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Linda, I think I have deleted a comment of yours by mistake!! My apologies. You can do what Stephen does. Talk to him about what is needed, or trawl around on his website. I think environmental projections would go great at a RED event. Its an easy…
yesterday
Nice stuff Cyndi. I like the thinking you have done around what you do, before you do it! Not enough people make that kind of close contextualisation to their congregation. Nice.
yesterday
we actually role played a scene from scripture, word for word, and then engaged in dialogue about the scene and how it felt to speak the words ourselves, how it felt to "play" the part of someone who was actually there, it was a sort of "stepping in…
on Thursday
Linda, a couple of weeks ago we had Stephen Proctor do some wonderful environmental projections on 3 walls of our small worship space. In the midst of those we had some stations that all required a response by way of tearing/cutting out a variation…
on Thursday
I like the possibilities of "an intimate role play" station. That has possibilities Linda. Cyndi, do you do the role plays for the whole congregation in place of reading the scripture passage? I like that too. My question is what keeps the content s…
on Thursday
We have enjoyed acting out scripture and inviting congregants participate by reading parts, I loved the time we did the garden of Gethsemane scene with an eight year old girl reading one of the apostles, and we did it as a station so many people had…
on Wednesday
Well, Mark, if you don't give us any new gems, we've got to go sifting through the old river beds to see if there are any gold nuggets we missed! What I'm getting from Eric's idea / link to article is not a performance concept but more like an inti…
on Wednesday
Wow, you guys are reading posts from way back! Thanks. I haven't done any "live action" stations of the cross, or any sort of acted station for that matter. My immediate response is that they would quickly move to performance ie like watching tv, ra…
on Wednesday

Profile Information

How are you involved in worship?
Media, Production, Creative Team, Planning Team, Pastor
An aspect of creative worship you are passionate about?
curating worship that sustains mission
A challenge when planning creative worship?
giving up a great idea that doesn't really fit in the end
A favorite creative moment in worship?
i'm a worship-voyeur, i love to watch people engaging with God as they participate in openended stations-based responses
A favorite quote or scripture about creative worship:
"worship is just the evidence of life. if your life is burning well, worship is just the ash" leonard cohen (I exchanged his word 'poetry' for 'worship') I am still thinking about whether i believe it is right or not, but it sounds great!
Website or Blog:
http://www.markpierson.org.nz

Mark Pierson's Blog

Mark Pierson

worship mirrors art?

From time to time I hear said, “it was a case of life imitating art”. Oscar Wilde stole the phrase from a Roman poet who was around when Jesus was a teenager. (I wonder if Jesus heard it? Was Jesus interested in poetry?)

Usually we think of art being an imitation of life, as in a painting of a bowl of fruit. Ovid and Wilde realised that it can also happen the other way around. Like the huge increase in young people taking up playing guitar after the virtual-guitar “game” Guitar Hero came out. O… Continue

Posted on December 30, 2009 at 6:00am — 14 Comments

Mark Pierson

There's Something About Mary

This week I have been identifying strongly with the young and very pregnant Mary, taking that long ride in the heat on the hard back of a jolting and boney donkey. Not that I am young, female, or pregnant. Its more the heat and the hassle I identify with.

While many parts of the Northern Hemisphere are snow bound, in the South we're gridlocked in the heat of summer by travellers heading away on holiday and meandering around on the roads doing last minute shopping. So when my computer died as I… Continue

Posted on December 23, 2009 at 6:00am —

Mark Pierson

“sacking” the sacraments

I think the sacraments are really important in the worship life of any community. Regardless of what style or theological torch you shine on them, Communion or Eucharist or Lords Supper, call it what you like, is central. Baptism of some sort is also right up there. After that we might get into some debate, but the big two most of us would agree on. At the very least Jesus was present at both and had one done to him.

So why do we so often seem to do them wrong? I’m talking about worshipping com… Continue

Posted on December 16, 2009 at 5:00am — 2 Comments

Mark Pierson

short and simple is good.

Wow, the ripples have certainly travelled rapidly around the world since I outlined my “Ripples in Time” service. On and offline I’ve had a number of responses from people planning to re-frame it for their own context. And Linda has started a franchise! Excellent. I’d love to hear how it goes for anyone who uses it. May your ponds hold firm and the leakage be minimal.

