The backstage worship “nerve center” (affectionately known as “Fragglerock”) at General Conference is buzzing. There is an air of exhilaration from the worship just finished yet we are on to the next adventure: putting finishing touches on tomorrow. Taylor and Lewis are printing out the latest version of the Great Thanksgiving in French, Ted is dreaming up his next daily version of the “sands of exile” sculptures, and Yvonne is working on another set of traffic patterns getting people and things where they need to be. Doyle is working on tomorrow’s altar-related project–constructing bamboo scaffolding in real-time during a Call to Worship with precision Japanese Taiko drumming. Tanya and Dub are on the phone with yet another incoming guest choir while DeLyn teaches everyone her new favorite song from Africa that we’ll do during communion at noon. Solomon is in the corner snoozing after another early morning call and Mark and I sit in the middle of the beehive plotting “Plan B” if, and when, another preacher goes over their allotted 20 minutes.

This scene happened day after day over the course of twenty-two experiences that comprised General Conference worship. It is this scene that I wanted you to see, for it was also a daily “living liturgy” of its own. I believe it was the best of what teamwork has to offer to the process of leading God’s people in worship. It took an attitude of adventure: the creative process was not finished with the printed liturgy, rather that liturgy became the groundwork out of which worship artisans grew beautiful expressions and improvisations. Each artist was free to interpret a core collection of strong central symbols and provocative word images that brought a diversity of ways for people to enter intentionally into the message. And we worked from a common goal: to facilitate worship with deep soul, acknowledging the very real presence of God in the midst of all that was General Conference and our very real need of that presence. I was privileged indeed to experience this kind of teamwork and it strengthens my belief in what is possible when Spirit meets willing and open artists.