Producers: Caty Berry and Kris Shermer
Description:
In today’s speeded-up ways of working and living, slowing down is an important spiritual discipline. In the modern world we are conditioned to live faster and faster with no time for inner reflection or sensitivity to others. Jesus was often busy but he was never hurried. Being busy is an outer condition; being hurried is a sickness of the soul. Jesus never went about the busyness of his ministry in a way that severed the life-giving connection between himself and his Father. He never did it in a way that interfered with his ability to give love when that was what was called for. Through slowing the sacrament of the present moment is tasted to the full.
The Deal:
We'll have a handful of stations to help people practice the art of slowing. Ideas for stations are helpful as are any ideas to flesh out or modify station ideas already listed.
Station Ideas
Taking a section from Passion of the Christ or something similar and slowing down the visual element (perhaps in conjunction with communion)
Journal station – things that incite you to go faster instead of slowing down.
A Focus on how to take a Sabbath
Relevant article on how the Sabbath is actually a very important thing
A video where it pops up a single word at a time as you consider something (communion elements)
Walking around the mall with a narrated tour.
Boom Box with a recorded “guided tour” in a slow voice
Informational stuff about slowing
Tai Chi or Yoga stretching exercises – diagrams hung up on wall and a mental direction to slow them down (ex. Singing twinkle, twinkle, little start twice before finishing)
A breathing pattern station that makes people feel panicky and not slowed down
Hang butcher paper and give people space to respond creatively
Build something in a very tedious way that will allow them to focus on God (a physical manifestation of the mental practice)
An acoustic set of songs – not worship, but instrumental, slow music to allow people to focus on God.
Planning station – what will I do this week (maybe picking from a longer list)
Setting up a metronome on a particularly slow setting.
Time lapse photography of a flower blooming or something similar.
Napping station
Take Home
Slow music as a download from the website or as a take-home CDs
Little Beach balls
Music
Unknown Caller – U2
In A Hurry – Alabama
Busy Man – Steven Curtis Chapman
