Trading spaces

Group, Jul/Aug 2003 by Belknap, Bryan

How to transform your meeting space from a haphazard afterthought to a magnetic, worshipful environment.

Do you really know what your youth room looks like? Probably not-at least, you don't know what it looks like to a visitor. And you likely don't know what kind of ongoing impact your youth room environment is having on your regulars. Maybe it's past time to "trade spaces."

My wife and I recently traveled to Europe (three years of saving and worth every penny!). We visited the great cathedrals we'd read about in history books-there, we stood slack-jawed at the majesty worked into even the tiniest spaces. The architects, craftsmen, and artists who built these cathedrals had a genius for creating reverence and awe. Our experience of contemporary church structures paled in comparison.

We returned wondering what it would take to replicate the God-honoring environments of Europe in a normal church youth room. At the least, we can think more creatively and proactively about how we dress up "God's house." We can add some reverence to our youth rooms that will help young people connect tangibly to their living God.

1. Think wall space. Do you have purposeful walls? I know, that sounds like something the pointy-haired boss in Dilbert would say. But the question is valid-you can use your wall space to set the tone for worship and communicate your ministry's core purpose. Your kids have already plastered their walls at home with music or celebrity posters-why not do something different?

* Create a Prayer Wall. Use a roll of newsprint to quickly transform one of your vertical spaces into a Prayer Wall.1 Cover the wall with newsprint and ask your teenagers to record their prayer requests there (anonymously if they want). You'll see that the wall quickly becomes a focal point in your room-it'll be a catalyst for building community and a prayerful atmosphere in your meeting space.

* Project slides (traditional or PowerPoint) of religious art or symbols on a light-colored wall or a bedsheet hung on a wall. Use one image a week or rotate through several slides as a changing back-drop, or program them to coincide with whatever you're doing. You can find images on the Internet,2 in library books, or set your students loose to create their own religious art that you can project. Don't limit yourself to only classic paintings-include modern works by Salvador DaIi, Stanley Spencer, and foreign cultures.

2. Think visually.

As an alternative to projecting images on your walls, or as an additional environmental strategy, consider incorporating religious pictures, statues, or images into your meeting room to focus your kids on that which they can't see.

* Use religious icons. I'm not suggesting you set up idols or "graven images" to redirect worship away from Christ. That's a perverted use of religious symbols. But the church has a long tradition of using the seen (sculptures or symbols) to draw us to the unseen. Go one step further and ask your artistic students to create paintings or sculptures that offer spiritual inspiration.3

* Use symbols. Christian symbols are visual reminders that undergird the cultural community life of your group. And there are plenty to choose from. We've got the cross (empty, Celtic, Orthodox, anchor, and so on) and the ichthus (fish) down. But what about the Chi Rho (Jesus' initials), Alpha and Omega, infinity symbol, Triquetra (Trinity), and symbols of the sacrificial elements-bread and wine? Incorporate these symbols into your decorations, publicity items, and signs. Classic symbols such as these help remind your students they're connected to a rich history. Simply type "Christian symbols" into your favorite search engine to find diagrams and ideas.

3. Think sonically.

Tap into kids' deep connection to sound in your quest to increase a sense of worship in your meeting room.

* Extend your use of music. Football players crank up their speed metal to get psyched for a game and mothers play classical music to soothe a fussy child. So, instead of using music exclusively for singing praises, create a mood by weaving it throughout your meeting. You can train your young people to expect a meeting with God by returning over and over to the same modern-worship songs, hymn, liturgical song, or even a chant performed by monks. Use these sonic markers as a preamble to an invocation, benediction, or meditation. You can also play instrumental music softly underneath prayers, Scripture readings, or even your announcements to maintain a reverent atmosphere between meeting segments.4

4. Think olfactory.

We rarely use the sense of smell to set the stage for worship, but it's quite popular with God|6 Outside the church, we think it's perfectly natural to spend millions on perfumes, scented candles, and fragrant bath oils. For some reason, church is off limits to these same powerful influences.

* Use incense. Scripture tells us that incense (even though it's now associated with New Agers and potheads) was often used as an important part of worship. It takes time getting used to incense and candles in worship, but once you've used them consistently, you'll train your young people to dive into worship. You can find incense at natural food stores and candle shops, or at a supply store for liturgical churches.