Holy Space

No.

Station

Area

Description

Technical requirements

Notes

1

Dying & living

Font

• Reflect on the truth that baptism is dying to sin and rising again to new life. Think on the fact that Jesus’ death and resurrection set the pattern for life from death. Imagine this baptistery as the tomb in which Jesus lay dead as a result of sin, and the tomb from which Jesus came out of alive again. As you enter the tomb look upon it as embarking on a journey through death into life. You will enter the tomb in which through renewing you baptism vows will remember that you died to sin. As you emerge from the tomb you will act out the fact that you have embarked on new life in Christ.
• Sign yourself with the sign of the cross and renew baptism vows
• Response prayer to read

- Halogen lights

- Water

- Water

- Font

- Glitter ball suspended above the font.

- Baptistery blacked out to represent the tomb.

- Blue tea light candles on baptistery

- People enter the tomb one at a time

2

Surrender

North transept

Surrender

I’m singing you this song

I’m waiting at the cross

All the world holds dear, I count it all loss

For the sake of knowing you

For the glory of your name

To know the lasting joy

Even sharing in your pain

And I surrender all to you.

• Freedom from the things that bind us
• Letting go of things that cause us pain

- Paper chains. Write on each link things that bind you, worry you, give you fear or cause you pain. From the links make a complete chain. Place both hands within the chain. Read the printed bible verse and break the chains by opening your hands and arms.

- Read the printed prayer thanking God for setting us free

- Large chains and locks around the North Transept to set the scene. Metal fencing around the worship zone and a ‘Keep Out’ Road works sign.

3

Your invitation awaits you

Choir stalls aisle

Worshippers receive an invite to come to the table of Christ.

• People write their name on an invite scroll. Invite begins with a quote highlighting the need to humble yourself in the presence of God. The action of bowing down to pick up a scroll displays this.
• Remove shoes at the entrance to the banquet.

Arch of gold balloons at entrance to choir stalls

Red carpet running in between stalls

At far end invites on scrolls placed on the floor

Instructions at the start mounted on a board similar to that seen in a restaurant or a seating plan at a wedding

4

At table with his friends

Sanctuary

• Last supper painting. Reading & reflecting on the meaning & interpretation.
• Meal set on low table. Place names for each disciple. Descriptions of each disciple given. Worshippers encouraged identifying with each.

- Meal set out in the Sanctuary.

5

Watch & pray

Praying for persecuted Christians around the world.

Psalm 22:7

‘All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads.’

North aisle

Area 1 – PowerPoint informing and sparking prayer

Area 2 – Newspaper articles, paper and pens for writing and drawing prayers

Area 3 – Writing to Christians in prison and lighting a candle for them

PowerPoint, projector and screen.

• Bean bags
• Tea light candles to light
• Paper and pens
• Newspaper articles
• Addresses to write to

6

Beside quiet waters

Psalm 23:2

‘He leads me beside quiet waters.’

South aisle

Beside quiet waters.

An area for reflection and meditation.

Paddling pool, fountain, fish and lights. Around the pool, verses of scripture and questions to inspire reflection and meditation.

Screens placed around the worship zone

Blue tea light candles

Stones in the bottom of the pool

7

The gates of our hearts

Psalm 24

‘Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.’

West doors

Are you prepared to let the King of Glory into your own heart or are the gates of your heart firmly locked?

Shop ‘open, closed’ sign placed on the floor.

Worshippers are invited to take hold of the sign and hang it on the door to indicate the state of their own heart.

The King of glory

‘Jesus is God’s glory…it is not the glory of shattering power but the glory of suffering love.’ (William Barclay)

The above quote printed out.

A response prayer on a card.

Crown of thorns hung on the doors. The only light comes from a spotlight shining onto the crown.

8

No crown without the cross

Matthew 27: 40

‘Come down from the cross if you are the Son of God.’

