Worship Arts

Create-A-Day, your daily dose of creativity, edition#100 — Willow Creek Drama

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We’ve made it to 100 creative resources!!

Referring you on over to Willow Creek Association today. They have a variety of creative resources to assist you in planning worship services. You can search for creative ideas by keyword. I have found some compelling dramas there. Both scripts and videos are available for the dramas, and most allow you to preview them.

Willow CreekWant to refer you to a specific drama today entitled “Let Go” with Ingrid DeSanctis. Paired with the song “Open Up,” It’s about letting go of the baggage in our lives. You can watch the drama by clicking the link above.

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Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #99 — Beautiful Dance to Oceans

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HIllsong Oceans DancerI love the song Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) by Hillsong United. Love even more that this group did such an amazingly creative dance to it!!

May you be brought into the Lord’s protective presence as you watch and listen. May you know that even as Christ calls you out upon the water, He will guide you and keep you safe. Connect to this dance at the link below:

Hillsong United “Oceans” Dance

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Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #94 — Freedom in the Dance

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Freedom In The Dance Ministry (FITD) is an evangelistic
praise dance ministry that travels the world teaching and ministering in dance. Established and ministering since 1988 under the direction and leadership of Mickye Castillo, who serves as the Director of Dance under Bishop T.D. Jakes at the Potter’s House in Dallas, Texas.

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Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #92 — 100 Books on Worship

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W worship heartSummer is fast approaching, and for those of you who look for books to read over the summer, have I got a resource for you!

Worship the Rock blog has compiled an extensive list of 100 Books on Worship. Although it’s geared towards worship leaders, there are many titles on this list for everyone! I can tell you as a worship leader myself, many of these are the books we would love our congregations to be reading right alongside us!

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Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #89 — Priestly Art

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Priestly art directs attention to God. It leads us into praise and worship of the Triune God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It ministers first to God and second to the people of God.

Called to Belong

Called to Belong Worship Event

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Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #84 — Ad Deum Dance

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Ad DeumAd Deum Dance is a professional modern / contemporary dance company based in Houston, Texas. Under the director of founder Randall Flinn, who established the company in January 2000, dancers come to Ad Deum seeking to be connected with a community of artists that share a common vision and desire. The mission of Ad Deum is to create and perform excellent and vital works of dance that serve to wash over the heart and soul of humanity with relevant meaning and redemptive hope. They tour all over the world!

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Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #82 — Art Against Injustice

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Art against injustice: Justice Sees illustrates the sobering reality of human trafficking and the way God cries out to the oppressed.

Dancer: Rebecca Ludwick www.krswing.com

Dancer: Rebecca Ludwick http://www.krswing.com

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of might,
the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—
and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.

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Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #78 — Interactive Prayer Stations

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P praying sunriseReferring you to the Interactive Prayer Station tab of Still Waters blog today. Still Waters is the blog of Pastor Theresa who is a self-described second generation Korean-American Pastor and Mother. On her blog she has posted instructions and photos for well over 50 different themed interactive prayer stations focusing on everything from Epiphany, Lent, and Advent, to various Gospel stories, social justice issues, as well as light, love and baptism.

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Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #74 — Resurrection’s Power

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ResurrectionI have always loved this dance by Praise in Motion dance company. I reference this dance in chapter seven of my book God’s Creative Gift, in my discussion on seasons in the life of the creative Christian. The dance is to the song Resurrection by Nicol Sponberg. I especially love the way in which they use fabric—like a shroud—and how they cast it away trying to free themselves from death’s emptiness. The piece is deeply moving.

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Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #71 — Worship Dance FB Page

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FBIt’s another Facebook Friday! Today’s group is simply called Worship Dance. It’s a great group where folks who love to worship through dance, movement and flags can network and share resources. The group is administered by good ole’ me!  🙂  The group description is short & sweet:

Christian dancers and creative worshipers from around the world!!

There are over 1,000 members and it’s growing every day!

Let all that I am praise the LORD; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
– Psalm 103:1

Let’s shake those shackles off our feet so we can dance!!

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Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #69 — Rebirth Arts

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Today I would like to direct you to The Journey to Rebirth blog. Although the author herself is a dancer, this blog is NOT just for dancers. Addressing a variety of topics, it’s for anyone in leadership or ministry—and it is written for those of us with an artist’s heart. I have been blessed on more than one occasion by Rasheeda’s blog. It’s worth the follow!

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Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #67 — Crown Him with Many Crowns

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I trust you had a blessed Resurrection Sonday!

