Bring your own.

Today was my very first “Bring Your Own Worship” in music and worship class.  It was an assignment, worth 25% of their quarter grade, but they seemed to approach it with a lot of creativity and enthusiasm.

If you’ve never experienced “Bring Your Own Worship” (BYOW), you basically pick a theme (seasonal, for example) – ours was the earthly ministry of Jesus.  I wanted to give them a lot of leeway.  Then, you give the participants a ton of options, from visual arts to poetry to food (sky’s the limit, as long as you can tie it into the theme).

I’ve seldom had a more laid back, enjoyable time in worship.  The offerings were rather varied for a class of nine students.  I need to photograph some of the offerings, but they included:

• A cross with all the countries of the world written inside it (to represent the Great Commission);
• A stew to represent the stew Esau had made for Isaac (with some mental gymnastics, we managed to get a Jesus’ ministry tie-in: Jesus had probably discussed that very story in the synagogues!);
• A poem about Jesus leaving the Throne to sacrifice Himself.

A few things remain unpresented: a sculpture that hadn’t dried by class time (I’m on the edge of my seat; can’t wait to see it!), and a pair of senior girls who are going to paint – something – as some music plays.  I’ll report on these around Monday.

These presentations were punctuated by my singing or leading some of my favorite songs about Jesus’ earthly ministry: “The Nazarene” by Michael Card, “The Ninety and Nine”, and “Man of Sorrows”, the one with the tune written by the amazing Claire Holley.

I have decided that I love BYOW.  I am ruined.  No one is safe.  I’m gonna make people do this many, many times.  Thanks, Cory.