South aisle

Around alcove in the church wall

The crown without the cross

- do we want to share in Christ’s glory without sharing in the cross?

- do we wish to skip the cross and move directly to the crown?

- do we face our cross experiences in life as Jesus said we should and seek God’s redeeming power in them?

Jesus didn’t avoid the cross he faced it fully so that through it sin and death could be defeated. With Christ’s help will you do the same through all that life throws at you?

Like the crowd will you ask Jesus to come down from the cross in the hope that a cheaper less costly way to victory can be found or will you trust that the path to glory lies through the resurrection story.

- Pottery cup placed in the alcove to represent the cup of suffering that Christ drank for us

9

The journey to the cross

Luke 9:23

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

Main aisle

The journey to the cross

Stations of the cross

- Begin the journey by picking up a palm cross.

- Some focus on calling

- Reflections on the floor of the isle.

- Response prayers

- Places to kneel to reflect

10

Stand face to feet

Luke 23:33

‘When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him..’

South transept

The cross & death of Jesus

Pictures, icons and poetry depicting the death of Jesus.

An area for reflection and prayer.

Atmospheric lighting

11

Forgiveness

Luke 23:34

“Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing”.

South transept

- Confession

- Forgiving others

Rituals offered to help worshippers confess their sins in experiential ways.

12

The shame & the glory – the great mission

Stage area

The shame & the glory of Christ

It’s an inescapable fact that shame is a terrible thing – humiliation, dishonour, disgrace, defilement, scandal, stigma, slur. And yet Jesus Christ, God’s own Son walked the way of shame so that we could escape it. It seems incredible, awful even to think that a man who embodied the glory of God might endure the shame of an unjust trial, unnecessary punishment and dreadful execution. Why does One so glorious experience shame? Why when referring to the Son of God do we mention ‘shame’ and ‘glory’ in the same sentence. There is a simple reason for this; the opposite of ‘glorious’ is ‘inglorious’ which means - ‘shame’. God literally went from one end of glory to another on our behalf. He went on a mission to save the human race – he plumbed the depths of humankind, became nothing so that we might have everything, took the fall that should have been ours and sacrificed his own life so that we might live.

How do you want to respond to this?

- Do you want to offer your life to Jesus Christ, the One who offered His for you?

- Do you want to re-commit your life to Christ?

(Prayer)

- Join with Christ in the mission he initiated to save the human race.

(Complete your own mission statement on the altar table and light a candle to mark your commitment to the great mission)

13

Tales from the Madhouse

Chapel

Tales from the madhouse video or DVD playing non-stop.

Video projector / large screen TV

14

Prayer ministry

Rear corner of church

Members of the prayer ministry team on hand to pray with those seeking prayer.

Chairs, tables, flowers and tissues.

16

Life @ the cross

Outside cross

Life at the cross

• Watch and listen to the life in this place, the life that goes on around and past the cross. Look at the people who pass the cross, listen to the sounds of life. Reflect on the impact that the cross can make in the lives you see and hear. Pray that the cross will pay a part in peoples lives, pray that they will find life at the cross.

Gazebo set up to the side of the cross.

Scene around the cross set to signify the life that goes on round it. Empty cans and bottles, sleeping bag, brief case and a hard hat, shopping bags full of shopping.

17

Like clay in the hand of the potter

“..can I not do to you as this potter does?” Declares the Lord. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand.”

(Jeremiah 18:6)

South aisle

Clay modelling

Take hold of a lump of clay. Picture in your own mind that you are clay in God’s hands. He is the potter and he is moulding, and modelling you into….

Covered tables, covered floor. Water, soap and towels to wash hands.

18

Laying our idols down

South Porch

Worshippers are given opportunity to reflect in turn on various objects representing false gods or idols. They are given the space to recognise the place they’ve given them in their lives and to lay them down before God. A printed prayer for each idol is available.

Objects representing idols laid out around the outside of the porch. Kneelers and cushions provided for people to kneel on to pray.