This month I’ve been talking about the benefits of thematic–or series–worship design. Besides the cognitive and artistic reasons I’ve already written about, I think there are spiritual implications.

I had a conversation with a preacher (well, a Bishop no less) not long ago over lunch about planning thematically. He was wondering why this was necessary rather than just being able to preach whatever inspired him that day. I’m glad he asked me that because I’d never put the answer in quite the way I did that day. I told them that, besides making it pretty impossible to work creatively with a team of ritual artists, that method made the whole congregation captive to the particular spiritual journey of one person… the preacher. Yes, the method that I teach in the Worship Design Studio of thematic planning depends on the discernment of a Visionary as they shepherd the congregation. But if we design with the context of that congregation in mind, with their spiritual needs and challenges in mind, with an openness to the inspiring Spirit and even the input of others in the community about topics to address, we can be faithful stewards of a communal journey.

 Taking these things into consideration is not antithetical to following the liturgical year or lectionary. Within any year, any set of texts, there will be many options of perspectives and thematic pathways to take. Good leadership involves discerning what will be the most poignant for this year, this particular community. Any Visionary’s job (what I call preachers in the Worship Design Studio) is to have our fingers on the pulse in such a way that, much like a teacher who develops a lesson plan based on the needs of the class, we can offer our gifts of proclamation within a context of connection to a community, not just our own spiritual wanderings.

As a member of the Worship Design Studio, you can access Guides for the entire design process, including discerning thematic directions.

See you in the Studio!

(photo by Dee Anne Bostic from her pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago – watch an interview with her HERE)