By Rod Padgett

When I saw hundreds of people standing in line for hours to see the latest installment of "Star Wars," I took it to mean they were searching for entertainment. On second thought, I believe they were searching for more.

We're all searchers. We're looking to find a connection with something larger than ourselves. Along the way we make small discoveries from a variety of sources. And something in the popular arts is striking a chord with people. I submit to you that the arts help people glimpse the reflection of God in our lives. Without even realizing it, these people are seeking to attach themselves to the larger story.

As architects of the church services these searchers enter each week, worship leaders have a special responsibility. We must prayerfully seek to create moments of discovery. A proper use of the arts can do more than help people worship-it can help nonbelievers see God's presence and work in all of life.

The church seems to have lost much of its passion for the arts and for artists. In too many churches we've traded creativity for predictability. When I look at nature, I'm in awe of a Creator who is limitless in imagination and variety. And I wonder why more worship services don't reflect this?

I'm not talking about style. This observation goes well beyond traditional, blended or contemporary worship styles. I'm talking about energy and attention given to creativity.

Creativity can be incorporated into many different areas of the church-whether it's a typical Sunday morning service, a children's worship service, a special youth event or a drama/worship presentation you're planning for a mission trip. Here are some steps to help bring more creativity to your worship service and other church events.

Have a target

As with anything in life, we must have a target we're trying to hit. So our first question is: What do we want people to walk away with today? Maybe for your church on a particular Sunday you want people to have a new sense of ownership in the church's vision. Maybe you want to help them understand an aspect of God's character. Whatever it is, have a target. Every element should count, so don't just put random elements together and expect people to walk away with a specific thought or experience.

Plan as a team

From the smallest to the largest church, I think it's safe to assume that one person does not execute every aspect of a worship service. It truly takes a team to carry out the plan. So, with that in mind, bring these people together. Pray, dream and plan together. Then assign responsibility.

strive for excellence

God loves excellence. Our congregations see it in many areas of their lives outside of church. I believe we have a responsibility to bring that into our services. I love Nancy Beach's definition of excellence-"doing the best you can with what you have." In many cases, the difference between mediocrity and excellence is in the planning, communication and rehearsal along the way. Give attention to details. It will pay off in the end.

Evaluate

One of our church's core values is that we will be a learning organization. The only way we'll improve is to evaluate and learn from our successes and mistakes. Our worship planning team meets every Monday and debriefs each detail of the previous day's services. I usually come out with a list of things I can improve. Many times these are small details that were missed or improperly communicated.

Develop an artistic community

Using the arts in worship has an obvious prerequisite-you must have artists in your church. Here's a word of encouragement-you do! I believe that artistic people are sitting in every worship service-musicians, painters, sculptors, writers, graphic artists, actors, dancers, videographers, photographers. In many cases they use their art outside of church.
For the most part, the church hasn't given its artists opportunities to use their gifts within the context of the church. It's our responsibility to seek them out, to cast a vision for how God can use their gifts and to cultivate, encourage and train them. Using the arts in worship can have a major impact on the church body and on the individual artist. But we have to do the hard work of turning dreams into reality.

Think big even if you're not

Is this kind of artistic initiative limited to mega-churches? The short answer is no. This is not a function of size. I left a large suburban church in Atlanta, Georgia, to help launch a new church in suburban Dallas, Texas. Because of a large dose of God's blessing and a passionate vision, we've attracted many artists and are using the arts effectively from week to week. From original worship and theme-oriented songs to drama scripts to original video productions, we incorporate much of the artistic skill and imagination of our church. We're still a small church by many standards (400 and growing). Yet, we continue to attract artists and are cultivating a true art community.

If God gives you this vision, you too can begin the journey. If you do, it will be fraught with obstacles and hard work. But our individual churches, the Kingdom and our greater society will be better for it. May the God who sculpts mountains and paints sunsets and orchestrates thunderstorms inspire you to design worship services that reflect His creative beauty.