CreativityWhenever you can picture something in your mind that does not yet exist, that is creativity. Whenever you can use your hands to fashion something out of other things, that is creativity. That is a sharing in the power that continues to create the universe.
The nice thing about creativity is that it brings us pleasure. And so sometimes we make something or imagine something just for the fun of it. If it happens to be useful to someone that’s a bonus. That’s God’s spirit in you saying “And it was good”. Good simply because of its own beauty. Good simply because it expresses something of who you are, and you are good, you are the pinnacle of creation. |
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Encouraging creativity, a workshop
How to spark fresh ideas and deepen engagement
in worship and church life.
Some big ideas about creativity:
“Ex-Nihilo”; Creativity is bringing into being something which does not yet exist
This is impossible! but All things are possible with God
Sharing in the very being and essence of God
Creativity is fed by emotion, but suffocated by the Stress Response
All human emotion can be expressed and transformed by creativity
BUT creativity requires a basic sense of safety. Anxiety & stress lock the brain & nervous system into the Stress Response, telling us that we are not safe and closes down the brain. Fight/flight/freeze are not creative responses.
How can we create safe spaces where the brain is able to open up and explore?
How do we try new things in church without stressing people out?
Be not afraid!
“Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident.” Psalm 27:3
Creativity values symbol and story
- Narrative
- Metaphor
- and intangible ineffible things like music, sound, silence, colour, movement
- value silence and the spaces between
- Play!
Sharing in God’s own self-expression – revealing the Face of God that cannot be seen, the Voice of God that cannot be heard, the Hand of God that cannot be felt
Creativity loves beauty for its own sake
Creative work can fulfil a function and achieve a goal, but more importantly it just ‘is’. Beauty expands the soul and draws us to God. Lovely things, evocative sounds or well chosen words are a treasure in themselves. God is extravagant beauty! (glory)
“The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork”. Psalm 19:1
Creativity is a desire!
There is a need, a longing in the human heart to create - surely a key part of being made in the image of God! The process of imagining, sparking ideas and problem solving (whether in metal under a Landrover or with notes on the piano) is a drive and a joy, essential to being human.
Faith shapes this; we experience this as inspiration from the Holy Spirit.
“Delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4
Creativity in church
Practical outcomes that greatly enrich the church’s life:
Children’s stories and involvement in worship … traditional ‘Kids Talk’, craft activities, all-age interaction, games
Colour and symbol … objects & object-lessons, things to hold or place or give, fabric, painting
Written prayers … for worship, poems for funerals & weddings, litany & response, Communion liturgy, prayers on specific themes e.g. refugee Sunday or seasons
Movement and music in worship
Story … Dramatic readings, different voices, props or costumes to enhance a character … bring people and events in scripture to life
Photography and image … powerpoint, printed … words and pictures together enhancing prayer and worship
Written comment … ‘blog’, sermon, opinion piece for newspaper, article on a topic
How to spark fresh ideas and deepen engagement
in worship and church life.
Some big ideas about creativity:
“Ex-Nihilo”; Creativity is bringing into being something which does not yet exist
This is impossible! but All things are possible with God
Sharing in the very being and essence of God
Creativity is fed by emotion, but suffocated by the Stress Response
All human emotion can be expressed and transformed by creativity
BUT creativity requires a basic sense of safety. Anxiety & stress lock the brain & nervous system into the Stress Response, telling us that we are not safe and closes down the brain. Fight/flight/freeze are not creative responses.
How can we create safe spaces where the brain is able to open up and explore?
How do we try new things in church without stressing people out?
Be not afraid!
“Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident.” Psalm 27:3
Creativity values symbol and story
- Narrative
- Metaphor
- and intangible ineffible things like music, sound, silence, colour, movement
- value silence and the spaces between
- Play!
Sharing in God’s own self-expression – revealing the Face of God that cannot be seen, the Voice of God that cannot be heard, the Hand of God that cannot be felt
Creativity loves beauty for its own sake
Creative work can fulfil a function and achieve a goal, but more importantly it just ‘is’. Beauty expands the soul and draws us to God. Lovely things, evocative sounds or well chosen words are a treasure in themselves. God is extravagant beauty! (glory)
“The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork”. Psalm 19:1
Creativity is a desire!
There is a need, a longing in the human heart to create - surely a key part of being made in the image of God! The process of imagining, sparking ideas and problem solving (whether in metal under a Landrover or with notes on the piano) is a drive and a joy, essential to being human.
Faith shapes this; we experience this as inspiration from the Holy Spirit.
“Delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4
Creativity in church
Practical outcomes that greatly enrich the church’s life:
Children’s stories and involvement in worship … traditional ‘Kids Talk’, craft activities, all-age interaction, games
Colour and symbol … objects & object-lessons, things to hold or place or give, fabric, painting
Written prayers … for worship, poems for funerals & weddings, litany & response, Communion liturgy, prayers on specific themes e.g. refugee Sunday or seasons
Movement and music in worship
Story … Dramatic readings, different voices, props or costumes to enhance a character … bring people and events in scripture to life
Photography and image … powerpoint, printed … words and pictures together enhancing prayer and worship
Written comment … ‘blog’, sermon, opinion piece for newspaper, article on a topic
Creativity ... being co-creators with God
Sermon
Ephesians 4:22 – 5:2
When we work and as we serve we share in the power of God, a power which in its very essence is creative. The energy we find for our daily lives is the very same energy which called stars and starfish into being. The imagination we find for planning a meal or designing a letterbox is the very same power that imagined rainbows and the intricacies of the human brain.
Sermon
Ephesians 4:22 – 5:2
When we work and as we serve we share in the power of God, a power which in its very essence is creative. The energy we find for our daily lives is the very same energy which called stars and starfish into being. The imagination we find for planning a meal or designing a letterbox is the very same power that imagined rainbows and the intricacies of the human brain.
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Encouraging creativity
Sermon. WIth 'Permission Slip' handout Isaiah 43:16-21 Revelation 21:1-7 How do we encourage creativity? How do we think fresh? How do we ask new questions, see things in new ways? I love it that the Bible describes God as being creative … our readings today have God saying “I am doing a New Thing!” Watch out for it, I am remaking the world. We all know that God made the world, but we also need to remember that he is also remaking it, restoring it, reworking it. God is the ultimate creative force. Be more creative. How? To be creative I must LOOK and LISTEN, TOUCH and TASTE have SPACE and be alone WORK HARD RELAX, muck around, waste time |
PERMISSION SLIP
I give you permission to day dream, to try, to experiment, to play, to muck around, waste time, ask silly questions, to fail and to rest. The world needs what only YOU can create! With all my love, your Heavenly Father, God |
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Poems are queuing up
knocking on my door waiting impatiently for me to find the time to open the door to let one in let it spill itself all over the floor. Then it is my job to find a container to put it in to gather up pieces choose the best bits pack them away in just the right way and throw out the rest. (photo of a doorway in old Jaffa, Israel) |