April 17, 2008

On Sunday, April 6th, the Worship Committee joined me and Ted and the choir in leading a worship service that explored differences in worship style and “taste.” We explored the different ways we are “fed” by worship, and I talked about how our worship experience and our diversity of “taste” can be understood by considering what we know of multiple intelligences.

Some of us are “verbal/linguistic,” and are fed primarily by words. Others are “musical,” or “visual.” Some of us prefer to move rather than sit still… we are “kinesthetic.” Some of us are fed most by the connections between elements of the worship service and are considered “logical/mathematical” in our intelligence. Some of us are fed by quiet reflection (intrapersonal), while others are fed by social interaction (interpersonal). Some of us are most fed by images of nature. And many of us are more than one of the above!

Near the end of the service we handed out paper “grapes” and asked you to answer the question: “What aspect of worship most feeds you?” Most, if not all, of you responded. We received back approximately 90 grapes! And just as we suspected, there is a great deal of diversity in terms of our congregation’s worship preferences and “tastes.” Here is a quick summary of what we found:

Some people listed only one “aspect,” while others listed multiple ways by which they are fed. The greatest number of responses fell in the categories of “verbal” and “musical” and the two were about even. “Verbal” included sermons, stories, readings, words, poetry, and the one mention of the affirmation.

“Musical” included an amazing variety of tastes: “traditional,” “classical,” “Western European sacred choral,” and also “upbeat,” “gospel,” “rockin,” and “toe-tapping.” Some mentioned the organ, others the piano and guitar. Some preferred to sing, while others preferred to listen. One response included the doxology as an aspect of worship that feeds. And a few of you explicitly said that you are fed by variety and diversity in the musical selections.

After “verbal” and “musical”—in terms of the number of responses —came “intrapersonal” and “interpersonal,” with slightly more people saying they are most fed by quiet, meditation, contemplation, and silence than those who said they are most fed by social interaction, community, and fellowship. In addition, there were also those who spoke up for the visual, for the participatory/moving/kinesthetic, for the “logical” connections between things, and for the natural.

What we learned—or rather confirmed—in looking through the “grapes,” is that there is indeed a great deal of variety within our congregation in terms of worship preferences and tastes. And we—all of us—need to take that variety into account as we both plan and participate in worship. Our hope continues to be that we can each be grateful that others are being fed by a particular aspect of worship, even when we are not; and that we can trust that we, too, will be fed by other aspects of worship.

Included below is a full list of the responses we received, in case you’re curious about what others said…And we hope you are!!!

Sermon; Singing hymns together; Silent prayer/meditation; Closing words/holding hands; Moving “dancing” during singing; The opportunity to be challenged to think in different ways and to broaden beyond the day today; More traditional music; Music, poetry, Wendy’s sermons and reflections; Spoken word, especially the sermon interwoven with the readings, opening words, closing words; I’m fed by words of transcendent wisdom; Sermon �music—interaction—all three; Words of wisdom that challenge me to self-reflection to be the best person I can be; Hymns; Music; Music—the choir; Lots of music, quiet meditation, unison affirmation; A well-crafted sermon whose themes are repeated through the service in readings, music, plays, etc.; I appreciate the richness and diversity of your services; Wendy’s sermons rank high. Love the choir and musical selection (a guest); The change of focus from my daily existence; Nature, quiet contemplation; Stories and music; Special meditations (grape), sermons that invite me to participate, music, surprises!; Greeting my “neighbor;” Sermons about hope and inspirational messages that make us all feel valued and valuable, calm/quiet; Reflecting on life’s connections; The sermon; Music, stories, participation, hospitality; Music—especially upbeat, gospel and other types, Inspirational words and poems, reflective questions, reflective time, all variety of ages; Rev. Wendy’s sermons (and the flowers); Intellectual thought; Sermons that are inspiring and are about aspects of personal and spiritual growth—i.e living life of gratitude and abundance; Connections to others, sermons; Contemplation, wonder, love; A transcendent experience (a spiritual lifting or flight, inspiration); Western European sacred choral music; Gospel- style upbeat music, meaningful sermons that touch my soul, exploring diverse global religions and beliefs; Thinking about purpose; Reason in human activity, music; Coming together as many and as one- music, reflection, giving thanks; Heart-felt, thought-provoking sermons; Community of people making music together to honor and celebrate the creator spirit in all of us; Out reach, “in reach”, touch literal and otherwise, connection/community, supportive growth, peaceful space, musical balance, spiritual inspiration; Organ and piano music, quiet meditation, choir, well-thought out and reflective sermons, readings; Minister’s sermons; I am nourished or fed by the new “foods” that are not always familiar or easy to swallow; Ted’s music; Words, community, music, visual; Quiet moments of meditation in a room full of my church family and services where whole is greater than sum of its lovely parts; People support—giving and receiving, music, quiet reflection; Music, community, church; Simple beauty, music, meditation; Fellowship and sermon; Singing, dancing, quiet moments, readings, contact with others (hugs)—everything feeds me!; Music, silence for reflection, readings, sermons as basis for reflection, other people; Giving, oneness, destiny, song; Spirited music; Great diversity of food for my soul, love and acceptance, great fellowship, Wendy, Ted; Silence, quiet reflection in the service; When as many needs of as many worshippers are met, including my family—good effort with multi-intelligences theme; I most cherish when the church community is engaged in an activity—singing, dancing, talking, laughing, holding hands; Music - ex. In time of war Non Novis Domine in memory of fallen arriving at Andrews AFB, Vine and Fig Tree; Ideas, connections, silence, listening to music; EVERYTHING—but best aura and music; Meaning fully —thank you for challenging as well as comforting me; Verbal—sermons and readings, music; Classical music, friends; Community; Visual space, music; Learning multiple ways of looking at a subject, music variety; Hymns and doxology, Easter flowers; Words (from pulpit and fellowship) of wisdom through the ages re deep questions of life and meaning; Music, sermon, visual, quiet; Sermon, words, visual elements, good (rockin’) music, people too; Music—not so much participating, but to sit and listen; Quiet meditation, non-singing music; There can’t be just one food - emotional, visual, musical, intellectual, verbal; Services that inspire me to think of the wider world and to help others; Song diversity, singing; Silence, quiet, meditation; Occasional surprises—like today’s toe-tapping music “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy;” Music; Sermon that ties reflections and music together; Anything experiential that involves the whole congregation; Words, poetry, kids; Wendy’s sermons; The elements of wonder and surprise delivered through words, music, silence as we come together; Food for introspection; Wendy’s sermons; By the Love and Light that surrounds me. “Sweets to eat”: beauty, music—movement, the beat, children’s laughter, energy, a teen’s heartfelt strum on a guitar, uplifted by the smile expressing joy of the soul—yours and mine; All of the Above!

See you in church,
Rev. Wendy