Service of Lament

I participated in a truly creative and liberating worship experience last night, and did something that I’ve never formally been given the opportunity to do as an element of worship: lament.  I am blessed enough to have an extremely creative young adult intern who comes up with amazing worship services which take her all afternoon to set up.

Lament is not something we engage in these days.  We have fallen into a happy Hilsong funk and often what we sing contradicts the reality of what we are living through.  Each Hillsong song is an object of beauty within itself, but bookend them into endless brackets and serve it up every week and it becomes a sea of funk to me.  Why can’t we be like the psalmist and be able to give voice to a range of emotions in worship from elation through to anger?

The service was kicked off wita concise and briliantly worded homily on the meaning of lament before an extended time was given for people to wander around the building into all the various rooms that had been set up as ’stations’.  Here’s the handout that was given to people to read before they entered the door.  Feel free to use and amend as you like:

Service of Lament

Please come in, sit and have read of this booklet while you wait for the service to begin.

Tonight is not to make you sad or hinder you from worshiping God but rather to give opportunity to express our struggles and ask God for help. Lamenting is very much Scriptural and through this service we pray you can come to God as you are and also learn how we as Christians can respond in times of struggle.

Tonight is to be solo experience or if you are married this can be done together. If someone around you is upset we ask that you leave him or her be to express what he or she needs to. If you feel at any stage that you need to talk with someone please see those who are at the prayer station, who will be more than happy to share with you confidentially.

If you are full of bubbles this evening and find you are unable to take part in the mood of this service please use the stations for worship. Rather than adopting a sense of sorrow please praise God for all he has done and use this time to pray for others who are going through struggle.

Please see the blackboard at the door for any Church announcements, as these will not happen within the service.

Wall of Sorrow

Along the walls of the Church (each wall is the same) you will find various testimonies, songs, poems and the like expressing pain. Not all of these words are from a Christian perspective yet all still display human thoughts amongst tragedy and heartache. Take your time to slowly read these words and reflect on each one. These words may help you verbalise you own pain or understand the emotions of another.

Prayer Station

You have the option of spending some time in prayer either one your own or to have another pray for you (you may take part in both stations). The elders of the Church have made themselves available to pray with you and for you. If you would like to be prayed for please take a seat in the circled chair area in the hall. The other chairs and floor space is where you can pray undisturbed.

Candle Station

At the back of the Church are tables with candles laid out. At this station you are invited to light a candle which can be symbolic of a couple of things. It may be representative of a personal pain you want to give to God or for a friend you are praying for who may either not know God or be struggling with their own hardships. Please take time to pray about this and pray for this.

You Tube Station

While this particular suffering may not be your own take time to watch the entire you tube that gives testimony that we can still worship God for who he is despite our pain. This is showing in the creche room.

Scripture Reading Station

Take a seat on a chair or on the floor at the back of the hall and listen to some Scripture being read. You will discover parts of the Bible that express pain, hurt and sorrow. Along with the verses of lament will be read verses of hope, giving glory to God for who He is and what he has done.

Music Station

Sit anywhere in the Church and listen to a couple of songs being played. One is Christian the other secular. They both express times of darkness and struggle. Let this either help yourself express your own feelings or learn of the feelings one has through pain.

Writing Station

In the foyer you will find pen and paper. Please use these to perhaps write your own lament. Express some of your frustration’s to God and pray for His help to both heal and understand. If you do not have something to lament please use this opportunity to write words or praise to God thanking Him for all he is and has done.

“Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted”

Matthew 5:4