tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208902948988975499.post5246487336647723595..comments2023-09-23T09:03:28.586-05:00Comments on Proclaiming and Preparing: Worship and ArchitectureDaniel Bennetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09695545556655878383noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208902948988975499.post-69018507008348638052012-06-23T00:18:40.221-05:002012-06-23T00:18:40.221-05:00I agree that a building is not a prerequisite for ...I agree that a building is not a prerequisite for worship, but since we worship in buildings anyway, why not design them in ways which make us consider the nature of God in meaningful ways? Architecture starts with an IDEA. Maybe we start with an idea that the design of our worship spaces helps us consider our brokenness in the context of the hope of God's redemption, through specific materials, lighting, scale, transition from one space to another, or a number of other ways. Maybe as we worship, our surroundings help us consider God's great mercy, or his infinite grace, or perhaps more importantly our buildings speak to our visitors about who God is. It is not the richness of materials, but the richness of ideas, as Daniel Libeskind says. That's where we should start.<br /><br />www.parkerseminoff.comkellysemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00255027169939824715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208902948988975499.post-60822937000365288172011-07-12T08:20:36.046-05:002011-07-12T08:20:36.046-05:00Pastor - regarding your statement: "...notic...Pastor - regarding your statement: "...notice that a building is not essential for our worship to take place. A well-designed building is an outgrowth of worship and not a prerequisite for worship."<br /><br />Although I really do agree with this statement as it pertains to worship, I want to encourage you to look for a building with a sanctuary conducive to fellowship - more specifically, with pews. My recent experience moving to the new larger sister church building has not affected my worship per-se, but has greatly affected my fellowship - which used to by an add to my joy of worship. I really believe the design of our sanctuary has greatly hindered and made fellowship more difficult due to the new individual chair stadium seating. The individual seating - although comfortable - have physically and mentally created small walls of “personal space” that keep our eyes forward and squashes the compulsion or responsibility to fulfill our role as the body of Christ to be connected with or at least familiar with other believers. <br /><br />Note, I am not looking to give excuse to my need to now change the way I have to seek out fellowship. But I guess that statement would be my main point - especially for new visitors to the church. I think it was easier and even more natural to speak to the person next to you in a pew because the space between us wasn’t so cavernous or barred up with the small elbow height walls. The tendency to seat yourself with two to three seats between each family/individual seems more prevalent in our new church. I feel a sense of lose because of this. <br /><br />Just something to think about as you consider your new building.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com