Creating Great Moments In Worship, Part 3: Flow

Back in 1997, while on an American Airlines flight high above the central U.S., I ran across an article in Wired Magazine by John Geirland entitled, Go With the Flow. It illustrated how an audience can be engaged and effectively drawn into the experience of surfing the web. The person Geirland interviewed for the article was renown psychologist and educator Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (pronounced: me-HIGH chick-sent-me-HIGH-ee). He created the Theory of Flow in the 1970s while attempting to develop a better understanding of human behavior as it relates to happiness and contentment. In the Wired interview, Csikszentmihalyi described the state of flow as when: "The ego falls away. Time flies. Every action, movement, and thought follows inevitably from the previous one, like playing jazz. Your whole being is involved..." I was intrigued with how this theory might apply to worship and the Church.

Many regard "entertainment" as somewhat of a secular activity. I want to dispel that notion by focusing on the original definition of the word. In Middle English, "entertinen" is to maintain. Another definition of entertain is to undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind. So, entertainment, outside of a host of modern connotations of the word, can simply be to: maintain an emotional sensation or a particular state of mind. Amusement can certainly play a very important part of the experience we are maintaining. When we apply the theory of flow to our worship services, we are using successful techniques that skilled communicators have used for hundreds of years. We can learn to hold the attention of our congregations by actively designing our presentations to flow; to help draw the congregation into the musical worship experience, preaching, drama, video, etc., and maintain their full and active attention while communicating the message of the Gospel.

My scriptural basis for flow in worship is found in Isaiah's call to the exiles in Babylon to go forth and return to their own land:

Pass through, pass through the gates! Prepare the way for the people. Build up, build up the highway! Remove the stones. Raise a banner for the nations. Isa. 62:10

Isaiah asserts that the gates be thrown open; to eliminate obstacles that get in the way of the destination. As facilitators of worship, we are encouraged to clear modern-day distractions. I want to offer some simple, inexpensive suggestions to improve any worship environment:

1) Maintain a pleasing stage area (hide wires, remove trash, remove stage clutter, etc.)
2) Maintain a comfortable room temperature
3) Maintain clean, modest, attractive and professional attire on stage (I think it's important that those leading the service be, at least, one step above the attire of the audience!)
4) Encourage use of the nursery--nothing like a screaming baby to interrupt flow
5) Make use of greeters, ushers and other "people-flow" volunteers to insure that each "people-moving" process is streamlined and pleasant
6) Maintain clean and well-composed restroom facilities, classrooms and hallways
7) Provide clean, safe and secure nursery and childcare facilities (nothing ruins a service for parents more than feeling unsure of their child's welfare)

In time, a congregation must invest in a suitable sound, video and lighting system commensurate with the size of the worship space, audience and delivery style of the message. Here are some basic suggestions for creating a seamless flow on stage:

1) In advance, plan and rehearse the stage moves involved in each service (how and when each person or item comes on and off stage). Avoid "dead space" by making sure each participant on stage knows how and to whom they will hand off their segment. A full run-through of stage moves before the service is always helpful.
2) When changing segments, try to match the emotion from the preceding to create an appropriate, seamless transition into the following one (i.e.: worship into announcements; prayer into closing, etc.). Decide what you are going to say in advance. Knee-jerk transitions are flow-killers.
3) Check that each microphone, video player, music track player and lighting instrument to be used in the segments are working before the service starts; don't assume!
4) The pulpit is a sacred place. Make sure and coach whoever takes the stage to speak clearly; to know what they are going to say, and to save spontaneity for those with more experience. Avoid the temptation to open up the pulpit indiscriminately to anyone. Unfortunate results cause an audience to feel "held captive," and can destroy an otherwise pleasant experience as well as any trust in the future.

To realize an effective worship service that flows, amuses, enlightens, inspires and changes people, we must spend time in advance to make sure that each segment is meeting the goal of our intended purpose. God is in control. Even so, we as leaders are facilitators in the process. We can use the aforementioned techniques to maintain an audiences' attention to our great benefit. Once we have removed the stones from the people's way, they have a better chance of seeing Christ high and lifted up. Our ultimate aim in our services must be to help facilitate a one-on-one encounter between the participant and God.

Look for Creating Great Moments in Worship, Part 4, in the coming weeks. Any comments, questions or suggestions can be directed to: jamie@jamieharvill.com. Also, ask how Jamie can help your church realize a more effective worship experience.