Last week I curated worship for a group of people I didn’t know. This is not something I like to do, and wouldn’t usually agree… Continue

Posted on December 9, 2009 at 6:00am — 9 Comments

Mark Pierson

Ripples in Time: an Advent service

One of the most enjoyable services I have curated during Advent was called “Ripples in Time”. I repeated it for 4 or 5 years in different forms and wish I had an appropriate setting to curate it in again this year.

“Ripples” was built around a large blackwater reflecting pond as the centrepiece. I’ve built a lot of ponds for worship and nearly all of them have leaked! Some expensively. A small pinhole can leak a lot of water, and a little water goes a long way when it is being drawn into carpet… Continue

Posted on December 2, 2009 at 6:00am — 3 Comments

Comment Wall (11 comments)

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At 8:22pm on January 31, 2010, Mark Pierson said…
Thanks Linda. I am trying (add your own emphasis!) to finish writing a book on a new language for worship. I hope to get back to blogging soon. Thanks for making contact
At 5:19pm on January 28, 2010, Linda Sines said…
Missing your words of challenge and intrigue! Hope the blogging bug bites soon!
At 10:54am on December 30, 2009, Mark Pierson said…
He lives at the bottom of New Zealand in Invercargill, where he is on the pastoral staff at Invercargill Baptist Church.
At 7:21am on December 30, 2009, Collin Wood said…
Are you serious? Wow. I live in Chattanooga, TN. Where does the other Colin Wood live?
At 8:58pm on November 19, 2009, Linda Sines gave Mark Pierson a gift
Blessings for a warm Advent, inside and out!
At 6:53pm on October 18, 2009, Skip Cadorette said…
Mark,
yes you did play a part! We've connected briefly at Tom & Christine Sines events in Seattle. I've tried to hit those regularly.

By all means use the "look you've just seen an angel" polaroid idea. I'm already trying to figure how i can use your Umbrella idea. That one is excellent: simple to produce but it demands some depth from the worshiper but everyone can do it. Too good.

In time I'll get some other shots up from various years of "Crossroads" pieces, and a "prayer flag" event we did for the community. Great to connect with you here.
At 11:18am on October 1, 2009, Linda Sines said…
Thank you Mark so much for Blogging! You and Jodi-Renee topped my favorite bloggers on the survey. You probably already have guessed that I appreciate your time in blogging, but Josh gave this community a homework assignment and I am complying by sending you this thank you note :)
At 7:59pm on September 28, 2009, Jim Robertson said…
Mark - thanks for the good stuff in your posts... I have been reading, but a bit too jammed to give the reflections and responses deserved. So letting you know you are read and appreciated. Also, when you get past YWAM, could you mail me a blank at interfaceworship[at]gmail.com... lost your mail address, and hope to discuss a conference / retreat gig in Canada that may interest you.
At 7:13am on January 11, 2009, Nadia Bolz-Weber said…
Mark,
How wonderful to hear form you my brother. At Greenbelt last August Cheryl and I spoke of you often and fondly. Do you have plans for a state-side visit?
Blessings,
Nadia
 
 
 

Latest Activity

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Katie Strandlund updated their profile photo
1 hour ago
Linda, I think I have deleted a comment of yours by mistake!! My apologies. You can do what Stephen does. Talk to him about what is needed, or trawl around on his website. I think environmental projections would go great at a RED event. Its an easy…
yesterday
Nice stuff Cyndi. I like the thinking you have done around what you do, before you do it! Not enough people make that kind of close contextualisation to their congregation. Nice.
yesterday
Emily Flowers added a blog post
Thanks, again, to Eric Herron for his "Show and Tell" post! Glad I could be a "guinea pig" for this new way to connect with others on the site. Anyway, I mentioned that I created a PowerPoint presentation to go with the Genesis 1 creation story. It…
yesterday
Thanks for posting this, Eric! I can't wait to see what other folks are up to!
on Thursday
This makes me think about what my high school jazz teacher said: "It is the silence between the notes that creates the rhythm." Saying this was one of the ways he motivated antsy, immature, 16 yr. old jazz musicians to stop playing so many notes wh…
on Thursday
You've trained my eye to find your subtle inspiRED messages : )
on Thursday

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