Comments on: The magical things that happen on stage when you close your eyes to pray.

By: jaymie

jaymie — Fri, 13 May 2011 09:32:59 +0000

This is awesome. My church’s name is written all over it. And I def peak a lot during this time of prayer / switching it all up too.

By: Becky

Becky — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 20:20:35 +0000

I am the podium mover at church once a month – I get to dress all in black like a Ninja! Sometimes I have to set up the living room furniture thing too. But we do it a little different. The band walks out first, they play one song with just instraments. Then the worship team appears from back stage or they are sitting in the first row, Im not sure who decides which way is what each week. I am also in charge of making sure they leave the room in time – usually someone runs down the hall eating a donut really quick!

We do the set change during greeting though, so there is no awkward prayer thing going on – no prayer until after greeting. They do the announcements, dim the stage lights, turn on the house lights for greeting, and I do my thing. If you were watching you would see me, but no one is really paying attention. The light guy is really good about waiting till I am off to turn the stage lights back on .

I still am terrified I will trip or drop the podium though – that wouldnt be too embarrasing at all!

By: Johnny C

Johnny C — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 18:00:54 +0000

I'm the worship team leader/guitar player at my church of about 500 members and we have an hour devoted in the morning service to only prayer and songs. There's always something wrong with the slides or mics (no disrespect to the AV guys, I love them), so before almost every prayer I look at my other team members and mouth or nod where they should go and they know what they have to do. Then when the prayer starts, a coordinated effort begins to solve all the problems and then rush back to your spot before the prayer is over and close your eyes so people don't think you were gone.

Am I trying to pretend I was praying the whole time? No, I don't want to fake it, but there's no point in me walking down late and distracting everyone.

By: Teresa Dawn

Teresa Dawn — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 23:55:08 +0000

People? What People? I thought it was magic?!

By: What Are Your Standards For Sunday Morning? « Growing In Grace

What Are Your Standards For Sunday Morning? « Growing In Grace — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 13:17:56 +0000

[...] that’s how I treat my church’s production staff. From the sound guys to the pastor to those magical people who make stuff disappear from stage during prayers, I have incredibly unforgiving standards when it comes to [...]

By: dave

dave — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 21:30:20 +0000

I'm a youth pastor who occasionally leads worship at my church. The 'regular' worship team usually sneaks around during prayer, but I've specifically told me team – comprised of students, "While the community is praying, it's alright if we pray, as well. We'll just walk up after the prayer."

There's never been a perceived lack of, "communion with God," because the congregation sees us walking on stage. There's not a stutter in their time of worship. I think they're relatively understanding that it actually takes time to get on stage, and then we can worship in a different way – through music.

The issue at church doesn't need to be clean transitions, pretty lights, good performances, balanced eqs, trendy ingitermedia video clips, countdowns or anything else. I use all of those things in my ministry. They all serve to aid us in the pursuit of God.

I guess I've just always figure THAT was what church was about.

By: me, myself, and I

me, myself, and I — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 15:29:29 +0000

I don't understand, would you perfer pulpit, walking area, or place from which to preach and lead worship? Its just a title.

By: Beckie

Beckie — Wed, 13 May 2009 22:31:00 +0000

I'm late to this SCL party, but am enjoying working my way through…

My son once witnessed the paper "wax drip catcher" on the pastor's Chrismtas Eve candle go up in flames while the pastor was leading the congregation in parayer. The pastor, feeling his hand getting hot, opened his eyes, realized the dilema & took his free hand & snuffed out the flames with one quick move while continuing in prayer. No one, save my son, even noticed!

By: June

June — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 03:27:00 +0000

I have entirely different reasons for not closing my eyes during prayer, specifically “stand-up” prayer (you know, before/during/or immediately following “stand up and sing” time). I have zero sense of proprioception and if I stand up and close my eyes, not only will I sway dangerously, but there’s a good chance I might sway so violently that in an effort to prevent myself from actually falling down, I stick my foot out and manage to step on the person sitting next to me. That, or I crash into them. No matter what your 3rd grade Sunday School teacher told you, if it means you won’t be stepping on little Cody or sweet Mrs. Fifferman whose bone density is at like 2%, it’s perfectly fine to keep your eyes open during prayer. Just look straight up (to the heavens) or straight down (at your not-as-holy feet) to avoid being distracted…by all that commotion on stage…

By: Cz

Cz — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 02:15:00 +0000

It’s what we call the Chuckee Cheese Moment. When all the instrumentalists stay in place as the curtain closes and the pastor takes the podium. Then, after the sermon, the curtains open AND THERE THEY ARE!! Like suspended puppets!

Have they been sitting there for the entire 30 minute sermon??! Silent like plush puppets?