Worship Arts

“Praise Him with drums & dancing! Praise Him with harps & flutes!” Psalm 150:4

WHAT DO ‘WORSHIP ARTS’ LOOK LIKE?

In addition to musical instruments, clapping, raising of hands & voices, worship arts may include:

• Choreographed group or individual dances
• Pageantry: Flags, Banners, Ribbons, Incense
• Drama or Skit like presentations
• Sign language and more

You Are Welcome
All are invited to attend the workshops or observe practice sessions. You need not be experienced to come, learn & explore. There are many different opportunities available for participation throughout the calendar year, including behind the scenes & sewing!

Worship Arts Gatherings

Tuesday evenings from 7:00-9:00 pm at Hope Community Church

Come explore, practice and experience different aspects of worship arts through instruction, choreography, and free worship.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT DANCING?
There are many ways of worshiping found in the Bible. At Hope you will see people playing various instruments (Ps. 150), dancing (Ps. 149:3), waving flags & banners (Ps. 20:5), clapping (Ps. 47:1), singing a new song to the Lord (Ps. 33:3), or raising their hands (Ps. 63:4).
To worship God in dance is biblical. The Bible commends it (Psalm 149:3; 150:4). Scripture gives many references to the use of dance as a form of joyous celebration and of reverent worship.

The Hebrew Tradition
In the Hebrew tradition, dance functioned as a method of prayer and praise, as an expression of joy, gratitude & reverence.
Dance was an integral part of the celebrations of the ancient Israelites. It was used both in worship, in ordinary life and on occasions of warfare, triumphant victory, feasts and festivity.
In many Old Testament biblical allusions to, and descriptions of, dance there is no disapproval, only affirmation of this type of worship. The people are exhorted to praise God with 'dancing, making melody to him with timbrel and lyre' (Psalm 149:3), and to 'praise him with timbrel and dance' (Psalm 150:4).

Modern Day Dilemma
As with many of the wonderful things that were God’s original design, the enemy and the world have twisted and perverted it through time and the sin nature. Because of this, some Christian communities have thrown the ‘baby out with the bathwater’ and may feel that it’s just ‘safer’ to skip any form of movement and limit the full spectrum of language for worship.

We believe that dancing, arts & crafts of all kinds and theatrical expression are all part of God’s magnificent creation! The Worship Arts Team at Hope desires to go back to the source, our Creator and invite Him to bring complete freedom of worship that is pleasing to Him alone.

Great is our God and worthy of all our praise!

Interested in a deeper study of biblical worship? Contact Tracy by email & you’ll receive a free E-workbook. If you have questions, concerns, ideas or talents to share, please contact the team leader:
Tracy Palmer 763.428.9714
tracypalmer@comcast.net