What a Day! Pentecost, that is!
Our service was a delight ... did many things to add to the "amazement" described in the day itself. When the folks arrived they saw a "tripod" in the aisle, with one large wind-chime hanging in the middle of it. Fans were blowing from either direction that caused the tubes to ring every so often. It produced a nice 'calming' effect as we gathered. Then, during the opening hymn six more people processed with smaller wind-chimes 'tinkling' as they walked; they added them to the tripod and the wind-chimes kept 'tinkling' throughout the service (you'll hear it every once in a while in the sermon - if you listen to that). After a great children's message (the kids sang "Happy Birthday" ... dear church) and of course blew out the candles on the cake; we moved into the "Pentecost Participatory Piece". On an insert I had printed John 3:16 in about 12-15 languages and we all then (at the countdown) chose a language that we didn't know (just like the disciples) and read it aloud! It was a really moving experience, hearing all the voices "speaking in tongues" ... also added to the excitement. Then as the lesson (Acts 2:1-21) was read, the sound of a rushing wind began blowing and overpowered the voices - the readers (aware ahead of time that it would be happening) were asked to speak louder as the wind sound got louder! It was so cool!!!
Not to be left out, the WAC-os (the Worship Arts Committee) came through again - first the idea of the wind chime (the tripod came out of their original ideas); then came the "flame tongues of fire" hanging in the soffits - they were all made by the Sunday School kids; the WAC had the women who attended the woman's retreat in April make two paper Pentecost banners which graced the altar; for Pentecost folks are invited to buy red geraniums for the chancel (like poinsettias and lilies) - I think we had 18 of them on hand - they are later planted on the church grounds.
So all in all it was a great day ...
having trouble loading pictures ... the only way to post them this time was through the Picassa viewer - but have no control of size ... I don't think. The first picture was at a wedding reception on a stormy day (Thursday before Pent) - the evening sun started shining on the background ... the reception was in a Golf Course Clubhouse. The sixth pic is actually a little video ... enjoy (if you can see them)
Oops!!! I just discovered, if you click on a pic it will take you to the Picassa page where it is much easier to see - and the video also happens ...
Have a great week, everyone!
We love ya!
Karina and Dan
having trouble loading pictures ... the only way to post them this time was through the Picassa viewer - but have no control of size ... I don't think. The first picture was at a wedding reception on a stormy day (Thursday before Pent) - the evening sun started shining on the background ... the reception was in a Golf Course Clubhouse. The sixth pic is actually a little video ... enjoy (if you can see them)
Oops!!! I just discovered, if you click on a pic it will take you to the Picassa page where it is much easier to see - and the video also happens ...
Have a great week, everyone!
We love ya!
Karina and Dan
What a sensory heightening of Pentecost. You had to have been super charged. Need to listen to the sermon now. The video of the chimes came through nicely. Did you audio the speaking participatory piece? I guess I'll find out.
ReplyDeleteno, the audio pieces didn't come out - everything's recorded on my lapel mike ... all you hear is me; the same 'loss' occurs with the Scripture reading - too much ambient noise to hear the readers ... someday when the congregation decides that a $25K A-V system is intrinsically better than a $5K one, it will happen! It's like comparing megaphones to microphones, heh, heh.
ReplyDeleted