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Worship in The United Methodist Church is very diverse, but generally grounded in the same fourfold pattern of gathering, proclaiming and responding to Scripture, thanksgiving and Communion, and sending forth.

There is great value in such unified action in worship. However, over the past decade, another set of practices for corporate worship has developed in United Methodist churches, especially among congregations in ministry with young or unchurched adults.

Worship in these settings allows room for a balance of 'communal' and 'self-directed' actions in worship by offering several 'worship stations' at some point in the order of worship, usually as a response to the Scriptures read or preached.

At an appropriate point in the service, people are invited either to stay where they are for an 'all together' response (such as congregational singing), or to move to one or more places in the worship space or elsewhere in the facility to offer one or more of a variety of responses as they sense themselves led in any order they wish for a defined period of time.

Such worship stations might include a place to receive prayers and anointing for healing, a place for centering prayer or further reflection on the Scriptures, an opportunity to work with clay or other art materials to create a sign of a struggle or a new commitment to Christ, or a place to confess the faith boldly with words and dance.
 
The notion of people leaving their pews or seats and moving elsewhere and not everyone going to the same place or doing the same thing at the same time may feel threatening to some people at first.

If you are considering the possibility of adopting worship stations in one or more services, respect that reality. Do not spring a practice of worship stations on an established congregation without preparing them for it over time.

So, assuming you've helped to build the groundwork, how do you develop worship stations that work?

1. Keep the motive in mind. The purpose of worship stations is to help people do what they need to do to respond to the Word. This isn't a break time or a learning exercise, nor is it primarily about 'being fed.' Rather, it's about people listening to and trusting the Spirit to help them express and prepare themselves for what is next, even if 'in sighs too deep for words.'
2. Design stations that connect with the different ways people experience the world and spirituality in your congregation. Some may find hands-on activity the most powerful way to express their faith. Others may be able to express themselves best in groups; while others need time apart for silent, individual reflection.
3. Set up the stations appropriately. Everything should be ready and working when the time for worship stations comes. Determine how much space and the arrangement of space needed. Make sure all the supplies are on hand and in working order.
4. Ensure that the stations are hosted or led so people know what to do.
5. Appoint timekeepers. These people will signal the time to return to the sanctuary. In many settings, the time for worship stations is 10 to 15 minutes.
6. Plan the entire flow of worship well, so that nothing is rushed and nothing important is shortchanged.
Worship stations are not 'the next big thing,' nor are they 'the sure-fire way to reach the postmodern millennial generation.' But if they are well planned, carefully introduced, and fully integrated into the basic pattern of worship, they may have the potential in some congregations to help more people find more ways to experience and express their connection to God and the body of Christ.

Taylor Burton-Edwards ( ) is the Director of Worship Resources for the General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church. This article is excerpted from the Web site www.umcworship.org. It is used by permission.