Entrance and exit is at one corner. I pull the curtains shut on the windows and turn on one wall light on each of two walls. I light the other side wall with two 150 watt floor lamps that shine up the wall. It’s low lighting but enough to read by. I’m aware that I may be re-creating what I have criticised in the emerging church movement – of not being able to do worship unless it is in candle lit darkness. Twelve years of bright sunlit morning worship at Cityside (www.cityside.org.nz) must have earned me some slack! It’s pitch black outside by the time we start worship at 5.30pm anyway.

The space is laid out with a table/altar at the opposite end to the entrance. Green fabric covering for the current season. Central large candle, smaller lighting candle, wooden table cross, communion bread and plate are on this. In front of it are two low tables covered by white fabric that also lies on the ground linking the tables. One has tumblers and water jug for communion, the other a large sand tray for prayer candles. These are becoming our standard layout. The offering jar is yet to be purchased and placed. At present we use my shopping trolley. Off to the side another table holds laptop, stereo system and data projector (when I bring it).

After waiting the allowed maximum of five minutes after advertised starting time, Sarah leads the ten of us in a Call to Worship using cutout paper hands on which we write what we bring to worship – the pressures, experiences, joys of our days past and ahead. She reminds us that we don’t need to leave anything of who we are at the door. I play the U2 track Yahweh during this. Next,as often happens, when I lead the group in a Prayer of Confession there are many links to what has just been done, despite there being no collusion. Each part of our order stands alone. I read Psalm 139 and use a nice little flash animation from Anne Marie Goodrich in the USA (I met her on an email list last week). We watch in silence as we reflect on the sad, humorous, and painful parts of our life that no one else knows about but which God knows about and loves us despite knowing… and we make our own confession.

Marcus rants about I Peter, ‘Royal Priesthood, Holy Nation, Seedy Mob’. We share water and bread (I re-ran the video loop as visual wallpaper during communion while people took the elements, lit candles as symbols of their prayers, filled in participation forms, offered their ‘hands’ from the Call to Worship, made an offering). Then Concerns, Prayers, and Benediction.
By the time we finish there are 19 adults and two children present. It feels good. I feel good. The ultimate test is how many people participate in packing up. It feels even better!

Mark Pierson June 21, 2005. www.urbanseed.org
(This column also appears at www.sacramentis.com )