S empty tomb

I love this BEaUtiful rendition of “Crown Him With Many Crowns” below from the Crystal Cathedral—the arrangement, the horns, the voices, the flowers, the organ pipes and the sanctuary all speak of the majesty and glory of the resurrected Son of God. And even so, they still pale in comparison to the true glory and majesty of our Risen King. For today, watch, taking a glimpse, and imagine the Lamb of God seated on the throne!

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“Father, into your hands..” Last 7 Words of Jesus in Art, Poetry & Song (Create-A-Day #66)

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“7” Virtual Art-Walk: Day 7

Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. Luke 23:46

Matt Durbin (c) 2010

Matt Durbin (c) 2010
mattdurbinart.com

Enough

Here I am, my son.

Your struggle is over.

It was near impossible

to keep from turning

toward your cries.

I felt each lash,

wailed as they

drove the nails.

I blacked out the sun

so as not to see

your suffering.

Come to me now,

let me bandage

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“It is finished!” Last 7 Words of Jesus in Art, Poetry & Song (Create-A-Day #65)

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“7” Virtual Art-Walk: Day 6

“It is finished!”  John 19:30

Matt Durbin (c) 2010

Matt Durbin (c) 2010
mattdurbinart.com

The Antique Rocking Chair

The carpenter is not disappointed

by the ruined finish or the broken arm,

loose spindles, failed glue joints.

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“I am thirsty” Last 7 Words of Jesus in Art, Poetry & Song (Create-A-Day #64)

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“7” Virtual Art-Walk: Day 5

Cup of Blessing by Matt Durbin (C) 2011 www.mattdurbinart.com

Cup of Blessing
by Matt Durbin (C) 2011
mattdurbinart.com

“Later, knowing that all was now completed,

and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled,

Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty.’”

– John 19:28

Drink 

The fount of living water

bellows drought. I want

to lift a ladle, cold and pure,

so you could be relieved.

But I’m deceived with ease.

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“…why have you forsaken me?” Last 7 Words of Jesus in Art, Poetry & Music (Create-A-Day #63)

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“7” Virtual Art-Walk: Day 4

“Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned (forsaken) me?”   Mark 15:34

Matt Durbin (c) 2010

Matt Durbin (c) 2010
mattdurbinart.com

Fear

I taste the juice of forbidden fruit

dripping from Adam’s mouth.

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“Dear woman, here is your son…” Last 7 Words of Jesus in Art, Poetry & Song (Create-A-Day #62)

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“7” Virtual Art-Walk: Day 3

[Jesus] said to [Mary], “Dear woman, here is your son.” And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.”  John 19:26

Matt Durbin (c) 2010

Matt Durbin (c) 2010
mattdurbinart.com

Mary at the Cross

I am not old. A bewildered mother

since conception who stored up

each moment. Now I will recall

the way you reached for me, a babe,

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“Today you will be with me…” Last 7 Words of Jesus in Art, Poetry & Song (Create-A-Day #61)

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“7” Virtual Art-Walk: Day 2

“I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”               Luke 23:43

Matt Durbin (c) 2010

Matt Durbin (c) 2010
mattdurbinart.com

Note: the broken way in which this poem is formatted is purposeful. Imagine the broken, jagged breath of the criminal on the cross next to Jesus… gasping for every breath… just to simply form sentences.

Breath

Jesus, why are you

up here

with me,      why

is our blood

mixing      with dirt,

why do our lungs Continue reading

“Father forgive them…” Last 7 Words of Jesus in Art, Poetry & Song (Create-A-Day #60)

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“7” Virtual Art-Walk: Day 1

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34

Matt Durbin (c) 2014
mattdurbinart.com

The People Stood Watching

Come, see a man who told me everything

I ever did. A man who healed my eyes,

fed me bread he multiplied, poured my cup

of wine, washed my feet, called me out

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“7” Virtual Art-Walk: The Last Words of Jesus in Art, Poetry & Song (Create-A-Day #59)

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7 bannersSeveral years ago our church creative arts ministry offered an event called “7” — a self-directed art-walk focusing on the last seven words of Christ spoken from the cross. Similar to a prayer-walk, an art-work utilizes art to help you prayerfully meditate while walking through a series of stations. There were seven stations and at each was a banner with the words of Christ, a poem by author and poet Sarah M. Wells, and a painting by artist Matt Durbin.

We will be re-creating a “virtual” version of “7” through the Create-A-Day posts with poetry by Sarah and artwork by Matt paired with songs. Our hope is that these posts will prepare your hearts for Resurrection Sunday, help you consider the cost of Christ’s priceless gift, and worship Jesus more deeply during this blessed season. Continue reading