Saturday, February 12, 2022, at Anderson Center.
Update: This retreat is taking place on April 2. Click here for the latest information.
Imagine if a dozen and a half of us came together to renew ourselves spiritually while creating a roadmap for meaningful, memorable worship experiences for the coming year. That is the vision for a “most-of-the-day” retreat to be held on February 12th at The Anderson Center, 7850 Five Mile Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45230. Bill Lyon will facilitate.
Many of the most memorable worship moments in our congregation’s history have been “team efforts” employing the diverse gifts, talents, and creativity of our amazing congregation. A great team needs different perspectives, different skillsets, and different levels of involvement.
Those interested in volunteering in small and not-so-small ways can help us reimagine and implement a new paradigm for planning worship. “Front stage” folks who like to speak, teach, sing, dance, greet (and the like) are part of that team.
And “back stage” folks who design, plan, evaluate, script, learn and implement technology are important as well. Both types of folks are vital – and will be part of this retreat.
But for starters … we need to know what brings meaning to us – personally and collectively. The first important goal of this retreat is to explore that. Ahead of the retreat, we will circulate a survey on just that topic.
Then, at the retreat, attendees will do this in a few different ways. We will reflect on the distant and not-so-distant past. And we will brainstorm new possibilities.
We will consider over-arching themes worthy of exploration over multiple weeks or months. What does our congregation need to dive deeper into? What would inspire and “move you” emotionally?” Who can help us make that happen – in addition to our minister and core worship team members?
We will explore “embodied worship” and discuss what place this should have in our worship services. We will work to broaden our “palette” of worship arts. How do music, dance, drama, light, color, and silence complement the spoken word?
While we will focus mainly on what happens during the 10:30 Sunday slot, we may also discuss variations including: vespers, outdoor services, vigils, celebrations of life, and worship for children and youth.
Of course, we will ponder how we might fulfill the needs of folks who worship in person as well as those who do so remotely. What challenges does this present? What opportunities? We’ll talk about it.
Sounds like a lot. And it is. And it will only be just a beginning – a reimagining of what is possible. But it may provide a roadmap to even more meaningful and memorable worship at Heritage. And part of what will make it meaningful is your involvement at this retreat and beyond.
If the thought of being part of this work sounds intriguing, you may want to mark your calendar and let us know. Email Bill Lyon to register or if you have questions. His email address is:
Posted 12/27/2021.
