God as lighting Director

I imagine many of us are familiar with the idea that in worship the congregation is the cast, God is the audience, and the preacher is simply the stage manager prompting the cast.

Today, in our worship, God showed up as the lighting director.

I knew that the service would go past the 'T'raditional 60-minute deadline. What with palms procession, reading the entire Mark passion, interspersed with special music ( a gorgeous viola rendition, by a young student, of 'Sarabande'), voices 'reflecting' on the passion, spoken responses, as well as communion, it would be a lengthy service.

As we drew to the close, with the reading from Mark about the body of Jesus being placed in the tomb, finishing with the verse 'Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid' leading into the pastoral prayer, the lights slowly began to dim, creating a solemn atmosphere for the affirmation of faith (Philippians 2:5-11) and the benediction.  The dimness of the sanctuary reinforced the desire that folks leave worship in silence, rather than immediately breaking into conversation.

Several folks complimented me on that 'little touch' of creating such an atmosphere. I appreciated the compliments, but finally had to start admitting that I had nothing to do with it.

It was simply the timer on the lights dimming them as it does every Sunday at 12 noon!

But it couldn't have been better timing if I had planned it!

(c) 2012 Thom M. Shuman