How the sanctuary would look like...

Okay gang! First blog entry here... Actually while the supper was going on last night, I had some sort of vision but I wanted to talked about it with Rob before sharing with all of you...

So here's what I saw... Round tables with chairs where people would sit to listen to the sermon. For a long time now, Rob and I were trying to figure out how we would organize the sanctuary because of our special way of doing church ie dancing. But last night, it was clear to me not to have only chairs and Rob speaking in front of everyone... I felt more comfortable with the table idea when it came in my head. I could see bibles and even journals on the tables as well as pens. Another thing came to mind... having chalkboard tables with chalks in nice cups for people to scribble.

Then later that evening, while the prayer time, I had to go upstairs to pump... I picked up the book "They like Jesus but not the church" from Dan Kimball and read the section Preacher focused or Jesus focused. Here's what it says:

"Think of how you set up leaders in your church worship gatherings. Generally churches put them in the spotlight in the central focal point of the room, which is understandable, since people need to see leaders when they are speaking. In recent years, however, especially in larger churches, we have added the video projection of the preacher on large screens. When we do that, we just need to be all the more careful that we balance that by constantly communicating that the church is not about the communication skills of charisma of the preacher but about Jesus.

Even the placement of the pulpit demonstrates our values. Prior to the Reformation, people didn't have access to the Scriptures, and corrupt church leaders misused the Scriptures for their advantage. To counteract that, Reformation preachers began placing their pulpits way up high with pulpit structures around them in order to stress the authority of the Scriptures. It made sense then because of what was occuring culturally. But in today's emerging culture, the high pulpit of the Reformation only emphasizes that the preacher is the focus. You can't even see a Bible usually, and the elevation of the preacher reinforces the hierarchical, man-made feel of organized religion. "

Then the author goes on to say that in his church they have a BIG cross on the stage and that the preacher will stand below it to speak to the congregation. I liked that idea of having a wooden cross somewhere in the room.

The next section was about vintage home church or large-scale theater church. In that section, Dan Kimball goes on to say that he visited a church where the pews had been taken out and instead there was couches and comfortable chairs. When you walked in that church, the setting shouted community and family instead of controlled seating and organized religion.

As soon as I read this I thought "That's it!". So before we went to bed, Rob and I talked about what came to me and what I read. We had being debating for a long time on how the sanctuary would look like. Rob had even these ideas of chairs screwed on a platform that would come down at the time of the preaching but personally I thought this was a bit too much... Finally, we were both comfortable with this way of doing it. A dance floor at one section of a big room and at the other side a section with couches and tables and chairs where people can sit, follow the sermon, take notes, etc. And a small stage maybe, a wooden cross for sure, and even some stations of chalks, beads, crayons and so on for the creativity.

It's funny how God speaks to us sometimes... For me it was special last night because I am going through a tough time these days and somehow God spoke to me through some of you to lift up my spirit... You have no idea how much your words meant to me! Honestly, I wasn't expecting anything like this and I thank those of you who let God used you to speak to me. The only thing I can say is WoW! and thanks.

isabelle