
      • Offer sensory items to hold during worship (nail, mustard seed, piece of cloth, rock, etc). 
    • Smell
      • Breadmakers in the sanctuary on communion Sunday or when the scripture is about bread
      • Flash paper (gives slightest scent of smoke) - but be careful to avoid a fire
    • Sound
      • Sound bowls
      • Make sure you have a hearing loop available through your sound system
      • Drum circles
      • Silence 
      • Pipe in sound of running water, wind, waves, etc. 
      • Handbells during times of silent prayer
      • Instrumental music
      • Be sure to vary your song dynamics: Make sure all your songs aren’t loud and boisterous!
      • Hand out rhythm instruments
      • Make sure you have a variety of voices speaking (all ages, both genders, etc). 
    • Visuals
      • If a photo appears on the screen, make sure to describe it for those who are visually impaired. 
      • Light an advent wreath/Christ candle, etc. 
      • Congregational art
      • Picture bulletins: Solicit art from all ages and abilities to include in bulletins
      • Change colors in the sanctuary during different seasons
      • Solicit photos from the congregation and include them in worship
        • Photos of something beautiful you saw this week, photo of someone you loved, photo of something ordinary in your house, etc.
      • Congregational art gallery
      • Provide art supplies for those who want to create something during the service
      • 3D objects and displays in the sanctuary 
      • Large print bulletins
      • Banners that don’t rely on words
        • A banner in Braille?
      • Videos
      • Modified sign language or American Sign Language

What are some helpful resources you’ve found?

What resources do we need in the Christian Reformed Church?

  • More resources around neurodiversity and worship
  • Listening sessions and learning opportunities
  • Trainings that build awareness
  • More input from those with disabilities
  • Spiritual pathways paired with neurodiverse needs
  • Stories and examples of churches that do this well
  • Conversation questions for engaging congregants with honoring language, vocab list
  • Ways to include new voices in worship leadership
  • Help in accessible websites and online worship
  • An idea sharing group online

 

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