November 2015: Silent Communion

A service to explore worship beyond speech – the service aimed to use no spoken words or music and only minimal written instructions.

Set up:

• Set up benches in the centre of the church in a closed circle
• Candlestick and candle in centre.
• Low lights
• Used the main church screen to project a single image illustrating each section of the service.
• Used the main altar on the church platform.

Welcome

• As people arrived we invited them into the café for an explanation of the service:
• Follow the usual Communion format but without spoken words or directions
• People will be directed to activities around the church
• There will be silence at several points
• People should go into the church and at that point there will be silence
• Everyone is welcome to share in Communion
• At end feel free to stay in the church or go through to the café.

Gathering – image on screen of a large group of people

• Open up the central benches
• Invite people to take a seat in the centre circle of benches
• Light the large central candle to mark the beginning of the service
• 3-4 minutes silence

Confession – image on screen bubbles

• Lead group to high altar
• On arrival everyone was given an envelope containing an Alka Seltzer tablet. Written on the envelope was 'What do You Want to Confess?'
• On the high altar set up 4 tall glass jugs and vases with clear water and back lit.
• Modelled dropping the tablets in the water and invite all to drop their table in the water and watch it dissolve
• Finished with the sign of absolution

Word - Screen went straight into animation

• Get group to stand and face the screen
• Ran the animation The Prodigal Son by Joel Baker
• Followed by 4 minutes silence

Intercession image on screen of burning tea lights

• Set up four tables with black table cloth, laptops and tea lights around the church.
• Each laptop to have an image reflecting praying for:
• World – globe, old map of the world, represent people in trouble – migrants, poverty
• Church – picture of a church
• People –– café table, family, group of friends.
• Ourselves – use the camera on the PC to reflect an image of the individual.
• Lead people from centre to the stations and light a tea light for others to follow.
• Gave people about 10 minutes to visit
• To finish shut the lap top lids.
• Lead people back to the centre

Peace

• Shared the peace.

Consecration –Image of bread and wine

• Stand in a circle round the altar
• Dean to lead through the consecration emphasising accompanying gestures.
• Focus on the bread and wine.
• Finished with a few moments of silence.

Blessing

• Used an old Grace animation of a blessing on screen
• Used oil to anoint each other with a cross.

End

• Animation of lips and voices followed by music.