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The 4 Seasons of Worship
A whole year of worship in one hour!

Worship should be anticipated, like the coming of each new season. One of my former colleagues, Walt Gerber, used to say, Worship is many things, but it should never be boring!

I love the transmutation of climates as they "crop" up in our little town in Eastern Kansas (pun intended).  My cellphone even plays Vivaldi's Spring from the Four Seasons while waiting for me to answer. Ninety percent of the time, people will mention the piece when leaving a message or when I finally answer the phone. They say something like, "Oh, it's so refreshing to hear beautiful music," or, "That is the loveliest hold tune I've ever heard!"

The sound of this landmark Vivaldi (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSw7CcAXPWk) is like, well... the graphic texture of Aspen trees that you can gaze right through—lovely!

Is worship like the changing seasons? Why not... Here's a worship element design that you could adapt or use at your church.

Winter
Confession is darkness seeking light and renewal out of crippling sin. It can involve prayer, or singing, or both. For example, consider starting the service (without fanfare) singing a slow chorus of I Need Thee Every Hour as a statement of vulnerability and supplication.

Spring
An assurance of pardon is essentially a renewal of hope and a celebration of the joy of our salvation. It is not complicated—it's Grace-based—you can't buy it or earn. You can accept it, however, and this is the moment in the service to celebrate that fact. Try a corporate prayer where people yell out the year they made a commitment to Christ, but only the last 2 digits, "'87,' 94, '42, '08..." and raise their hand while doing it. I once tried this at a conference of several thousand people and it went on for nearly 5 minutes. People were so "high" after it finished that it took another 5 minute to get them calmed down!

Summer
Traditionally summer is used to replenish dry spirits at the beach or in the mountains, but in worship this is probably a good place to give thanks! Let one song flow to the next. Mix verses from a hymn or praise song with verses or sections of another—then come back to the original. Think of this time like water skiing where you jump through the wake like a kid. Have someone give a story about coming out of sorrow into bright and warm sunshine!

Fall
Turn the service toward thoughtful reflection. Watch the color of old things passing away, while morphing into preparation for what's coming. Sermons can certainly be part of this, but there are many ways to capture the "crispness" of our faith, and the cool breeze of the Holy Spirit.

A Seasons Assignment...

As a staff or committee exercise, use your imaginations to come up with your own seasonal plan for a worship service. Be deliberate about not letting your one weekly hour become one-dimensional and colorless. Do you believe that God is honored best by the full range of our human experience? "Author! Author!"

You've probably heard the expression, Full Alphabet Christian. Thats an other-wise morally upright believer who occasionally swears. As another choice, why not become a, "Full Season Worshipper." Don't just celebrate one climate of worship when so many are available! 

Blessings,
Doug

—Doug Lawrence, internationally recognized speaker, author, and advisor, helps churches assess and improve their skillfulness in creating engaging worship experiences by utilizing his more than 35 years of "deep trench" worship leadership in prominent mainline churches. You may reach him at dlawrenceconsult@mac.com. Or, if you wish, call 1-650-207-8240 for assessment information and scheduling. Doug now teams with the slingshotgroup.net to place 
extraordinary worship leaders in extraordinary churches.